Student Projects

Post-doctoral fellows

Guilherme Frainer PhD: 2021-2023 – University of Cape Town. Developing automated classifiers for dolphin vocalisations around southern Africa.

Keshni Gopal PhD. 2017-2018 – University of Pretoria. Review of cetacean tissue samples available for research in Namibia and South Africa. During this 6-month contract I worked with Keshni on an application which has allowed her to continue this research and be based at the Iziko SA Museum as a SANBI FBIP postdoctoral fellow conducting a thorough review and assessment of marine mammal tissues at the museums. Due to the logistics of the finances I am not an official supervisor but a collaborator.

Els Vermeulen PhD. 2016-2017 – University of Pretoria. Developing a national assessment of the Indian Ocean humpback dolphins.

PhD:

Sasha Dines – PhD student (2019-2023 – Stellenbosch University): Using novel acoustic methodology to inform conservation actions for South Africa’s most endangered dolphin: the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin. Supervisors: T. Gridley, J Measey, S Elwen

Jack Fearey – MSc- upgraded to PhD (2019-2023, University of Cape Town): Investigating the use of individually unique signature whistles for mark-recapture of bottlenose dolphins in Namibia. Supervisots: T. Gridley, S. Elwen

Rachel Probert – MSc- upgraded to PhD (2019-2023 SUBMITTED, University of KwaZulu Natal): Acoustic behaviour of wild and captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus, Tursiops aduncus, T. truncatus x T. aduncus hybrids) .  Supervisors: T Gridley, A Bastian (UKZN)

Erin Ross-Marsh – PhD (2022… University of Stellenbosch):  Song development and exchange of humpback whales around southern Africa. Supervisors: T Gridley, E Garland, T Robinson-Smyth

 

Completed

Bridget James – PhD Graduate (2019-2021 – Stellenbosch University): Investigating the role of genetic relatedness on residency and community structure in a small population of bottlenose dolphins under pressure. Supervisors, S. Elwen, T. Gridley, Prof C. Matthee

Mathilde Martin – PhD Graduate (2020-2023 – University of Paris-Saclay): Vocal behaviour in Cape fur seals. Supervisors: Dr Isabelle Charrier, Dr Tess Gridley.

Morgan Martin – PhD Graduate (2015-2019 – University of Pretoria): Acoustic behaviour of Heaviside’s dolphins (being examined). Supervisors; S. Elwen, Dr T Gridley

Katja Vinding– Petersen – PhD graduate (2012-2014 – University of Pretoria): Distribution and habitat use patterns of cetaceans in the Dyer Island area – investigating natural and human influences. Supervisors: Dr S Elwen, Prof MN Bester.

 

MSc:

Priskilla (Pewah) Nghaangulwa. 2022-2023 – (U. Namibia). Investigating spatio-temporal patterns of dolphin presence in Walvis Bay using long-term acoustic monitoring.

 

Completed

Maguina Romala-Henriques – MSc short project (2021, University of Cape Town): Entanglement rates in Cape fur seals around South Africa.

Shireen Bhalla – MSc short project (2020, University of Oxford, UK): Soundscapes of False Bay, South Africa.

Lauren Peach – MSc short project (2019, University of York, UK): Trends in cetacean strandings in Namibia 2008-2018

Monique Laubscher – MSc student (2016-2018, University of Pretoria): Environmental factors affecting cetacean habitat use in the Western Cape.

Tevya Lotriet – MSc student (2016-2018, University of Pretoria): Mapping cetacean distribution using citizen science in the Western Cape, South Africa.

Magali Combes – MSc student (2017, University of Montpelier): Ecological drivers of habitat use in Heaviside’s dolphins using passive acoustic recorders.

Pauline Glotin (deRock) – MSc student (2016, U. of Pierre & Marie Curie) – MSc Coursework Investigating the occurrence and distribution of cetaceans in coastal and offshore Namibia in relation to oceanographic variables

Etienne Pouplard – MSc student (2015, Universite de Bretagne Occidentale): Social network analysis of a small, closed population of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Namibia

Dave Levy – MSc student (2015, University of Cape Town): The environmental factors determining temporal distributions of cetaceans in Mossel Bay, South Africa.

Adam St Claire-Hughes – MSc student (2015, University of Cape Town): Investigation of population abundance, distribution and population linkage of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) on the North and South Zanzibar. Co-supervised with Dr Tess Gridley

Gemma Rashley – MSc student (2015, University of Cape Town): Investigating the Potential for Individually Distinctive Signature Whistles to be used in Mark-Recapture of Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Co-supervised with Dr Tess Gridley

Sara Golaski – MSc student (2013-2014, University of Pretoria): Population ecology of Heaviside’s dolphins in Namibia. Co-supervised with Prof MN Bester.

Monica Betts – MSc student (2013-2014, University of Pretoria): Investigating the use of echolocation click detectors to monitor sympatric Indo-Pacific bottlenose & humpback dolphins. Co-supervised with Prof MN Bester.

Xela Indurkhya – MSc student (2012, University of Osnabruck): Impacts of tour boats on the behaviour of common bottlenose dolphins in Walvis Bay, Namibia. Co-supervised with Prof G. Vallotigara (U. Trento, Italy) and Prof F Jäkel (U Osnabräck, Germany)

Bridget James – MSc student (2011-2012, University of Pretoria): Habitat use of coastal delphinids in the Mossel Bay area – natural and human impacts. Co-supervised with Prof MN Bester.

 

Fourth Year Projects:

Archigail Galland – 4th Year (UNam) – Spatial variation in the diet of Cape fur seal using photographs of surface feeding

Stefan De Hoop – 4th Year (HAS University of Appliaed Sciences) – Various smaller projects on Geo-Media and Design

Coen Soeteman – 4th Year (HAS University of Appliaed Sciences) – Various smaller projects on Geo-Media and Design

Rebecca Hannen – 4th Year (2019, University of Tromso): Behavioural observations on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in feeding super-groups using underwater video recordings

Agnes Torres Ramis – 4th year student (2017-2018 – University of Central Catalunya, Spain): Impacts of boats on the behaviour of bottlenose dolphins in Walvis Bay Namibia (ongoing)

Anni Jylha-Vuorio – 4th year student (2016-2017) – University of Stirling, Scotland. Spatial variation in the surface behaviour of bottlenose dolphins in Walvis Bay, Namibia.

Rachel Probert – Hons Student (2016 – University of KZN): Abundance of Heaviside’s dolphins in Walvis Bay, Namibia

Jeffrey Slater – BTech Hons student (2015 – Cape Peninsula University of Technology): Acoustic characteristics and detectability of Heaviside’s dolphins. Co-supervised with Dr Tess Gridley

Ms Kate du Toit – Honours student (2011, University of Pretoria): Prevalence of skin disease and ecto-parasite in bottlenose dolphins around southern Africa. C

Ms Lauren Snyman – Honours student (2009, University of Pretoria): Individual variation in bottlenose dolphin ranges in Walvis Bay, Namibia. Implications for managing restricted areas.

Ms J Shihepo – Honours student (2010 – University of Namibia): Abundance of Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Walvis Bay, Namibia.

Ms D Dos Santos – Honours student (2009, University of Pretoria): Developing a photo-ID catalogue of bottlenose dolphins in Durban Bay.