ENHG Lecture May 7th: Dispersal, habitat preference and morphometry of an Arabian Longhorn beetle

ENHG LECTURE MAY 7: Dispersal, habitat preference and morphometry of an Arabian Longhorn beetle (Anthracocentrus arabicus (Thompson, 1877)) by Dr.Brigitte Howarth and Dr. Janine Tan 

Time: Talk begins 7:30, Membership sign up available from 7:00pm 

Venue: Saadiyat Rotana Hotel, Olive Garden ( outdoor area near Pool Bar) 

About the talk: The talk will discuss a study that Brigitte and team have now completed, taking us 5 successive seasons, and one more to establish certain observed patterns in the Arabian Longhorn beetle. Essentially as with many arthropod species in the UAE, its conservation status is yet unclassified, but some of the findings are worrying , showing that this species may be at significant risk of population decline. One of the reasons is the restricted movement pattern this species has. Dispersal patterns over the adult season, September – January, was studied from 2013-2017 within two locations in the UAE, by marking, release and recapture of individuals. Dead beetles were also collected for morphometric data.  https://www.thenational.ae/uae/a-spotlight-on-uae-s-longhorn-beetles-1.598710

About the speakers: 

Dr. Brigitte Howarth, Associate Professor, Zayed University is an ecologist with extensive experience in desert ecology. Her first degree was in Applied Ecology (BSc (Hons)), and her PhD in ecological entomology. Over the past few years at Zayed University she has shared her time between the Center for Educational Innovation (CEI) and her home unit which is within the College of Natural and Health Sciences, Department of Life and Environmental Science. In that department, she is an Associate Professor, delivering courses that give students an understanding of biology and ecology. She has a passion for bringing the classroom alive with interactive teaching methods, and as such is a keen advocate of facilitated learning and skills sets that build habits of mind, developing life-long learning. At the CEI, her role is to support the Center's activities, and specifically to interface with Colleges. She was a member of the team which developed a faculty development certificate, now accredited by the Higher Education Academy of the UK, now re-named to Advance HE.  At Zayed University she has had many roles, e.g. serving as Chair of the Department of Natural Science and Public Health, working with colleagues as Co-Chair of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) re-accreditation process. She currently lectures in ecology at Zayed University, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and is involved as the chair of the Emirates Natural History Group, Al Ain, as well as serving in many other capacities (curator and custodian of the entomological collection, speaker coordinator, recording officer, outreach coordinator). Having spent 20 years in the Middle East, Brigitte has a good understanding of the local species biodiversity, and researches the insect biodiversity of the various terrestrial habitats found in the UAE. Her interests have expanded to researching how and why ecosystems have changed through land use change and development, and is currently assessing how these changes are impacting species biodiversity in the United Arab Emirates.

Dr. Janine Tan, Assistant Professor, Zayed University, faculty member of the College of Natural and Health Sciences and the Department of Life and Environmental Science at Zayed University since 2012.  She has taught across a number of courses within the Environmental and sustainability sciences major. She completed her graduate studies in the UK, an MSc in Applied Entomology and a PhD in Ecology in forestry.  Since joining Zayed University the main research focus has been on Anthracocentrus arabicus, with Dr. Brigitte Howarth. 

This talk is generously hosted by Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas. 

Tribulus copies will be available for members (free) or for sale for non members (AED 50)

All ENHG talks are free and open to the public, please register your interest.