“All biodiversity matters, from the nuisance-causing flies to the majestic elephant,” says Dr Mohlamatsane Mokhatla, an ecology lecturer at UP. His research gives us a glimpse into the impact of climate change on biodiversity.

Dr Mohlamatsane Mokhatla, an ecology lecturer in the University of Pretoria's (UP) Department of Zoology and Entomology, has dedicated his career to understanding the delicate balance between humans and the natural world.

He holds an MSc, a BSc (Hons) and a BSc, all in Zoology from UP, as well as a PhD in Zoology from Stellenbosch University, where he researched the effects of climate change on amphibian species distributions in southern Africa. This work built on his earlier research, where he used spatial data and a geographic information system for amphibian conservation.

“All biodiversity matters, from the nuisance-causing flies to the majestic elephant,” he says.

Over the course of his 12-year career, Dr Mokhatla has presented his findings at both local and international conferences, contributing to the growing body of knowledge on the impact of climate change on African amphibians.

“Apart from being fun, research on amphibians and biodiversity serves as precursors to what we are doing to the planet,” he says. “We, as human beings, always come up with short-term solutions to the problems we have created. Most animals may not have the same mechanisms. So keeping tabs on what effects the changes happening on the planet have on animals is a window into our future; it shows us where we’re headed if we don’t change how we are doing things.”

What’s now a clear career path that is aligned with his passions, didn’t start out this way.

“I wanted to study towards a BSc in Microbiology when I first came to UP,” Dr Mokhatla recalls.

However, as he explored different areas within the biological sciences, he found himself drawn to zoology.

“Something drew me towards zoology. The conversations I had with the teaching staff, especially with Prof Clarke Scholtz and Prof Chris Chimimba, made me realise that perhaps zoology was a better fit.”

Another deciding factor was his love for fieldwork over lab-based studies.

“I love being out and doing fieldwork,” Dr Mokhatla adds. “That also factored into my decision to shift to zoology. I enjoyed the practical classes, particularly in my second year. The dedication of the staff, and making links between what is taught in class and how this knowledge is applied in our everyday lives, was second to none. But I knew I was at home when I got to third year; doing the Ecology modules was quite fun. It's the things I could see. It was not difficult for me to visualise what was being taught in class.”

Beyond his role as an academic, Dr Mokhatla worked as an environmental social ecologist at South African National Parks (SANParks) for five years. During his time there, he led projects that focused on understanding the social-ecological systems surrounding the Garden Route National Park. His work with SANParks emphasised the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the communities that rely on them.

“This work included a lot of social learning and facilitation in formal and informal settings,” he says. “Since joining SANParks, I have worked on different projects under the broader social-ecological systems umbrella on resource use dependency and livelihoods, understanding the meaning of restoring fishing rights to the communities of the Tsitsikamma National Park section of the Garden Route National Park, using cultural ecosystem services as a lens to manage these complex systems and plastic pollution in coastal systems.”

Dr Mokhatla’s work has earned him an NRF rating, which he admits he didn’t see coming this early in his academic career.

“It means a lot, more so for someone who is still new in their university career,” he says. “Getting this recognition this early tells me that I am on a good path! Stay the course, continue working hard and it will all fall into place.”