Conservation Science Group

Department of Zoology

Dr Tony Whitten

twhitten@worldbank.org
Tel: +1 202 458 2253

My Cambridge doctoral research into the ecology of the endangered Kloss gibbon of Siberut Island off Sumatra, Indonesia, unwittingly set the course for the rest of my life. With my dissertation behind me I wrote a 'popular' version of my research and then began work as Advisor in the Centre of Environmental Studies at the University of North Sumatra. Seeing the problems facing environmental management in Indonesia I initiated a series of major ecology books on different areas of Indonesia and over the following 12 years, most of them in Indonesia, wrote three of the volumes (on Sumatra, Sulawesi, and Java and Bali) while employed by Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Meanwhile I consulted for most of the major development agencies on land settlement, forest issues, and biodiversity. In 1996 I joined the World Bank where I work in the East Asia region both managing my own conservation projects and assessing the impact of development projects.

Research Interests

I promote the 'forgotten' elements of biodiversity such as that associated with freshwater and limestone. I collect specimens and facilitate identification and publication wherever possible. I am also concerned about the human capacity for conservation in East Asia and I'm initiating a cross-agency research project to help understand the roots of environmental concern and the stimulus to work proactively for the sake of conservation. In addition I am involved with the WWF-World Bank Forest Alliance and its Protected Areas Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool which is generating a great deal of revealing and instructive data.

Links

Biodiversity
Faiths and Environment
Environment in East Asia an Pacific
Netherlands-Mongolia Trust Fund for Environmental Reform (NEMO)

Publications

  • Deharveng, L., T. Whitten, and P. Leclerc. In press. Caves of Papua. In The Ecology of Papua. ed B. Beehler and A. Marshall. Periplus, Singapore. Whitten, T.
  • Whitten, T. 2006. Cerulean paradise flycatcher not extinct: Subject of first cover lives. Conservation Biology 20: 918-920.
  • Whitten, T. and A. Balmford. 2006. Who should pay for tropical forest conservation, and how could the costs be met? In Emerging Threats to Tropical Forests. Eds C. Peres and W. Laurance, University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
  • Whitten, T. and B. Morgan. 2006. Faiths and the Environment: World Bank Support. 2005. World Bank, Washington DC.
  • Stuart, S., G. Archibald, J. Ball, R.J. Berry, S. Drake Emmerich, D.M. Evans, J.R. Flenley, D.R. Given, K.J. Gaston, A.G. Gosler, P. Harris, J. Houghton, E.D. Lindquist, D.C. Mahan, M.D. Morecroft, D.C. Moyer, D. Murdiyarso, B. Won wa Musiti, C. Nicolson, A. Oteng-Yeboah, A.J. Plumptre, G. Prance, V. Ramachandra, J.B. Sale, J.K. Sheldon, S. Simiyu, R. Sotrey, L.G. Underhill, J. Vickery, and T. Whitten. 2005. Conservation theology for conservation biologists. Conservation Biology. 19:1689-1692.
    • Whitten, T. 2004. Malacologists: What are your priorities? Plenary address to the World Congress of Malacology. J. Conchol. Spec. Publ. 31-6.
  • Stolton, S., M. Hockings, N. Dudley, K. MacKinnon, and T. Whitten. 2003. Reporting progress in protected areas: A site-level management effectiveness tracking tool. World Bank, Washington DC and WWF, Gland.
  • MacKinnon, K. & Whitten, T. 2001. Biodiversity. Pages 32-50 in Environment and Natural Resource Management in a Time of Transition (eds T. Walton, Aden, J.), World Bank, Washington D.C.
  • Whitten, T., D. Holmes & K. MacKinnon 2001. Conservation biology: a displacement behavior for academia. Conserv. Biol. 15: 1-3.
  • Vermeulen, J. & T. Whitten. 1999. Biodivrsity and Cultural Heritage in the managemengt of Limestone Resources: Lessons from East Asia. The World Bank, Washington D.C. ISBN 0-8213-4508-7
  • Whitten, T., J. Whitten, C. Goettsch, J. Supriatna, & R. Mittermeier. 1999: Sundaland. In Biodiversity Hotspots of the World (eds R. Mittermeier, P. Gil, C. Goettsch-Mittermeier), Cemex, Prado Norte.
  • Whitten, T., J. Whitten, C. Goettsch, J. Supriatna, & R. Mittermeier. 1999. Wallacea. In Biodiversity Hotspots of the World. (eds R. Mittermeier, P. Gil, C. Goettsch-Mittermeier). Cemex, Prado Norte.
  • Vermeulen, J. & T. Whitten. 1998. Guide to the land Snails of Bali. Fauna Malesiana Stichtung, Leiden. ISBN 90-73348-84-6
  • Whitten, T., J.E.J. Whitten, C. Goettsch, J. Supriatna, & R. Mittermeier. 1997. Indonesia. Pages 74-107 in Megadiversity: Earth's Biologically Wealthiest Nations (eds R. Mittermeier, P. Gil, C. Goettsch-Mittermeier). Cemex, Prado Norte.
  • Whitten, T. 1997. Freshwater biodiversity and wetlands. Wetlands 4: 4-5.
  • Whitten, T., A. Soeriaatmadja & S. Afiff. 1996. The Ecology of Java and Bali. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
  • Kottelat, M. & T. Whitten. 1996. Freshwater Biodiversity in Asia with Special Reference to Fish. The World Bank, Washington D.C. ISBN 0-8213-3808-0
  • Ng, P. & Whitten, T. 1995. On a new cave-dwelling Sesarmoides (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Grapsidae) from Nusa Penida, Bali, Indonesia. Tropical Biodiversity 2: 369-376.
  • C. McCarthy & T. Whitten. 1993. List of the amphibians and reptiles of Jawa and Bali. Tropical Biodiversity 1: 169-177.
  • Kottelat, M., T. Whitten, S. Kartikasari & S. Wiroatmodjo. 1993. Freshwater Fishes of Western Indonesia and Sulawesi. Periplus, Singapore ISBN 0-945971-60-5
  • Whitten, T. and J. Whitten. 1992. Wild Indonesia. New Holland, London. ISBN 1-85368-128- 8
  • Whitten, T. 1991. Recovery Plan for Britain's Protected Species. Nature Conservancy Council, Peterborough.
  • Dring, J., C. McCarthy & T. Whitten. 1989. The herpetofauna of the Mentawai Islands, Indonesia. Indo-Australian Zoology 1: 57-64
  • Whitten, T. 1989. Pelicans at Cengkareng. Kukila, 4: 64
  • Whitten, T. 1988. Indonesia's Transmigration Programme and its role in the los of tropical rain forests. Conservation Biology 1: 239-246.
  • Whitten, T. 1988. The Presbytis of Sumatra. Newsletter of the IUCN Primate Specialist Group 8: 46-47.
  • Whitten, T. 1987. One or more extinctions from Sulawesi? Conservation Biology 1: 42-48
  • Whitten, J. and T. Whitten. 1987. Analysis of bark-eating in a tropical squirrel. Biotropica 19: 107-115.
  • Whitten, A. & MacKinnon, K. 1987. Indonesia ablaze again. Wallaceana 48: 18-19.
  • Whitten, A., M. Mustafa & G. Henderson. 1987. The Ecology of Sulawesi. Oxford University Press. ISBN 979-420-060-3
  • Whitten, A., H. Haeruman, H. Alikodra & M. Thohari. 1987. The Environment and Transmigration in Indonesia. IUCN, Gland and Cambridge. ISBN 2-88032-914-0.
  • Whitten, A. & J. Ranger. 1986. Logging at Bohorok. Oryx 20: 246-248.
  • Whitten, A. & S. Damanik. 1986. Mass defoliation of mangrove in Sumatra, Indonesia. Biotropica 18: 176.
  • D. Leighton & A. Whitten. 1984. Gibbon management: techniques and alternatives. Pages 32-43 in The Lesser Apes: Evolutionary and Behavioural Biology (eds. H. Preuschoft, D.J. Chivers, W.Y. Brockelman, N. Creel). Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh
  • Whitten, A. 1984. Ecological and behavioural comparisons between Hylobates klossii and some other gibbon species. Pages 219-227 in The Lesser Apes: Evolutionary and Behavioural Biology (eds. H. Preuschoft, D.J. Chivers, W.Y. Brockelman, and N. Creel). Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh.
  • Whitten, A. 1984. The trilling handicap in gibbons. Pages 416-419 in The Lesser Apes: Evolutionary and Behavioural Biology (eds. H. Preuschoft, D.J. Chivers, W. Y Brockelman, and N. Creel). Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh.
  • Whitten, A., J. Anwar, S.J. Damanik & N. Hisyam. 1984. The Ecology of Sumatra. Oxford Unioversity Press, Oxford. ISBN 979-420-035-2
  • E. Haimoff, S. Gittins, A. Whitten, & D. Chivers. 1984. A phylogeny and classification of gibbons based on morphology and ethology. Pages 624-632 in The Lesser Apes: Evolutionary and Behavioural Biology (eds. H. Preuschoft, D.J. Chivers, W.Y. Brockelman, and N. Creel). Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh.
  • Whitten, A. 1982. Possible niche expansion in the spangled drongo on Siberut Island, Indonesia. Ibis 124: 192-193.
  • Whitten, A. 1982. The ecology of singing in Kloss gibbons on Siberut Island, Indonesia. International Journal of Primatology 3: 33-51
  • Whitten, A. 1982. Home range use by Kloss gibbons (Hylobates klossii) on Siberut Island, Indonesia. Animal Behaviour 30: 182-198.
  • Whitten, A. 1982. A numerical analysis of tropical rain forest using floristic and structural data and its application to an analysis of gibbon ranging behaviour. Journal of Ecology 70: 249-271.
  • Whitten, A. 1982. Diet and feeding behaviour of Kloss gibbons on Siberut Island, Indonesia. Folia Primatologica 37: 177-209
  • Whitten, A. 1982. The role of ants in selection of night trees by gibbons. Biotropica 14: 237-238.
  • Whitten, T. 1982. The Gibbons of Siberut. Dent, London. ISBN 0-460-04476-1
  • Whitten, A. & J. Whitten 1982. Preliminary observation of the Mentawai macaque on siberut Island, Indonesia. International Journal of Primatology 3: 445-459.
  • Haimoff, E., S. Gittins, A. Whitten & D. Chivers. 1982. A phylogeny of gibbons (Hylobates spp.) based on morphology and behavioural characters. Folia Primatologica 39: 213-237.
  • Whitten, A. 1981. Notes on the ecology of Myrmecodia tuberosa Jack on Siberut Islnd, Indonesia. Annals of Botany 47: 525-526.
  • Whitten, A. & J. Whitten. 1981. The sago palm and its exploitation on Siberut Island, Indonesia. Principes 24: 91-100.
  • McNeely, J., A. Whitten, J. Whitten, & A. House. 1980. Saving Siberut: A Conservation Masterplan. World Wildlife Fund, Bogor.
  • Whitten, A. 1980. Arenga fruit as a food for gibbons. Principes 24: 143-146.
  • Whitten, A., J. Whitten & A. House. 1980. Solution for Siberut? Oryx 15: 166-169
  • Whitten, A. 1973. Reactions of Blue Duck to the recorded calls of the same species. Notornis 20: 6-8.
  • Whitten, A. 1971. A new behavioural method for the further determination of olfaction in the mallard Anas platyrhynchos. Journal of Biological Education 5: 291-294.
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Cambridge Conservation Initiative (CCI)
Student Conference on Conservation Science (SCCS)
Cambridge Conservation Forum (CCF)
Institute of Zoology (IOZ)
Rural Economy and Land Use Programme (RELU)