A5043251935- Freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity and ecology
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Environmental Conservation and Management
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Coleoptera Taxonomy and Distribution
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Invertebrate Taxonomy and Ecology
- Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Coleoptera: Cerambycidae studies
- Marine and environmental studies
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Marine and fisheries research
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
- Cassava research and cyanide
University of Johannesburg
2018-2024
Auckland Park Hospital
2023
Nelson Mandela University
2013-2020
National Research Foundation
2020
Google (United States)
2020
University of Fort Hare
2017
University of Cape Town
2011-2013
This study aims to investigate macroinvertebrate assemblage structure and composition across the three major waterbody types (temporary rivers, depression wetlands semi-permanent dams) of Eastern Cape Karoo, identify important environmental spatial correlates in region. A total 33 waterbodies (9 dams, 13 11 rivers) were sampled. Altogether, 91 taxa recorded November 2014 82 April 2015. Twenty-seven common all (across both sampling occasions), with 17 these observed 19 April. The ANOSIM tests...
Abstract Grazing and burrowing organisms usually homogenise microalgal mats that form on benthic sediments of many aquatic ecosystems. In the absence this disruption, can accrete laminated deposits (stromatolites). Stromatolites are rare in modern coastal ecosystems, but persist at locations where metazoans largely excluded. This study aimed to assess trophic structure stromatolite co-occur, determine grazing influence exerted by stromatolite-forming microalgae (cyanobacteria diatoms)....
Abstract Estimating organisms' responses to environmental variables and taxon associations across broad spatial scales is vital for predicting their climate change. Macroinvertebrates play a major role in wetland processes, but studies simultaneously exploring both community structure trait gradients are still lacking. We compiled global dataset (six continents) from 756 depressional wetlands, including the occurrence of 96 macroinvertebrate families, phylogenetic tree, 19 biological traits....
Although macroinvertebrates are potentially useful for assessing the condition of temporary wetlands, little is yet known about them. Macroinvertebrate assemblages were assessed in 138 wetlands south-western Cape, recording 126 taxa. However, predicted richness estimates all higher than observed richness. Five new species collected—three hydraenid beetles, one streptocephalid fairy shrimp and hydryphantid acarine—indicating current paucity knowledge wetland macroinvertebrates. The occurrence...
A survey of the large branchiopod fauna Eastern Cape Karoo region South Africa was undertaken to provide baseline biodiversity information in light impending shale gas development activities region. Twenty-two waterbodies, including nine dams and thirteen natural depression wetlands, were sampled during November 2014 April 2015. total 13 species belonging four orders collected, comprising five anostracans, one notostracan, six spinicaudatans laevicaudatan. Cyzicus australis most common,...
Water beetles are one of the dominant macroinvertebrate groups in inland waters and excellent ecological indicators, reflecting both diversity composition wider aquatic community. The predaceous water (Hydradephaga) make up around one-third known Coleoptera and, as predators, a key group functioning many habitats. Despite being relatively well-known taxonomically, studies these insects tropical subtropical systems remain rare. A dedicated survey hydradephagan Lake St Lucia wetlands (South...
Consumer responses to altered resource conditions can vary depending on dietary preference, characteristics and secondary features such as shelter. These have cascading effects, especially if the consumed impacts overall ecological functioning. In this study, we assessed composition of grazer communities following seasonal changes in their staple food-source (macroalgae). This was conducted living stromatolite pools growing along coast South Africa. Stable isotope mixing models suggested...
Temporary wetlands dominate the wet season landscape of temperate, semi-arid and arid regions, yet, other than their direct loss to development agriculture, little information exists on how remaining have been altered by anthropogenic conversion surrounding landscapes. This study investigates relationships between extent type habitat transformation around temporary water column physico-chemical characteristics. A set 90 isolated depression (seasonally inundated) occurring coastal plains...
Abstract Metazoans contributed historically to the decline of microbialites and continue restrict their formation in most modern environments through grazing burrowing pressures. Recent evidence suggests that metazoans can coexist with layered (stromatolites). However, possible drivers invertebrate assemblage directly associated these unique habitats are not well‐understood. This study measured environmental resource variables within peritidal stromatolites along South African coastline...
Salinity is an important factor affecting freshwater aquatic species distribution and diversity. The semi-arid Eastern Cape Karoo region of South Africa has been earmarked for shale gas development through hydraulic fracturing. process uses large amounts water produces briny wastewater. When not managed properly, these wastewaters may lead to salinisation surface bodies in the region. Therefore, effect salinity on hatching success crustacean resting eggs was examined using sediments from...
As a step towards the biological assessment of wetlands in South Africa, this study investigates influence biotope characteristics on spatial distribution aquatic invertebrates. The aim was to assess whether different wetland biotopes support significantly invertebrate assemblages terms composition and abundance microcrustaceans macroinvertebrate taxa. During October 2006, three were sampled within Verlorenvlei Wave's Edge (Western Cape, Africa) using long-handled sweep net. Composition...
Abstract Recent research has revealed that non‐native rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss have largely replaced a native cyprinid, the Breede River redfin Pseudobarbus burchelli , as dominant species of fish in many headwater streams Cape Floristic Region ( CFR ) South Africa. Moreover, differences composition benthic communities with and without suggest do not functionally compensate for which they these food webs. In this study, we used gut content stable isotope analyses to characterise...
Whereas the anthropogenic impact on marine biodiversity is undebated, quantification and prediction of this change are not trivial. Simple traditional measures (e.g. richness, diversity indices) do capture magnitude direction changes in species or functional composition. In paper, we apply recently developed methods for measuring turnover to time-series data four broad taxonomic groups from two coastal regions: southern North Sea (Germany) South African coast. Both areas share...
Water beetles belonging to the suborder Polyphaga vary greatly in larval and adult ecologies, fulfil important functional roles shallow-water ecosystems by processing plant material, scavenging through predation. This study investigates species richness composition of aquatic polyphagan assemblages around St Lucia estuarine lake (South Africa), within iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A total 32 sites were sampled over three consecutive collection trips between 2013...