University of Venda

Jan Crafford was trained at Pretoria University, and spent many years studying the ecology and describing the insects of Marion Island. He holds the record for the longest continuous stay on Marion. He has recently, along with Prof Ian Gaiger, spearheaded the proclamation of the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve. He is currently the Dean of the School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences.

Publications:

CRAFFORD J.E., SCHOLTZ C.H. & CHOWN S.L. 1986. The insects of sub-Antarctic Marion and Prince Edward Islands; with a bibliography of entomology of the Kerguelen biogeographical province. South African Journal of Antarctic Research Monograph Series 16:41-84

CRAFFORD J.E. and CHOWN S.L. 1993. Respiratory metabolism of sub-Antarctic insects from different habitats on Marion Island. Polar Biology 13:411-415

BERGER K., CRAFFORD J.E., GAIGHER I.G., GAIGHER M.J., and MacDONALD I.W. (eds.) 2003 A first synthesis of the environmental, biological and cultural assets of the Soutpansberg. Proceedings of a workshop on the natural and cultural assets of the Soutpansberg, Lajuma, December 2002. Leach Printers, Louis Trichardt

E-mail: jan.crafford@univen.ac.za

Dr. Stefan foord

A keen rugby player turned naturalist, and now heading the Department of Zoology, Dr Foord was trained at Pretoria University, and completed his PhD on the systematic revision of the spider family Hersiliidae. His current research deals with response of arachnid community assemblages to global change, with emphasis on global climate change and invasive aliens. He is a core team member of the DST-NRF Center of Excellence for Invasion Biology. He teaches phylogeny and applied animal ecology.

Publications:

Foord, S.H., Mafadza, M., Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S., Van Rensburg, B.J. 2008. Micro-scale heterogeneity of spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) in the Soutpansberg, South Africa: a comparative survey and inventory in representative habitats. African Zoology 43: 156-174.
Foord, S.H. 2008. Cladistic analysis of the family Hersiliidae (Arachnida Araneae) of the Afrotropical Region with the first records of Murricia and the description of a new genus, Prima, from Madagascar. Journal of Afrotropical Zoology 4: 111-141.

Societies: Zoological Society of Southern Africa, International Society of Arachnologists

E-mail: Stefan.foord@gmail.com, Stefan.foord@univen.ac.za

Prof Ben van der waal

Ben was trained at Pretoria University and did his PhD on fish ecology and fisheries management in Caprivi, Namibia. He has recently spent the poast three years doing full-time research for the WWF on sustainable management of the fish populations in the Caprivi strip. He is interested in limnology of water bodies in Southern Africa, fisheries development in the Zambezi and Kavango Rivers, Ethnozoology of southern Africa, Conservation Biology and living sustainably in Africa.Ben teaches Water Resource Management and Limnology.

Recent publications:

Van der Waal, B C W 2001. Fish as a resource in a rural river catchment in Northern Province, African Journal of Aquatic Science 2000 25:56-70.

D’Amato, ME, Esterhuyse, MM, van der Waal, BCW, Brink, D and Volkaert FAM 2007. Hybridization and phylogeography of the Mozambique tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus in southern Africa evidenced by mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA genotyping. Conservation Genetics 8:475-488.

Societies: South African Association of Aquatic Scientists, Aquaculture Association of Southern Africa

E-mail: ben.vanderwaal@univen.ac.za, bcwvis@gmail.com

Dr. Paul fouche

Paul is an aquatic biologist, having studied the impact of freshwater degradation on fish morphology and physiology, and populations in Limpopo Province’s threatened rivers. He has recently completed his PhD on the ecology and biology of the Lowveld largescale yellowfish (Labeobarbus arequensis) (Smith 1843) in the Luvuvhu River. He is currently developing a new Diploma in Freshwater monitoring. He is currently involved with monitoring of fish populations and communities in various freshwater bodies in Limpopo Province including Kruger National Park.

Publications:

FOUCHé, P.S.O., VLOK, W. and VENTER, J. 2008. An investigation of the microhabitat preference of Labeobarbus marequensis In the Sabie, Olifants and Crocodile rivers within the Kruger National Park. Proceedings of the 11th Yellowfish Working Group conference, 13 – 15 April 2007.
FOUCHé P.S.O., VLOK, W. and Jooste A. 2009. Changes in the body shape and accompanying habitat shifts observed in the life cycle of lowveld largescale yellowfish, Labeobarbus marequensis, in the Luvuvhu River catchment. Proceedings of the 13th Yellow Working Group Conference, 6 – 8 March 2009.

Societies: South African Association of Aquatic Scientists

E-mail: pso@univen.ac.za

Dr. Tshifhiwa Nanngambi

Tshifhiwa completed her Ph.D. degree in the School of Biological and Conservation Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Her Ph.D. research concerns the Systematics of the Phasianellidae in southern Africa (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Vetigastropoda). Tshifhiwa uses morphological and molecular data to identify natural groupings and infer phylogenetic relationships at the generic, subgeneric and species levels. Her current research project is on the genetic analysis of different tribal groups in the Limpopo Province: towards the establishment of Human Genetics Laboratory at the University of Venda. In 2004 she won the award for second best poster at the World Congress of Malacology in Perth, Australia, as well as the award for second best poster at the UKZN "Showcase of Research Excellence" exhibition. She teaches Cell Biology and Genetics.

Publications:

Nangammbi TC & Herbert DG (2006) Two new species of Tricolia Risso, 1826 from South Africa (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Phasianellidae). African Invertebrates 47:11-22.
Nangammbi TC & Herbert DG (2008) A new species of pheasant shell from the south-western Indian Ocean (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Vetigastropoda: Phasianellidae: Tricolia). African Invertebrates 49(2): 13-19.

Societies: SASSB - Southern African Society for Systematic Biology, South Africa, Unitas Malacologica

E-mail: tshifhiwa.nangammbi@univen.ac.za

Mr Colin Schoeman

Colin has recently completed his MSc on the Synergistic impact of Argentine ants and pine trees on native ants. He is interested in broad conservation issues surrounding insects: viz. how insects respond to the Vhembe traditional landscape mosaic. He teaches Conservation Biology and Entomology.

Publications:

COLIN S. SCHOEMAN AND MICHAEL J. SAMWAYS, 2010. Synergisms between alien trees and the Argentine ant on indigenous ant species. Biodiversity Conservation (submitted).

Societies: South African Council of Scientific Professionals (Candidate Natural Scientist), Entomological Society of South Africa

E-mail: Colin.Schoeman@gmail.com

Mr Justice Madonsela

Justice trained at UKZN and UWC. He focuses on physiology of small mammals, with the main focus on the role of dietary proteins in sexual function., biological control of alien plants (water hyacinth), and biological water monitoring, using algal group known as diatoms (Bacillariophyta). Justice teaches Physiology, Ecophysiology, Animal Diversity and Human Anatomy and Physiology.

Publications:

Vawda, A.I and Mandlwana (Madonsela), G.J.1990. The effects of dietary protein deficiency on rat testicular function. Andrologia 22:575-585.

Professional membership: Microscopic Society of Southern Africa (MSSA), South African Society of Aquatic Sciences (SASAqS)

E-mail:Justice.Madonsela@univen.ac.za

Graduate Students

Mr Caswell Munyai

Caswell is doing his MSc degree on an ant transect across the Soutpansberg, using elevation as a surrogate for global climate change.

Technical support staff

Mr Kathutshedo Magwede

Kathu is currently completing his MSc degree with Botany. He assists in the lab and the field.

Mr Gabriel Phaphana

Gabriel assists in the lab and field