2015 Advanced Field Course in Ecology and Conservation concludes----Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden,CAS

The 6-week Advanced Field Course in Ecology and Conservation-Xihuangbanna 2015 (AFEC-X 2015) came to a successful end on November 23, with 32 trainees from 11 countries presented their research to a panel of judges.
The course included lectures, practical work in the field of laboratories. The trainees learned patterns of species distribution, climate change biology, application of molecular biology in biodiversity conservation, conservation biology, invasion ecology, methods of investigating insects and birds, statistical analysis, R program, and experiment design etc. They investigated tropical vegetation around Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical garden (XTBG), canopy corridor, 20-ha forest dynamic plot, and canopy cranes. Course students also did a fieldtrip to "Yuanjiang Savana Ecological Station" in Yuanjiang National Nature Reserve from October 31 to November 3. Then they carried out group projects in and around XTBG
On November 23, the trainees presented their group work to the judges. The 7 projects were as following:
1. Edge effects on herb community in limestone forest and rubber plantation of XTBG: the conservation of native herbs
2. Does plant diversity increase top-down control of herbivorous insects in tropical forest?
3. Adaptive ability of seedlings of three important tree species in the limestone forest under two light conditions
4. Impacts of artificial light on the activity of insectivorous bats in different habitats
5. Habitat characteristics influence dragonfly diversity and abundance in Man-made ponds in XTBG
6. Influence of functional and social traits of bats on Ectoparasitism in XTBG
7. Ecological impacts of rubber plantation on ants.
The best research project award went to “Does plant diversity increase top-down control of herbivorous insects in tropical forest” completed by Dr.Bruno Pereira Leles from Brazil and Ms. Xiao Xue from XTBG.
Prof. Chen Jin conferred certificates to the trainees at the closing ceremony. They encouraged the trainees to keep in contact with each other and go further in research career. The trainees are expected to contribute more to regional biodiversity conservation.

Traineespresent their reseach project

Dr.Alice Hughs confers certificate to trainee

Best project winners:Bruno Pereira Leles and Xiao Xue

Trainees, judges and teachers pose agroup photo