Biology students from the American University in Dubai (AUD) visited the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR) to participate in ecological field surveys. The visit allowed students to apply concepts and techniques from their ecology classes and laboratory work in a desert ecosystem.

The DDCR is the United Arab Emirates’ first national park, protecting 225 square kilometers of desert. Under the guidance of DDCR field officers, students surveyed the burrows of Leptien’s spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx aegyptia leptieni), a large subspecies found only in the UAE and Oman and classified as vulnerable in the UAE. Burrow surveys help track the population size of the subspecies and support its protection.

During the visit, students also learned about plant and animal species within the UAE desert ecosystem. By contributing to the DDCR’s monitoring efforts, students saw how field research supports biodiversity conservation and the protection of native species.