Titel: ‘n Oorsig van die genus Chonopeltis Thiele, 1900. (Crustacea: Branchiura)

   Title:  Ciliophoran Symbionts of Limpets (Patellogastropoda)

CURRENT: Professor & Academic Head of the Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

PUBLICATIONS (since 2017):

VAN AS LIESL L., SMIT N.J. & VAN AS J.G.  2017.  Rediscovery of Chonopeltis meridionalis Fryer, 1964 (Crustacea: Branchiura) from Labeo rosae Steindachner, in the River Olifants, Mpumalanga, and the taxonomic status of C. victori Avenant-Oldewage, 1991 and C. koki Van As, 1992.  Systematic Parasitology, 94: 797–807.

VAN AS LIESL L., BASSON LINDA & VAN AS J.G. 2017. Mobiline Peritrichs (Ciliophora) collected from the gills of African limpets. Acta Protozoologica, 56: 245–254.

WEST DEIDRE T. & VAN AS LIESL L. 2020. Zooplankton composition of temporary pools, within the lower Nara River channel, Botswana, during dry season. African Journal of Aquatic Sciences DOI: 10.2989/16085914.2020.1815641.

VAN AS LIESL L, SMIT N.J & HADFIELD KERRY A. 2021.  Description of life stages, molecular characterisation as well as a new host record of Chonopeltis lisikili Van As and Van As, 1996 from Phongolo River, South Africa. International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife 14: 248-259.

BOOK CHAPTERS

VAN AS J.G. & VAN AS LIESL L. 2019. Chapter 4. Adaptations and types of crustacean symbiotic associations, pp 135-178. IN: Parasitic Crustacea- State of knowledge and future trends. (Eds) Nico J Smit, Niel Bruce and Kerry Hadfield.  Springer, Switserland.

VAN AS LIESL L. 2019. Chapter 8. Hypersymbionts and hyperparasites, pp 343-386. IN: Parasitic Crustacea- State of knowledge and future trends. (Eds) Nico J Smit, Niel Bruce and Kerry Hadfield.  Springer, Switserland.

CONFERENCES, other activities: 

2017: Chair at the 47^thAnnual conference of the Parasitological Society of Southern Africa for Aquatic Parasitology papers. This was also the 3^rd International Congress on Parasites of Wildlife, Kruger National Park.

2022: Convenor of 59^th Annual Conference of the Southern African Society of Aquatic Scientist, hosted Amanzi Game Lodge, Brandfort.

2023: Chair at the 51^thAnnual conference of the Parasitological Society of Southern Africa for Aquatic Parasitology papers, 26 Degree South, Muldersdrift.

RESEARCH PROJECTS:

1997-Co-organiser and researcher of the Okavango Fish Parasite Project. TOWARDS THE CONSERVATION OF THE ENDANGERED FISHES OF THE OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA

Since 2004, we development the semi-permanent research station, Leseding in Samochima village, in collaboration with Krokovango.  Apart from also getting involved with a few local community projects, the Research station has been in full operation, hosting not just UFS scientist, also colleagues and students from other Institution and a few NGO’s who used the facility in the past. The research camp had a major “face lift” during 2020-2021, and new collaborations were established with colleagues from Botswana. The ongoing project focus on the:  IMPACT OF GLOBAL CHANGE ON THE HEALTH, BIODIVERSITY AND THE ECOLOGY OF AQUATIC PARASITES AND SYMBIONTS OF FISHES IN THE OKAVANGO RIVER AND DELTA, BOTSWANA.

Since 2015, our Research group also collaborate with Dr Leon Barkhuizen from FSDESTEA, with a focus on FISH PARASITE DIVERSITY SURVEYS IN THE FREE STATE PROVINCE (ORANGE-VAAL RIVER SYSTEM).

BLGY 1663-Introduction to Zoology and Entomology   -Undergraduate (1^st years)

ZLGY6874-Aquatic Parasitology-Post graduate (Honours) -Co-lecture Prof L Basson

ZLGY 6862/ ENTO 6962-Biodiversity and Evolution-Post graduate (Honours)

Graduated students, since 2017 

MSc:

BOPHEKA L. 2018. Morphology and taxonomy of blood parasites of fish from Sterkfontein Dam, South Africa

DE SMIDT A. 2020. Nematode survey of the Soetdoring and Willem Pretorius Nature Reserves in Free State.

KRUGER A. 2021. Review of the superorder Cladocera (Branchiopoda) in southern Africa (Cum Laude).

PhD:

OTTO M. 2018.  Diatom Community Composition and Ecological Gradients on Selected Rivers in the Eastern and Western Cape, South Africa.

HUMAN CI. 2019. Post/Colonial materialities:  A Critical Deep Ecology of IKS in the Okavango Panhandle, Botswana. 

SWANEPOEL PJ 2022: Assessing small-scale fisheries potential of Gariep dam, South Africa’s largest impoundment. 

AYAWEI P. 2023.  External parasites found associated with sharptooth catfish Clarias gariepinus in different water bodies. (NWU)

2012- Board Member Pabalelo Trust, Botswana. https://pabalelotrust.wixsite.com/home

2021- Advisory Board Member ShareScreenAfrica (Leadership for Conservation in Africa-LCA) https://www.youtube.com/c/ShareScreenAfrica/videos