Nick is an aquatic ecologist with 15 years of professional experience in this field. After completing a PhD in Hydrology at the University of Natal (Pietermaritzburg) in 2003, he went on to a post-doctorate at the Institute for Water Research (Rhodes University, Grahamstown) which ran until April 2006. He undertook pioneering research on linking water temperature regimes to fish distribution patterns on the Sabie River to complete his PhD. He continued to undertake research on water temperatures and flow patterns as drivers of habitat conditions to explain blackfly outbreaks in the Great Fish River (Eastern Cape) during the post-doctorate. He has considerable experience in fish and aquatic macroinvertebrate sampling, and collection and analysis of water temperature data, further facilitated through a suite of metrics he developed to assess such time series in terms of changes in magnitudes, frequency, duration and timing of thermal stress events. These skills are complemented by extensive experience in water temperature modelling, and development of ecological response models based on flow and water temperature inputs, both of which have been used in scenario analyses. Nick is also a published regional expert on freshwater conservation planning, and successfully developed the first provincial freshwater conservation plan for KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This work led into additional research on understanding turnover patterns of fish and aquatic macroinvertebrates, and how this relates to freshwater conservation targets.
Formal education
PhD (Hydrology, Natal University)
MSc (Environment and Development, Natal University)
BSc Honours (Entomology, Natal University)
BSc (Botany & Entomology, Natal University)
Professional Memberships/Accreditations
Professional Natural Scientist (Pr.Sci.Nat) in Aquatic Science – The South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions
Member – Southern African Society of Aquatic Scientists (SASAqS)
Member – Royal Society of South Africa
Specialisations
Conservation planning, ecological modelling, development of biotic-abiotic response curves, ecosystem health, biomonitoring, ecological reference conditions, water quality (including biotic responses to water quality), water temperature, environmental flow assessments
Affiliations
Research Associate: University of Kwazulu-Natal
Email: blackfly1@vodamail.co.za
Research Gate Link: Research Gate
