Research Interest
For my masters I study the function of “plant biltong” collected by bush Karoo rats (Otomys unisulcatus) in the Namaqualand, South Africa. This study will provide insight about the function of food plant material collected by bush Karoo rats, especially whether it’s an adaptation to cope with seasonal harshness, or simply a by-product of collecting food to consume at the nest, with less good parts of the food plants being left over. This will help us to understand how a food specialist (folivores) species can cope in a highly seasonal environment such as Succulent Karroo semi-deserts characterised by seasonal food restriction.
Biography
I’m an Ecologist who is interested in the behavioural strategies used by small mammals to cope with seasonally food restricted environments. My interest has result to a development of a Master project on the wild bush Karroo rat. My love for field work and working with small mammal started during my Honouse year at the University of KwaZulu- Natal in the school of life sceince. During this time I was both a forest guardian and worked on my honous project “The use of the landscape by small mammal found at uKulinga Farm”. I was later intrigued by the work done at the Succulent Karroo Research station of which I applied as a research assistant. It is at here where my knowledge on behavioral ecology was feather expanded and birthed a master thesis based on the question: What is the function of “plant biltong” collected by bush Karoo rats (Otomys unisulcatus)? This study will provide insight about the function of food plant material collected by bush Karoo rats, especially whether it’s an adaptation to cope with seasonal harshness, or simply a by-product of collecting food to consume at the nest, with less good parts of the food plants being left over. This will help us to understand how a food specialist (folivores) species can cope in a highly seasonal environment such as Succulent Karroo semi-deserts characterised by seasonal food restriction.
