Dr Rishworth's research considers ecosystem dynamics and features of modern supratidal microbialites compared to analogous extinct habitats. He investigates the functional drivers that promote the formation of these benthic lithified biofilms. He also studies benthic macroinvertebrates and their role in several estuarine and shallow coastal ecosystem services.
Professor Adams' research focus areas are estuary restoration, blue carbon ecosystems and response to climate change, mangrove and salt marsh ecology, and water quality management of estuaries. Professor Adams and her team play an important role in ensuring science and knowledge of aquatic environments is communicated to managers and policymakers.
Professor Hermes' work involves a transdisciplinary approach to marine science, strategic project development, regional and international collaborations, and capacity development. She researches benthic biodiversity, habitat mapping, physical oceanography, air-sea interactions, the Blue Economy, the impact of climate change on fisheries, and the local ecological knowledge of fishing communities, amongst others.
Dr Harris' research focus is currently on various aspects of coastal and marine ecology, biodiversity assessment, and spatial prioritisation including systematic conservation planning and marine spatial planning. Areas of work range from fine-scale local planning to regional planning for implementation, with a special interest in sandy beaches and robust inclusion of the land-sea interface in biodiversity conservation and management processes.
Professor Lombard focuses on applied research that can be implemented for effective sustainable-use outcomes, and has a special interest in conservation planning, top predators and systems analysis. She has worked in terrestrial, coastal and marine systems globally and has experience in local, national and regional conservation assessments, plans and strategies. Her current areas of focus include the Western Indian Ocean region, the Southern Ocean and Antarctica, where she works at both species and habitat levels. Current research projects of the Research Chair range from biophysical mapping to decision-support tool development, top predator movement modelling and local to regional marine spatial planning policy development.
Dr Bizani's primary research interests are in coastal zooplankton ecology, with specific interest in community composition of mesozooplankton dynamics and how they respond to different ocean features linked climate change. He is also involved in SAEON Elwandle Node’s pelagic ecosystem long-term ecological research (PELTER).
Professor Roberts’ focus is climate change and understanding current trends and predicting future changes in the marine ecosystems in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO), with impacts on fisheries and people living in this region.
Professor James' research focuses primarily on the effects of global and climate change on coastal and estuarine fishes, as well as the importance of different coastal habitats as nursery areas for juvenile marine fishes within shallow-water seascapes.
Dr Steyn's research focuses on macroalgal communities of shallow reefs in the Eastern Cape, and abalone ranching and seeding. He is involved in environmental impact assessments and management, and botanical and ecological assessments.
Dr Nodo's research interests include estuarine and coastal fish research, particularly the importance of coastal habitats as nursery areas for fish. Her current research involves using stereo video cameras to quantify the nursery role of the shallow-water subtidal habitats for juvenile coastal fishes. Dr Nodo is also interested in assessing the impact of some environmental stressors (e.g., harmful algal blooms, low dissolved oxygen and hypoxia) on fish assemblages and nursery habitats in coastal areas.
Dr Cotiyane-Pondo's research is in the fields of marine coastal and estuarine ecology, with a focus on marine phytoplankton community dynamics and, benthic diatoms diversity and biogeography. He is involved in long-term ecological research (LTER) of the coastal environment.
Dr Deyzel's work investigates coastal and estuarine ecosystems with a focus on oceanography, plankton ecology, zooplankton community dynamics, climate change responses, ocean observation technologies, and information systems.
Dr Parker-Nance's research focuses on subtidal reef mapping, and ascidian and benthic invertebrate taxonomy. She constructs user-friendly species databases to promote public awareness for the conservation of marine habitats.
Professor Bornman's research interest is in the ecology of coastal and offshore marine plants and protists. He is involved in coastal diatom biogeography, phytoplankton ecology (coastal; marine; Southern Ocean and Antarctica), drivers of environmental change (sea-level; temperature; pollution etc.) and long-term coastal observations.