Comparative ecology, life strategy, biogeography, phylogeography and evolution of Scutellastra aphanes and Scutellastra obtecta. Gary Robson (PhD Candidate) In 1985 I described a new species of limpet, Scutellastra BSc (University of Natal, PMB), aphanes and reinstated Scutellastra obtecta. Both species BSc Hons Zoology (University of Natal, PMB) are sympatric and endemic to the east coast of South Africa. MSc Zoology (University of Natal, PMB), Molecular phylogeny has revealed them as recently HDE (University of Natal, PMB) diverged sister species and members of a monophyletic territorial clade. As no comprehensive ecological research Email: garygeorgerobson1@gmail.com has been conducted or published on either species, the aim of my research is to compare ecology, life strategy, biogeography, phylogeography and evolution of these sister species. Supervisor Prof CT Downs Brief Description of Research Snake Population Declines from an African perspective Warren Schmidt (MSc Candidate) I am researching snake population structure and conservation in relation to current global snake population declines. The objective of this research is to determine Email: whether African, and in particular, South African snakes, are experiencing population declines as documented in several northern hemisphere species. This research will also investigate conservation issues affecting snakes, including the impact of road mortality, urban development, agricultural practices and other environmental stresses. Supervisor Prof CT Downs Theme: Effect of changing land use- herps
Gary Robson (PhD Candidate) BSc (University of Natal, PMB), BSc Hons Zoology (University of Natal, PMB) MSc Zoology (University of Natal, PMB), HDE (University of Natal, PMB) Email: garygeorgerobson1@gmail.com Comparative ecology, life strategy, biogeography, phylogeography and evolution of Scutellastra aphanes and Scutellastra obtecta. In 1985 I described a new species of limpet, Scutellastra aphanes and reinstated Scutellastra obtecta. Both species are sympatric and endemic to the east coast of South Africa. Molecular phylogeny has revealed them as recently diverged sister species and members of a monophyletic territorial clade. As no comprehensive ecological research has been conducted or published on either species, the aim of my research is to compare ecology, life strategy, biogeography, phylogeography and evolution of these sister species. Supervisor Prof CT Downs Warren Schmidt (MSc Candidate) Email: Brief Description of Research Snake Population Declines from an African perspective I am researching snake population structure and conservation in relation to current global snake population declines. The objective of this research is to determine whether African, and in particular, South African snakes, are experiencing population declines as documented in several northern hemisphere species. This research will also investigate conservation issues affecting snakes, including the impact of road mortality, urban development, agricultural practices and other environmental stresses. Supervisor Prof CT Downs Theme: Effect of changing land use- herps
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