SAEON appoints Manager for the newly established Fynbos Node

Dr Allsopp’s expertise lies in soil-plant interactions and resource control within landscapes, and the impact of disturbance on these.

Dr Nicky Allsopp of the Agricultural Research Council, based at the University of the Western Cape, has been appointed Manager of the SAEON Fynbos Node. She will take up her duties in January.

Dr Allsopp’s research has been largely concentrated in the Cape floristic region. Her PhD dealt with the occurrence and ecophysiology of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal plants in the region, and her MSc with the distribution of phosphorus in the root systems of the Proteaceae and the identification of their fungi.

“As part of her excellent research career, she has a considerable social science bend and this is a welcome addition to our team,” says SAEON Head Johan Pauw.

Dr Allsopp’s research focuses on the interface between society and ecology against the background of community-based natural resource management and alternative livelihoods supported by such resources.

An interview with Dr Allsopp will be published in a forthcoming issue of SAEON eNews.

Related content: SAEON Fynbos Node set to provide data platform for biodiversity hotspot