The Department of Life Sciences

Education

• Ph.D. Candidate – Plant Science, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad 2018 – Present
• M.Phil. – Plant Science, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad 2004
• B.Sc. – Botany and Zoology (Hon.), The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad 1997

Project Details

Title: 'The Diversity and Ecophysiology of Bryophytes as Indicators of Hydrology in Trinidad and Tobago'

Summary: Bryophytes are known to exhibit high levels of diversity and occupy a large variety of habitats in tropical forests. They are an important component of forest ecosystems and are a notable feature of the epiphytic community. In Trinidad and Tobago, as plant group, they have not been as well studied as their vascular relatives. The liverworts in particular are also underrepresented in the local herbarium collections. The distribution patterns of stable isotopes, abundance and diversity of epiphytic bryophytes have been shown to correlate with altitudinal variation on the continental mainland. The current research investigates these distribution patterns and diversity of bryophytes on an island scale across the Northern Range of Trinidad and Main Ridge of Tobago. Specific objectives include the estimation of the species richness and diversity of bryophytes and identification of spatial and seasonal patterns in oxygen and carbon stable isotopes in rainfall, atmospheric water vapour and tissue (water and organics) of bryophytes in response to altitudinal variation.

Supervisor: Prof. John Agard

Co-supervisors: Prof. Howard Griffith (Cambridge) and Dr. Mike Oatham

Advisory Committee member: Ms. Yasmin Baksh-Comeau

Work Experience

• STB Consulting, Trinidad & Tobago – Owner and Lead Consultant – 2014-present
• The National Herbarium of Trinidad & Tobago, UWI, St. Augustine- Research Assistant – 2016-2019
• Environmental, Health & Safety Unit, Ministry of Works and Transport, Government of Trinidad & Tobago – Biotic Impacts Specialist – 2002-2013
• Ecoengineering Consultants Limited, Trinidad & Tobago - Consultant Ecologist/Botanist – 1997-2002
• The National Herbarium of Trinidad & Tobago, UWI, – Technical Assistant I - 1999-2000

Additional Professional Activities

• Team leader - National Wildlife Survey, Chaguaramas Forest Reserve, Trinidad, April 18-22 2015
• Facilitator - Sweet Broom and Bitter Bush, Workshop on Caribbean Indigenous Medicine, 2014
• Member - National Coordinating Body for Implementing Trinidad and Tobago National Awareness Seminar and National Action Programme for the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) 2005-2008
• Member - Cabinet appointed Committee to Coordinate the Development of a National Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Sources and Activities. 2005-2007

Publications 

• Shane T. Ballah and Peggy-Ann DeSilva, 2011, Competencies and Skills for Effective Implementation of Comprehensive Disaster Management in the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure (MOWI). 6th Annual Caribbean Conference on Comprehensive Disaster Management, Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain, Trinidad.
• Shane T. Ballah and Michael P. Oatham, 2011, Does Heliconia hirsuta (Heliconiaceae) gain a fitness advantage from its ant visitors? Living World Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists' Club Supplement No 2, August
• S.T.Ballah and C.K. Starr, 2010, Composition and Activity of Ant Visitors to Inflorescences of Heliconia hirsuta (Heliconiaceae), Sociobiology Vol. 56. No.3.
• Carol L. Ramjohn, Floyd B. Lucas, Floyd E. Hayes, Shane T. Ballah, Nicholla C. Johnson, and Keisha M. Garcia, 2003, Lek mating behavior of the Sooty-capped Hermit (Phaethornis augusti) in the Paria Peninsula of Venezuela, Journal of Field Ornithology, Vol. 74,3 205-209.
• C.E. Seaforth, S. Ballah, S. Rollocks, S. Craig-James, 2000, Medicinal Plants used in Tobago, Fitoterapia 69:523-527.
• C.E. Seaforth, S. Ballah, S. Rollocks, and S. Craig-James, 1999, Herbal Medicine from Tobago, Herbal Medicine in the Caribbean p 9-11.

Professional Associations

• UWI Alumni Association, Trinidad & Tobago Chapter (UWIAATT)
• Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists’ Club (TTFNC)