Ecological Interactions and Ecosystem Resilience

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Sub-programme leader: Prof Frances Siebert (Frances.Siebert@nwu.ac.za)

 

Latest news:

 

SAAB Silver Medal Award - Prof. Stefan Siebert

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SAAB Silver Medal Award - Prof. Stefan Siebert

Sub-programme: Ecological Interactions and Ecosystem Resilience (EIER)
Subject group: Botany
Research group: GeoEco Lab

During the 49th Annual SAAB conference (7 - 11 January 2024 at Richard's Bay Campus, University of Zululand), Prof. Stefan Siebert was awarded the SAAB Silver Medal for significant contributions toward advancement of botany in South Africa.

Watch: https://fb.watch/pDAbPD56f2/
Prof. Stefan Siebert's major achievements in Botany: https://bit.ly/3S70swz

Keep an eye out for the next edition of ENVIRA for the more information.

 

Two new species of Stylochaeton (Araceae: Aroideae) from South Africa

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Two new species of Stylochaeton (Araceae: Aroideae) from South Africa

MADELEEN STRUWIG, PRECIOUS T. LE ROUX, STEFAN J. SIEBERT & ABRAHAM E. VAN WYK

Sub-programme: Ecological Interactions and Ecosystem Resilience (EIER)
Subject group: Botany
Research group: GeoEco Lab

Researchers from the Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management have recently discovered TWO new species of Arum lily / Varkoor on the hillsides of Sekhukhuneland. 
These species were previously identified as Stylochaeton natalense, but on closer inspection their reproductive structures were different than that of S. natalense. These species have now been described as A) Stylochaeton glaucophyllum (Blue bushveld arum / bloubosveldvarkoor) (blue-green leaves) and B) Stylochaeton sekhukhuniense (Sekhukhune bushveld arum / sekhukhunebosveldvarkoor).

Article in NEWS at NWU: https://news.nwu.ac.za/researchers-discover-two-new-species-bushveld-arum-lilies
Publication in Phytotaxa: https://news.nwu.ac.za/sites/news.nwu.ac.za/files/files/documents/Phytotaxa_Stylochaeton.pdf 

 

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About Ecological Interactions and Ecosystem Resilience

 

Strategic Aim & Mission

Ecological Interaction and Ecosystem Resilience (EIER) hosts 21 researchers with a diversity of expertise, including Agricultural Sciences, Ecotoxicology, Geo- and Soil Sciences, Microbial Ecology, Paleoecology and Plant Ecology. Research in EIER is interdisciplinary and comprises both fundamental and applied research projects, which are determined by the needs of the industry, agricultural, rural- and urban communities.

Specific Focus

Research in EIER is centred around the future of terrestrial ecosystems in the context of anthropogenic impacts, including climate change.

Research Objectives

Research projects are aimed at an improved understanding of the complexity of African terrestrial ecosystems, and to identify the risks to the ecosystem services they offer, particularly food security, carbon sequestration and biodiversity. Inter- and transdisciplinary research projects address these risks through critical assessments and evaluation of proposed management interventions and/or prevention measures in the light of global environmental change.

This subprogram hosts several research groups, each with a specific research focus.

Research Groups

Environmental Microbiology and Agricultural Biotechnology

Led by Prof Rasheed Adeleke

     

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Forb Ecology Research Group (FERG)

Led by Prof Frances Siebert

    

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GeoEco Lab

Led by Prof Nishanta Rajakaruna and Prof Stefan Siebert

      

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Pedometrics

Led by George van Zijl

 

Soil Ecology, Ecotoxicology and Microbiology (SEEM)

Led by Prof Mark Maboeta

 

Terrestrial Ecology (EcoRestore)

Led by Prof Klaus Kellner

      

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Urban Ecology

Led by Prof Sarel Cilliers

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Last updated: January 2024