Two MSc bursaries (R30,000 each for two years) are available for ecology/environmental science students to participate in a multi-disciplinary research project titled SUCSES: Sustainability in communal socio-ecological systems. The aim of the overall project is to gain a better understanding of the dynamic relationship between society and the environment at multiple levels in a rural region of South Africa. Such analysis is necessary for identifying, understanding and responding to threats and opportunities for ecological sustainability and human well-being in these systems in order to inform appropriate policy. The project is based in the Agincourt Health and Demographic Surveillance Site, in the rural district of Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.

A key component of the initial phase of the project will be the development of a livelihoods and environmental monitoring system. The MSc bursaries are for two student projects (full time by thesis) falling under the environmental component of this phase. They will each address one of the following research questions:

Project 1: What are the spatial patterns of ecosystem composition, structure and function in a communal savanna landscape, and what are the implications of this for the provision of ecosystem services?

This project will quantify key elements of ecosystem composition, structure and function relevant to the delivery of ecosystem services in different landscape units and at different distances from three selected villages. Methodologies will include those typically used in assessments of plant populations and communities, as well as Landscape Function Analysis. The sampling plots will be set up such that they can be used as permanent ecological monitoring plots after the MSc study.

Project 2: What are the patterns of land cover resilience to shocks (e.g. drought) and stresses, (e.g. resource harvesting) in different landscape units in a communal savanna landscape over the last two decades, and what are the implications of this for the provision of ecosystem services?

The second project will be strongly GIS-driven, using remotely sensed data to analyse changes in key ecological indicators (such as NDVI) in space and time around the selected study villages. Ground-truthing will be necessary.

The projects will draw on results from another project investigating ecosystem services provided by different species, resource categories and landscape units. Data from both projects will form the benchmark for future ecological monitoring in the larger study.

Students with strong academic background and experience in ecology (project 1) and GIS (project 2) are encouraged to apply. The funder (NRF) stipulates that candidates must be South African citizens or have permanent residence permits. Please send your letter of application, stating which project you are interested in, with your CV (including name and contact details of references) to:

Wayne Twine