André Vosloo Email & Phone Number

The general trend in my research is to gain an understanding of the fundamental mechanisms driving stress responses in animals. The stressors include heavy metals such as copper, environmental factors such as pollution, temperature and dehydration. All the research has a fundamental and an applied side. Laboratory studies on the effects of copper are done in conjunction with environmental monitoring of water bodies to ascertain “relevant” environmental concentrations to which wild animals may be exposed. An underlying aim to this work is to identify efficient and reliable biomarkers of metal pollution, some of which currently show promise. Temperature effects on ectothermic animals are especially relevant in ephemeral and discontinuously flowing waters so typical of the arid western parts of southern Africa, as well as thermal pollution gradients below power stations and dams. Desiccation stress finds unique application in the live export of abalone to distant markets and in athletes during extreme distance events.Anthropogenic impacts or stressors induce changes in the structure of aquatic invertebrate communities. We regularly monitor these changes in rivers in the NW Province using established DWAF (Department of Water Affairs and Forestry) and RHP (River Health Program) protocols (e.g. SASS 5, IHAS, FAII & FHIe). We are also developing new indices of aquatic community structure using diatoms as indicators – these indices react very quickly to changes in water quality variables and give very specific indications of environmental perturbations, e.g. eutrophication, organic enrichment. The total body of work is increasingly aligned with industry driven demands, and carried out in association with industry (Randwater, Umgeni Water, AFASA, ESKOM, SASOL, mines, I&J).

Listed skills include Biomarker Development, Stress Physiology, Abalone Physiology, Aquaculture, and 9 others.