Postgraduate students and post-docs
We currently work on projects related to:
ecosystem modelling and metrics
ecological network analysis
resilience and biodiversity in ecosystems
biodiversity-ecosystem function
estuarine and nearshore marine systems
socio-economic networks
If you are interested in any of the above topics, contact us. Please note this is not equivalent to a bursary offer.
Current Lab members:
Dr Tinotenda Mangadze. Post-doctoral Fellow. Estuarine responses to global change scenarios. | |
Dr Hanlie Malherbe. Post-doctoral Fellow. Land-use change impacts on estuaries. | |
Abigail Rohde. MSc candidate. Modelling of the ecological role of submarine canyon heads off the east coast of South Africa. Supervisor: U. Scharler | |
Shanice Ramanooj. MSc candidate. Spatial ecology of sharks around submarine canyons on the east coast of South Africa. Supervisor: M. Dicken (KZN Sharks Board), U. Scharler. | |
Gemma Gerber. PhD candidate. Global change in estuaries investigated through ecosystem models. Supervisor: U. Scharler. | |
Karabo Thema. MSc candidate. Spatial differences in ecosystem function, a modelling study. Supervisor: U. Scharler. | |
Dikarabo Rafedile (aka Fifi). MSc candidate. Resilience of mesozooplankton communitites in estuaries. Supervisor: U. Scharler, H. Jerling (UniZulu). | |
Andile Nkosi. MSc candidate. Resilience of benthic communitites in estuaries. Supervisor: U. Scharler, F. MacKay (ORI). | |
Ben Brooker. PhD candidate. System limits in estuaries. Supervisor: U. Scharler. | |
Fru A Nche-Fambo. PhD candidate. Microplankton dynamics in relation to freshwater input and pollution. Supervisor: U. Scharler. | |
Thembeka Radebe. MSc candidate. Variability of estuarine macrozoobenthos communities. Supervisor: U. Scharler. | |
Dane Garvie. MSc candidate. The role of zooplankton in the Mlalazi estuarine ecosystem. Supervisor(s): Dr. U. Scharler, Dr. H. Jerling (University of Zululand). | |
Kajal Lechman. MSc. Research Assistant. |
Past postgraduate students/post-docs:
Morgana Tagliarolo. Post-doc. Assessing spatial and temporal variability of carbon fluxes using a network analysis approach. U. Scharler.
Katrin Tirok. Post-doc. Modelling of plankton dynamics in St. Lucia. U. Scharler, D. Stretch.
Morag Ayers. Post-doc. Robustness of networks and ecosystems. U. Scharler.
PhD
Kendyl le Roux. PhD. Energy flows in coastal marine ecosystems. Supervisors: U. Scharler, D. Glassom
Reinhardt Scholtz. PhD. Geostatistical Analysis of Integrated Ecosystem Monitoring Data. Supervisors: G Kiker (University of Florida), U. Scharler, H. Mwambi (UKZN).
Kelly Ortega-Cisneros. PhD. Estuarine ecosystem function. Supervisors: U. Scharler, A. Whitfield (SAIAB).
Ntuthuko Masikane. PhD. Development of a sediment toxicity test with an endemic amphipod. Supervisors: B. Newman (CSIR), U. Scharler.
Robynne Chrystal. PhD. Hydrodynamics and network analysis of St. Lucia. Supervisors: D. Stretch, U. Scharler.
Morag Ayers. PhD. Ecosystem modelling of the Natal Bight. Supervisor: U. Scharler.
MSc
Amy Shurety. MSc. Resilience in ecosystems. Supervisor: U. Scharler
Kajal Lechman. MSc. the role of zooplankton in the Mdloti estuarine ecosystem. Supervisor(s): Dr. U. Scharler, Dr. H. Jerling (University of Zululand).
Madonna Vezi. MSc. Phosphorus distribution in estuarine food webs. Supervisor: U. Scharler.
Fru A Nche-Fambo. MSc. Microplankton dynamics in St. Lucia. Supervisors: U. Scharler, K. Tirok.
Travis Kunnen. MSc. Bacteria biomass and productivity in the Natal Bight. Supervisors: D. Muir, U. Scharler.
Elisa Inguane-Vicente. MSc. Aquaculture in the South west Indian Ocean region. Supervisors: U. Scharler, J. Sara.
Vuyiswa Radebe. MSc. Coastal Dune activities. Supervisors: U. Scharler, J. Harris (EKZN Wildlife).
BSc (Honours)
Natalie dos Santos. Bsc(Honours). Nest temperatures and predicted sex ratios of South African loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta). Supervisors: U. Scharler, R Nel (NMU).
Nomfundo Hlambisa. Bsc (Honours). Environmental variability impacts on abundance of dominant estuarine zooplankton at uMlalazi Estuary, KwaZulu-Natal. Supervisor: U. Scharler
Melissa Ewels. BSc (Honours). Influence of the Thukela River on the Thukela Bank. Supervisor: U. Scharler
Abigail Rohde. BSc (Honours). Meiofauna communities in the Mlalazi estuary. Supervisor: U Scharler.
Khutso Ramalepe. BSc (Honours). Microplankton community structure in the Mdloti estuary. Supervisor: U. Scharler
Senine Naidoo. BSc (Honours). Biomass and productivity pyramids of food webs. Supervisor: U. Scharler
Corrine Joseph.BSc (Honours). Catches of target and bycatch species in the Zinkwazi and Blythedale bather protection nets of the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board from 1978 - 2014. Supervisors: U. Scharler, M. Dicken (KZN Sharks Board).
Kajal Lechman. BSc (Honours). Modelling the impact of changes in riverflow of the Thukela on the Thukela Bank ecosystem. Supervisors: U. Scharler.
Dane CD Garvie. BSc (Honours). Variability and stability of estuarine zooplankton. Supervisors: U. Scharler, H. Jerling (University of Zululand).
Divesh Sookdeo. BSc (Honours). Resuspension of plankton in Lake St. Lucia. Supervisors: U. Scharler, Dr. K. Tirok.
Snethemba Kunene. BSc (Honours). Plankton biomass distribution in estuaries. Supervisor: U. Scharler.
Ropa Moyo. BSc (Honours). Microplankton abundance and biomass in the Natal Bight. Supervisor: U. Scharler.
Kendyl le Roux. BSc (Honours). Macrobenthos community distribution in Mhlanga. Supervisors: F. MacKay (Oceanographic Research Institute), U. Scharler.
Keren Worlock. BSc (Honours). Macrobenthos biomass distribution in Mhlanga. Supervisors: U. Scharler, F. MacKay (Oceanographic Research Institute).