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Dr David Le Maitre is a plant ecologist specialising in conservation biology, invasion ecology and catchment hydrology.
Current activities and research interests
- Leading a study of the relationship between biodiversity, ecosystem service generation and benefit flows, focusing on water and land productivity
- Modelling impacts of invasive alien plant species on water resources, biodiversity and rangelands in South Africa for use in prioritising species and catchments for control measures
- Studies on groundwater-dependent ecosystems including:
- Research into the ecology and dynamics of groundwater-dependent ecosystems, focusing mainly on guidelines and tools for identifying these and assessing the impacts of groundwater abstraction
- Fire ecology of Cape Fynbos vegetation, especially the impacts of variability in fire regimes on plant population dynamics.
Formal education
PhD Botany (ecology),
University of Cape Town,
1999
M.Sc. Botany (ecology),
University of Cape Town,
1984
B.Sc. Forest Science - Nature Conservation,
University of Stellenbosch,
1979
Experience
Dr Le Maitre has more than 20 years of research experience in the ecology of Cape fynbos vegetation and also has expertise in assessing the hydrological and ecological impacts of invading alien plants and the dynamics of invasion processes. He has been involved in the assessment, maintenance and conservation of biodiversity, particularly the development and use of indicators. He has been involved in vegetation surveys and classification in South Africa, Angola, Cameroon and Gabon, mainly of coastal vegetation and mangroves for EIAs, ESHIAs and other purposes. He has published widely in scientific literature, especially in the field of the fire-ecology, invasion ecology and the impacts of alien plant invasions. He has been a professional member of the Southern African Institute for Ecologists and Environmental Scientists since 1985.
Organisational details
PO Box 320
Stellenbosch
7600
South Africa
Tel: +27 21 888 2407
Fax: +27 21 888 2684
Email: dlmaitre@csir.co.za
Publications
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