Journal of Biodiversity & Endangered Species

Brigitte Howarth

Brigitte Howarth
Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Natural Science and Public Health, College of Sustainability Sciences and Humanities
Zayed University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Biography

Dr Brigitte Howarth is an experienced ecologist, with a BSc in applied ecology (University of East London, 1992), and a Ph.D in ecological and behavioural entomology (University of Central Lancashire, 1998). She has a thorough knowledge of the UAE and Oman’s ecology, fauna and flora, with over 10 years experience in this region. She is a recognised expert in the local (UAE) insect fauna, including the Oman border region, specialising in the flies (Diptera), but is also skilled in identifying other insect orders. She has helped in the identification of medically important ticks from offshore oil platforms in the UAE. As well as serving as Chair of the Department of Natural Science and Public Health, she currently lectures in ecology at Zayed University, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and is involved with the the Emirates Natural History Group, Al Ain, where she has served in many different capacities (curator and custodian of the entomological collection, chair, vice chair, speaker coordinator, recording officer, outreach coordinator). Brigitte has conducted a number of ecological research projects, and has presented work at international conferences. She is experienced in terrestrial and aquatic (freshwater) environmental survey techniques and has conducted over 25 terrestrial ecology baseline surveys, biodiversity action plans and archaeology surveys for Environmental Impact Assessments.

Research Interest

Recording of baseline data for arthropods (mainly insects) of the UAE and Northern Oman
Ecology and behaviour of insects
Avian visual recognition and the development of predator avoidance strategies in insects
Anglo-European perceptions and ecological realities in the Arabian Peninsula early to mid-twentieth century