Ona Corbero Forn
Master in biology
ona.corbero@unine.ch
Interests
My passion for the natural world and asking questions comes from a long way, as since I was little, I have been fascinated by all of nature’s intricacies and the ecological interactions surrounding us. And so, I studied Environmental Biology at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, and then I followed up with some practical field-based experiences on the areas that interested me the most, them being behavioural ecology and biodiversity conservation. I did an 8-month internship at the Inkawu Vervet Project in South Africa, observing vervet monkey interactions, and afterwards I worked as a research technician focusing on pollinator ecology and conservation at CREAF in Barcelona. As I started my masters in biology in Neuchâtel, I knew that I wanted to expand into new research areas while continuing to follow my interests, and I believe that pursuing my master thesis in the LEF is an ideal opportunity to do exactly that.
Master thesis
My master thesis takes place within the Black Rhino Ecology Project, led by postdoc Vanessa Duthé, focusing on olfactory communication in black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) through volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can be found in their dung. My thesis follows on the work of previous master student Sebastien Quingley, aiming to understand how this critically endangered mammal uses chemical signalling to exchange information between individuals, particularly focusing on individual odour signature.
During this past summer, together with fellow master student Manon Paché, we completed the data collection in the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park in South Africa, where we conducted several experiments and collected dung samples from wild, temporarily captive black rhinos.
This research is relevant as it specifically addresses knowledge gaps in black rhinoceros intraspecific communication and social structure and will potentially contribute to enabling better conservation practices for this species.
