Dr Natasha Karenyi

Office:

PD Hahn 6.74

Research Interests:

Marine biodiversity, Numerical Ecology, Ecosystem Classification, Benthic Ecology

Biographical Information

  • University of Cape Town: Bachelor of Science – Botany and Zoology
  • Bachelor of Science (Honours) – Marine Biology
  • Master of Science – Zoology
  • Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University: Doctorate in Philosophy – Zoology 2009- current
    Thesis title: Patterns and drivers of benthic macrofauna to support systematic conservation planning for marine unconsolidated sediment ecosystems
  • University of Cape Town - Zoology Department (2003) - Teaching Assistant – First year Biology course on Animal Diversity
  • University of Stellenbosch – Department of Botany and Zoology (2005-2007) - Science Liaison Officer – Ellerman Resource Centre
  • University of Stellenbosch – DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology (2007- 2008) - Outreach Officer – Iimbovane Exploring South African Biodiversity and Change Outreach Project
  • South African National Biodiversity Institute – Marine Programme (2008) – SANBI Internship

Research Interests

My post-doctoral fellowship focuses on the use of current statistical techniques to better explore marine biodiversity patterns by unravelling observation processes from ecological processes using existing marine data.

I am currently collaborating with the SANBI Marine Programme on the SeaKeys: Unlocking foundational marine biodiversity knowledge, which aims to collate and improve marine biodiversity information and produce products that support decision making, thus benefitting South African Society. The project team includes more than 17 different organisations. I am involved with ecosystem classification development and training.

Publications

  • ROBINSON, T.B., C.L. GRIFFITHS and N. KRUGER. 2004. Distribution and status of marine invasive species in and bordering the West Coast National Park. Koedoe 47(1):79-87
  • GRIFFITHS, C.L., L. VAN SITTERT, P.B. BEST, A.C. BROWN, B.M. CLARK, P.A. COOK, R.J.M. CRAWFORD, J.H.M. DAVID, B.R. DAVIES, M.H. GRIFFITHS, K. HUTCHINGS, A. JERARDINO, N. KRUGER, S. LAMBERTH, R.W. LESLIE, R. MELVILLE-SMITH, R. TARR and C.D. VAN DER LINGEN. 2004. Impacts of human activities on marine animal life in the Benguela: a historical overview. Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review 42:303-392
  • KRUGER, N., G.M. BRANCH, C.L. GRIFFITHS and J.G. FIELD. 2005. Changes in the benthos of Saldanha Bay (1960s-2001): an analysis based on dredge samples. African Journal of Marine Science 27(2):471-477
  • BRASCHLER, B., K. MAHOOD, N. KARENYI, K.J. GASTON and S.L. CHOWN. 2010. Realizing a synergy between research and education: how participation in ant monitoring helps raise biodiversity awareness in a resource-poor country. Journal of Insect Conservation 14:19-30