Enthusiastic and committed, Brigitte Melly is to receive a Bronze award for her Masters dissertation from the Council of the Society of South African Geographers (SSAG), entitled “The Zoogeography of the cetaceans in Algoa Bay”.
Brigitte’s research has determined the spatial and temporal distribution of the six species of whales and dolphins found in the bay off Port Elizabeth.
Employing a variety of statistical and geographic information systems (GIS) analyses, she collected primary data during boat-based surveys on cetacean species, their location, the number of animals and their behaviour.
“The results were used to produce a set of recommendations and guidelines for improved management, conservation and research in the bay,” she says. “Consequently many people were involved, and I am grateful for all their input into my project- field assistants, funders and scientists included.”
Brigitte is very excited about receiving the award. “For me, the award is a bonus but what means more to me was the privilege of being able to conduct such interesting research that would contribute valuable knowledge about the cetaceans in the bay.
“I really enjoyed every part of my Masters (even though there are ups and downs), from the research to the fieldwork and the writing up and seeing what the data showed in the end.”
She was nominated by her supervisor, Prof Gillian McGregor, with the assistance of Prof Ian Meiklejohn.
In order to conduct surveys at sea; she had to obtain a skipper’s licence, spending “many cold wet and windy hours on the ocean” during the 18 month research period, says Prof McGregor. And to obtain the licence, Brigitte had to clock in over 100 hours at sea as well a theory course to learn the rules of the sea, how to read charts and emergency drills.
An avid environmentalist, Brigitte believes that cetaceans are an important component of the ocean’s ecosystem. “Cetaceans are major consumers on most trophic levels and they are also long-lived, so they can be used as indicators of ecosystem health and productivity (i.e. they reflect the effects of humans and natural factors on lower trophic levels in the marine environment).”
Whales and dolphins along our coast take strain under, among other threats, increased shipping (which could lead to increased ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear); coastal pollution; the destruction and/or alteration of coastal habitats; overfishing; human harassment (particularly powerboats and jet skis) and climate change.
Prof McGregor praised Brigitte for her collegial approach, as opposed to the usual student/teacher relationship, saying that: “Her examiner reviews were outstanding, suggesting that the work was of a calibre suitable for a PHD and that the work was some of the best they have seen in all their years as academics”.
“She was a great mentor and always supported and challenged me. Her confidence in me has helped me to become assured my abilities and for that I am very thankful,” added Brigitte.
The SSAG will formally present the Bronze Medal Award to Brigitte at its 2012 Conference in Cape Town, which is held from 19-23 June. The Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences at the University of Cape Town is hosting the conference on behalf of the Society.
By Anna-Karien Otto
Photo: supplied