MBiol Student
alana.zammit@keble.ox.ac.uk

Alana Zammit

Background

I have always had a particular fondness for the lesser-loved creatures of the world: the insects that were stamped on in the playground and the bats regarded as terrifying. I felt that these animals were misunderstood. As I have grown older, this feeling has converted into a desire to increase education surrounding the importance of all creatures. It is all too apparent that humans are irreversible damaging the natural world, endangering the species that we rely upon. Reading avidly about this as I grew up opened my eyes to this reality, and ever since, I have been determined to do my part to protect and restore nature. Being a part of the ICCS is therefore a hugely exciting opportunity for me, and I look forward to seeing where it takes me in the future!

Current Research

My Masters project looks at how beef farming affects the functional composition of insectivorous bats in the Brazilian Amazon. As the human population is rapidly growing, the demand and thus land dedicated to agriculture has concurrently increased. The effects of land-use change on the functional trait diversity (such as wing morphology or body size) of bats is largely unknown. By focusing on these traits, my project aims to understand which bat species are likely to persist in agricultural landscapes and which may become increasingly threatened. This knowledge will help conservation efforts more effectively protect the incredible biodiversity in these tropical regions.

Brief CV

Internship at Cardiff University looking at the responses of ants to elevational gradients (2023)

Volunteer at a hedgehog rehabilitation charity (2018-2021)

Awarded the Johnson Prize for meritorious work in Biology (2024)