“Implications of climate and anthropogenic land-use change on bird species composition and distribution in Nigeria”
Country of Study
Nigeria
Institution
University of Jos
Expected Year of Completion
2024
Thematic Area
Climate Change, Natural Resources and the Environment
Education
Nanchin is pursuing her PhD in Zoology at the University of Jos in Nigeria and a Research Associate at the A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute within the university. She holds an MSc in Conservation Biology from the same University, and is expecting to complete her studies in 2024.
Research Summary
Human population expansion is associated with land-use changes, altering the earth’s biomes, and giving rise to a new era referred to as the Anthropocene. These changes in land cover, mostly due to intensified agriculture and urbanisation, had led to the destruction of 88% of global primary vegetation by the year 2000 and the loss of up to 40% of species in some of the most biologically diverse areas globally. Nanchin’s research crucially focusses on how urbanisation and agricultural intensification affect biodiversity, specifically bird species composition and distribution in Nigeria, as they form a very important component of human land-use activities. With aggravated anthropogenic landscape transformation, a reduction in habitat availability and quality for species is expected, and taking a cue from the birds, people will be better informed on how to manage the environment.
