Dr Elodie Heyns

DST/NRF PDP Post-Doctoral Fellow

My interest in marine science started at a young age, but only after pursuing a career in 3D animation and as an art department assistant in the film industry, did I finally decide to dedicate my time to obtaining a degree in marine science. Through this I became interested in understanding the roles that both physical and ecological processes play in sustaining the production and delivery of harvestable goods. I enjoy diving, underwater photography and travelling.

Interests: Marine protected areas and their role in sustaining marine resources. The effect of fishing on the trophic organisation of reef communities. Understanding and predicting spatial and temporal patterns in fish and invertebrate communities.

Degree: Post Doctorate

Supervisors: Albrecht Gӧtz (SAEON Elwandle) and Anthony Bernard (SAIAB)

Project duration:

Host: SAEON Elwandle Coastal Node

Project: Baseline ecological research for the identification of surrogates to model subtidal reef fish distribution

Abstract: Marine resource management is challenging due to the logistical constraints of obtaining data from this realm. The use of abiotic or biotic variables as surrogates to predict patterns in biodiversity and fish distribution is therefore appealing. The biggest criticism with using surrogates to predict species distribution is that identification of proxies is typically from broad-scale data which neglects to consider the role that fine-scale ecological processes play in structuring populations. The overall aim for the proposed research is to identify a few easily measurable parameters (surrogates for other more complex parameters) which best predict subtidal reef fish distribution and biodiversity patterns. In order to develop such models, baseline information on the distribution, and factors that influence reef fish species are needed. Such baseline information should include the fine-scale distribution patterns of target fish species, crucial for the identification of all habitats that support a fish population’s life history and dispersal ability. Furthermore, information regarding the effects of biotic and abiotic processes (such as fishing, distance offshore, exposure) on the trophic structure of subtidal reef communities are needed to best understand the processes that influence species distribution. As a case study, information will be collected in the region of Algoa Bay, situated in the Agulhas bioregion. The ongoing long-term monitoring of oceanographic parameters and primary production for the entire Algoa Bay region provides the opportunity to include all important biotic and abiotic variables to model and predict reef fish distribution. The baseline and oceanographic information will help develop a theoretical framework from which to test the use of environmental surrogates in predicting fish species distribution for future MPA expansions.

Bursary: NRF Professional Development Programme

Email: elodieheyns@gmail.com