Water lettuce forms dense mats on the water surface. This can reduce light penetration and oxygen levels in the water, negatively affecting all aspects of aquatic life.
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity
Situated in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape, the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) is an internationally recognised centre for the study of aquatic biodiversity. (Find us here.) As a National Facility of the NRF SAIAB serves as a major scientific resource for knowledge and understanding the biodiversity and functioning of globally significant aquatic ecosystems. With both both marine and freshwater biogeographical boundaries, southern Africa is ideally placed to monitor and document climate change. From a marine perspective South Africa forms the southern apex of a major continental mass, flanked by very different marine ecosystems on the east and west coasts, and projecting towards the cold southern Ocean large marine ecosystem. SAIAB’s scientific leadership and expertise in freshwater aquatic biodiversity is vital to the national interest when dealing with issues arising from exponentially increasing pressures of human population growth and development.
Links
Displaying all articles
South Africa’s white shark population is not in decline but migrating to survive.
Sharks grow slowly and produce few young compared to bony fishes. In many cases, this means that their populations are fished out faster than can be replenished if not well managed.
A new network of 20 sites have been declared as marine protected areas in South Africa.
Lake Malawi is considered a biodiversity treasure because almost all its species occurs nowhere else on the planet.
The False Bay ocean food chain in Cape Town began to change significantly in 2015 with the appearance of shark-eating killer whales.
If sharks habitats aren’t known, it’s harder to conserve either the animals or those habitats.
Interactions between sharks and humans happen in a variety of places. That means reducing conflict needs different interventions.
Despite low shark attack numbers, many people are afraid of being bitten. There are, however, ways to steer clear of these creatures.
What lies behind shark safety methods.
Climate change will hit South Africa’s fish population.
Authors
-
Marine Biologist, South African National Parks (SANParks); Honorary Research Associate, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity
-
Deputy Director of the Centre for Biological Control at Rhodes University and Biological Control and Freshwater Alien Invasive Species Management, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity
-
Aquatic Biologist, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity
-
Chief Scientist and Research Chair for Inland Fisheries and Freshwater Ecology, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity
