April has joined the lab through the NERC DTP after spending the past eight years in conservation management and research positions in the western Indian Ocean region, including working in senior scientific roles for GVI Seychelles, Nature Seychelles and lastly as the scientific coordinator for Aldabra atoll, a marine UNESCO world heritage site. April was responsible for managing the research team on Aldabra; maintaining the data quality of a broad monitoring programme. April holds a degree in marine biology, is a qualified divemaster and certified bird ringer. She has authored or co-authored several scientific publications and is specialised in both marine and terrestrial tropical habitat monitoring and conservation. One of April’s goals is to ensure effective and adaptive management of biodiversity, enabling data to be used to its full potential.

Current Research

I am interested in improving the effective management of island ecosystems within small island developing states. I will be working with Dr Lindsay Turnbull and Professor Alex Rogers to determine how best Island ecosystems should be managed and how connected these ecosystems are.

Contact Details

april.burt@queens.ox.ac.uk

Twitter: @apriljazB

Publications

Jörgensen, T, L. Martin, E., Burt, A. J. 2015. Spatial variability in habitat structure and heterogenic coral reef fish assemblages inside a small-scale marine reserve after a coral mass mortality event. Journal of Ocean and Coastal management, 114: 32-41.

Burt, A. J. Dunn, N. Mason-Parker, C. Antha, S. Mortimer, J.M. 2015. Curieuse National Park, Seychelles: Critical Management Needs for Protection of an Important Nesting Habitat. Marine Turtle Newsletter, 147:6-11.

Burt, A.J. Gane, J. Olivier, I. Calabrese, L. De Groen, A. Liebrick, T. Marx, D. Shah, N.J. 2016. The History, Status and Trends of the Endangered Seychelles Magpie-Robin Copsychus sechellarum. Bird Conservation International. doi:10.1017/S0959270915000404

Gane, J. Burt, A J. 2016. Longevity and Survival of the Endangered Seychelles Magpie-Robin Copsychus sechellarum. Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology, 87(1), 81-83.

Montoya-Maya PH, Smit KP, Burt AJ, Frias-Torres S (2016) Large-scale coral reef restoration could assist natural recovery in Seychelles, Indian Ocean. Nature Conservation 16: 1-17. https://doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.16.8604