Enhancing surveillance of African Swine Fever in Indonesia through advanced wild animal monitoring

STRUEBIG_K25ARIES

Enhancing surveillance of African Swine Fever in Indonesia through advanced wild animal monitoring

STRUEBIG_K25ARIES

Project Description

Supervisors

Dr Matthew Struebig, Anthropology and Conservation (DICE), University of Kent – contact me

Dr Eleni Matechou, SMSAS, University of Kent

Dr Dede Rahman, Faculty of Forestry & Environment, IPB University Indonesia

Dr Nurul Winarni, Research Center for Climate Change, University of Indonesia

 

Project background

African Swine Fever (ASF) is a fatal disease affecting domestic and wild pigs, and is impacting the pork industry, forest livelihoods and ecosystem balance across Eurasia and Africa. The disease is now established in Indonesia, which is home to six of Asia’s 11 wild pig species, including five endemics. From limited information available, we know the disease spread rapidly across Borneo and resulted in a near 100% fatality rate. The virus has now reached other islands where surveillance, monitoring and control remains weak.

ASF spreads between wild and domestic pigs. The World Organisation for Animal Health called for rapid improvements to wild pig monitoring across Asia so that epidemiologically-relevant population numbers can be estimated, and more robust ASF surveillance and control measures put in place. Pigs are seldom monitored specifically, but are frequently sampled as ‘bycatch’ in camera-trap surveys. This project will improve pig monitoring and disease surveillance using this ‘bycatch’ data, which can be easily scaled-up through ongoing monitoring to help Indonesia and other Asian countries track and control ASF.

The postgraduate researcher will analyse existing longitudinal camera-trap data from across Indonesia to quantify the population dynamics of pigs prior to and following the arrival of ASF. They will explore several statistical models to estimate pig population size from occupancy data, and then use this information to design bespoke camera surveys for pigs. They will have opportunity to trial this new design in Java, coupled with remote sensing data from drone or satellites, to target the endemic Javan warty pig and wild boar. Together with questionnaire surveys of key stakeholders, the project will lead to improved population estimates of pig species and ASF impact across the country.

The project is part of a new collaboration between Kent, the IUCN Wild Pig Specialist Group and existing conservation partners in Indonesia, embedded within a broader programme of biodiversity monitoring and ecological studies across Indonesia. The PhD results therefore have strong potential to influence environmental practices on the ground.

The successful candidate will have ecological fieldwork experience, strong analytical skills (including GIS), and be familiar with wildlife monitoring methods in challenging tropical environments.

Acceptable first degree subjects: Biology, ecology, conservation, wildlife management

References

  • Luskin, Meijaard, Surya, Sheherazade, Walzer, & Linkie (2021) African Swine Fever threatens Southeast Asia’s 11 endemic wild pig species. Conservation Letters, 14(3), e12784. https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12784
  • Rahman, Herliansyah, Subhan, Hutasoit, Imron, Kurniawan, Sriyanto, Wijayanto, Fikriansyah, Siregar, & Santoso (2023) The first use of a photogrammetry drone to estimate population abundance and predict age structure of threatened Sumatran elephants. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 21311. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-48635-y
  • Cowled, Ward, Holley, Oberin & Hillman (2022). African swine fever in wild pigs in the Asia and the Pacific region. World Organisation for Animal Health, Paris, France. https://doi.org/10.20506/ASF.3326
  • Harrison, Deere, Imron, Nasir … Struebig (2024) Impacts of fire and prospects for recovery in a tropical peat forest ecosystem. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121(17), e2307216121. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2307216121 (methodology in the SI)
  • Ardiantiono, Deere, Ramadiyanta, Sibarani, Hadi, Andayani, Ginting, Bull, & Struebig (2024) Selecting umbrella species as mammal biodiversity indicators in tropical forest. Biological Conservation, 292, 110511. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110511

Key Information

  • ARIES is currently awaiting confirmation of funding under the BBSRC-NERC DLA award scheme, which is expected shortly. Funding for this studentship is subject to this confirmation. The closing date for applications is 23:59 on 8th January 2025.
  • Successful candidates who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria will be awarded a fully-funded studentship, which covers fees, maintenance stipend (£19,237 p.a. for 2024/25) and research funding. A limited number of studentships are available for international applicants, with the difference between 'home' and 'international' fees being waived by the registering university. Please note however that ARIES funding does not cover additional costs associated with relocation to, and living in, the UK, such as visa costs or the health surcharge.
  • ARIES postgradute researcher (PGRs) benefit from bespoke graduate training and ARIES provides £2,500 to every student for access to external training, travel and conferences, on top of all Research Costs associated with the project. Excellent applicants from quantitative disciplines with limited experience in environmental sciences may be considered for an additional 3-month stipend to take advanced-level courses.
  • ARIES is committed to equality, diversity, widening participation and inclusion in all areas of its operation. We encourage enquiries and applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation and transgender status. Academic qualifications are considered alongside non-academic experience, and our recruitment process considers potential with the same weighting as past experience.
  • All ARIES studentships may be undertaken on a part-time or full-time basis. International applicants should check whether there are any conditions of visa or imigration permission that preclude part-time study. All advertised project proposals have been developed with consideration of a safe, inclusive, and appropriate research and fieldwork environment with respect to protected characteristics. If you have any concerns please contact us.
  • For further information, please contact the supervisor. To apply for this Studentship follow the instructions at the bottom of the page or click the 'apply now' link.
  • ARIES is required by our funders to collect Equality and Diversity Information from all of our applicants. The information you provide will be used solely for monitoring and statistical purposes; it will remain confidential, and will be stored on the UEA sharepoint server. Data will not be shared with those involved in making decisions on the award of Studentships, and will have no influence on the success of your application. It will only be shared outside of this group in an anonymised and aggregated form. You will be ask to complete the form by the University to which you apply.
  • If funded under the BBSRC-NERC DLA scheme, ARIES studentships will be subject to UKRI terms and conditions. Postgraduate Researchers are expected to live within reasonable distance of their host organisation for the duration of their studentship. See https://www.ukri.org/publications/terms-and-conditions-for-training-funding/ for more information

How to apply

1: Download ARIES Expression of Interest Form;        2: Send form and CV (2 pages) to kentgrc@kent.ac.uk