Featured Research

SAIAB Research Nuggets describe featured research work, consider expected impacts,

introduce the research team, and provide any other additional information.

	First glimpses of deeper benthic habitats inform Phakisa Marine Protected Area Expansion Initiative The Phakisa Ocean Economy proposed network of 21 new or expanded Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), designed to increase protection of South Africa’s marine environment to at least 5% (from the existing ca. 0.4%), was published for comment in 2016 by the national Minister of Environmental Affairs. With a full public consultation completed, the declaration of final versions of these MPAs is pending.
	Inland Fisheries and Freshwater Ecology Research Chair at SAIAB The DST/NRF Research Chair in Inland Fisheries and Freshwater Ecology was recently awarded to Dr Olaf Weyl, Principal Scientist in freshwater research at NRF-SAIAB.
	Coastal Fishes of the Western Indian Ocean For much of the past 20 years a number of fish taxonomists from around the worldhave been collaborating on the compilation of an account of the coastal fishes ofthe Western Indian Ocean.
	ACEP Imida Frontiers Project On the edge: exploring frontiers of marine science on South Africa’s eastern shelf with ACEP's new vessel, the R/V Phakisa
	Cruise sets out to unlock Secrets of the Deep Deep reefs and the communities that inhabit them are difficult environments to access
	Innovative technology enables sampling of reef fish across South Africa’s continental shelf Dr Anthony Bernard
	Larval fish ecology in the coastal nearshore Dr Paul Pattrick The successful development and growth of fishes in their early stages is largely determined by the characteristics of the water in which they are found.
	The evolution, behaviour and ecology of the Giant Trevally Caranx ignobilis in the Western Indian Ocean Jessica Glass The Giant Trevally (Caranx ignobilis), better known in South Africa by its common name, the Giant kingfish, is considered an iconic top predator.
	Walking sideways: revisiting the diversity of freshwater crabs in eastern South Africa Dr Gavin Gouws Systematic study into the diversity of South Africa’s freshwater crabs was launched in the early 1990s.
	Informing Policy and Decision Making Dr Olaf Weyl Generating knowledge on the distributions, spread and impacts of alien invasive species in South Africa.
	Wildlands Ocean Stewards initiative ACEP The ACEP Biosurrogacy Project has teamed up with Wildlands Conservation Trust to create The Ocean Stewards initiative.
	Africa’s largest known freshwater copepod described Dr Ryan Wasserman A new species of copepod Lovenula raynerae collected near Grahamstown.
	The development of an amphibian research collection at SAIAB Roger Bills Diversifying the natural history collection has been an on-going focus of curation at SAIAB for some years.
	Not just old stuff in boxes - Special Collections in the Margaret Smith Library Sally Schramm The Special Collections in the Margaret Smith Library include a number of unique items relating to the JLB Smith Institute.
	SeaKeys: Unlocking foundational marine biodiversity knowledge Dr Monica Mwale & Noxolo Ntuli SAIAB uses DNA barcoding to provide vital information on genetic diversity in marine species.
	Understanding the aliens among us Dr Olaf Weyl History, status and management of Black bass (Micropterus) species in South Africa.
	Pseudobarbus skeltoni, the giant redfin minnow that evaded scientists for over a century Dr Albert Chakona Pseudobarbus skeltoni, the giant redfin minnow that evaded scientists for over a century.