April J Burt

Academic Profile

April has joined the 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 management of biodiversity adaptively, enabling data to be used to its full potential.

Current Research

Ensuring effective conservation management: A solid scientific based adaptive management strategy for a complex multi-faceted biodiversity hotspot.

Publications

Burt, A.J., Raguain, J., Sanchez, C., Brice, J., Fleischer-Dogley, F., Goldberg, R., Talma, S., Syposz, M., Mahony, J., Letori, J. and Quanz, C., 2020. The costs of removing the unsanctioned import of marine plastic litter to small island states. Scientific reports10(1), pp.1-10.

Cerutti, J.M.B., Burt, A.J., Haupt, P. et al. Impacts of the 2014–2017 global bleaching event on a protected remote atoll in the Western Indian Ocean. Coral Reefs 39, 15–26 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-019-01853-1

Appoo J, van de Crommenacker J, Sanchez C, Currie J, Burt AJ, Fleischer-Dogley F, Richards H. The Use of Aldabra and its Protected Waters by Marine Mammals. Seychelles Research Journal, Volume 1, Number 2, (2019).

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, P. H., Smit, K. P., Burt, A.J., 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

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.