The winner of the Southgate award for 2020 is a SAWMA early career researcher, Johanna Taylor!
Jo is currently affiliated with The Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa (iCWild), University of Cape Town, and is currently based at Karingani Game Reserve, Mozambique – bordering the Kruger National Park.
The award will assist in travel, accommodation and living expenses in Australia to assist with her studies hosted by her Australasian Host: Dr Ben Allen, University of Southern Queensland. The study topic is “Spotting the spotted: Using camera trap data to assess population dynamics of an elusive carnivorous marsupial, the New Guinea quoll (Dasyurus albopunctatus)”
Jo will collaborate with Dr Allen on the data collected from the Papua New Guinea camera trap survey to conduct population estimates of New Guinea quoll. This correlates with her work in Southern Africa conducting camera trap research on another cryptic and small carnivore, the serval. The results will be presented to either SAWMA or AWMS annual conference and Jo will also provide feedback that will be published in the SAWMA newsletter from time to time.
The award will also cover registration fees to attend an AWMS conference where she will present her study results.
