Comprehensive biodiversity documentation

Nature conservation is most effective if it is based on an in-depth understanding of its targets. For this reason, the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Laboratory has been conducting a comprehensive documentation of all species of multicellular organisms found in the Greater Gorongosa Ecosystem and the intricate relationships among them. Since 2013 we have been systematically surveying all major landscapes of Gorongosa and building a database that allows us to understand our species richness, their taxonomic diversity, distribution, and seasonality. Based on ca. 143,000 individual observations of over 6,700 species of animals and plants, we have been able to identify areas of particular importance for conservation, including areas of endemism and hotspots of species richness. We have also discovered over 100 species new to science and many species of conservation concern. Specimens collected during our surveys are part of the Gorongosa Synoptic Collection, a valuable repository of genetic and taxonomic diversity that is used daily by researchers and students working in the park to answer questions about our complex ecosystem.

Diversity and behavior of acoustic animals

The world of acoustic animals, especially those that use sounds beyond the human ability to hear is still poorly understood but rich in interesting and unexpected interactions. In the Wilson Lab we focus on two groups in particular, insects and bats, and the intricate relationships among them. We are studying the diversity of katydids, grasshoppers, and their allies, and documenting the wide range of their acoustic behaviors. We have also built a library of ultrasonic calls of nearly 50 species of Gorongosa bats that we now use to identify them in the field. We conduct observations and experiments on bat-insect interactions, and the evolution of behavioral strategies that insects use to defend themselves against bat predation. In our newly created Bat Laboratory we plan to start a project to identify the context of bat social calls and conduct a series of experiments on the hunting strategies of bats.

Long-term monitoring of the recovery of large mammal populations

Wildlife numbers have fluctuated dramatically over the course of the 60 year existence of Gorongosa National Park. Historical aerial counts of the large wildlife started in 1969. A fixed-wing aircraft was used. From 1972, a long hiatus occurred as a consequence of the civil war. The first post-war survey took place in 1994 formally documenting the decimation of the large wildlife. Another fixed-wing count was done in 1997. From the year 2000 onwards, a helicopter was used to document the recovery of animal numbers. Since 2012, a biennial aerial wildlife count has been undertaken. The core part of the Park is covered in its entirety whereas the eastern and western shoulders of the Rift Valley are surveyed using sample lines. Data are now available for a total of 16 aerial counts. All observations are georeferenced. The database contains 94,609 entries.

Gorongosa Savanna Ecology Project

This large-scale experiment was initiated in 2021 to determine the role of fire and large mammals, two major drivers of savannas, in shaping the diversity and structure of these ecosystems.  We are manipulating the presence of large mammals through exclosures and testing the effects of early and late season fires on everything from soils to vegetation to insects, reptiles, and mammals.  This project has been the source of multiple Gorongosa Master’s in Conservation Biology theses  and will continue to address long-standing questions in savanna ecology for years to come.  

Mt. Gorongosa Ecological Reforestation Project

Forest restoration is critical for biodiversity and climate change mitigation.  Developing reforestation methods based on ecological principles is therefore necessary for conservation.  We are applying principles of chemical ecology to reforestation on Mt. Gorongosa, a highly diverse and threatened section of Gorongosa National Park.  As insect herbivores can limit seedling growth, we are planting a diversity of species differing in their phytochemical and physical anti-herbivore defenses.  This project will continue for many years and will illustrate the value of considering plant defenses when designing reforestation programs.  This project has already formed the basis of one master’s thesis [LINK].

Trophic Interactions Research

Most of the planet’s macrodiversity is comprised of plants and the insects that feed upon them—these two groups account for almost 60% of described species.  Understanding plant-insect interactions motivates thousands of ecological studies, and natural history data on herbivore life cycles and diets are the basis of this research.  We are therefore steadily collecting and rearing caterpillars and registering data about their host plants.  This allows to document the full life cycles of these abundant herbivores, as the immature stages (caterpillars) of many moths and butterflies are still unknown.  It also allows us to understand herbivore diet breadth and even tritrophic interactions as we often rear parasitoid wasps and flies from our caterpillars.  This project helps us understand the incredible diversity of interactions in Gorongosa.