Prof Tatenda Dalu is the Director for Centre for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University and is interested in the general aquatic ecology of wetlands, reservoirs and rivers/estuaries. He has a strong interest in trophic ecology, environmental assessment, biodiversity and conservation. Prof Dalu is particularly interested in how ecological systems respond to an environmental disturbance caused by anthropogenic impacts, hydroperiod and invasive species. Working with fellow ecologists, resource managers and policymakers often stimulates new directions for his Research. Most of his Projects use field observations, and experiments, to better understand the effects of natural and anthropogenic factors on flora and fauna and their role in aquatic ecosystems. Field studies are used to identify interesting patterns in nature that may indicate ecological and environmental problems or an interesting natural phenomenon. Manipulative experiments in artificial microcosms and mesocosms are used to confirm cause-effect relationships. He Collaborates widely with colleagues (fellow scientists, managers) from different universities/institutes on different projects and he often teams up with National Parks and/or Game Reserve scientists and field staff at the front lines of conservation. Dr Dalu Publishes his findings mainly as peer-reviewed Articles, Popular Articles and Research Reports. He Co-Edited three books for Elsevier Publishing on Fundamentals of Tropical Freshwater Wetlands: From Ecology to Conservation Management with Prof Ryan J Wasserman (Rhodes University, South Africa), Afrotropical Rivers and Streams: Structure, Ecological Processes and Management with Prof Frank O Masese (University of Eldoret, Kenya), and Emerging Freshwater Pollutants: Fate, Risk and Analysis with Dr Nikita T Tavengwa (University of Venda, South Africa). He is also an Associate Editor for African Journal of Ecology, Frontiers in Water: Water Quality, Aquatic Invasions and Bioinvasions Records, and Subject Editor for Global Change Biology. He is also a Professional Registered Scientist (Biological Sciences), and a former STIAS Iso Lomso Fellow, TWAS Young Affiliates Fellow, Member of the Royal Society of South Africa and the South Africa Youth Academy of Sciences, and currently a Research Associate at South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity.
