Dr. Talatu Tende

Treasurer

Dr. Talatu Tende is a graduate of Zoology with an MSc in Conservation Biology from the A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute (APLORI) Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.  Dr. Tende is an ardent ornithologist, an ecologist, molecular and wildlife biologist. Her PhD work was on the genetics of Nigerian Lions (Panthera leo), from Lund University, Sweden, with one-year postdoctoral experience with the University of Pretoria, South Africa. She has conducted a series of ecological research on birds and mammals both in Europe and sub-Saharan African countries. Most of her research findings have been published in high impact international journals. With a deep interest in Conservation Biology, she employs the use of both invasive and non-invasive methods together with molecular techniques (DNA, PCR, sequencing, etc.) to provide answers to ecological questions such as population size estimate, geneflow, movement patterns, migration and dispersal as well as genetic diversity within and between populations. As the current manager of the Nigerian Bird Atlas Project, she sees to the management of the day-to-day activities of the project. She also organizes and coordinates field activities of various atlas teams and bird clubs around the country. She organizes workshops, seminars and training on the project around Nigerian Universities and conservation-related institutions within and outside Nigeria to promote citizen science. Dr Tende is actively involved in carrying out field surveys for the Nigerian Bird Atlas Project. She has a very good knowledge of Nigerian birds after traveling and working in all of its main biomes and habitats. Dr Tende has been a staff of the A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute close to 15 years now, where she lectures and supervises masters’ students and conducts ecological research projects. She is currently the Research Director of the A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute.