UNITS OF THE CERS:
Unit of Pollution and Risk Assessments
Study the effect pollutants or contaminants relevant to the wellbeing of the physical system and living organisms. Also to evaluates the potential adverse effects that human activities have on the plants and animals within the ecosystems.
Unit of Molecular Analysis of Ecology
Applies molecular (mostly microsatellites) population genetics, molecular phylogenetics and genomics to traditional ecological questions (e.g., species diagnosis, conservation and assessment of biodiversity, species inter-relationships and many questions in behavioural ecology).
Unit of Marine Ecology and Biology
Focuses on interaction of organisms in the marine environment and estuary, and biodiversity of these ecosystems.
Unit of Terrestrial Biodiversity
Investigates the biology, taxonomy, ecology and survey of terrestrial organisms with particular emphasis on plants, insects, arachnids and crustaceans of economic importance using a multidisciplinary approach
Unit of Introduction to Saudi Arabia of Agriculture and Non-native Species
Investigates the possibility of introducing a plant(s) and animal(s) species of economic importance for agriculture production and biological control of pests which are harmful in terms of health, or the economic value of the crop and uses the best technology to test or measure the following in respect of these species; (i) ability to adapt in the new environment; (ii) their adverse effect on the ecosystem. Finally the search method should be based on a proven global experience in environments similar to the environment of Saudi Arabia.
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Unit of Environmental Tourism
It focuses on selecting unique and remarkable environments with natural beauty and wonder in Jazan and increases the awareness of people and policy makers to protect and restore the ecologically fragile parts of Jazan.
Unit of Assessment and Account
Focuses on (1) measurement and comparison of the employee’s actual performance with the objectives and standard set by the centre, (2) measurement of the market value, cost of goods, services and assets.
Unit of Cost-benefit Analysis
Helping to appraise, or assess, the case for a project or proposal in money terms in order to see whether the benefits outweigh the costs
Units Research Priorities at CERS:
Unit of Pollution and Risk Assessments
Research Priorities:
1. Evaluating the effects of heavy use of pesticides on soil fertility.
2. Evaluate the contribution of livestock wastes and fertilizers to water pollution.
3. Comparative studies to evaluate the traces of pesticides on vegetables in Jazan after harvesting with internationally accepted levels.
4. Evaluate the effect of pollution on the marine ecosystem
5. Survey of significant biota within the surroundings of a sewage treatment plant in Jazan.
6. The effect of pollution on coral reef, coastal fauna and flora.
7. Air pollution and its effects on plants
8. An assessment of heavy metal contamination in vegetables grown in Jazan
9. Insecticide residues in stored grains in Jazan
10. Determination of organochlorine pesticide residues in fresh water fish species in Jazan
11. Organochlorine pesticide residues in milk and dairy products in Jazan
12. Detection of arsenic in water, herb and soil samples
13. Monitoring heavy metal pollution in Jazan
14. Characterization and quality effect of sperm for smoking and non-smoking students.
15. Survey of organochlorine pesticide residues in human milk of mothers living in Jazan.
16. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in fruit and vegetables grown in Jazan.
17. Lead and cadmium in wheat grain.
Unit of Molecular Analysis or Ecology
Research Priorities:
1. Molecular identification of prey in predator diets.
2. Assessing insect parasitism using molecular techniques.
3. Molecular charaterization of species status in a species complex of plants and animals.
4. Analysis of the gut contents of insect predators for predation on date palm pests (substitute any other crop you like) as part of a strategy to maximise natural regulation of pests.
5. Analysis of the gut content of commercially important fish using pyrosequencing.
6. Molecular analysis of the diets of seabirds for predation on commercially important fish stocks.
7- Molecular approaches to characterize the reaction of living organisms to their environment.
Unit of Marine Ecology and Biology
Research Priorities:
- the assessment of marine bivalves and polychaetes species diversity and any taxonomic revisions
- The study of benthic community structure
- the establishment of a biotope mapping programme with the aim of producing data
Unit of Terrestrial Biodiversity
Research Priorities:
1. Survey of the fauna and flora of Jazan.
2. Evaluating the effects of urbanization on ecosystems.
3. Study to identify factor and causes of plant decline
4. Distribution of mosquitoes in relation to urban landscape characteristics
5. Revision of any taxonomic group of plants and animals of the Arabian peninsula
6. Survey of the Tenebrionidae and Carabidae and investigation into the spatial separation of species in relation to substrate and other environmental factors.
7. Survey of the saproxylic (wood decay) Coleoptera associated with woody trees and shrubs, and investigation of the host range of the common species.
8. Malaria control: study involve new interventions, cost-effective and efficient manner that reduce transmission of malaria: to develop better insecticides, new method to control vector (mosquitoes), transgenic mosquitoes, new or advance attractants and repellents pheromones, larviciding.
9. Morphological charaterization or describing new species of plants and animals.Agroecological studies on Jazan and the KSA,
10. Antioxidants and pigments in plants an algae,
11. Effect of abiotic stresses on crops and range species.
Unit of Introduction to Saudi Arabia of Agriculture and Non-native Species
Research Priorities:
Research suggests looking at the possibility of introducing a plant(s) and animal(s) species of economic importance for agriculture production and biological control of pests which are harmful in terms of health, or the economic value of the crop, and uses the best technology to test or measure the following in respect of these species to; (i) ability to adapt in the new environment; (ii) have their adverse effects on the ecosystem. Finally the search method on the proven global experience in environments similar to the environment of Saudi Arabia.
Unit of Environmental Tourism
Research Priorities:
1. Research to minimize the negative aspects of conventional tourism on the environment and enhance the cultural integrity of local people.
2. Research on creating economic opportunities for local communities in Jazan
3. The effects of tourism on the development of Jazan communities
4. Research into attitudes of Jazan people toward sustainable ecological tourism.
5. How to increase tourism’s pro-poor benefits
6. Tourism and urban development
7. Tourism and the natural environment in Jazan
8. How can tourism development be changed to increase benefits for people of Jazan.