Examining the impact of climate change in the Drakensberg
An exciting new NRF-funded project is kicking off soon, and we are looking to recruit energetic students and postdocs to investigate the ecological impact of changing environmental conditions on the composition and functioning of the flora of the Drakensberg. This project is studying fine- and broad-scale variation in vascular plant species composition, functional traits and grazing value, examining both intra- and inter-specific variation in relation to a range of microclimatic, topographic, and soil variables. Results of this research will improve our understanding of how alpine grasslands will respond to changing temperature and rainfall regimes.
This project is being led by Prof Peter le Roux (Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria), and involves researchers from several specialisations at the University of Pretoria, the Afromontane Research Unit (University of the Free State), the National University of Lesotho, the University of Helsinki (Finland), and the University of Oulu (Finland). Students working on this project will have ample opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Will you be a good fit for this project?
We are looking for students who
• are excited about ecology and related fields (and preferably have a strong background in the field);
• are enthusiastic about conducting challenging fieldwork (requiring long periods in the field);
• are interested in working with large data sets;
• have the ability and appetite to publish their research in high-profile journals; and
• can work well within a diverse team.
While this project does not have bursaries to allocate, strong candidates will be supported in their applications for funding at the University of Pretoria and for external funding. There are several funding options currently open, so don’t delay!
Be part of this exciting multidisciplinary project, working to improve the management and conservation of these biodiversity-rich grasslands!
Contact person
For more information, please see https://tinyurl.com/leRouxEcology and/or contact
Prof Peter le Roux
E: peter.leroux@up.ac.za
View the PDF advert.