Ecology is the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and their environment. It seeks to understand the processes that shape populations, communities and ecosystems, providing the scientific foundation for biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration and the sustainable management of natural resources. As aquatic ecosystems face increasing pressure from climate change, pollution, habitat transformation, biological invasions and increasing human demand for water resources, ecological research plays a vital role in understanding ecosystem resilience and informing evidence-based environmental management.
The WRG has established a leading interdisciplinary aquatic ecology research programme that integrates ecology, biodiversity science, ecotoxicology and parasitology to understand, protect and restore aquatic ecosystems. The group's research spans freshwater, estuarine and nearshore marine ecosystems, with particular emphasis on ecosystem functioning, biodiversity conservation, environmental monitoring, aquatic ecosystem health and the sustainable management of water resources. Through long-term field studies, experimental research and transdisciplinary partnerships, the WRG investigates how multiple environmental stressors influence aquatic ecosystems and develops science-based tools to support water-resource management, conservation planning and environmental policy. Major research programmes have focused on river and floodplain ecology, RAMSAR wetlands, aquatic biodiversity, fisheries, environmental flows, ecosystem restoration and sustainable catchment management, while international partnerships have advanced innovative approaches to managing subtropical catchments subjected to multiple stressors.
By integrating ecological research across freshwater, estuarine and marine ecosystems, the WRG generates the knowledge required to conserve biodiversity, restore ecosystems and support the sustainable management of aquatic resources.
Ecological research undertaken within the WRG includes:
- Freshwater, estuarine and marine ecosystem ecology.
- River, wetland and floodplain ecology.
- Biodiversity assessment and long-term ecological monitoring.
- Fish, macroinvertebrate and aquatic community ecology.
- Ecosystem functioning and trophic interactions.
- Environmental flow and river health assessments.
- Water quality and catchment management.
- Aquatic biodiversity conservation and restoration.
- RAMSAR wetlands and protected-area management.
- Fisheries ecology and sustainable resource utilisation.
- Climate change and multiple stressors in aquatic ecosystems.
- Ecological risk assessment and ecosystem health.
- Fish health surveys and environmental biomonitoring.
- Aquatic resource management and conservation planning.
Read more about what the WRG-Ecology group are up to:
Current Project(s)
Title: Development of tools for the sustainable water quality management in subtropical catchments subjected to multiple stressors.
Grant: Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR), Belgium
Project leaders: Prof. L Brendonck (KU Leuven, Belgium - Flemish promoter); Prof V Wepener (North-West University, South Africa - South African promoter).
Amount awarded: €299,709 from 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2027
Collaborators: Prof. NJ Smit (North-West University, South Africa); Prof L Bervoets (University of Antwerp, Belgium); Prof. G. O'Brien (University of Mpumalanga); Prof B. Verbist (KU Leuven).
Read more about the specific project in the UESM ENVIRA:
2023 VLIR-OUS project fieldwork
2024 VLIR-OUS KU Leuven visit 1
2025 VLIR-OUS KU Leuven visit 2
Completed projects
Title: REFRESH: Renewing data and filling knowledge gaps for freshwater species of South Africa
Grant: National Research Foundation FBIP Large Grant - No: 136341 — REFRESH
Project leader: Prof. Albert Chakona (South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity)
Amount awarded: Amount allocated to the NWU = R 1 719 000 for 2022–2025
Collaborators: Prof. NJ Smit (Co-PI) (North-West University, South Africa), Prof. KA Hadfield Malherbe (North-West University, South Africa), Prof W Malherbe (North-West University, South Africa).
Read more about the specific project in the UESM ENVIRA:
Title: Environmental and Sustainable Futures - The University Staff Doctoral Programme (USDP)
Grant: University Capacity Development Programme (UCDP) SA-UK Collaborative Project Phase 2 funded by a British Council Newton Fund Grant (Years 1-3) and Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), South Africa Grant (Years 4-5).
Project leader: Prof. NJ Smit (Project and NWU Lead) (North-West University, South Africa)
Amount awarded: £165,000 (Newton fund Year 1–3) and R2 000 000 (DHET Years 4–5) for January 2020 to December 2025
Collaborators: Prof. CJ Fogwill (KEELE Lead) (Keele University, UK); Prof. P Horrocks (TRAINING Leed) (Keele University, UK); Prof KA Hadfield Malherbe (OUTREACH Lead) (North-West University, South Africa); Prof. W Luus-Powell (UL Lead) (University of Limpopo, South Africa).
Title: Aquatic Biodiversity, Ecology and Health of the Lower Phongolo floodplain
Grant: South African National Research Foundation (NRF) — Competitive funding for rated researchers
Project leader: Prof. NJ Smit (North-West University, South Africa)
Amount awarded: R1 170 000 for 2017–2019
Collaborators: Prof V Wepener (North-West University, South Africa); Prof. L Brendonck (KU Leuven, Belgium); Prof. OMM Thekisoe (North-West University, South Africa); Prof. R Pieters (North-West University, South Africa).
Title: The effects of fishing pressure on abundance and diversity of fish micropredators in a biodiversity hotspot.
Grant: National Geographic Society
Project Leader: Ms MO Shodipo (Silliman University, Philippines).
Amount Awarded: US $5 492 for 2018
Collaborators: Prof. NJ Smit (North-West University, South Africa); Prof. PC Sikkel (Arkansas State University, USA).
Title: The aquatic biodiversity and tourism value of selected South African RAMSAR wetlands.
Grant: Water Research Commission (WRC), South Africa
Project leader: Dr CW Malherbe (North-West University, South Africa)
Amount awarded: R 1 700 000 for April 2015 to March 2017
Collaborators: Prof. NJ Smit (North-West University, South Africa); Prof. JHJ van Vuren, (North-West University, South Africa); Prof. V Wepener (North-West University, South Africa), Dr M Ferreira (North-West University, South Africa).
Title: Ecological and human risk assessment of vector control pesticides.
Grant: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Japan
Project leaders: Prof. Y Ikenaka (Hokkaido University, Japan)
Amount awarded: JPY 16 250 000 for April 2014 to March 2017
Collaborators: Prof. NJ Smit (North-West University, South Africa); Prof. V. Wepener, (North-West University, South Africa); Prof. M. Ishizuka, (Hokkaido University, Japan); Dr S Nakayama (Hokkaido University, Japan).
Title: Development of tools for sustainable utilization and management of aquatic resources in South Africa. Case study: the Lower Phongolo River and floodplain.
Grant: Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR), Belgium
Project leaders: Prof V Wepener (North-West University, South Africa - South African promoter), Prof. L Brendonck (KU Leuven, Belgium - Flemish promoter).
Amount awarded: €299 760 for November 2013 to November 2018
Collaborators: Prof. NJ Smit (North-West University, South Africa); Prof L Bervoets (University of Antwerp, Belgium); Prof. JHJ van Vuren (University of Johannesburg, South Africa.
Title: Ecosystem functioning, sustainable utilization and management of aquatic resources of the Lower Phongolo River and floodplain.
Grant: Water Research Commission (WRC), South Africa
Project leader: Prof. NJ Smit (North-West University, South Africa)
Amount awarded: R 2 552 800 for April 2012 to March 2015
Collaborators: Prof. V Wepener (Co-PI), (North-West University, South Africa); Prof. LH du Preez, (North-West University, South Africa); Dr R Pieters (North-West University, South Africa), Prof H Bouwman, (North-West University, South Africa); Dr C Weldon (North-West University, South Africa); Prof. E van Eeden (North-West University, South Africa); Prof. JHJ van Vuren (University of Johannesburg, South Africa); Prof. P. Fouché (University of Venda, South Africa); Dr W. Vlok (BioAssets, South Africa), Dr L Viviers (University of Zululand, South Africa).
Title: Vaal River yellowfish conservation programme at the AngloAmerican New Vaal Colliery. Phase 1: Population establishment, maintenance and breeding requirements.
Grant: Anglo Operations Ltd, South Africa
Project leader: Prof. NJ Smit (North-West University, South Africa)
Amount awarded: R 451 325 for 2012 to 2014
Collaborators: Dr G O’Brien (Institute of Natural Resources, South Africa); Mr G Corbett (Anglo Operations Ltd, South Africa); Mr L Barkhuizen (Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Free State, South Africa).
Title: Assessing impacts and benefits of alien fish introductions: Do biodiversity costs outweigh economic, food security and recreational benefits derived from alien fishes in South Africa?
Grant: The South Africa Netherlands research Programme on Alternatives in Development (SANPAD)
Project leader: Dr OLF Weyl (South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, South Africa)
Amount awarded: R 668 800 for 2011 to 2013
Collaborators: Prof. NJ Smit (North-West University, South Africa); Dr L Nagelkerke (Wageningen University, Netherlands); Prof. Jeanette Snowball (Rhodes University, South Africa); Prof. Pieter Britz, (Rhodes University, South Africa).
Last updated: June 2026
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