Global change biology, especially biogeography and artificial light

My research focus is on how humans are altering the natural environment, how that changes biodiversity, and what that means for our wellbeing. That wildly broad statement reflects the field of global change research itself, which is highly multidisplinary and uses a range of approaches, such as meta-analysis, spatial statistics and modeling. I have a conservation science and policy background, particularly in applying systematic conservation planning, with a special interest on birds, climate change, biogeography and landscape conservation. Lately, I have launched new work on artificial light at night, which may just be the greatest emerging global anthropogenic pressure – particularly on how it alters mosquito biology, and with it, the transferal of vector borne disease. I do fieldwork from Antarctica to the Tropics, and everything in-between (which is, quite literally, African savannas).

Click here for more information about my research and that of my students.

Publications

Postgraduate students

Current

PhD

Miss Marubini Khwashaba. Project title: The Mopani Bioregion rural communities’ economic opportunities and barriers towards sustainable management of Mopani Woodlands products under climate change.