17 June 2015 | By Dorette du Plessis
C·I·B core team member, Olaf Weyl, was appointed as Honorary Professor in the Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science (DIFS) at Rhodes University, Grahamstown.
Olaf is currently principal scientist at the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB). His research focus is on better understanding impacts on freshwater fish communities and includes aspects of conservation, fisheries and invasion biology. The research is multidisciplinary and focuses not only on describing natural systems and processes but also incorporates research on understanding how humans alter and benefit from aquatic systems. Recent work includes ecological research on fishes in aquatic ecosystems ranging from headwater streams in the Eastern Cape to large Rift Valley lakes in southern Africa; investigations into the impacts of alien invasive fishes on aquatic environments; and assessments of fisheries in southern Africa.
Recent invasive fish related projects include work on the distribution and impacts of alien fishes in a variety of ecosystems including headwater streams, main-stem rivers, impoundments and estuarine lakes; biological and ecological investigations on invasive armoured catfish and north American black bass (Micropterus spp.) and, more recently the role that alien fishes play in subsistence and recreational fisheries in South Africa and other African countries.
Olaf is the author or co-author of 91 journal articles and supervised 22 MSc and 4 PhD graduates. He currently serves on the editorial boards of African Zoology, BioInvasions Records and Journal of Fish Biology, and is the Regional Chair for southern Africa of the Freshwater Fish Specialist Group (International Union for the Conservation of Nature – Species Survival Commission (SSC) and acts as Scientific Advisor to several organisations including Future Earth (previously DIVERSITAS) bioDISCOVERY Core Project and the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT).
