Zoology & Entomology

We are a highly productive, research-oriented department with a strong focus on biodiversity, evolutionary biology, systematics and conservation of the southern African fauna, along with the classical disciplines of physiology, behaviour and ecology. There is a major emphasis on mammals from mole-rats to seals in the Mammal Research Institute (MRI), and also on elephants (Conservation Ecology Research Unit: CERU) and other large terrestrial animals. Other research groups focus on animal and ecosystem responses to climate change, restoration ecology, avian ecophysiology and molecular zoology. Our strong team of entomologists study insect diversity, honeybee behaviour and conservation (Social Insect Research Group: SIRG), insect stress tolerance and responses to environmental change, insect-host interactions, and biologically-based pest and vector management.