As a National Facility of the NRF SAIAB serves as a major scientific resource for knowledge and understanding the biodiversity and functioning of globally significant aquatic ecosystems. With both marine and freshwater biogeographical boundaries, southern Africa is ideally placed to monitor and document climate change. From a marine perspective South Africa forms the southern apex of a major continental mass, flanked by very different marine ecosystems on the east and west coasts, and projecting towards the cold southern Ocean large marine ecosystem. SAIAB’s scientific leadership and expertise in freshwater aquatic biodiversity is vital to the national interest when dealing with issues arising from exponentially increasing pressures of human population growth and development. Our Vision Research excellence for the sustainability of Africa’s aquatic environments Our Mission To serve the nation through the generation, dissemination and application of knowledge to understanding and solving problems on the conservation and wise use of African aquatic biodiversity SAIAB’s role within the NRF is to: Conduct scientific research to address South African, SADC and African fish research and research information needs in aquatic biodiversity Manage the National Fish Collection and Maragaret Smith Library Disseminate knowledge of fishes and aquatic biodiversity through publications, conferences, science advancement and communication Link with stakeholders and partners to facilitate conservation and management of African aquatic systems.
Research Areas
SAIAB’s research focuses on the full spectrum of aquatic environments: from marine offshore to continental freshwater catchments. Research covers ecology and conservation biology that links biodiversity at molecular and organism levels with the environment and genetic and species diversity.
Conservation Biology & Ecology (CBE)
Focuses on understanding the processes underpinning aquatic biodiversity in order to inform the conservation of those resources.
CBE projects include:
Fish habitat use patterns and movement behaviour within the South African coastal zone (marine inshore and estuaries), with particular emphasis on important fishery species.
Influence of global change, especially climate change and the impact of reduced freshwater supplies, on aquatic biodiversity in estuaries and inshore marine environments along the South African coast.
Marine mammal ecology, in particular trophic ecology and life histories.
Conservation biology of freshwater biodiversity with particular emphasis on the impact of alien invasive organisms (including fish and parasites) on freshwater ecosystems, and understanding the drivers and vectors for their introduction and spread in South Africa.
Biological and ecological research on various aquatic organisms to guide conservation and sustainable resource management in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Malawi and the western Indian Ocean region.
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Molecular Biology & Systematics (MBS)
Focuses on the exploration and description of southern African aquatic biodiversity from a molecular to a community level.
MBS projects include:
Temperate ichthyofaunal diversity and biogeography, with a focus on assessing diversity of the threatened fishes of the Cape Floristic Region.
Exploration of southern African freshwater systems, with a focus on Zambezian fauna.
Systematic and genetic studies of fishes in the Western Indian Ocean, with special attention given to fish diversity and biogeography (part of SAIAB’s direct contributions to the ACEP and ASCLME programmes).
Southern Ocean and South Atlantic fish diversity, with a focus on barcoding and systematics in these regions.
The Fish Barcode of Life (FishBoL) a major collaboration between SAIAB and the International Barcode of Life (IBoL). SAIAB researchers are leading and coordinating the FishBoL initiative in Africa.
Facilities & Resources
Partner Organizations
Abbreviation |
SAIAB
|
Country |
South Africa
|
Region |
Africa/Near East/S.Asia
|
Primary Language |
English
Afrikaans
|
Evidence of Intl Collaboration? |
|
Industry engagement required? |
Associated Funding Agencies |
Contact Name |
|
Contact Title |
|
Contact E-Mail |
Website |
|
General E-mail |
|
Phone |
27 (0)46 603 5800
|
Address |
Somerset Street
Grahamstown
6139
|
As a National Facility of the NRF SAIAB serves as a major scientific resource for knowledge and understanding the biodiversity and functioning of globally significant aquatic ecosystems. With both marine and freshwater biogeographical boundaries, southern Africa is ideally placed to monitor and document climate change. From a marine perspective South Africa forms the southern apex of a major continental mass, flanked by very different marine ecosystems on the east and west coasts, and projecting towards the cold southern Ocean large marine ecosystem. SAIAB’s scientific leadership and expertise in freshwater aquatic biodiversity is vital to the national interest when dealing with issues arising from exponentially increasing pressures of human population growth and development. Our Vision Research excellence for the sustainability of Africa’s aquatic environments Our Mission To serve the nation through the generation, dissemination and application of knowledge to understanding and solving problems on the conservation and wise use of African aquatic biodiversity SAIAB’s role within the NRF is to: Conduct scientific research to address South African, SADC and African fish research and research information needs in aquatic biodiversity Manage the National Fish Collection and Maragaret Smith Library Disseminate knowledge of fishes and aquatic biodiversity through publications, conferences, science advancement and communication Link with stakeholders and partners to facilitate conservation and management of African aquatic systems.
Abbreviation |
SAIAB
|
Country |
South Africa
|
Region |
Africa/Near East/S.Asia
|
Primary Language |
English
Afrikaans
|
Evidence of Intl Collaboration? |
|
Industry engagement required? |
Associated Funding Agencies |
Contact Name |
|
Contact Title |
|
Contact E-Mail |
Website |
|
General E-mail |
|
Phone |
27 (0)46 603 5800
|
Address |
Somerset Street
Grahamstown
6139
|
Research Areas
SAIAB’s research focuses on the full spectrum of aquatic environments: from marine offshore to continental freshwater catchments. Research covers ecology and conservation biology that links biodiversity at molecular and organism levels with the environment and genetic and species diversity.
Conservation Biology & Ecology (CBE)
Focuses on understanding the processes underpinning aquatic biodiversity in order to inform the conservation of those resources.
CBE projects include:
Fish habitat use patterns and movement behaviour within the South African coastal zone (marine inshore and estuaries), with particular emphasis on important fishery species.
Influence of global change, especially climate change and the impact of reduced freshwater supplies, on aquatic biodiversity in estuaries and inshore marine environments along the South African coast.
Marine mammal ecology, in particular trophic ecology and life histories.
Conservation biology of freshwater biodiversity with particular emphasis on the impact of alien invasive organisms (including fish and parasites) on freshwater ecosystems, and understanding the drivers and vectors for their introduction and spread in South Africa.
Biological and ecological research on various aquatic organisms to guide conservation and sustainable resource management in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Malawi and the western Indian Ocean region.
---
Molecular Biology & Systematics (MBS)
Focuses on the exploration and description of southern African aquatic biodiversity from a molecular to a community level.
MBS projects include:
Temperate ichthyofaunal diversity and biogeography, with a focus on assessing diversity of the threatened fishes of the Cape Floristic Region.
Exploration of southern African freshwater systems, with a focus on Zambezian fauna.
Systematic and genetic studies of fishes in the Western Indian Ocean, with special attention given to fish diversity and biogeography (part of SAIAB’s direct contributions to the ACEP and ASCLME programmes).
Southern Ocean and South Atlantic fish diversity, with a focus on barcoding and systematics in these regions.
The Fish Barcode of Life (FishBoL) a major collaboration between SAIAB and the International Barcode of Life (IBoL). SAIAB researchers are leading and coordinating the FishBoL initiative in Africa.