Conservation Management and Spatial Planning
Research is based on active collaboration with NGOs and government departments on a range of conservation and sustainability planning initiatives focused upon testing conceptual frameworks and operational models which improve the links between research and implementation, measuring sustainability and the effectiveness of conservation actions, improving the adaptive capacity of resource management institutions through improved understanding of social networks, knowledge and innovation management, and spatial conservation prioritisation for landscape planning
Contact: Dr Andrew Knight (tawnymouthfrog@gmail.com)
Conservation parasitology
Research on the diversity, ecology, systematics and phylogeography of parasites associated with rodent species. The current research programme focusses on various aspects related to the parasites that are found in and on the striped mouse, Rhabdomys pumilio. Projects include: 1) the effect of habitat transformation (agriculture, urban developments and climate change) on the natural parasite diversity and species composition, 2) co-evolution between R. pumilio and several macroparasites, and 3) the establishement of baseline data on the infection rate of microparasites in a broad niche rodent species.
Contact: Dr Sonja Matthee (smatthee@sun.ac.za)
Crocodile research
The crocodile research group worked in Botswana from 2002-2006. A crocodile management plan was handed to the Dept of Wildlife and National Parks in Botswana and it has since been included in the draft of the ODMP (Okavango Delta Management Plan). This is great news. Two of the group members (Vince Shacks and Sven Bourquin) are currently residing in Maun, Botswana and will be assisiting with the implementation of the management plan. The research group are currently carrying out a similar project in the Zambezi Valley in Zambia. For further details log onto http://www.earthwatch.org/expeditions/leslie.html
Insects are the most speciose group of organisms on Earth, and they play a major role in ecosystem function, both on land and in freshwater. Insects are under threat, as are so many other components of biodiversity. A major research thrust in ConsEnt, is the conservation of insects alongside other biodiversity. Insects are also investigated as biomonitors of environmental condition and restoration of ecosystems. Of particular interest, is the use of insects in conservation at the three operation scales of landscape (coarse filter), mesoscale (mesofilter), and species (fine filter). In addition, a synthetic approach to the conservation of insect and other biodiversity is being developed.
Contact: Professor Michael Samways (samways@sun.ac.za)
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Our AIM is to research sustainable control of insect and mite pests on tree fruits and vines in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Our OBJECTIVE is for producers to be able to produce high quality fruit, which is insecticide free. RESEARCH in Applied Entomology within ConsEnt is divided into four programmes: - Fruit fly ecology - Moth pest management - Biological control of insect and mite pests - Quarantine pests
Contact: Dr Pia Addison (pia@sun.ac.za)
Mondi Ecological Network Programme: Designing Landscapes for the Future
MENP aims at designing landscapes for the future, based on the main premise of large-scale ecological networks (ENs). ENs are networks of corridors and nodes which maintain compositional biodiversity and ecosystem services in an agro-forestry setting. ENs include all features that a nature reserve would have, and therefore show emergent principles over simple corridors. These emergent principles include maintenance and management of such valuable landscape features as hilltops and wetlands. The findings to date are very encouraging, and emphasize that ENs are a conservation measure that will enable sustainable forestry into the future.
Contact: Dr James Pryke (jpryke@sun.ac.za)Vegetation Ecology and Management
Pattern, process and mangement of southern African vegetation. We focus on understanding how drivers of change (climate change, over-exploitation, habitat fragmentation and alien invasion) influence population and community structure and processes in southern African vegetation types (including fynbos, Karoo and riparian vegetation). The applied aspect of this work is to advise on aspects of restoration and conservation management.
Contact: Prof Karen Esler (KJE@sun.ac.za) or Dr Shayne Jacobs (sjacobs@sun.ac.za)
For information on postgraduate research in the Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, please refer to our postgraduate M.Sc. and PhD student profiles.
