Principal Investigators: Dr Sean Fennessy (Oceanographic Research Institute) & Dr Mike Roberts (Marine and Coastal Management)
Title: Ecosystem processes in the KZN Bight: linking geological, biological and physical processes to understand ecosystem functioning.
Project Summary: This large multidisciplinary, multi-institutional ecosystem wide project will investigate the physical oceanographic and geological processes, the relative importance of fluvial versus oceanic imports, biodiversity patterns and ecosystem functioning of the Natal Bight.
Students (Sean Fennessy):
Johan ven der Molen (Post Doc): The composition of phytoplankton populations investigated by microscopic analysis.
Maria Ovichkina (Post Doc): Calcareous nannoplankton and foraminiferans of eastern South African Cainozoic deposits as a tool for reconstructing the palaeoenvironmental evolution of the region.
Ander Martinez de Lacea (PhD): Trophic studies on the KZN Bight.
Morag Ayers (PhD): Ecosystem modelling of the Natal Bight.
Aadila Omarjee (MSc): Phytoplankton productivity along the KZN Bight.
Travis Kunnen (MSc): Picoplankton populations and their activity in the waters of the KwaZulu-Natal Bight.
Candice Untiedt (MSc): Structural dynamics and changes in trophic communities of infauna across the Natal Bight.
Nokwana Mkhize (BSC Hons): Sediment characteristics distribution and mineralogy of the KZN Bight.
Hein, L. Biodiversity of the KZN continental shelf soft sediment community.
Lisa de Charmoy (Masters in Marine & Coastal Management) – Focused studies on phytoplankton ecophysiology. – Supervisor: AJ Smit
Students (Mike Roberts):
Lisa Guastella (PhD): Dynamics and influence of the Durban cyclonic eddy on the KZN Bight Supervisors: Prof. Frank Shillington and Dr. Mike Roberts
Michelle Pretorius (PhD): Copepod community structure of the KZN Bight Supervisors: Dr. Jenny Huggett and Prof. Mark Gibbons
Cornelia Nieuwenhuys (MTech): General ocean circulation in the KZN Bight Supervisors: Dr. Mike Roberts and Mr. Conrad Sparks
Bernardino Malauene (MSc): Shelf edge upwelling off northern Mozambique. Supervisors: Prof. Shillington, Ass Prof. Coleen Maloney and Dr. Mike Roberts
Gavin Louw (BTech): Mooring structures. Supervisors: Dr. Mike Roberts and Mr. Conrad Sparks
Samantha Ockhuis (BTech): Zooplankton dynamics. Supervisors: Dr. Jenny Huggett and Mr. Conrad Sparks
Fieldtrip Report
Moorings -June 2009.pdf
Moorings-March 2010.pdf
Posters
Ecosystem processes in the KZN Bight: Linking geological, biological and physical processes to understand ecosystem functioning - Sean Fennessy and Mike Roberts.pdf
KwaZulu-Natal Bight Moorings - Mike Robers and Roy van Ballegooyen.pdf