Dr Dawn Phillip
Email: DPhillip@fsa.uwi.tt
Dawn obtained her Ph.D. in 1998.
Biological diversity and ecology of freshwater fish in Trinidad
with Dawn Phillip (IMA Trinidad), Mary Alkins-Koo and Indar Ramnarine (UWI Trinidad)
The rich diversity of freshwater fish in the neotropical island of Trinidad, and in its sister island, Tobago, is presently under threat from deforestation, population growth and pollution. This recently completed project, in collaboration with the University of the West Indies, measured the biodiversity of freshwater fish communities in Trinidad and Tobago, and developed educational and management schemes to help conserve it. Our primary objective, now fulfilled, was to complete a rigorous and quantitative survey of freshwater fish diversity in the twin islands. This information is being used to create a database against which future changes in biodiversity can be monitored. In addition, water quality data were collected and used to assess the impact of pollution of biodiversity. Educational material, emphasising the unique significance of the Trinidadian fish fauna and stressing the importance of biodiversity and conservation, is now being produced for local undergraduates and secondary schools. Although the primary justification for funding was the applied nature of the project, the data set is providing an important opportunity to test ideas concerning community structure, such as the diversity/productivity hypothesis. We have also uncovered remarkable rates of species turnover and gained new insights into the relationship between community composition and biodiversity. The research was funded by the Darwin Initiative, UK.
Mary, Indar, Dawn and Anne at the Darwin Symposium 'Impacts of Development on River Biodiversity'. This symposium was held in Trinidad in 1998, as part of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the University of the West Indies. The symposium reported the results of the above project to an invited audience of people concerned with environmental issues in Trinidad.
