Research interests

• Conservation and biodiversity
• Land use and sustainable development
• Biology and ecology of African bats (Chiroptera)
• Tropical ecology

 

 

 

 

 

Scientific projects

Since I finished my Diploma thesis in 2005 (“Home range and foraging behaviour of the African long-tongued bat Megaloglossus woermanni in Lama Forest, Benin”), I am an associated researcher of the Institute of Experimental Ecology, University of Ulm conducting joint projects with the Institute of Experimental Ecology and other institutions:

• Assessment of bats and conservation implications in the Gola Forest (ARTP), Sierra Leone and Liberia, RSPB Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), UK
• Biodiversity baseline study on bats at Putu Range, PIOM Inc., Liberia.
• Desk study on the potential bat fauna in and ecological value of the Tonkolili area, Sierra Leone, Worley Parsons, UK.
• Assessment of bats for pilot study on bats and diseases in Industrie Forestière d’Ouesso (IFO), Republic of Congo, Robert Koch-Institut Berlin, Germany
• Bat survey and environmental impact assessment in the Sabodala area, Senegal, SRK Consulting, Canada
• Assessment of bats and conservation implications in the Gola Forest Reserve, Sierra Leone, RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, UK)
• Assessment of bats and their functional role as part of the ECOFOR project “Biodiversity and sustainable use of gallery forests in southern Mali”, funded by the French Ministry of Sustainable Development and coordinated by Laurent Granjon (IRD Montpellier) and Philippe Birnbaum (CIRAD).
• Applied research on the production of Carapa oil used as biological insecticide in the cultivation of organic cotton in southern Mali as part of the ECOFOR project in cooperation with HELVETAS-Mali.
• “Survey of endemic and globally threatened bat species in the Fouta Djallon Plateau for conservation priorities in Guinea”, funded by Van Tienhoven Foundation for International Nature Protection, University of Ulm (BIOTA project) and Conservation International.
• Survey of small mammals (bats, rodents, and shrews) of Atewa Range Forest Reserve, Ghana, within the Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) coordinated by Conservation International.

Publications

Weber, N, Birnbaum, P, Forget, P-M, Gueye, M & Kenfack, D (2010) L’huile de carapa (Carapa spp., Meliaceae) en Afrique de l’Ouest: utilisations et implications dans la conservation des peuplements naturels. Fruits 65(6).

Weber, N & Fahr, J (2009) Assessment of the bat fauna of Gola Forest Reserve, Sierra Leone, with recommendations for monitoring programs. Final project report to 'Royal Society for the Protection of Birds' (RSPB), Ulm University. 40 pp.

Weber, N, Kalko, EKV & Fahr, J (2009) A first assessment of home range and foraging behaviour of the African long-tongued bat Megaloglossus woermanni (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) in a heterogeneous landscape within the Lama Forest Reserve, Benin. Acta Chiropterologica 11(2).

Weber, N (2008) La production d’huile de Carapa (Kobi) dans les forêts du Sud Mali (Régions Sikasso, Madina Diassa et Mts. Mandingues): potentialités et savoir-faire locaux. Final report to Helvetas & ECOFOR. 14 pp.

Weber, N & Fahr, J (2007) A rapid survey of small mammals from Atewa Range Forest Reserve, Eastern Region, Ghana, in: A Rapid Biological Assessment of Atewa Range Forest Reserve, Ghana, (eds. McCullough, J., Alonso, L. E., Naskrecki, P., Wright, H. E. & Osei-Owusu, Y.), 90-98, 178-180. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment, Vol. 47. Conservation International, Arlington, Virginia. 194 pp.

Weber, N & Fahr, J (2007) Survey of Endemic and Globally Threatened Bat Species in the Fouta Djallon Highlands for Conservation Priorities in Guinea. Final project report to the Van Tienhoven Foundation for International Nature Protection, Conservation International & Guinée
Ecologie. 38 pp.

Conference contributions

Talks

Weber N, Granjon L, Fahr J (2010) Gallery forests boost bat diversity in southern Mali, West Africa 15th International Bat Research Conference, 23.-27. August 2010, Prague, Czech Republic

Forget, P-M & Weber, N (2009) Carapa crop and oil production: to be or not to be sustainable and equitable. Joint meeting of ATBC and gtoe, Marburg, Germany, 27.-30. Jul. 2009.

Weber, N (2008) Production of insecticide oil from the Carapa tree (Kobi) in South Mali: traditional values and economic potential. Workshop on multiple aspects of conventional and organic cotton cultivation in West Africa, Ulm, Germany, 20.-21. Okt. 2008.

Weber, N (2005) Fouragierverhalten von Megaloglossus woermanni in Benin. German Bat Research Group Meeting, Blaubeuren, Germany,
4.-6. Feb. 2005.

Posters

Weber, N, Forget, P-M & Birnbaum, P (2005) Production of insecticide oil from the Carapa tree (Kobi) in southern Mali: Traditional values and economic potential. Joint meeting of ATBC and gtoe, Marburg, Germany, 27.-30. Jul. 2009.