Head of Department
Position: Head of Department and Associate Professor
Tel: +27 (021) 959 9731
Email: arajkaran@uwc.ac.za
After the completion of her PhD, Anusha was appointed to the Department of Botany at Rhodes University from October 2011 to November 2015. In December of 2015, Anusha joined the Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology at the University of the Western Cape.
Her research has expanded to the functioning of other estuarine habitats such as salt marsh and seagrass, provision of ecosystem services, establishing baseline estimates of microplastic and chemical pollutants and establishing indicators of health of habitats in South Africa. Her research covers most parts of the South African coastline and the research team includes honours, MSc and PhD students as well as Postdoctoral fellows.
Prof. Rajkaran was profiled in UWC's Women in Academia & Leadership Magazine (Issue 3), CLICK HERE to read about her COVID-19 lockdown experience.
https://youtu.be/IKMRz575qeg
Tel: +27 (021) 959 9731
Email: arajkaran@uwc.ac.za
Biography
Prof. Anusha Rajkaran received her training from the Nelson Mandela University (formerly known as University of Port Elizabeth). She has been trained in the field of Botany and Estuarine Ecology. Her Honours, Masters and PhD focussed on different aspects of mangrove forest ecology; the methods, impacts and patterns of resource utilization of mangrove species in the Eastern Cape region gave rise to her first scientific papers. The PhD thesis entitled: A status assessment of mangrove forests in South Africa and the utilization of mangroves at Mngazana Estuary produced four scientific papers and a book chapter and increased her exposure to scientists in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO), Australia and Belgium.After the completion of her PhD, Anusha was appointed to the Department of Botany at Rhodes University from October 2011 to November 2015. In December of 2015, Anusha joined the Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology at the University of the Western Cape.
Her research has expanded to the functioning of other estuarine habitats such as salt marsh and seagrass, provision of ecosystem services, establishing baseline estimates of microplastic and chemical pollutants and establishing indicators of health of habitats in South Africa. Her research covers most parts of the South African coastline and the research team includes honours, MSc and PhD students as well as Postdoctoral fellows.
Prof. Rajkaran was profiled in UWC's Women in Academia & Leadership Magazine (Issue 3), CLICK HERE to read about her COVID-19 lockdown experience.
Ongoing projects
- Ecological indicators of mangrove health in South Africa
- Determination of and threats to the carbon pools in the saltmarsh habitats of the Berg Estuary
- The movement of microplastics and phytoplankton through an abalone farm
- The impact of microplastics on estuarine and coastal biota
Recent publications
- Govender J, Naidoo T, Rajkaran A, Cebekhulu S, Bhugeloo A & Sershen (2020): Towards characterising
microplastic abundance, typology and retention in mangrove-dominated estuaries. Water, 12(10), 2802; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12102802 (registering DOI) IF =2.250 - Adams J, Rajkaran A (2020): Changes in mangroves at their southernmost African distribution limit.
Estuarine Coastal Shelf Science https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2020.106862 IF =2.611 - Naidoo T, Rajkaran A, Sershen (2020): Impacts of plastic debris on biota and implications for human
health: A South African perspective. South African Journal of Science https://doi.org/10.17159sajs.2020/7693 IF =1.197 - Van Niekerk L, Adams JB, James NC, Lamberth SJ, MacKay CF, Turpie JK, Rajkaran A, Weerts SP &Whitfield AK (2020): An Estuary Ecosystem Classification encompassing biogeography, size and types of diversity that supports estuarine protection, conservation and management, African Journal of Aquatic Science. https://doi.org/10.2989/16085914.2019.1685934 IF =0.778
- Brown CE & Rajkaran A (2020): Biomass partitioning in an endemic southern African salt marsh
species Salicornia tegetaria (Chenopodiaceae), African Journal of Aquatic Science, DOI: 10.2989/16085914.2019.1687419 IF =0.778 - Naidoo T, Sershen, Thompson RC, Rajkaran A (2020): Quantification and characterisation of microplastics ingested by selected juvenile fish species associated with mangroves in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Environmental Pollution, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113635 IF =6.792
- Veldkornet D, Rajkaran A, Paul S, Naidoo G (2020): Oil induces chlorophyll deficient propagules in mangroves. Marine Pollution Bulletin 150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110667 IF =5.54
- Keur R, James N, Rajkaran A (2019): A tale of two habitats: preliminary comparison of fish abundance and diversity between saltmarsh- and mangrove-dominated creeks in the Nahoon Estuary, South Africa, African Journal of Marine Science, DOI: 10.2989/1814232X.2019.1683070 IF =1.229
Links to videos:
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CSWf-vfjkBR/?utm_medium=copy_linkhttps://youtu.be/IKMRz575qeg
Orcid number
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7360-3660ResearchGate
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anusha-RajkaranAcademic and Administrative Staff
Position: Associate Professor & Deputy HOD
Tel: +27 (021) 959 2306
Email: adengelbrecht@uwc.ac.za
I was born in Wellington and is a first generation scientist. I completed my PhD in 2016 at Stellenbosch University and have been a part of BCB since 2014. I have vast experience in molecular biology covering chromosomal evolution, taxonomy, population genetics and metagenomics. In particular, I investigated speciation processes in small mammals, using chromosome painting, phylogenetics and phylogeography describing one new small mammal species. Recently, I have been actively involved in parasitology, where I pioneered molecular systematic studies on ecto-parasitic mites of small mammals in South Africa and described five novel species. My research here has been at the cutting edge of the field which is centred at investigating how parasites co-evolve with their hosts. A key area of interest, which I am pursuing, is the impacts that these pervasive organisms (rodents and parasites) have on animal communities and investigating how they change ecosystems. This goal have driven my research to intersect various fields such as agriculture and marine biology. The overarching outcome of this research is detailing the wealth of biodiversity in South Africa adding to the global knowledge gap centred around parasite systematics and population genetics and how best to implement conservation practices in these groups.
Ongoing Projects
Phylogenetics, Phylogeography and evolution of several small mammal taxa in southern Africa and their associated ecto-parasitic taxa
Emerging infective zoonosis – a collaborative research program, investigating bio invasion risks in urban and rural areas across southern Africa using next generation sequencing approaches.
Recent publications
C. Brown; A. Engelbrecht, A. Rajkaran, D. Veldkornet, J.S Boatwright (2019). The phylogeography and genetic diversity of the salt marsh species Salicornia tegetaria (S.Steffen, L.Mucina and G.Kadereit) Piirainen and G.Kadereit, endemic to South Africa, Namibia and Mozambique. South African Journal of Botany 123 270–277. IF: 1.44
P.J. Taylor, A. Macdonald , S.M. Goodman, T. Kearney, F.P.D. Cotterill, S. Stoffberg, A. Monadjem, M.C. Schoeman, J. Guyton, P. Naskrecki, A. Engelbrecht L.R. Richards. (2019) ERRATUM: Integrative taxonomy resolves three new cryptic species of small southern African horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 187, 535–537. IF: 2.68
A. Schroeder, I. Samuels, M. Swarts, C. Morris, C. Cupido, A. Engelbrecht. (2019) Diet selection and preference of small ruminants during drought conditions in a dryland pastoral system in South Africa. Small Ruminant Research 176 17–23. IF: 1.13
V. Ras, S. Neetling, A. Engelbrecht, A.C. Morandini, K.M. Bayha, H. Skrypzeck; M.J. Gibbons (2020). There are three species of Chrysaora (Scyphozoa: Discomedusae) in the Benguela upwelling ecosystem, not two. Zootaxa 4778 (3): 401–438. IF: 1.03
L. Piers, I. Samuels; M. Masubelele, A. Engelbrecht (2020). Implications of potential biome boundary shifts for small mammal assemblages in the arid zone of South Africa. https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.12909. IF: 1.730
M. Brown, S. Scorrano, Z. Kuplik, D. Kuyper, V. Ras, D. Thibault, A. Engelbrecht, MJ Gibbons. (2021). A new macromedusa from the coast of Mozambique: Aurelia mozambica sp. nov. (Scyphozoa: Ulmariidae). Zootaxa. IF: 1.03
R. Sathyan, V.C.K Couldridge, A. Engelbrecht (accepted). No evidence for host plant associated genetic divergence in a population of Bullacris unicolor L. (Orthoptera; Pneumoridae). African Entomology IF: 0.65
G.J. Alexander, K. A. Tolley, B. Maritz, A. McKechnie, P.Manger, R. L. Thomson, C. Schradin, A. Fuller, L. Meyer, R. Hetem, M. Cherry, W. Conradie, A.M. Bauer, D. Maphisa, J. O'Riain, D. M. Parker, M. C. Mlambo, G. Bronner, K. Madikiza, A. Engelbrecht, A.T.K. Lee, B. Jansen van Vuuren, T. Mandiwana and D. Pietersen. (accepted) Excessive red tape is strangling biodiversity research in South Africa. South African Journal of Science. IF: 1.91
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=GMa034gAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&authuser=1
Tel: +27 (021) 959 2306
Email: adengelbrecht@uwc.ac.za
I was born in Wellington and is a first generation scientist. I completed my PhD in 2016 at Stellenbosch University and have been a part of BCB since 2014. I have vast experience in molecular biology covering chromosomal evolution, taxonomy, population genetics and metagenomics. In particular, I investigated speciation processes in small mammals, using chromosome painting, phylogenetics and phylogeography describing one new small mammal species. Recently, I have been actively involved in parasitology, where I pioneered molecular systematic studies on ecto-parasitic mites of small mammals in South Africa and described five novel species. My research here has been at the cutting edge of the field which is centred at investigating how parasites co-evolve with their hosts. A key area of interest, which I am pursuing, is the impacts that these pervasive organisms (rodents and parasites) have on animal communities and investigating how they change ecosystems. This goal have driven my research to intersect various fields such as agriculture and marine biology. The overarching outcome of this research is detailing the wealth of biodiversity in South Africa adding to the global knowledge gap centred around parasite systematics and population genetics and how best to implement conservation practices in these groups.
Ongoing Projects
Phylogenetics, Phylogeography and evolution of several small mammal taxa in southern Africa and their associated ecto-parasitic taxa
Emerging infective zoonosis – a collaborative research program, investigating bio invasion risks in urban and rural areas across southern Africa using next generation sequencing approaches.
Recent publications
C. Brown; A. Engelbrecht, A. Rajkaran, D. Veldkornet, J.S Boatwright (2019). The phylogeography and genetic diversity of the salt marsh species Salicornia tegetaria (S.Steffen, L.Mucina and G.Kadereit) Piirainen and G.Kadereit, endemic to South Africa, Namibia and Mozambique. South African Journal of Botany 123 270–277. IF: 1.44
P.J. Taylor, A. Macdonald , S.M. Goodman, T. Kearney, F.P.D. Cotterill, S. Stoffberg, A. Monadjem, M.C. Schoeman, J. Guyton, P. Naskrecki, A. Engelbrecht L.R. Richards. (2019) ERRATUM: Integrative taxonomy resolves three new cryptic species of small southern African horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 187, 535–537. IF: 2.68
A. Schroeder, I. Samuels, M. Swarts, C. Morris, C. Cupido, A. Engelbrecht. (2019) Diet selection and preference of small ruminants during drought conditions in a dryland pastoral system in South Africa. Small Ruminant Research 176 17–23. IF: 1.13
V. Ras, S. Neetling, A. Engelbrecht, A.C. Morandini, K.M. Bayha, H. Skrypzeck; M.J. Gibbons (2020). There are three species of Chrysaora (Scyphozoa: Discomedusae) in the Benguela upwelling ecosystem, not two. Zootaxa 4778 (3): 401–438. IF: 1.03
L. Piers, I. Samuels; M. Masubelele, A. Engelbrecht (2020). Implications of potential biome boundary shifts for small mammal assemblages in the arid zone of South Africa. https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.12909. IF: 1.730
M. Brown, S. Scorrano, Z. Kuplik, D. Kuyper, V. Ras, D. Thibault, A. Engelbrecht, MJ Gibbons. (2021). A new macromedusa from the coast of Mozambique: Aurelia mozambica sp. nov. (Scyphozoa: Ulmariidae). Zootaxa. IF: 1.03
R. Sathyan, V.C.K Couldridge, A. Engelbrecht (accepted). No evidence for host plant associated genetic divergence in a population of Bullacris unicolor L. (Orthoptera; Pneumoridae). African Entomology IF: 0.65
G.J. Alexander, K. A. Tolley, B. Maritz, A. McKechnie, P.Manger, R. L. Thomson, C. Schradin, A. Fuller, L. Meyer, R. Hetem, M. Cherry, W. Conradie, A.M. Bauer, D. Maphisa, J. O'Riain, D. M. Parker, M. C. Mlambo, G. Bronner, K. Madikiza, A. Engelbrecht, A.T.K. Lee, B. Jansen van Vuuren, T. Mandiwana and D. Pietersen. (accepted) Excessive red tape is strangling biodiversity research in South Africa. South African Journal of Science. IF: 1.91
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=GMa034gAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&authuser=1
Position: Emeritus Professor
Tel: +27 (021) 959 2261
Fax: +27 (021) 959 2312
Email: achanning@uwc.ac.za
Tel: +27 (021) 959 2261
Fax: +27 (021) 959 2312
Email: achanning@uwc.ac.za
Position: Professor
Tel: +27 (021) 959 2475
Email: mgibbons@uwc.ac.za
Mark is originally from Gower, and obtained his BSc(Hons) in Marine Biology from Liverpool in 1983. He started his career “on the dole” with John Ryland (Swansea) studying Fijian hydroids, getting hooked on museums, diversity and Cnidaria in the process. He came to South Africa in 1984 to do, what turned out as, a PhD with Charles Griffiths at UCT on the ecology of rocky shore meiofauna and was interested by biological communities and the factors responsible for structuring them. He secured a research post with the Benguela Ecology Programme in 1989 and studied the interactions between the composition/structure of the food environment and zooplankton feeding/behaviour. He was seconded to UWC by the FRD in 1995, becoming a lecturer there in 1996 and was promoted through the ranks to Full Professor in 2006, having played more than his fair share of management roles before and since.
Most of his research is focused in biological oceanography and marine ecology (at the individual, community and system level) but he dabbles in the taxonomy of marine invertebrates. He collaborates widely with peers in South Africa and across the globe.
EAF Nansen Programme – FAO sponsored collaborative initiative focused on supporting research on the environment and resources of African ecosystems.
Jellyfish biology, ecology and taxonomy
Zooplankton ecology
Beukes B, Witbooi P, Gibbons MJ. (2020) Does phylogeny have an influence on the date of first description? A comparative study of the world's fishes. Global Ecology and Conservation. 23: e01078.
Boonzaaier-Davids MK, Florence WK, Gibbons MJ. (2020) Novel taxa of Cheilostomata Bryozoa discovered in the historical backlogs of the Iziko South African Museum. Zootaxa 4820: 105–133
Boonzaaier-Davids MK, Florence WK, Gibbons MJ. (2020) Zoogeography of marine Bryozoa around South Africa. African Journal of Marine Science. 42: 185-198
Brown M, Scorrano S, Kuplik Z, Kuyper D, Ras V, Thibault D, Engelbrecht A, Gibbons MJ. (2021) A new macromedusa from the coast of Mozambique: Aurelia mozambica sp. nov. (Scyphozoa: Ulmaridae). Zootaxa 4933: 263–276.
Brown MK, Gibbons MJ (2021). Null models for nullhypotheses in taxonomy: a test using Scyphozoa. Biological Journal of the Linnaean Society 134: 240-245
Brown MK, Gibbons MJ (2022) Cautioning the move from morphology to molecules in the taxonomy of Metazoa: Comments on Lawley et al. (PeerJ 2021;9, e11954) and a plea for considered integration. South African Journal of Science 118, Art. #12590
Brown MK, Gibbons MJ (2022) Swarms of the hyperiid amphipod Themisto gaudichaudii along the False Bay (Western Cape, South Africa) coastline. Journal of Natural History, 56: 487-491
Bulleri F, Batten S, Connell S, Benedetti-Cecchi L, Gibbons M[J], Nugues MN, Gribben P. (2020). Human pressures and the emergence of novel marine ecosystems. Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review. 58: 439–492.
Cedras RB, Gibbons MJ. (2021). Latitudinal changes in copepod assemblages across the South West Indian Ridge Deep-Sea Research II. 193: 104963
Cedras RB, Halo I, Gibbons MJ. (2020) Biogeography of pelagic calanoid copepods in the Western Indian Ocean. Deep-Sea Research II. 179: 104740
Gibbons MJ, Florence WK, Musson M, Barwise C, Thibault D. (2020) Creating opportunities through science symposia. South African Journal of Science. 116: Art. #7715.
Gibbons MJ, Haddock SHD, Matsumoto GI, Foster C. (2021) Records of ctenophores from South Africa. PeerJ 9:e10697
Gibbons MJ, Parker Y, Cedras RB, Thibault D. (2022) Mesoscale structure of neuston assemblages across the southern Indian Ocean subtropical gyre. Deep Sea Research II. 208: 105249
Gibbons MJ, Skrypzeck H, Brodeur RD, Riascos JM, Quiñones Dávila JA, Grobler CAF, Roux J-P, Field JC, Daly EA, Miller RR, Ras V, Schiariti A, Chiaverano L, Tjizoo BM, Prieto L, Idrissi HF, Palma S. (2021). A comparative review of macromedusae in eastern boundary currents. Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review. 59: 371-482
Helm RR, Clark N, Harden-Davies H, Amon D, Girguis P, Bordehore C, Earle S, Gibbons MJ, Golbuu Y, Haddock SHD, Houghton JDR, Javidpour J, McCauley DJ, Morgan L, Obura D, Pakhomov EA, Pitt KA, Ramon JJ, Sumaila R, Thiebot J-B (2021) Protect high seas biodiversity. Science 372: 1048-1049.
Kuyper D, Thibault D, Gibbons MJ. (2020) Latitudinal changes in siphonophore assemblages across the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. African Journal of Marine Science. 42: 209-219.
Mapstone GM, Foster CN, Gibbons MJ (2022) First occurrence of the rare siphonophore Lilyopsis Chun, 1885 (Hydrozoa, Siphonophora, Prayinae) in South Africa. African Invertebrates. 63: 121–130
Ras V, Neethling S*, Engelbrecht A, Morandini AC, Bayha KM, Skrypzeck H*, Gibbons MJ. (2020) There are three species of Chrysaora (Scyphozoa: Discomedusae) in the Benguela upwelling ecosystem, not two. Zootaxa. 4778: 401–438.
Samaai T, Kelly M, Ngwakum B, Payne R, Teske PR, Janson L, Kerwath S, Parker D, Gibbons MJ. (2020). New Latrunculiidae (Demospongiae, Poecilosclerida) from the Agulhas ecoregion of temperate southern Africa. Zootaxa. 4896: 409–442
Skrypzeck H, Gibbons MJ. (2021). The persistent presence of Chrysaora fulgida (Scyphozoa; Discomedusae) in the northern Benguela ecosystem is not reflected by constant recruitment. Journal of Plankton Research, 43: 72–84.
Skrypzeck H, van der Lingen CD, Gibbons MJ. (2021). Cross shelf movement of Chrysaora fulgida (Scyphozoa; Discomedusae) off Namibia inferred from stable isotopes (????15N and ????13C). African Journal of Marine Science, 43: 87-93.
Sumaila UR, Skerritt DJ, Schuhbauer A, Villasante S, Cisneros-Montemayor AM, Sinan H, ...Gibbons MJ....Jin X. (2021). WTO must ban harmful fisheries subsidies. Science, 374(6567), 544-544.
van der Heever G, van der Lingen CD, Leslie R, Gibbons MJ (2020). Spatial and ontogenetic variability in the diet and trophic ecology of two co-occurring catsharks (Scyliorhinidae) off South Africa. African Journal of Marine Science. 42: 423-438.
Wright RM, Le Quéré C, Buitenhuis E, Pitois S, Gibbons MJ. (2021) Role of jellyfish in the plankton ecosystem revealed using a global ocean biogeochemical model. Biogeosciences 18: 1291–1320.
Tel: +27 (021) 959 2475
Email: mgibbons@uwc.ac.za
Mark is originally from Gower, and obtained his BSc(Hons) in Marine Biology from Liverpool in 1983. He started his career “on the dole” with John Ryland (Swansea) studying Fijian hydroids, getting hooked on museums, diversity and Cnidaria in the process. He came to South Africa in 1984 to do, what turned out as, a PhD with Charles Griffiths at UCT on the ecology of rocky shore meiofauna and was interested by biological communities and the factors responsible for structuring them. He secured a research post with the Benguela Ecology Programme in 1989 and studied the interactions between the composition/structure of the food environment and zooplankton feeding/behaviour. He was seconded to UWC by the FRD in 1995, becoming a lecturer there in 1996 and was promoted through the ranks to Full Professor in 2006, having played more than his fair share of management roles before and since.
Most of his research is focused in biological oceanography and marine ecology (at the individual, community and system level) but he dabbles in the taxonomy of marine invertebrates. He collaborates widely with peers in South Africa and across the globe.
Ongoing projects
PRIMA Learn – Collaborative research and advanced training programme with colleagues at the University of Bergen and the Institute of Marine Research, Norway and Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment in South Africa, with a focus on mesopelagic fishes and jellyfish around Africa.EAF Nansen Programme – FAO sponsored collaborative initiative focused on supporting research on the environment and resources of African ecosystems.
Jellyfish biology, ecology and taxonomy
Zooplankton ecology
Recent publications
(https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Ftj8PgoAAAAJ&hl=en)Beukes B, Witbooi P, Gibbons MJ. (2020) Does phylogeny have an influence on the date of first description? A comparative study of the world's fishes. Global Ecology and Conservation. 23: e01078.
Boonzaaier-Davids MK, Florence WK, Gibbons MJ. (2020) Novel taxa of Cheilostomata Bryozoa discovered in the historical backlogs of the Iziko South African Museum. Zootaxa 4820: 105–133
Boonzaaier-Davids MK, Florence WK, Gibbons MJ. (2020) Zoogeography of marine Bryozoa around South Africa. African Journal of Marine Science. 42: 185-198
Brown M, Scorrano S, Kuplik Z, Kuyper D, Ras V, Thibault D, Engelbrecht A, Gibbons MJ. (2021) A new macromedusa from the coast of Mozambique: Aurelia mozambica sp. nov. (Scyphozoa: Ulmaridae). Zootaxa 4933: 263–276.
Brown MK, Gibbons MJ (2021). Null models for nullhypotheses in taxonomy: a test using Scyphozoa. Biological Journal of the Linnaean Society 134: 240-245
Brown MK, Gibbons MJ (2022) Cautioning the move from morphology to molecules in the taxonomy of Metazoa: Comments on Lawley et al. (PeerJ 2021;9, e11954) and a plea for considered integration. South African Journal of Science 118, Art. #12590
Brown MK, Gibbons MJ (2022) Swarms of the hyperiid amphipod Themisto gaudichaudii along the False Bay (Western Cape, South Africa) coastline. Journal of Natural History, 56: 487-491
Bulleri F, Batten S, Connell S, Benedetti-Cecchi L, Gibbons M[J], Nugues MN, Gribben P. (2020). Human pressures and the emergence of novel marine ecosystems. Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review. 58: 439–492.
Cedras RB, Gibbons MJ. (2021). Latitudinal changes in copepod assemblages across the South West Indian Ridge Deep-Sea Research II. 193: 104963
Cedras RB, Halo I, Gibbons MJ. (2020) Biogeography of pelagic calanoid copepods in the Western Indian Ocean. Deep-Sea Research II. 179: 104740
Gibbons MJ, Florence WK, Musson M, Barwise C, Thibault D. (2020) Creating opportunities through science symposia. South African Journal of Science. 116: Art. #7715.
Gibbons MJ, Haddock SHD, Matsumoto GI, Foster C. (2021) Records of ctenophores from South Africa. PeerJ 9:e10697
Gibbons MJ, Parker Y, Cedras RB, Thibault D. (2022) Mesoscale structure of neuston assemblages across the southern Indian Ocean subtropical gyre. Deep Sea Research II. 208: 105249
Gibbons MJ, Skrypzeck H, Brodeur RD, Riascos JM, Quiñones Dávila JA, Grobler CAF, Roux J-P, Field JC, Daly EA, Miller RR, Ras V, Schiariti A, Chiaverano L, Tjizoo BM, Prieto L, Idrissi HF, Palma S. (2021). A comparative review of macromedusae in eastern boundary currents. Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review. 59: 371-482
Helm RR, Clark N, Harden-Davies H, Amon D, Girguis P, Bordehore C, Earle S, Gibbons MJ, Golbuu Y, Haddock SHD, Houghton JDR, Javidpour J, McCauley DJ, Morgan L, Obura D, Pakhomov EA, Pitt KA, Ramon JJ, Sumaila R, Thiebot J-B (2021) Protect high seas biodiversity. Science 372: 1048-1049.
Kuyper D, Thibault D, Gibbons MJ. (2020) Latitudinal changes in siphonophore assemblages across the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. African Journal of Marine Science. 42: 209-219.
Mapstone GM, Foster CN, Gibbons MJ (2022) First occurrence of the rare siphonophore Lilyopsis Chun, 1885 (Hydrozoa, Siphonophora, Prayinae) in South Africa. African Invertebrates. 63: 121–130
Ras V, Neethling S*, Engelbrecht A, Morandini AC, Bayha KM, Skrypzeck H*, Gibbons MJ. (2020) There are three species of Chrysaora (Scyphozoa: Discomedusae) in the Benguela upwelling ecosystem, not two. Zootaxa. 4778: 401–438.
Samaai T, Kelly M, Ngwakum B, Payne R, Teske PR, Janson L, Kerwath S, Parker D, Gibbons MJ. (2020). New Latrunculiidae (Demospongiae, Poecilosclerida) from the Agulhas ecoregion of temperate southern Africa. Zootaxa. 4896: 409–442
Skrypzeck H, Gibbons MJ. (2021). The persistent presence of Chrysaora fulgida (Scyphozoa; Discomedusae) in the northern Benguela ecosystem is not reflected by constant recruitment. Journal of Plankton Research, 43: 72–84.
Skrypzeck H, van der Lingen CD, Gibbons MJ. (2021). Cross shelf movement of Chrysaora fulgida (Scyphozoa; Discomedusae) off Namibia inferred from stable isotopes (????15N and ????13C). African Journal of Marine Science, 43: 87-93.
Sumaila UR, Skerritt DJ, Schuhbauer A, Villasante S, Cisneros-Montemayor AM, Sinan H, ...Gibbons MJ....Jin X. (2021). WTO must ban harmful fisheries subsidies. Science, 374(6567), 544-544.
van der Heever G, van der Lingen CD, Leslie R, Gibbons MJ (2020). Spatial and ontogenetic variability in the diet and trophic ecology of two co-occurring catsharks (Scyliorhinidae) off South Africa. African Journal of Marine Science. 42: 423-438.
Wright RM, Le Quéré C, Buitenhuis E, Pitois S, Gibbons MJ. (2021) Role of jellyfish in the plankton ecosystem revealed using a global ocean biogeochemical model. Biogeosciences 18: 1291–1320.
Position: Professor
Tel: +27 (021) 959 2342/2301
Email: gmaneveldt@uwc.ac.za
I am a marine biologist with special interests in the global ecology and naming of non-geniculate (encrusting) coralline red seaweeds. My research focuses specifically on documenting and understanding patterns of coralline seaweed diversity and the documentation of its diversity for the public and education. To this end, I collaborate with colleagues from across all the continents.
I am committed and actively involved in environmental education and while I had not specifically intended to, I have become active in the advocation of the conservation of all things biological. All things marine fascinate me, and scuba and snorkel diving allow me to explore my interests in the coastal realm; my love of the terrestrial environment is by no means lacking. I am fortunate in that my love of nature and my interest in the outdoors have been the basis for my academic study at university and my subsequent career path. I am passionate about nature photography. I love gardening, and between family, academic and other commitments, I try to find the time for writing popular magazine articles. I believe in life-long learning and my ongoing goal is to gain as much knowledge of nature and the outdoors as I possibly can, pursuing my interests in a practical nature.
Rocky Shore Ecology – A programme investigating the role of molluscan grazers in controlling intertidal seaweed distribution patterns.
Integrated Aquaculture – A collaborative programme testing the benefits of seaweeds and their products in integrated aquaculture.
Seabird Conservation – A collaborative programme attempting to provide insights into the effects human disturbance has on endangered seabird species.
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Gavin_Maneveldt
Tel: +27 (021) 959 2342/2301
Email: gmaneveldt@uwc.ac.za
I am a marine biologist with special interests in the global ecology and naming of non-geniculate (encrusting) coralline red seaweeds. My research focuses specifically on documenting and understanding patterns of coralline seaweed diversity and the documentation of its diversity for the public and education. To this end, I collaborate with colleagues from across all the continents.
I am committed and actively involved in environmental education and while I had not specifically intended to, I have become active in the advocation of the conservation of all things biological. All things marine fascinate me, and scuba and snorkel diving allow me to explore my interests in the coastal realm; my love of the terrestrial environment is by no means lacking. I am fortunate in that my love of nature and my interest in the outdoors have been the basis for my academic study at university and my subsequent career path. I am passionate about nature photography. I love gardening, and between family, academic and other commitments, I try to find the time for writing popular magazine articles. I believe in life-long learning and my ongoing goal is to gain as much knowledge of nature and the outdoors as I possibly can, pursuing my interests in a practical nature.
Ongoing Projects
Coralline Algal Biodiversity – An international programme focusing on the taxonomy, systematics and ecology of non-geniculate coralline red algae.Rocky Shore Ecology – A programme investigating the role of molluscan grazers in controlling intertidal seaweed distribution patterns.
Integrated Aquaculture – A collaborative programme testing the benefits of seaweeds and their products in integrated aquaculture.
Seabird Conservation – A collaborative programme attempting to provide insights into the effects human disturbance has on endangered seabird species.
Most Recent Publications
Jeong, S.Y., G. Diaz-Pulido, G.W. Maneveldt, P.W. Gabrielson, W.A. Nelson, B.Y. Won & T.O. Cho. 2022. Phymatolithopsis gen. nov. (Hapalidiales, Coralinophycidae, Rhodophyta) based on molecular and morpho-anatomcal evidence. Journal of Phycology 58(1): 161-178. DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13227.
van den Berg, D.C., K Sethebe & G.W. Maneveldt. 2021. Determining the post herbivore-exclusion effect on an intertidal community by the recovery response of a known dominant herbivore. African Journal of Marine Science 43(4): 1-12; DOI: 10.2989/1814232X.2021.1974557.
Scheun, J., R.J. Miller, A. Ganswindt, L.J. Waller, L. Pichegru, R.B. Sherley & G.W. Maneveldt. 2021. Urofaecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations in African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) chick populations experiencing different levels of human disturbance. Conservation Physiology 9(1): coab078; doi:10.1093/conphys/coab078.
Puckree-Padua C.A., P.W. Gabrielson & G.W. Maneveldt. 2021. DNA sequencing reveals three new species of Chamberlainium (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) from South Africa, all formerly passing under Spongites yendoi. Botanica Marina 64(1): 19-40; DOI: 10.1515/bot-2020-0074.
Adams, L.A., G.W. Maneveldt, A. Green, N. Karenyi, D. Parker, T. Samaai & S. Kerwath. 2020. Rhodolith Bed Discovered off the South African Coast. Diversity 12(4): 25; DOI:10.3390/d12040125.
Botha, T.P.A, C.L. Griffiths & G.W. Maneveldt. 2020. Coralline red algae – a new host taxon for burrowing barnacles (Cirripedia, Acrothoracica). Marine Biodiversity 50(1): 6. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-019-01038-7.
Maneveldt, G.W., S.Y. Jeong, T.O. Cho, J.R. Hughey & P.W. Gabrielson. 2020. Reassessment of misapplied names, Phymatolithon ferox and P. repandum (Hapalidiales, Corallinophycidae, Rhodophyta) in South Africa, based on DNA sequencing of type and recently collected material. Phycologia 59(5): 449-455; DOI: 10.1080/00318884.2020.1800298
Puckree-Padua C.A., P.W. Gabrielson, J.R. Hughey & G.W. Maneveldt. 2020. DNA sequencing of type material reveals Pneophyllum marlothii comb. nov. from South Africa and P. discoideum comb. nov. (Chamberlainoideae, Corallinales, Rhodophyta) from Argentina. Journal of Phycology 56: 1625-1641; DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13047‐20‐081.
Puckree-Padua C.A., A. Haywood, P.W. Gabrielson & G.W. Maneveldt. 2020. Reassignment of some South African species to Chamberlianium, with a comment about the recognition of families of Corallinales (Rhodophyta). Phycologia 59(6): 464-496; DOI: 10.1080/00318884.2020.1795797.
Maneveldt, G.W., P.W. Gabrielson, R.A. Townsend & J. Kangwe. 2019. Lithophyllum longense (Corallinales, Rhodophyta): a species with a widespread Indian Ocean distribution. Phytotaxa 419(2): 149-168. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.419.2.2.
Vanmari, D. & G.W. Maneveldt. 2019. Mechanisms of interference and exploitation competition in a guild of encrusting algae along a South African rocky shore. African Journal of Marine Science 41(4): 1-7. https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2019.1666738.
Research Profiles
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.co.za/citations?user=R4DpYt8AAAAJ&hl=enResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Gavin_Maneveldt
Position: Professor
Tel: +27 (021) 959 2264
Email: jboatwright@uwc.ac.za
Completed a B.Sc. (Natural and Environmental Sciences) cum laude in 2004, B.Sc. Hons. (Botany) cum laude in 2005, M.Sc. (Botany) cum laude in 2006 and Ph.D (Botany) in 2009 all at the University of Johannesburg (formerly Rand Afrikaans University). Thereafter accepted a Post-doctoral Fellowship at the Compton Herbarium (SANBI) and University of Cape Town from February 2009–September 2010. In September 2010 I was appointed as Taxonomist (Principal Scientist) within the Early Detection and Rapid Response Unit for Alien Plants, based at the Compton Herbarium. From July 2012 to December 2014 I was appointed as Lecturer in the Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology (BCB) at the University of the Western Cape. From 1 January 2015 to present I was appointed as Senior Lecturer, from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2022 as Associate Professor and from 1 January 2023 to present as Professor at the same institution. On 1 April 2020 I became Head of Department, a tenure that lasted until May 2023. My research interests broadly include the taxonomy and systematics of African legumes (Fabaceae) as well as selected genera of the Aizoaceae, Apiaceae, Asphodelaceae, Asteraceae, Combretaceae, Hemerocallidaceae, Rubiaceae, Scrophulariaceae and Thymelaeaceae, the flora of the Karoo, and the taxonomy and identification of invasive plant species.
I have been active in research since 2006 and am author/co-author of 110 scientific papers, all in peer-reviewed, ISI accredited journals (108 published, 2 submitted), four book chapters, one book as well as 106 oral presentations at national and international conferences. I am actively involved in student supervision and am currently serving as supervisor or co-supervisor for 13 M.Sc. and four Ph.D. students (three with theses under examination). I have graduated 22 honours students, 16 M.Sc. and six Ph.D. students to date. I have actively sought funds towards research and conference attendance. I was awarded a Y1 rating by the NRF in 2014 and this was improved to a C1 rating in 2020. I was awarded the UWC DVC Academic Excellence Award for Best Emerging Researcher in Natural Sciences for 2018, as well as the DVC Research and Innovation Excellence Award for Best Mid-Career Researcher in 2020.
I have been an Editor for the South African Journal of Botany (SAJB, impact factor = 2.7) since 2011, Fabales Editor for Phytotaxa (impact factor = 1.0) since 2016, and Subject Editor for Phytokeys (impact factor = 1.3) and Biodiversity Data Journal (impact factor = 1.0) since 2018. From 2021 I served as Associate Editor for SAJB, and from July 2023 as Editor-in-Chief. I have in November 2024 also become Co-Editor of the Bean Bag, an international magazine on legume research. The invitations to serve on the Editorial Boards of international journals speak to my recognition internationally as a systematist. I regularly review manuscripts for several national and international journals. I am a member the South African Association of Botanists (SAAB), the Southern African Society for Systematic Biology (SASSB), the International Association for Plant Taxonomy (IAPT) and the American Society of Plant Taxonomists (ASPT). I served as the President of the SAAB for the period 2019-2020, and as Vice-President in 2021. I served on the Plant Checklist Committee for South Africa from 2020-2024, as well as currently on the International Legume Checklist Committee. I was nominated and voted in to serve on the IAPT Council from 1 July 2023 until 30 June 2029. During 2020 and 2021 I wrote a bid to host the International Botanical Congress (IBC) on the African continent for the first time. This was done in collaboration with Wesgro and XL Millennium. This bid was successful, and as such I serve as the President of the Organising Committee for IBC that will take place in July 2029.
My research outputs are well-cited (3314 citations) and I have an h-index of 22 and an i10 index of 45 according to Google Scholar. My research has impacted the taxonomy of many plant groups and I have published 4 new genera, 9 new sections/subsections, 31 new species, 1 subspecies and 321 new names or name combinations.
Tel: +27 (021) 959 2264
Email: jboatwright@uwc.ac.za
Completed a B.Sc. (Natural and Environmental Sciences) cum laude in 2004, B.Sc. Hons. (Botany) cum laude in 2005, M.Sc. (Botany) cum laude in 2006 and Ph.D (Botany) in 2009 all at the University of Johannesburg (formerly Rand Afrikaans University). Thereafter accepted a Post-doctoral Fellowship at the Compton Herbarium (SANBI) and University of Cape Town from February 2009–September 2010. In September 2010 I was appointed as Taxonomist (Principal Scientist) within the Early Detection and Rapid Response Unit for Alien Plants, based at the Compton Herbarium. From July 2012 to December 2014 I was appointed as Lecturer in the Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology (BCB) at the University of the Western Cape. From 1 January 2015 to present I was appointed as Senior Lecturer, from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2022 as Associate Professor and from 1 January 2023 to present as Professor at the same institution. On 1 April 2020 I became Head of Department, a tenure that lasted until May 2023. My research interests broadly include the taxonomy and systematics of African legumes (Fabaceae) as well as selected genera of the Aizoaceae, Apiaceae, Asphodelaceae, Asteraceae, Combretaceae, Hemerocallidaceae, Rubiaceae, Scrophulariaceae and Thymelaeaceae, the flora of the Karoo, and the taxonomy and identification of invasive plant species.
I have been active in research since 2006 and am author/co-author of 110 scientific papers, all in peer-reviewed, ISI accredited journals (108 published, 2 submitted), four book chapters, one book as well as 106 oral presentations at national and international conferences. I am actively involved in student supervision and am currently serving as supervisor or co-supervisor for 13 M.Sc. and four Ph.D. students (three with theses under examination). I have graduated 22 honours students, 16 M.Sc. and six Ph.D. students to date. I have actively sought funds towards research and conference attendance. I was awarded a Y1 rating by the NRF in 2014 and this was improved to a C1 rating in 2020. I was awarded the UWC DVC Academic Excellence Award for Best Emerging Researcher in Natural Sciences for 2018, as well as the DVC Research and Innovation Excellence Award for Best Mid-Career Researcher in 2020.
I have been an Editor for the South African Journal of Botany (SAJB, impact factor = 2.7) since 2011, Fabales Editor for Phytotaxa (impact factor = 1.0) since 2016, and Subject Editor for Phytokeys (impact factor = 1.3) and Biodiversity Data Journal (impact factor = 1.0) since 2018. From 2021 I served as Associate Editor for SAJB, and from July 2023 as Editor-in-Chief. I have in November 2024 also become Co-Editor of the Bean Bag, an international magazine on legume research. The invitations to serve on the Editorial Boards of international journals speak to my recognition internationally as a systematist. I regularly review manuscripts for several national and international journals. I am a member the South African Association of Botanists (SAAB), the Southern African Society for Systematic Biology (SASSB), the International Association for Plant Taxonomy (IAPT) and the American Society of Plant Taxonomists (ASPT). I served as the President of the SAAB for the period 2019-2020, and as Vice-President in 2021. I served on the Plant Checklist Committee for South Africa from 2020-2024, as well as currently on the International Legume Checklist Committee. I was nominated and voted in to serve on the IAPT Council from 1 July 2023 until 30 June 2029. During 2020 and 2021 I wrote a bid to host the International Botanical Congress (IBC) on the African continent for the first time. This was done in collaboration with Wesgro and XL Millennium. This bid was successful, and as such I serve as the President of the Organising Committee for IBC that will take place in July 2029.
My research outputs are well-cited (3314 citations) and I have an h-index of 22 and an i10 index of 45 according to Google Scholar. My research has impacted the taxonomy of many plant groups and I have published 4 new genera, 9 new sections/subsections, 31 new species, 1 subspecies and 321 new names or name combinations.
Position: Associate Professor
Tel: +27 (021) 959 3783
Email: ajsmit@uwc.ac.za
I am an NMU and UCT Alumnus and academic with 25 years of post‐Ph.D. national and international academic teaching and research experience. I have a varied and broad academic background in Marine Biology and Marine Science more broadly, but my research curiosity has become increasingly transdisciplinary. Today my interests straddle the intersection of coastal ecology, oceanography, and the socio‐economic wellbeing of coastal communities affected by climate change. My research aligns with the UN SDG11 (“Sustainable Cities and Communities”), SDG13 (“Climate Action”) and SDG14 (“Life Below Water”), ticks many boxes with regards to several of South Africa’s National Strategies, and benefits from the country’s unique Geographical Advantage.
I occupy a unique space amongst my academic peers due to my propensity for transgressing traditional discipline boundaries. My strength is an ability to unpack complex problems and address them in the field or in silico by drawing on various tools across several academic disciplines. I enjoy creatively applying my skill in designing research studies using novel cross‐disciplinary approaches, and I draw heavily on my advanced numerical abilities in supporting these endeavours. I instil these same values in postgraduate students.
I have kept abreast with the technological (i.e. hardware, compute, and software) advancements necessary to use the vast array of open datasets to produce meaningful research outputs locally and globally. Simultaneously, I understand experimental design principles and can comfortably design field campaigns that optimise between the intersecting constraints of i) robust and representative data harvesting, ii) financial and field resources, and iii) human capital. By forming strategic partnerships between academia and external stakeholders, I ensure the research finds societal relevance and execute it efficiently and effectively.
These skills have allowed me to excel in attracting research grants from national (e.g. the NRF) and international (e.g. SANOCEAN, the Belmont Forum, and the European Union) funders. Since 2014 I have brought in ZAR 28.74 million in funding to support my research and students. I work better as part of a team, and I am comfortable leading consortia of international collaborators.
Quantitative Ecology (BCB743): https://ajsmit.netlify.app/quantecol/
http://tangledbank.netlify.app
EXEBUS YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dq3Boc14238
iAtlantic: https://www.iatlantic.eu/
BlueConnect: https://www.blueconnectproject.com/
Software Development and Research Code
https://github.com/ajsmit
https://robwschlegel.github.io/heatwaveR/index.html
Downloads >24ktimessince2018
DOI 10.5281/zenodo.1324308
https://github.com/ajsmit/RmarineHeatWaves
Downloads >12ktimes
Associate Editor, Frontiers in Ecology & Evolution
Review Editor, Biogeography and Macroecology
Abrahams, A., Schlegel, R. W., and Smit, A. J. (2021b). Variation and change of upwelling dynamics detected in the world’s eastern boundary upwelling systems. Frontiers in Marine Science, page 29.
Coppin, R., Rautenbach, C., Ponton, T. J., and Smit, A. (2020). Investigating waves and temperature as drivers of kelp morphology. Frontiers in Marine Science, 7:567.
Cotiyane, P., Bornman, T., and Smit, A. (2017). Towards the biogeography of marine benthic diatoms along the coast of South Africa. Phycologia, 56(4):35.
Cotiyane‐Pondo, P., Bornman, T. G., Dąbek, P., Witkowski, A., and Smit, A. J. (2020). Austral winter marine epilithic diatoms: Community composition and distribution on intertidal rocky substrate around the coast of South Africa. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 242:106837.
Dyer, D., Bolton, J., Smit, A., and Anderson, R. (2017). Variability in stable isotope signatures of South African Laminariales: implications for kelp forest food web studies. Phycologia, 56(4):47.
Dyer, D., Butler, M., Smit, A., Anderson, R., and Bolton, J. (2019a). Characterizing kelp forest pom during upwelling and downwelling conditions: using stable isotope analysis to differentiate between detritus and phytoplankton. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 619:17–34.
Dyer, D. C., Butler, M. J., Smit, A. J., Anderson, R. J., and Bolton, J. J. (2019b). Kelp forest POM during upwelling and downwelling conditions: using stable isotopes to differentiate between detritus and phytoplankton. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 619:17–34.
Dyer, D. C., Butler, M. J., Smit, A. J., Anderson, R. J., and Bolton, J. J. (2019c). Variability in stable isotope values of South African Laminariales, Ecklonia maxima and Laminaria pallida, over different spatial and temporal scales. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 628:55–71.
Kirsten, K. L., Haberzettl, T., Wündsch, M., Frenzel, P., Meschner, S., Smit, A., Quick, L. J., Mäusbacher, R., and Meadows, M. E. (2018). A multiproxy study of the ocean‐atmospheric forcing and the impact of sea‐level changes on the southern Cape coast, South Africa during the Holocene. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 496:282–291.
Livingstone, T., Harris, J., Lombard, A., Smit, A., and Schoeman, D. S. (2018). Classification of marine bioregions on the east coast of South Africa. African Journal of Marine Science, 40(1):51–65.
Majewska, R., Mayombo, N. A., Smit, A. J., and Goosen, W. E. (2022). New observations on the diatom genus Druehlago (Bacillariophyta) and description of two new species from South Africa. Phycologia, 61(1):75–88.
Mayombo, N., Majewska, R., and Smit, A. (2019). Diatoms associated with two South African kelp species: Ecklonia maxima and Laminaria pallida. African Journal of Marine Science, 41(2):221–229.
Mayombo, N. A. S., Majewska, R., and Smit, A. J. (2020). An assessment of the influence of host species, age, and thallus part on kelp‐associated diatoms. Diversity, 12(10):385.
Mehta A, Wynberg R, Smit AJ (2022) Exploring perceptions around the value of marine resources: the case of kelp in the Western Cape, South Africa [submitted]
Pillay, K., Kisten, Y., Smit, A., and Glassom, D. (2019). Financing Emission Reductions. Climate Change and Ocean Governance: Politics and Policy for Threatened Seas, page 362.
Schlegel, R. W., Oliver, E. C., Hobday, A. J., and Smit, A. J. (2019). Detecting marine heatwaves with sub‐optimal data. Frontiers in Marine Science, 6:737.
Schlegel, R. W., Oliver, E. C., Perkins‐Kirkpatrick, S., Kruger, A., and Smit, A. J. (2017a). Predominant atmospheric and oceanic patterns during coastal marine heatwaves. Frontiers in Marine Science, 4:323.
Schlegel, R. W., Oliver, E. C., Wernberg, T., and Smit, A. J. (2017b). Nearshore and offshore co‐occurrence of marine heatwaves and cold‐spells. Progress in oceanography, 151:189–205.
Schlegel, R. W. and Smit, A. J. (2018). heatwaveR: A central algorithm for the detection of heatwaves and cold‐spells. Journal of Open Source Software, 3(27):821.
Smit, A. J., Fitchett, J. M., Engelbrecht, F. A., Scholes, R. J., Dzhivhuho, G., and Sweijd, N. A. (2020). Winter is coming: a southern hemisphere perspective of the environmental drivers of SARS‐CoV‐2 and the potential seasonality of COVID‐19. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(16):5634.
Sweijd, N. and Smit, A. (2020). Trends in sea surface temperature and chlorophyll‐a in the seven African Large Marine Ecosystems. Environmental Development, 36:100585.
Wernberg T, Filbee-Dexter K, de Bettignies T, Leclerc J-C, Davoult D, Laveque L, Christie H, Dyer D, Anderson R, Rothman M, Bolton J, Norderhaug KM, Smit A (2022) Shrinking plants in warmer water: implications for future kelp forests. In revision, Marine Ecology Progress Series [submitted].
Tel: +27 (021) 959 3783
Email: ajsmit@uwc.ac.za
I am an NMU and UCT Alumnus and academic with 25 years of post‐Ph.D. national and international academic teaching and research experience. I have a varied and broad academic background in Marine Biology and Marine Science more broadly, but my research curiosity has become increasingly transdisciplinary. Today my interests straddle the intersection of coastal ecology, oceanography, and the socio‐economic wellbeing of coastal communities affected by climate change. My research aligns with the UN SDG11 (“Sustainable Cities and Communities”), SDG13 (“Climate Action”) and SDG14 (“Life Below Water”), ticks many boxes with regards to several of South Africa’s National Strategies, and benefits from the country’s unique Geographical Advantage.
I occupy a unique space amongst my academic peers due to my propensity for transgressing traditional discipline boundaries. My strength is an ability to unpack complex problems and address them in the field or in silico by drawing on various tools across several academic disciplines. I enjoy creatively applying my skill in designing research studies using novel cross‐disciplinary approaches, and I draw heavily on my advanced numerical abilities in supporting these endeavours. I instil these same values in postgraduate students.
I have kept abreast with the technological (i.e. hardware, compute, and software) advancements necessary to use the vast array of open datasets to produce meaningful research outputs locally and globally. Simultaneously, I understand experimental design principles and can comfortably design field campaigns that optimise between the intersecting constraints of i) robust and representative data harvesting, ii) financial and field resources, and iii) human capital. By forming strategic partnerships between academia and external stakeholders, I ensure the research finds societal relevance and execute it efficiently and effectively.
These skills have allowed me to excel in attracting research grants from national (e.g. the NRF) and international (e.g. SANOCEAN, the Belmont Forum, and the European Union) funders. Since 2014 I have brought in ZAR 28.74 million in funding to support my research and students. I work better as part of a team, and I am comfortable leading consortia of international collaborators.
Teaching Websites
Biostatistics (BCB744): https://ajsmit.netlify.app/workshops/Quantitative Ecology (BCB743): https://ajsmit.netlify.app/quantecol/
http://tangledbank.netlify.app
Research Websites
EXEBUS: http://exebus.org/EXEBUS YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dq3Boc14238
iAtlantic: https://www.iatlantic.eu/
BlueConnect: https://www.blueconnectproject.com/
GitHub
Personal GitHub accountSoftware Development and Research Code
https://github.com/ajsmit
heatwaveR
A central algorithm for the detection of heatwaves and cold‐spellshttps://robwschlegel.github.io/heatwaveR/index.html
Downloads >24ktimessince2018
DOI 10.5281/zenodo.1324308
RmarineHeatwaves
Functions to calculate and display marine heatwaves according to the standard definitionhttps://github.com/ajsmit/RmarineHeatWaves
Downloads >12ktimes
Editorial contributions
Associate Editor, Aquatic BotanyAssociate Editor, Frontiers in Ecology & Evolution
Review Editor, Biogeography and Macroecology
Recent publication (5 years)
Abrahams, A., Schlegel, R. W., and Smit, A. J. (2021a). A novel approach to quantify metrics of upwelling intensity, frequency, and duration. Plos one, 16(7):e0254026.Abrahams, A., Schlegel, R. W., and Smit, A. J. (2021b). Variation and change of upwelling dynamics detected in the world’s eastern boundary upwelling systems. Frontiers in Marine Science, page 29.
Coppin, R., Rautenbach, C., Ponton, T. J., and Smit, A. (2020). Investigating waves and temperature as drivers of kelp morphology. Frontiers in Marine Science, 7:567.
Cotiyane, P., Bornman, T., and Smit, A. (2017). Towards the biogeography of marine benthic diatoms along the coast of South Africa. Phycologia, 56(4):35.
Cotiyane‐Pondo, P., Bornman, T. G., Dąbek, P., Witkowski, A., and Smit, A. J. (2020). Austral winter marine epilithic diatoms: Community composition and distribution on intertidal rocky substrate around the coast of South Africa. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 242:106837.
Dyer, D., Bolton, J., Smit, A., and Anderson, R. (2017). Variability in stable isotope signatures of South African Laminariales: implications for kelp forest food web studies. Phycologia, 56(4):47.
Dyer, D., Butler, M., Smit, A., Anderson, R., and Bolton, J. (2019a). Characterizing kelp forest pom during upwelling and downwelling conditions: using stable isotope analysis to differentiate between detritus and phytoplankton. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 619:17–34.
Dyer, D. C., Butler, M. J., Smit, A. J., Anderson, R. J., and Bolton, J. J. (2019b). Kelp forest POM during upwelling and downwelling conditions: using stable isotopes to differentiate between detritus and phytoplankton. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 619:17–34.
Dyer, D. C., Butler, M. J., Smit, A. J., Anderson, R. J., and Bolton, J. J. (2019c). Variability in stable isotope values of South African Laminariales, Ecklonia maxima and Laminaria pallida, over different spatial and temporal scales. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 628:55–71.
Kirsten, K. L., Haberzettl, T., Wündsch, M., Frenzel, P., Meschner, S., Smit, A., Quick, L. J., Mäusbacher, R., and Meadows, M. E. (2018). A multiproxy study of the ocean‐atmospheric forcing and the impact of sea‐level changes on the southern Cape coast, South Africa during the Holocene. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 496:282–291.
Livingstone, T., Harris, J., Lombard, A., Smit, A., and Schoeman, D. S. (2018). Classification of marine bioregions on the east coast of South Africa. African Journal of Marine Science, 40(1):51–65.
Majewska, R., Mayombo, N. A., Smit, A. J., and Goosen, W. E. (2022). New observations on the diatom genus Druehlago (Bacillariophyta) and description of two new species from South Africa. Phycologia, 61(1):75–88.
Mayombo, N., Majewska, R., and Smit, A. (2019). Diatoms associated with two South African kelp species: Ecklonia maxima and Laminaria pallida. African Journal of Marine Science, 41(2):221–229.
Mayombo, N. A. S., Majewska, R., and Smit, A. J. (2020). An assessment of the influence of host species, age, and thallus part on kelp‐associated diatoms. Diversity, 12(10):385.
Mehta A, Wynberg R, Smit AJ (2022) Exploring perceptions around the value of marine resources: the case of kelp in the Western Cape, South Africa [submitted]
Pillay, K., Kisten, Y., Smit, A., and Glassom, D. (2019). Financing Emission Reductions. Climate Change and Ocean Governance: Politics and Policy for Threatened Seas, page 362.
Schlegel, R. W., Oliver, E. C., Hobday, A. J., and Smit, A. J. (2019). Detecting marine heatwaves with sub‐optimal data. Frontiers in Marine Science, 6:737.
Schlegel, R. W., Oliver, E. C., Perkins‐Kirkpatrick, S., Kruger, A., and Smit, A. J. (2017a). Predominant atmospheric and oceanic patterns during coastal marine heatwaves. Frontiers in Marine Science, 4:323.
Schlegel, R. W., Oliver, E. C., Wernberg, T., and Smit, A. J. (2017b). Nearshore and offshore co‐occurrence of marine heatwaves and cold‐spells. Progress in oceanography, 151:189–205.
Schlegel, R. W. and Smit, A. J. (2018). heatwaveR: A central algorithm for the detection of heatwaves and cold‐spells. Journal of Open Source Software, 3(27):821.
Smit, A. J., Fitchett, J. M., Engelbrecht, F. A., Scholes, R. J., Dzhivhuho, G., and Sweijd, N. A. (2020). Winter is coming: a southern hemisphere perspective of the environmental drivers of SARS‐CoV‐2 and the potential seasonality of COVID‐19. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(16):5634.
Sweijd, N. and Smit, A. (2020). Trends in sea surface temperature and chlorophyll‐a in the seven African Large Marine Ecosystems. Environmental Development, 36:100585.
Wernberg T, Filbee-Dexter K, de Bettignies T, Leclerc J-C, Davoult D, Laveque L, Christie H, Dyer D, Anderson R, Rothman M, Bolton J, Norderhaug KM, Smit A (2022) Shrinking plants in warmer water: implications for future kelp forests. In revision, Marine Ecology Progress Series [submitted].
Position: Associate Professor
Tel: +27 (021) 959 2313
Email: bmaritz@uwc.ac.za
Dr Maritz and his students are interested in the ecology, evolution and conservation of reptiles (especially snakes) in African ecosystems. Their research spans multiple biomes and includes a wide diversity of species. Through their research and outreach initiatives, they strive to facilitate the conservation of reptiles by raising awareness, appreciation, and overall understanding. You can find out more by visiting maritz.com, or exploring Dr Maritz's Google Scholar profile.
Link for maritz lab
Link for Google Scholar
Tel: +27 (021) 959 2313
Email: bmaritz@uwc.ac.za
Dr Maritz and his students are interested in the ecology, evolution and conservation of reptiles (especially snakes) in African ecosystems. Their research spans multiple biomes and includes a wide diversity of species. Through their research and outreach initiatives, they strive to facilitate the conservation of reptiles by raising awareness, appreciation, and overall understanding. You can find out more by visiting maritz.com, or exploring Dr Maritz's Google Scholar profile.
Link for maritz lab
Link for Google Scholar
Position: Senior Lecturer
Tel: +27 (021) 959 2301
Email: pofarrell@uwc.ac.za
I have worked in the fields of applied ecology, land-use planning and ecosystem services for the last 22 years. I have focussed on understanding social-ecological systems within a development and conservation context. This has involved interdisciplinary engagements, developing spatially explicit models and scenarios that capture social-ecological processes and dynamics towards understanding human wellbeing. I am particularly interested in understanding the multifunctional nature of landscapes and ecosystems and how we can develop nature-based solutions in adapting to climate change and other developmental challenges. I have co-authored over 100 scientific publications, technical reports and book chapters. I have also been involved in numerous international ecosystem service assessments and served on the IPBES from 2014-2022 for various thematic and methodological assessments.
● Designing nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptations
● Green Infrastructure mapping for planning and sustainable development
● Land cover accounting and land-use change assessment
● System modelling (biophysical and social-ecological)
● Scenario analysis
● Plural valuation of nature
● Developing monitoring and evaluation protocols
● Biodiversity Economy Project – Understanding land-use tradeoffs relating to agriculture, mining, and conservation in Northern Namibia, with Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) and UNU Flores Dresden, Germany.
● CHIDA – Understanding Nature Based Solution for urban development in rural towns in the Eastern Cape South Africa and Malawi, with Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Chancellor Colledge Zomba Malawi, ACDI at University of Cape Town and Rhodes University
Associate Editor – Sustainability Science
Associate Editor – Ecosystems and People
Associate Editor – Anthropocene Science
Harmáčková, Z., Yoshida, Y., Sitas, N., Mannetti, L., Martin, A., Kumar, R., ... & O'Farrell, P. (2023). The role of values in future scenarios: what types of values underpin (un) sustainable and (un) just futures?. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability.
Pascual, U., Balvanera, P., Anderson, C. B., Chaplin-Kramer, R., Christie, M., González-Jiménez, D., ... & Zent, E. (2023). Diverse values of nature for sustainability. Nature, 1-11.
Schröter, M., Berbés-Blázquez, M., Albert, C., Hill, R., Krause, T., Loos, J., ... & van Oudenhoven, A. (2023). Science on ecosystems and people to support the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Ecosystems and People, 19(1), 2220913.
Biggs, R., Reyers, B., Blanchard, R., Clements, H., Cockburn, J., Cumming, G. S., ... & Tengö, M. (2023). The Southern African Program on Ecosystem Change and Society: an emergent community of practice. Ecosystems and People, 19(1), 2150317.
Biggs, R., Clements, H. S., Cumming, G. S., Cundill, G., de Vos, A., Hamann, M., ... & Reyers, B. (2022). Social-ecological change: insights from the Southern African Program on Ecosystem Change and Society. Ecosystems and People, 18(1), 447-468.
Brill, G.C., Anderson, P.M.L. & O’Farrell, P. (2022). Relational Values of Cultural Ecosystem Services in an Urban Conservation Area: The Case of Table Mountain National Park, South Africa. LAND 11, 603
Wessels, N., Sitas, N., O'Farrell, P., & Esler, K. J. (2021). Assessing the outcomes of implementing natural open space plans in a Global South city. Landscape and Urban Planning, 216, 104237.
Abhilash, P. C., Bastianoni, S., Chen, W., DeFries, R., Fraceto, L. F., Fuckar, N. S., ... & Turner, B. L. (2021). Introducing ‘Anthropocene Science’: a new international journal for addressing human impact on the resilience of planet Earth.
Bux, Q., Anderson,P. & O'Farrell, P.J. (2021). Understanding the local biodiversity and open space strategies in two South African cities. Ecology and Society 26(3):4.
Wessels, N., Sitas, N., O'Farrell, P., & Esler, K. J. (2021). Understanding community perceptions of a natural open space system for urban conservation and stewardship in a metropolitan city in Africa. Environmental Conservation, 48, 244-254.
Chan, K.M.A., Boyd, D.R., Gould, R.K., et al. (2020). Levers and leverage points for pathways to sustainability. People and Nature. 2(3), 693-717.
Balvanera, P., Jacobs, S., Nagendra, H., O’Farrell, P., et al. (2020). Science-policy interfaces advance research on ecosystems and people: Editorial of the special issue. Ecosystems and People 16(1) 345-353.
Zafra-Calvo, N., Balvanera, P., Pascual, U., Merçon, J., Martín-López, B., van Noordwijk, M., ... & Cabrol, D. (2020). Plural valuation of nature for equity and sustainability: Insights from the Global South. Global environmental change, 63, 102115.
Jacobs, S., Zafra-Calvo, N., Gonzalez-Jimenez, D., Guibrunet, L., Benessaiah, K., Berghöfer, A., ... & Martín-López, B. (2020). Use your power for good: plural valuation of nature–the Oaxaca statement. Global Sustainability, 3.
Seymour, C. L., Gillson, L., Child, M. F., Tolley, K. A., Curie, J. C., da Silva, J. M., ... & Smith, D. A. E. (2019). Horizon scanning for South African biodiversity: A need for social engagement as well as science. Ambio, 1-11.
Sitas, N., Harmáčková, Z. V., Anticamara, J. A., Arneth, A., Badola, R., Biggs, R., ... & DasGupta, R. (2019). Exploring the usefulness of scenario archetypes in science-policy processes. Ecology and Society, 24(3).
O'Farrell, P., Anderson, P., Culwick, C., Currie, P., Kavonic, J., McClure, A., ... & Audouin, M. (2019). Towards resilient African cities: Shared challenges and opportunities towards the retention and maintenance of ecological infrastructure. Global Sustainability, 2.
Willcock, S., Hooftman, D. A., Balbi, S., Blanchard, R., Dawson, T. P., O’Farrell, P., ... & Mulligan, M. (2019). A continental scale validation of ecosystem service model. Ecosystems. March 22:1-16.
Balbi, S., Selomane, O., Sitas, N., Blanchard, R., Kotzee, I., O'Farrell, P., & Villa, F. (2019). Human dependence on natural resources in rapidly urbanising South African regions. Environmental Research Letters. 4 (2019) 044008.
Potgieter, L. J., Gaertner, M., O’Farrell, P. J., & Richardson, D. M. (2019). A fine-scale assessment of the ecosystem service-disservice dichotomy in the context of urban ecosystems affected by alien plant invasions. Forest Ecosystems, 6(1), 1-16.
Potgieter, L. J., Gaertner, M., O’Farrell, P. J., & Richardson, D. M. (2019). Alien plants and criminal activity: a novel ecosystem disservice?. Assessing the Impacts of Invasive Alien Plants on Urban Ecosystem Services, 163.
Bengtsson, J., Bullock, J. M., Egoh, B., Everson, C., Everson, T., O'Connor, T., ... & Lindborg, R. (2019). Grasslands—more important for ecosystem services than you might think. Ecosphere, 10(2), e02582.
Potgieter, L. J., Gaertner, M., O'Farrell, P. J., & Richardson, D. M. (2019). Perceptions of impact: invasive alien plants in the urban environment. Journal of environmental management, 229, 76-87.
Tel: +27 (021) 959 2301
Email: pofarrell@uwc.ac.za
I have worked in the fields of applied ecology, land-use planning and ecosystem services for the last 22 years. I have focussed on understanding social-ecological systems within a development and conservation context. This has involved interdisciplinary engagements, developing spatially explicit models and scenarios that capture social-ecological processes and dynamics towards understanding human wellbeing. I am particularly interested in understanding the multifunctional nature of landscapes and ecosystems and how we can develop nature-based solutions in adapting to climate change and other developmental challenges. I have co-authored over 100 scientific publications, technical reports and book chapters. I have also been involved in numerous international ecosystem service assessments and served on the IPBES from 2014-2022 for various thematic and methodological assessments.
Areas of current research interest include:
● Ecosystem service assessments (modelling, mapping, valuation)● Designing nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptations
● Green Infrastructure mapping for planning and sustainable development
● Land cover accounting and land-use change assessment
● System modelling (biophysical and social-ecological)
● Scenario analysis
● Plural valuation of nature
● Developing monitoring and evaluation protocols
Ongoing projects
● EI4WS project (Ecological Infrastructure for Water Security) - Natural capital accounting for Ecological Infrastructure South African Biodiversity Institute.● Biodiversity Economy Project – Understanding land-use tradeoffs relating to agriculture, mining, and conservation in Northern Namibia, with Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) and UNU Flores Dresden, Germany.
● CHIDA – Understanding Nature Based Solution for urban development in rural towns in the Eastern Cape South Africa and Malawi, with Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Chancellor Colledge Zomba Malawi, ACDI at University of Cape Town and Rhodes University
Editorial contributions
Associate Editor – Conservation LettersAssociate Editor – Sustainability Science
Associate Editor – Ecosystems and People
Associate Editor – Anthropocene Science
Recent publication (last 5 years)
(https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=YJuuZ_sAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate)Harmáčková, Z., Yoshida, Y., Sitas, N., Mannetti, L., Martin, A., Kumar, R., ... & O'Farrell, P. (2023). The role of values in future scenarios: what types of values underpin (un) sustainable and (un) just futures?. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability.
Pascual, U., Balvanera, P., Anderson, C. B., Chaplin-Kramer, R., Christie, M., González-Jiménez, D., ... & Zent, E. (2023). Diverse values of nature for sustainability. Nature, 1-11.
Schröter, M., Berbés-Blázquez, M., Albert, C., Hill, R., Krause, T., Loos, J., ... & van Oudenhoven, A. (2023). Science on ecosystems and people to support the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Ecosystems and People, 19(1), 2220913.
Biggs, R., Reyers, B., Blanchard, R., Clements, H., Cockburn, J., Cumming, G. S., ... & Tengö, M. (2023). The Southern African Program on Ecosystem Change and Society: an emergent community of practice. Ecosystems and People, 19(1), 2150317.
Biggs, R., Clements, H. S., Cumming, G. S., Cundill, G., de Vos, A., Hamann, M., ... & Reyers, B. (2022). Social-ecological change: insights from the Southern African Program on Ecosystem Change and Society. Ecosystems and People, 18(1), 447-468.
Brill, G.C., Anderson, P.M.L. & O’Farrell, P. (2022). Relational Values of Cultural Ecosystem Services in an Urban Conservation Area: The Case of Table Mountain National Park, South Africa. LAND 11, 603
Wessels, N., Sitas, N., O'Farrell, P., & Esler, K. J. (2021). Assessing the outcomes of implementing natural open space plans in a Global South city. Landscape and Urban Planning, 216, 104237.
Abhilash, P. C., Bastianoni, S., Chen, W., DeFries, R., Fraceto, L. F., Fuckar, N. S., ... & Turner, B. L. (2021). Introducing ‘Anthropocene Science’: a new international journal for addressing human impact on the resilience of planet Earth.
Bux, Q., Anderson,P. & O'Farrell, P.J. (2021). Understanding the local biodiversity and open space strategies in two South African cities. Ecology and Society 26(3):4.
Wessels, N., Sitas, N., O'Farrell, P., & Esler, K. J. (2021). Understanding community perceptions of a natural open space system for urban conservation and stewardship in a metropolitan city in Africa. Environmental Conservation, 48, 244-254.
Chan, K.M.A., Boyd, D.R., Gould, R.K., et al. (2020). Levers and leverage points for pathways to sustainability. People and Nature. 2(3), 693-717.
Balvanera, P., Jacobs, S., Nagendra, H., O’Farrell, P., et al. (2020). Science-policy interfaces advance research on ecosystems and people: Editorial of the special issue. Ecosystems and People 16(1) 345-353.
Zafra-Calvo, N., Balvanera, P., Pascual, U., Merçon, J., Martín-López, B., van Noordwijk, M., ... & Cabrol, D. (2020). Plural valuation of nature for equity and sustainability: Insights from the Global South. Global environmental change, 63, 102115.
Jacobs, S., Zafra-Calvo, N., Gonzalez-Jimenez, D., Guibrunet, L., Benessaiah, K., Berghöfer, A., ... & Martín-López, B. (2020). Use your power for good: plural valuation of nature–the Oaxaca statement. Global Sustainability, 3.
Seymour, C. L., Gillson, L., Child, M. F., Tolley, K. A., Curie, J. C., da Silva, J. M., ... & Smith, D. A. E. (2019). Horizon scanning for South African biodiversity: A need for social engagement as well as science. Ambio, 1-11.
Sitas, N., Harmáčková, Z. V., Anticamara, J. A., Arneth, A., Badola, R., Biggs, R., ... & DasGupta, R. (2019). Exploring the usefulness of scenario archetypes in science-policy processes. Ecology and Society, 24(3).
O'Farrell, P., Anderson, P., Culwick, C., Currie, P., Kavonic, J., McClure, A., ... & Audouin, M. (2019). Towards resilient African cities: Shared challenges and opportunities towards the retention and maintenance of ecological infrastructure. Global Sustainability, 2.
Willcock, S., Hooftman, D. A., Balbi, S., Blanchard, R., Dawson, T. P., O’Farrell, P., ... & Mulligan, M. (2019). A continental scale validation of ecosystem service model. Ecosystems. March 22:1-16.
Balbi, S., Selomane, O., Sitas, N., Blanchard, R., Kotzee, I., O'Farrell, P., & Villa, F. (2019). Human dependence on natural resources in rapidly urbanising South African regions. Environmental Research Letters. 4 (2019) 044008.
Potgieter, L. J., Gaertner, M., O’Farrell, P. J., & Richardson, D. M. (2019). A fine-scale assessment of the ecosystem service-disservice dichotomy in the context of urban ecosystems affected by alien plant invasions. Forest Ecosystems, 6(1), 1-16.
Potgieter, L. J., Gaertner, M., O’Farrell, P. J., & Richardson, D. M. (2019). Alien plants and criminal activity: a novel ecosystem disservice?. Assessing the Impacts of Invasive Alien Plants on Urban Ecosystem Services, 163.
Bengtsson, J., Bullock, J. M., Egoh, B., Everson, C., Everson, T., O'Connor, T., ... & Lindborg, R. (2019). Grasslands—more important for ecosystem services than you might think. Ecosphere, 10(2), e02582.
Potgieter, L. J., Gaertner, M., O'Farrell, P. J., & Richardson, D. M. (2019). Perceptions of impact: invasive alien plants in the urban environment. Journal of environmental management, 229, 76-87.
Position: Lecturer - ECP
Tel: +27 (021) 959 3408
Fax: +27 (021) 959 2312
Email: reager@uwc.ac.za
I am a marine biologist having received my undergraduate training from the University of the Western Cape majoring in Botany and Zoology. I took a seven-year gap teaching English in South Korea and then returned to complete my Honours and Masters in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology. My honours and masters focussed on Rocky Shore Ecology looking at the role of molluscan grazers in controlling intertidal seaweed distribution patterns as well as the associations of these grazers with the molluscan hosts. I have recently shifted my research focus to explore the causes of harmful effects of microplastics in Aquatic ecosystems and how best to eradicate them. I am currently enrolled as a PhD candidate while working as a lecturer in the Biodiversity and Conservation Biology Department at the University of the Western Cape teaching life sciences to first year students in the Extended Curriculum Programme (ECP) since 2010. I have collaborated with staff from other ECP and mainstream modules to improve the ECP. I am committed to include new teaching and learning initiatives in my classes as well as incorporating field trips in my course by taking my students to the Two Oceans Aquarium and a 3-night camp, which have become annual events. This has created the opportunity for me to collaborate with staff from external organizations such as Cape Nature, Department of Water and Sanitation and the Two Oceans Aquarium.
Ongoing projects
The impact of microplastics on estuarine and coastal biota
Publications
Maneveldt GW, Eager RC, Bassier A. 2009. Effects of long-term exclusion of the limpet Cymbula oculus (Born) on the distribution of intertidal. African Journal of Marine Science 31(2): 171-179; https://doi.org/10.2989/AJMS.2009.31.2.5.877
Eager RC, Puckree-Padua C, Maneveldt GW. 2015. Understanding the association between the non-geniculate coralline alga Spongites discoidea and the mollusc Oxystele sinensis. African Journal of Marine Science 37(3): 335-344; https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2015.1074109
Orcid number
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1037-0182
LinkedIn
linkedin.com/in/rosemary-eager-000129167
ResearchGate
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rosemary-Eager
Tel: +27 (021) 959 3408
Fax: +27 (021) 959 2312
Email: reager@uwc.ac.za
I am a marine biologist having received my undergraduate training from the University of the Western Cape majoring in Botany and Zoology. I took a seven-year gap teaching English in South Korea and then returned to complete my Honours and Masters in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology. My honours and masters focussed on Rocky Shore Ecology looking at the role of molluscan grazers in controlling intertidal seaweed distribution patterns as well as the associations of these grazers with the molluscan hosts. I have recently shifted my research focus to explore the causes of harmful effects of microplastics in Aquatic ecosystems and how best to eradicate them. I am currently enrolled as a PhD candidate while working as a lecturer in the Biodiversity and Conservation Biology Department at the University of the Western Cape teaching life sciences to first year students in the Extended Curriculum Programme (ECP) since 2010. I have collaborated with staff from other ECP and mainstream modules to improve the ECP. I am committed to include new teaching and learning initiatives in my classes as well as incorporating field trips in my course by taking my students to the Two Oceans Aquarium and a 3-night camp, which have become annual events. This has created the opportunity for me to collaborate with staff from external organizations such as Cape Nature, Department of Water and Sanitation and the Two Oceans Aquarium.
Ongoing projects
The impact of microplastics on estuarine and coastal biota
Publications
Maneveldt GW, Eager RC, Bassier A. 2009. Effects of long-term exclusion of the limpet Cymbula oculus (Born) on the distribution of intertidal. African Journal of Marine Science 31(2): 171-179; https://doi.org/10.2989/AJMS.2009.31.2.5.877
Eager RC, Puckree-Padua C, Maneveldt GW. 2015. Understanding the association between the non-geniculate coralline alga Spongites discoidea and the mollusc Oxystele sinensis. African Journal of Marine Science 37(3): 335-344; https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2015.1074109
Orcid number
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1037-0182
linkedin.com/in/rosemary-eager-000129167
ResearchGate
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rosemary-Eager
Position: Chief Officer & Junior Lecturer
Tel: +27 (021) 959 2818
Fax: +27 (021) 959 2312
Email: tmdlangu@uwc.ac.za
Tel: +27 (021) 959 2818
Fax: +27 (021) 959 2312
Email: tmdlangu@uwc.ac.za
Position: Senior Officer and Procurement Officer
Tel: +27 (021) 959 2153
Email: lgelderbloem@uwc.ac.za
Tel: +27 (021) 959 2153
Email: lgelderbloem@uwc.ac.za
Position: Researcher - ARC (Range and Forage Sciences)
Tel: +27 (021) 959 3373
Fax: +27 (021) 959 2312
Email: ccupido@uwc.ac.za
Tel: +27 (021) 959 3373
Fax: +27 (021) 959 2312
Email: ccupido@uwc.ac.za
Position: Lecturer - ECP
Tel: 021 959 2075
Email: mlaubscher@uwc.ac.za
I am an entomologist who received my undergraduate degree from the University of the Western Cape majoring in biodiversity and Conservation Biology. I then completed my honours at the University of Stellenbosch in Biodiversity and Ecology. I returned to UWC todo my masters degree; which focussed on the morphology and genetics of bladder grasshoppers. I have recently shifted my research focus to investigating orthopteran species using passive acoustic monitoring; obtaining baseline data, analysing species richness and abundance seasonally, and acoustic partitioning. I am currently enrolled as a PhD candidate while working as a lecturer in the Biodiversity and Conservation Biology Department teaching life sciences to first-year students in the Extended Curriculum Programme.
Ongoing projects
Investigating South African Orthopteran species diversity using passive bio-acoustic monitoring.
Tel: 021 959 2075
Email: mlaubscher@uwc.ac.za
I am an entomologist who received my undergraduate degree from the University of the Western Cape majoring in biodiversity and Conservation Biology. I then completed my honours at the University of Stellenbosch in Biodiversity and Ecology. I returned to UWC todo my masters degree; which focussed on the morphology and genetics of bladder grasshoppers. I have recently shifted my research focus to investigating orthopteran species using passive acoustic monitoring; obtaining baseline data, analysing species richness and abundance seasonally, and acoustic partitioning. I am currently enrolled as a PhD candidate while working as a lecturer in the Biodiversity and Conservation Biology Department teaching life sciences to first-year students in the Extended Curriculum Programme.
Ongoing projects
Investigating South African Orthopteran species diversity using passive bio-acoustic monitoring.
Position: Professional Development Programme (PDP) Candidate - ARC
Tel:
Email:
Tel:
Email:
