Recent projects:

  1. An ecological survey of Cahora Bassa reservoir, Mozambique, with emphasis on the phytoplankton, water and sediment quality dynamics. Team: Dr Tatenda Dalu (Project Leader), Prof Tamuka Nhiwatiwa, Mr Farai Dondofema. Funders: Hidroeléctrica De Cahora Bassa. (2018–2019)
  2. The trophic functioning of aquatic food webs in the grassland river-floodplain of Nylsvlei Ramsar Wetland Site. Team: Dr Tatenda Dalu (Project Leader), Dr Ryan J Wasserman, Prof Olaf LF Weyl, Mrs Florence M Murungweni, Dr Michelle Jackson, Prof Steven Bouillon. Funders: University of Venda Niche Funding. (2018–2019)
  3. Potamonautids conservation: impacts, opportunities and challenges related to community sustainable livelihoods. Team: Dr Tatenda Dalu (Project Leader), Dr Ryan J Wasserman, Dr Jonathan D Tonkin, Mrs Mwazvita TB Dalu, Prof Tamuka Nhiwatiwa, Mr Gregory Dowo. Funders: Rufford Foundation. (2017–2018)
  4. Assessing the effect of rotenone concentration as a biological control tool for common carp Cyprinus carpio and bluegill Lepomis macrochir in Western Cape reservoirs. Team: Dr Tatenda Dalu (Researcher), Dr Ryan J Wasserman, Prof Olaf LF Weyl, Dr Martinne Jordan, Dr Ettiene Slabbert, Dr Sean Marr. Funders: Water Research Commission. (2017–2018)
  5. Assessing the effect of common carp Cyprinus carpio and organic pollution on the trophic ecology of aquatic ecosystems. Team: Dr Tatenda Dalu (Project Leader), Dr Ryan J Wasserman, Prof Olaf LF Weyl, Dr Michelle Jackson. Funders: South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity. (2017)
  6. Ecological and functional response studies of small aquatic ecosystems assessed using both field and laboratory studies in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Team: Dr Tatenda Dalu (Co-Project Leader), Dr Ryan J Wasserman, Mr Ross N Cuthbert, Prof Olaf LF Weyl, Prof Jaimie TA Dick, Prof William P Froneman. Funders: Rhodes University, National Research Foundation, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Water Research Foundation. (2014–2017)
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Functional response experimental set-up, Rhodes University
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Phytoplankton enrichment and copepod microcosm experimental set-up
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Newly discovered biggest known African freshwater copepod, Lovenula rayneri Saurez, Wasserman, Dalu 2015
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Substrate and benthic algae experimental set-up
Previous projects:

  1. Assessing the plankton dynamics in the Sunday River valley irrigation reservoirs. Team: Dr Tatenda Dalu (Researcher), Dr Ryan J Wasserman, Prof Olaf LF Weyl, Prof Jaimie TA Dick, Dr Darragh Woodford, Mr Ross N Cuthbert. Funders: South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity. (2016–2017)
  2. Grahamstown water quality assessment project. Team: Dr Tatenda Dalu (Co-Project Leader), Dr Ryan J Wasserman, Prof Olaf LF Weyl, Prof William P Froneman, Dr Jonathan D Tonkin, Dr Tongayi Mwedzi, Dr Holly A Nel. Funders: Rhodes University, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity. (2016)
  3. Eastern Cape micro-inlet/micro-estuary research. Team: Dr Tatenda Dalu (Researcher), Prof Alan K Whitfield, Prof Janine B Adams, Prof Renzo Perissinotto, Dr Lucienne Human, Mr Mandla Magoro, Dr Shuan D Deyzel Mrs Lyndall Naidoo. Funders: South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, National Research Foundation. (2015–2016)
  4. An assessment of the effect of rotenone concentrations on selected non-target aquatic fauna. Team: Dr Tatenda Dalu (Researcher), Dr Ryan J Wasserman, Prof Olaf LF Weyl, Dr Martinne Jordan, Dr Ettiene Slabbert. Funders: Water Research Commission, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Invasion Biology. (2015)
  5. Functional response studies of invasive species, Micropterus salmoides, Pseudocrenalabus philander, Tilapia spermanii and Lepomis macrochirus. Team: Dr Tatenda Dalu (Researcher), Dr Mhairi E Alexander, Dr Ryan J Wasserman, Prof Olaf LF Weyl, Prof Jaimie TA Dick. Funders: National Research Foundation, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Invasion Biology. (2015)
  6. Ecological and functional response studies of small aquatic ecosystems assessed using both field and laboratory studies in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Team: Dr Tatenda Dalu (Co-Project Leader), Dr Ryan J Wasserman, Dr Eduardo Suarez-Morales, Prof Olaf LF Weyl, Mr Ross N Cuthbert, Prof Jaimie TA Dick, Prof William P Froneman, Prof Amanda Callaghan. Funders:  National Research Foundation, Rhodes University. (2014–2017)
  7. Ecological assessment of the recently discovered Potamonautes mutareensis sp. nov. in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe, with implications to conservation. Team: Dr Tatenda Dalu (Project Leader), Dr Ryan J Wasserman, Dr Jonathan D Tonkin, Dr Timothy Dube, Dr Mhairi E Alexander, Mrs Mwazvita TB Dalu, Mr Samuel N Motitsoe, Prof William P Froneman. Funders: Idea Wild, Rufford Foundation. (2014–2015)
  8. Impact of introduced crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus on Lake Kariba littoral zone ecosystem inferred using stable isotope approach. Team: Dr Tatenda Dalu (Researcher), Prof Tamuka Nhiwatiwa, Mr Lightone Marufu, Dr Crispen Phiri, Prof Lindah Mhlanga, Prof Maxwell Barson. Funders: University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Research Council. (2014–2015)
  9. Connectivity through allochthony: Reciprocal links between adjacent and terrestrial ecosystems in South Africa. Team: Dr Tatenda Dalu (Researcher), Prof William P Froneman, Prof Martin Villet, Prof Nicole Richoux, Prof Alan K Whitfield, Prof Dan Parker, Dr Lenin Chari, Dr Leandro Bergamino, Dr Jeff W Hean, Dr Sydney Moyo, Prof Adrian Craig. Funders: National Research Foundation, Rhodes University, Water Research Commission. (2012–2014)
  10. An applied ecological assessment of the drivers in decline, distribution and conservation of five endangered frog species in the Eastern Highlands (Zimbabwe). Team: Dr Tatenda Dalu (Co-Project Leader), Mr Edwin M Tambara, Dr Lenin D Chari. Funders: Rufford Foundation. (2012–2013)
  11. Limnological study of Malilangwe reservoir in the south-eastern lowveld of Zimbabwe. Team: Dr Tatenda Dalu (Project Leader), Dr Bruce W Clegg, Prof Tamuka Nhiwatiwa. Funders: Malilangwe Trust, DAAD. (2011–2012)
  12. T he impact of environmental pollution on potable water quality . Team: Dr Tatenda Dalu (Researcher), Prof Maxwell Barson, Prof Tamuka Nhiwatiwa. Funders: Ministry of Health and Child Welfare (Zimbabwe), VLIR-UOS, University of Zimbabwe, World Health Organisation. (2007–2008)
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Sunday River irrigation ponds
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Water hyacinth Echihornia crassipes and water fern Azolla sp.
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Kaysers Beach rocky shore, Eastern Cape
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Lajuma River
Most of my research is supported by the following funding bodies as research grants, scholarships and fellowships either as individual grants or through research collaborators funds