indexpage

Exploring the ancient grasslands of Madagascar

An investigation of Madagascar's neglected grasslands has yielded surprising results. SAEON's Chief Research Scientist, Prof. William Bond, reports...

Perpetual pendulum: Locustana pardalina

Alerted to the potential indicator value of locusts for global change and ecological integrity, SAEON is developing a research and monitoring plan to find answers to some intriguing questions about locusts.

Investing in people and skills for SAEON's expanding instrument array

SAEON's technical team members provide a vital function for its global change monitoring platforms. Their work ensures long-term, reliable data collection across a range of fields.

SAEON and SANParks test landscape unit concept

Landscape units in the Tankwa Karoo National Park were classified, mapped and described so that sensitive landscapes can be avoided, transformed areas can be monitored and alien invasive species can be targeted for eradication.

Take only photographs, leave only ski-tracks

SAEON scientists returned to the Prince Edward Islands to continue their underwater photographic studies of Sub-Antarctic epi-fauna within a marine protected area.

Five more years of upscaling SA's environmental observation and information infrastructure and outputs

SAEON's long-term studies have come to represent a unique national advantage. SAEON MD Johan Pauw tracks the organisation's trajectory over the past five years.

Investigating the Agulhas Current using Argo

Profiling the ocean with Argo float technology will allow a more accurate representation of ocean dynamics down to a depth of 2 000 metres, compared to satellite imagery and stationary moored instruments.

Baptism of fire

The month of May signals the start of the fire season in Cathedral Peak. With over a million rand's worth of research equipment in the catchments, fire protection is vital.

Meet SAEON's new technician - Kent Lawrence

Kent  joined the SAEON Grasslands-Forest-Wetland Node, where he is responsible for the maintenance of the research infrastructure, data flows and the expansion of the instrument array.

Fynbos Node postdocs add to understanding of global change

The postdocs' skills are contributing to understanding how evolutionary history has shaped fynbos. This is fundamental to understanding how this biome may respond to future change.

Exploring the impact of global change on vegetation dynamics

Nicole Hagenah, Postdoctoral Fellow at SAEON's Grasslands-Wetlands-Forests Node, is investigating climate change impacts on plant species in the Maloti-Drakensberg mountains.

Water Research Day @ Phalaborwa

At an education outreach workshop on freshwater resources, learners got to grips with water quality monitoring and testing, and an innovative water management computer simulation game.

SAEON staff sparks interest in environmental science

With Cape Town slowly recovering from fires across the Cape Peninsula and with helicopters still flying overhead, the Fynbos Node focused their presentation on post-fire recovery, highlighting why fire is important for fynbos.

Exploring science on board a research vessel

An educator, a learner, an intern and an education officer give their perspectives on the education value of science undertaken for the ASCA project.

Our Magoebaskloof science camp adventure

"From the stifling heat in Phalaborwa we made our way to a cold and misty Magoebaskloof, like weekend warriors on a quest for knowledge..."- Two SAEON Kids recount their science camp experiences.

SAEON in the media

SAEON's people and projects received coverage in a range of print, online, broadcast and social media...

Interesting link

National Geographic's Great Nature project team asked people around the world to document the biodiversity from their area from May 15 to 25. Collectively, participants made 40 396 observations of at least 8 000 different species. These records will be an invaluable resource to scientists and decision-makers around the world for years to come. Watch a time-lapse video of observations coming in from all over the world during those 11 days. You can zoom in on your area for greater detail. If you are interested in reading more about the discoveries and observations that were submitted, check out this post on the National Geographic Voices blog.

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