Scientific Research carried out in Seychelles

The SBS (Amendment) Act, 1997 gave SBS the mandate for the co-ordination of scientific research carried out in Seychelles and to issue research permit. This is a delegated responsibility by the Division of Industry of the Ministry of Economic Planning, which has the mandate for science and technology.

The SBS has put in place a process for receiving, reviewing and issuing of research permit for research application submitted by overseas applicants. This process is implemented in collaboration and consultation with the Department of Environment of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, other Government Department and Agencies, and NGO's. Most of the researches that have been carried out are related to environment, especially for the monitoring and conservation of biodiversity.

The hard copy of the Research Application Form can be obtained from the SBS and a soft copy can be downloaded from the SBS homepage. If there is no adverse comment or an outright refusal, a Research Permit is issued and this is copied to all stakeholders. The Permit gives details of the conditions for the research. If there is an outright refusal for the application, the applicant is informed and details of such refusal are also provided. If the applicant submits an appeal, this is reviewed by the Board of SBS. If there is adverse comments and concerns related to the application, consultation is carried out with both the party raising the concerns or adverse comments, and if necessary, the applicant is asked to provide clarification or modify the project.

Copies of the research reports are kept in the CISTID of SBS and these report are available for consultation by the public. The reports are also circulated to the stakeholders.


Latest Research Applications
Title A First Assessment of POP Contamination in the ASCLME by using Marine Top Predators as Bioindicators
Applicant Jaquemet, Sebastien Dr.
Address Université de La Reunion, Laboratoire d'Ecologie Marine (ECOMAR), Avenue Rene Cassin BP 7151 97715 Saint-Denis Messag Cedex 09 ile de La Reunion - France
E-mail sebastien.jacquemet@uni-reunion.fr
Summary of Research The main objective of this project is to conduct a first estimation of the regional distribution (Western Indian Ocean) of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in marine ecosystems. For this purpose, levels and profiles of priority and emerging POPs listed by the international Stockholm Convention listed substances will be measured in the muscles of skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) and eggs of sooty tern (Sterna fuscata). The Seychelles have been identified as one of the study location of this project, because the industrial tuna fishing activity is important and breeding colonies of sooty terns are very abundant and eggs are collected for human consumption. The researchers would like to get access to 20 pieces of dorsal muscle of skipjack tuna caught in the Seychelles Economic Exclusive zone and 2 series of 20 eggs of sooty terns harvested in two colonies during the breeding season (June).


Title The Littoral and Coral Reef Mapping Project
Applicant Rainer, Willmann Prof. Dr.
Address Institute for Zoology and Anthropology and Zoological Museum and Centre for Biodiversity Research and Ecology Berliner Str. 28 37073 Goettingen, Germany
E-mail rwillma1@gwdg.de
Summary of Research The researchers will be mapping in detail selected littoral biotopes along the north-west coast of Mahe (and eventually at the south-east coast for comparison). The purpose is to trace natural faunal developments and/ or changes which are due to climatic change or other environmental impacts. The results of the initial studies shall therefore be compared with the conditions in forthcoming years. In order to understand the faunal composition and their dynamics, studies on the distribution and behaviour of selected species (mainly molluscs and echinoderms) shall be included.


Title Motivation for the Control of the Invasive Ant, Pheidole Megacephala, on Cousine Island, Using the Commercial Formicidal Bait, Siege
Applicant Gaigher, Rene
Address Department Conservation Ecology and Entomology Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa
E-mail reneg@sun.ac.za
Summary of Research This study focuses on the community-wide impacts of the invasive ant, P. megacephala, on Cousine Island and the response of the ecosystem to potential control methods. During this next phase of the project, the researcher is aiming to manipulate the population levels of P. megacephala in areas of very high P. megacephala density, using granular formicidal ant bait, Siege ® Detailed pre-and post treatment of quantitative assessments of taxa that interact closely with P. megacephala, to determine how these species respond to both the control method and P. megacephala removal. This will include abundances of ants, honeydew-producing homopteran insects, natural enemies of homopterans, potential non-target species that may be affected by Siege ® and condition of homopteran host plants. Such manipulative field experiments are ideal opportunities to identify the mechanisms driving the impacts of alien species. It will also demonstrate the consequences of alien removal, which can be complex and unpredictable. In this case, it also serves as a detailed evaluation of a potential control method for P. megacephala, which will support management decisions of the species on the island and in other natural ecosystems


Title Systematics and Conservation of the Seychelles Island Freshwater Crab (Seychellum alluaudi)
Applicant Daniels, Saval, Regan
Address Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stallenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa
E-mail srd@sun.ac.za
Summary of Research The Seychelles Island archipelago contains a single freshwater crab species, Sechellum alluadi that is sister to the East African genus Deckenia, these two genera in tern form a sister group to a monophyletic Malagasy freshwater faunal group (daniels et. al. 2006). Seycheelum alluadi is present only on the granitic islands of the Seychelles and have to date been collected from Praslin, Mahe and La Digue, although the species may potentially also be present on other islands. The samples from La Digue have a number of distinct morphological carapace features, prompting the question as to the taxonomic status of the latter populations compared to the remaining two islands (Ng et al. 1995). While a population was also recently found on Silhouette Island, the status of which remains unknown (Gerlach, 2000). In this respect the current project proposes to examine the degree of genetic variation using DNA sequence data between the four main islands of the species as well as any additional other populations to determine status of the species on La Digue Island relative to the two remaining islands


Title Distribution Impact and Control of Yellow Crazy Ants Anaplolepis Gracelipes in the Vallee de Mai, Seychelles
Applicant Harriet Cuthbert
Address 43 Buckingham Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7DE
E-mail h.cuthbert@uea.ac.uk
Summary of Research Invasive species can cause havoc in ecological systems by breaking down trophic relationships and destroying or altering ecosystem function. The yellow crazy ant Anoplolepis gracillipes is listed as the sixth worst invasive alien species (and the most invasive and species) in the world (Global Invasive Species database 2009) and has recently invaded the Vallee de Mai, Praslin. On other islands, crazy ants have decimated land crab populations, and preyed on a variety of arthropods, reptiles, and birds on the forest floor and canopy, and previous literature has highlighted many problems associated with high densities of the species on native flora and fauna. This study aims to assess the distribution and density of the crazy ant population across the Vallee de Mai. Environmental variables (litter cover; bracken cover; ant use of canopy trees; canopy cover) will be evaluated in relation to ant density to identify which factors promote ant colonisation and survival. In addition, the impact of the yellow crazy ant on native flora and fauna will the determined using ground dwelling invertebrate biodiversity, crab abundance and seedling density as indicators.


Title Population Level Impacts of Pisonia Grandis Inflicted Mortality on Rare and Declining Seabird Species on Aride Island, Seychelles
Applicant Wade, Helen Mary
Address Centre for Ecology and Conservation, School of Viosciences, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Treliever Road, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9EZ, UK
E-mail hmw208@exeter.ac.uk
Summary of Research The present study aims to address those limitations by adjusting the methodology to increase representation and to make it more appropriate for the specific terrain of Aride Island, whilst still allowing the findings to be compared with similar collaborative research occurring on Cousin Island. The proposed study would form the baseline for long-term investigations into the impacts of P. grandis on Aride's breeding seabird populations.


Title Entanglement of Seabirds
Applicant Davies, Gareth Thomas Osborn
Address School of Biology, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TJ, UK
E-mail gtodavies@gmail.com
Summary of Research Entanglement of seabirds by Pisonia grandis seeds have been shown to lead to fatality and impact on the populations. In order to investigate this on Cousin Island. The researchers intend to :
1. quantify the seedling phenology of Pisonia grandis and the impact of the seed distribution on seabird mortality during a 3 month study period; directly counting mortality and seed density.
2. To use this data to assess the potential future impacts of these levels of mortality on specific bird populations; including breeding bird population surveys of seabirds.
3. To determine the best methods of quantifiably monitoring these effects over the long-term.
4. To quantify the levels of repeat entanglement by Pisonia grandis seed of previously entangled birds which have been cleaned.
5. To investigate and quantify potential future management techniques to mitigate the effect on seabird mortality.
6. To test whether the germination success of Pisonia grandis differs with the presence of a bird carcass or crab faeces in comparison to a solitary seed in sand and soil substances.


Title Present Taxonomy and Phylogeny of Polystachyinae Schltr. (Orchidaceae) as a Monograph of the Subtribe
Applicant Mytnik-Ejsmont, J.
Address Department of Plant Taxonomy and Nature Conservation, Al. Legionow 9 80-404 Gdansk, Poland
E-mail dokjom@univ.gda.pl
Summary of Research The aim of the project is to present taxonomy and phylogeny of Polystachyinae Schltr. (Orchidaceae) as a Monograph of the subtribe. The study is based both on morphological and molecular data. The expected date of finishing the project is December 2010. Most of the representatives of the subtribe has been analyzed molecularly (Russel et al. 2009, Mytnik-Ejsmont et al., in prep.) but a position of genus Hederorkis Thouars is still unclear because of lack of the DNA material of Polystachya concreta (Jacq.) Garay & H.R. Sweet and P. bicolor Rolfe will probably provide the answer about the status of both species, some authors suspect they are nonspecific. The field expedition to obtain the material of Hederorkis and Polystachya Hook would help to solve the problematic position of these taxa.



Latest Research Reports
Researcher Pandolfi, M. [et al.]
Title Report of the Preliminary Activities for the Katiti Conservation Project of the University of Urbino
Publication Imprint Universita degli Studi di Urbino
Collation 5p
Abstract The project aims to investigate aspects of the ecology of the Seychelles Kestrel between Mahe and Praslin in order to define the causes of the reintroduction failure and of the critical status of the Praslin population to underline a conservation programme. After the first visit to Mahe they conducted a preliminary study, contact and discussion with other members of the study group for the Katiti conservation. In the draft the first phase of the study (preliminary survey) was settled to start in September on Mahe to focus the situation and the distribution of the Katiti population on the island, to locate active pairs and to plan and test field research methodologies. In the sample they planned to include pairs that nest in the forest and in urban/sub-urban territories to evaluate difference in breeding success, behaviour, relative abundance, etc. between the populations and to plan future researches.


Researcher Eikenaar, C. [et al.]
Title Parent Presence, Delayed Dispersal, and Territory Acquisition in the Seychelles Warbler
Publication Imprint 2007
Collation 3p, ill.
Abstract The presence of parents in the natal territory may play an important, but often overlooked, role in natal dispersal and the consequent acquisition of a territory. Living with parents in a territory may confer a fitness advantage to subordinates through, for example, the nepotistic behaviour of the parents or indirect benefits gained by helping to raise nondescendent kin. When a parent is replaced by a stepparent, such advantages are reduced or disappear and, as a result, subordinates may disperse. Subordinates that disperse after parent replacement may be constrained in their timing of dispersal, which could have negative fitness consequences. In the cooperatively breeding Seychelles warbler, the researchers that when a parent was naturally replaced or experimentally removed and subsequently replaced by a stepparent from outside the territory, subordinates dispersing when both parents were still on the natal territory. Our finding suggests that the presence in the , natal territory may promote delayed dispersal and facilitate the eventual acquisition of a breeder position outside the natal territory.


Researcher Brouwer, L. [et al.]
Title RHeterozygosity-fitness Correlations in a Bottlenecked Island Species: a Case Study on the Seychelles Warbler
Publication Imprint 2007
Collation 4p, ill.
Abstract The researchers used capture-mark-recapture models to investigate the effects of both individual and parental heterozygosity, measured at microsatellite loci on the survival of Seychelles warblers (Acrocephalus sechellensis), an endemic island species which went through a service population bottleneck in the middle of the last century. We found that an individual’s survival was not correlated with multilocus heterozygosity, or with heterozysity at any specific locus. However, maternal, but not paternal, multilocus heterozygosity associated with offspring survival, but only in years with low survival probabilities. A nestling cross-fostering experiment showed that this was a direct maternal effect as there was an effect of the genetic mother’s, but not of the social mother’s, heterozygosity.


Researcher Richardson, D. S.
Title Grandparent Helpers: the Adaptive Significance of Older, Postdominant Helpers in the Seychelles Warbler
Publication Imprint 2007
Collation 6p, ill.
Abstract The possibility that older, often nonreproductive, individuals may engage in kin-directed cooperative behaviour has been largely overlooked in the study of cooperative breeding. The researchers describe and investigate the adaptive significance of such “grandparent” helpers in the Seychelles warbler, the first bird species in which this phenomenon has been observed. On Cousin Island, over a period of 24 years, a significant proportion (13.7%) of females, but few males (3.0%), was deposed from dominant positions. Deposed females were replaced by related females. However there was no evidence that older, senescent females were stepping aside to gain greater fitness benefits by increasing the reproductive success of their offspring, rather than breeding themselves; deposed females were not postreproductive, nor was being deposed linked to age or reproductive senescence. Of the deposed females, 68% became subordinates and helped to raise group offspring, accounting for ca. 10% of subordinates in any year.


Researcher Komdeur, J. [et al.]
Title Explicit Experimental Evidence for the Effectiveness of Proximity as Mate-guarding Behaviour in Reducing Extra-pair Fertilization in the Seychelles Warbler
Publication Imprint 2007
Collation 5p, ill.
Abstract Extra-pair copulations (EPCs; copulations outside the pair bond) are widespread in birds and may result in extra-pair fertilization (EPFs). To increase reproductive success, males should not only seek to gain EPFs, but also prevent their own females from gaining EPFs. Although males could reduce the number of EPFs; indeed several studies have found no association between EPCs and EPFs. Male Seychelles warblers (Acrocephalus sechellensis) follow their partner closely during the period when the pair female is most receptive (fertile period). The researchers show that males that guarded their mates more closely were less likely to have extra-pair young in their nest. This study on the Seychelles Warbler is the first to provide explicit experimental evidence that mate guarding is effective in reproducing EPFs. First, in territories where free-living males were induced to stop mate guarding during the pair female’s fertile period, extra-pair parentage was higher than in the control group. Second, in the experimental group, the probability of having an extra-pair nestling in the nest was positively associated with the number of days during the fertile period for which mate guarding was artificially stopped. Thus, male mate guarding was effective in reducing the risk of cuckoldry


Researcher Eikenaar, C. [et al.]
Title Sex Biased Natal Dispersal in a Closed, Saturated Population of Seychelles Warblers Acrocephalus Sechellensis
Publication Imprint 2007
Collation 3p, ill.
Abstract The distances that individuals disperse, from their natal site to the site of first breeding and between breeding sites, have important consequences for the dynamics and genetic structure of a population. Nearly all previous studies on dispersal have the problem that, because the study area encompassed only a part of the population, emigration may have been confounded with mortality. As a result long-distance dispersers may have been overlooked and dispersal data biased towards short distances. By studying a virtually closed population of Seychelles warblers Acrocephalus sechellesis the researchers obtained almost unbiased results on several aspects of dispersal. As in the majority of other avian species, natal dispersal distance was female biased in the Seychelles warbler. Female offspring also forayed further from the natal territory in search of breeding vacancies than male offspring. The sex bias in natal dispersal distance did, however, depend on local breeding density. In males, dispersal distance did not vary with local density. Dispersal by breeders was rare and, unlike in most species, distances did not differ between the sexes.



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Creation Date : 03 Jan 2001 / Last Updated on : 21 JULY 2010
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