Van Der Merwe assists as a senior researcher in the Rivers of Life Programme and mostly focuses on environmental management and impact assessments as well as stressor risk evaluations. “I love the outdoors and nature. I love walking the dog or riding a horse through the fields and just enjoying the beauty of nature. I am inspired by The Lorax movie, it struck me so deeply and it is motivation to work, appreciate nature and not let species go to waste.”
The PhD candidate was one of the first cohorts at UMP to do a master’s degree. “Being part of the first group of MSc agricultural students at a new and developing university is rewarding, and to see the development and growth as new courses and students join in is amazing. UMP has helped my journey of growth tremendously as they provided and supported me with the opportunity to study, especially in an agricultural field.”
Van Der Merwe’s research focus was to determine the environmental stressor impacts on fish communities in the Inkomati Catchment and the risk involved in ecological and subsistent fisheries in the catchment.
“My finding illustrated that the greatest impact on fish communities came from the habitat destruction and water quality issue stressors. The different river systems within the catchment had different stressors and risks associated with the fish communities and recommendations and conclusions were made that these systems should be managed separately due to the different stressors.”
Furthermore, she points out that while the risk to ecologically important species remains high, the risk to subsistence fisheries is comparatively lower. This indicates that the fish sought after for human subsistence are still present but experiencing a decline.
In the next five years, Van Der Merwe sees herself with a PhD, supervising honours students and as a lecturer trying to make a difference in students’ lives through education.
“Our friendship helped my academic career as my friend supported me in every way as well as with fieldwork, analyses, and discussions. Doing your work with someone who shares the same values and beliefs and academic interest was of tremendous benefit, and the support structure helped me to never lose hope,” she adds.
Positive contribution
Kaiser hopes to contribute to the establishment of free-flowing rivers. “As a developing researcher, I aspire to make a meaningful contribution to the sustainability of aquatic systems in southern Africa. I love nature and all the special creatures found within. Fishing is more than just a hobby and I hope to get my Protea colours soon. I enjoy the outdoors, teamwork, and competitiveness of the sport.”
Her research aims to identify and characterise the environmental drivers and associated multiple stressors including water quality, habitat alterations, and other stressors present in the Limpopo River Basin. Also to evaluate the biological response of fish communities to these stressors.
“This evidence was used to evaluate the socio-ecological consequences of multiple stressors to a range of social subsistence fisheries and ecological wellbeing of fish communities’ endpoints selected to represent stakeholder interests in the basin.”
Kaiser found that the excessive use of the water resources in the Limpopo River has resulted in changes that may not allow the biodiversity of fishes that used to occur in the basin to persist. This study generated information on the factors that drive the ecology of fish communities, and this will contribute to the conservation of these fishes, improve river management and provision of fish for subsistence fisheries.
“The river assessment and proactive management at an ecosystem level can increase the resilience of aquatic ecosystems to anthropogenic changes, avoiding a potential decline in biodiversity. Protection of biodiversity is important because it promotes and ensures ecosystem functioning that sustains livelihoods that depend on them. The rivers of the Limpopo Basin are being unsustainably used and are in urgent need of greater protection measures to become sustainable.”
Kaiser is also one of the students who suffered challenges from studying during the pandemic and was part of the first group of students in the master’s in agriculture degree at UMP.
“I took the opportunity to join the Rivers of Life group and have been fortunate to gain great experience and see amazing places. Throughout this journey, I have met a lot of people who have positively impacted my life.”
In the next five years, Kaiser hopes to have completed her PhD and published multiple research papers, that will contribute to the sustainability of southern Africa’s freshwater fish. Like her friend, she would also like to start her career as a lecturer and hopefully inspire future generations to make a difference and help save our planet.
“I believe that our friendship has accelerated our careers and created opportunities. Together we are known as the A-team in the Rivers of Life Programme, not just because our names start with an A but because we complement each other with our strengths and weaknesses. There has always been a healthy competition between us which makes us work harder and better as a team.”
@ Story by Cleopatra Makhaga. Pictures supplied.