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Dr Elsa Amilhat
Research interests
CV
PhD research
Contact
Research Interests
My research interests are in the ecology and management of freshwater and coastal biological resources, especially in ecosystems that are subject to intense pressure from humans. I use field studies and population dynamics modelling to analyse interactions between aquatic resources and their users, to promote the long-term conservation through wise use that secures and enhances livelihoods of local communities.
CV
PDF in English PDF in French
Education
2002-2006: PhD Fisheries Ecology of rice farming landscapes in South East Asia. Imperial College UK.
1999-2000: Diploma of Advanced Studies (equivalent to a Master degree) of oceanography and marine biology, with a specialisation in modelling (numerical ecology, Matlab programming language). University Pierre Marie Currie (Paris 6, France)
1998-1999: Diploma of Superior Studies (equivalent of one year’s research in a laboratory) on "Age estimation at settlement and growth rate of Scaridae and Acanthuridae at Discovery Bay, Jamaica". Collaboration between ICLARM (International Centre of Living Aquatic Resource Management) and EPHE of Perpignan (France)
1997-1998: Maîtrise of Oceanology (diploma delivered after 4 years at the University). University Pierre Marie Currie (Paris 6, France)
Employment and work experience:
Dec 2004- Dec 2005: Project leader of the DFID funded project for dissemination of the SRS project findings in South East Asia. http://www.dfid.stir.ac.uk/Afgrp/projects/r7917/r7917.htm
July 2001- July 2004: Project coordinator of the DFID funded project: “Self-Recruiting Species (SRS) in Aquaculture, their role in rural livelihood”, based at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand.
Oct-Nov 2000: Study supervised by Serge Morand on the genetic variability of Anguillicolla crassus (eel parasites) European populations (ADN extraction, PCR, RAPD techniques). Laboratoire CNRS de Biologie Animale de Perpignan (zoological laboratory-France).
Feb.-June 2000: Characterisation of the vertical movements of the tuna Thunnus albacares (clustering, Matlab programme). Research supervised by Laurent Dagorn and Pascal Bach. Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD-France) of Montpellier.
Nov1998 - March 1999: Part time assistant in the Caribbean Marine Protected Areas Project (DFID and ICLARM funded), based at Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory, Jamaica (species identification, data collection, use of fish traps). Determination of a protocol for collecting Scaridae and Acanthuridae juveniles for growth and larval duration (otolitometry) studies. Research supervised by John Munro (ICLARM) and R. Lecomte (EPHE-Perpignan).
Apr-May 1998: Study on the reproduction characteristics of the coral Pocillopora eydouxi in the Eastern Pacific, supervised by Hector Guzman. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama.
Feb-March 1998: Technical assistant in the Meiofaune laboratory supervised by Guy Boucher. Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle (CNRS-France).
June 1996: Animal cares assistant and study on killer whales calf-mother relationships. Aquarium Marineland of Antibes, France.
PhD research
E. Amilhat (2006) Fisheries Ecology of rice Farming Landscapes: Self-recruiting Species in Farmer Managed Aquatic Systems. PhD thesis, University of London, London, UK.
Abstract PDF (email me for the full thesis)
Background
Aquaculture has been widely promoted in Asia as a solution to the increased demand for aquatic products. Making hatchery seed available to farmers and disseminating aquaculture techniques was therefore considered an essential step in intensifying the management of aquatic resources. This approach has allowed resource-rich farmers to intensify production and increase income, but has not always been adoptable by poorer producers.
Analysis of farmer practice quickly identified an important harvest of wild (non-stocked) animals that remain in farmer-owned systems. These animals find their own way into farmer systems, and are often actively encouraged by farmers to enter at times of flood. Although hatchery seed and other inputs for aquaculture systems have become increasingly available, there is a continued demand and preference for wild aquatic organisms.
Self- recruiting species (SRS) are defined as species that do not require repeated stocking in farmer-managed aquatic systems. SRS include both indigenous and exotic species. Recent research has highlighted the importance of wild fish in general and SRS in managed habitats to the livelihoods of the rural poor households. They play an important role in rural peoples’ diet and are a higher source of protein, vitamins and minerals than commonly stocked fish such as large carps. However, there is currently a lack of knowledge about which species are important and why, the degree to which they are actively managed, and what can be done to stabilise or improve their production. Aquaculture extension messages have so far not only ignored the importance of these resources, but often promoted management actions that have served effectively to reduce their availability.
Aims and Objectives
The aim of this research was to investigate the importance of wild fish in farmer-managed systems (Self Recruiting Species) as fishing resources for rural livelihoods, assess the factors influencing this resource, and explore management strategies that will enhance and sustain such production.
The main objectives of the research were to:
Characterise physically, biologically and from a management point of view the aquatic systems that are managed by the farmer and are the habitat for the self-recruiting species (SRS). Assess similarities and differences between rural areas of 3 major South East Asian countries: Northeast Thailand, South Cambodia and North Vietnam.
Establish the contribution of SRS to overall fish catches in the three regions.
Determine biological and environmental factors influencing SRS production.
Explore the population characteristics of a key SRS species, the chevron snakehead (Channa striata), and develop a model to predict the likely impact of management initiatives on its population dynamics and productivity.
Publications
Amilhat, E. & Lorenzen, K. (2005) Habitat use, migration pattern and population dynamics of chevron snakehead Channa striata in a rainfed rice farming landscape. Journal of Fish Biology 67(SB):23-34. PDF
Amilhat, E., Morales, E.J., Immink, A., Little, D.C., Lorenzen, K., Ul Islam, F. & Karapanagiotidis, I. (2005) Self-recruiting species in aquaculture: their role in rural livelihoods. Summary Report. DFID Aquaculture and Fish Genetics Research Programme. PDF
Scientific communications
International conferences:
- “Migration pattern and population dynamics of Channa striata in the rainfed rice farming landscape of Northeast Thailand”. 7th Asian Fisheries Forum (AFF), Malaysia, December 2004.
- “Habitat use, migration pattern and population dynamics of snakehead Channa striata in a rainfed rice farming landscape”. Fisheries Society of the British Isles Annual International Symposium (FSBI), UK, July 2005 et British Ecological Society (BES), UK, September 2005.
Seminar:
- “Fisheries ecology in rice farming landscapes”. Ecological Management Seminar Series, Silwood Park, Imperial College, UK, October 2005
Public exhibition:
- Participated in the DFID funded "Fields of Fish" exhibition at the Eden project. The exhibition was designed to improve public awareness of development issues arising from the Aquaculture and Fish Genetics Research Programme (AFGRP). Eden project, Cornwall, UK, 27-30th August 2004.
Poster:
- Self-Recruiting Species Ecology and management, 7th Asian Fisheries Forum (AFF), Malaysia, December 2004.
Contact
Dr Elsa Amilhat
7 rue Pountet de Bages
66100 Perpignan
France
E-mail: elsamil@yahoo.com
Tel: +33 (0) 468620043
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