Tim R. McClanahan, Ph.D.

Research

Tim McClanahan is a conservation biologist for the Wildlife Conservation Society in Kenya. McClanahan’s Pew fellowship focused on developing coral reef restoration methods; gaining a better understanding of the way fishing, pollution, and sediments affect coral reef ecology; and improving communication, understanding, and interactions among coral reef ecologists in the Indian Ocean region. McClanahan investigated restoration techniques including the removal of large brown algae using wire brushes and garden shears, the addition of sea urchins in reefs dominated by brown algae, and the reduction of sea urchins in reefs dominated by urchins due to a history of overfishing and reduced sea urchin predator abundance. The findings of these investigations suggest that the reduction of sea urchins is a good restoration technique, in conjunction with reduced fishing effort. McClanahan also conducted extensive studies on the interaction of herbivory, pollution, and sediments in Kenya and Belize. These studies suggest that brown algal dominance of coral reefs can be caused by low herbivory and the dominance of turf algae by high nutrients. McClanahan’s experiments helped identify restoration techniques that can be used by local people to restore their reefs and sustainably manage their fisheries.

To learn more about McClanahan, visit his bio online: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_R._McClanahan.