James Vonesh is an Associate Professor in the Biology Department at Virginia Commonwealth University. James’ research is focused on predator-prey ecology, size- and stage-structured processes in populations and communities, and how organisms with complex life cycles link aquatic and terrestrial food webs. He is the author of >40 papers and an Associate Editor for Conservation Biology and Freshwater Science.
He will be spending 2015 based at C·I·B as a U.S. Fulbright Fellow. While based at Stellenbosch he is collaborating with C·I·B scientists and affiliates to conduct research on invasive predators in freshwater systems. Specifically, he will be conducting experiments examining the trophic interactions of the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, a species considered invasive in the Western Cape, Europe, and North and South America to better understand the role of natural enemies in regulating this species in its native and invasive ranges.