Current Researchers

Robbert is a postdoctoral researcher at the Nelson Mandela University. His primary focus of research has been ecophysiology and ecology of thicket and Nama-Karoo vegetation in the Eastern Cape. His current focus is on optimizing ecosystem restoration practises in the arid thicket of the Eastern Cape, and here lie his ties to the thicket-wide plot experiment.

Dr Alastair Potts is a senior researcher at Nelson Mandela University. His primary research field is Plant Ecology and Evolution with a specific focus on Subtropical Thicket dynamics.

Anize Tempel is the other half of the project’s research assistants. She studied at the North West University in Potchefstroom from 2015 - 2017 and completed a degree in Bsc Geology and Botany. In 2018 she completed her Honours degree in Bsc Environmental Geology.

Email: anizetempel@gmail.com

Kristen Hunt makes one half of two of the research assistants on the Thicket-wide Plot Project. She studied a BSc in Biological Sciences at Nelson Mandela University from 2016 - 2019, and completed her Botany Honours degree in 2020.

Email: huntkl98@gmail.com

Daniel Buttner is currently pursuing an M.Sc. at Nelson Mandela University within the Potts Research Group. His research explores ecological dynamics of Subtropical Thicket with a primary focus on understanding the role climate, aridity and drought, has played in shaping distribution, ecology, and community structure. His research interests include plant hydraulics, hydrology, and ecophysiology.

Email: danielbuttner.DB@gmail.com