Marine Dynamics Academy:

Research

Marine Dynamics Academy - Discover and Protect

Reports:

  • Dyer Island Conservation Trust Decade of Achievement Report. Available here

Sharks

  • Jewell, O. J., Gleiss, A. C., Jorgensen, S. J., Andrzejaczek, S., Moxley, J. H., Beatty, S. J., Wikelski, M., Block, B. A. & Chapple, T. K. (2019) Cryptic habitat use of white sharks in kelp forest revealed by animal-borne video. Biology letters, 15(4), 20190085. Read here
  • Huveneers, C., Apps, K., Becerril-García, E. E., Bruce, B., Butcher, P. A., Carlisle, A. B., Chapple, T. K., Christiansen, H. M., Cliff, G., Curtis, T. H., Daly-Engel, T. S., Dewar, H., Dicken, M. L., Domeier, M. L., Duffy, C. A. J., Ford, R., Francis, M. P., French, G. C. A., Galván-Magaña, F., García-Rodríguez, E., Gennari, E., Graham, B., Hayden, B., Hoyos-Padilla, E. M., Hussey, N. E., Jewell, O. J. D., Jorgensen, S. J., Kock, A. A., Lowe, C. G., Lyons, K., Meyer, L., Oelofse, G., Oñate-González, E. C., Oosthuizen, H., O’Sullivan, J. B., Ramm, K., Skomal, G., Sloan, S., Smale, M. J., Sosa-Nishizaki, O., Sperone, E., Tamburin, E., Towner, A. V., Wcisel, M. A., Weng, K. C. & Werry J. M. (2018) Future research directions on the ‘elusive’ white shark. Frontiers in Marine Science, 5, 455. Read here
  • French, G. C. A., Stürup, M., Rizzuto, S., Van Wyk, J. H., Edwards, D., Dolan, R. W., Wintner, S. P., Towner, A. V. & Hughes, W. O. H. (2017) The tooth, the whole tooth and nothing but the tooth: tooth shape and ontogenetic shift dynamics in the white shark Carcharodon carcharias. Journal of fish biology, 91(4), 1032-1047. Read here
  • Rogers, T. D., Cambiè, G., & Kaiser, M. J. (2017) Determination of size, sex and maturity stage of free swimming catsharks using laser photogrammetry. Marine biology, 164(11), 213. Read here
  • Towner, A. V., Leos‐Barajas, V., Langrock, R., Schick, R. S., Smale, M. J., Kaschke, T., Jewell, O. J. & Papastamatiou, Y. P. (2016) Sex‐specific and individual preferences for hunting strategies in white sharks. Functional Ecology, 30(8), 1397-1407. Read here or here
  • Chapple, T. K., Gleiss, A. C., Jewell, O. J., Wikelski, M., & Block, B. A. (2015) Tracking sharks without teeth: a non-invasive rigid tag attachment for large predatory sharks. Animal Biotelemetry, 3(1), 14. Read here
  • Dureuil, M., Towner, A. V., Ciolfi, L. G., & Beck, L. A. (2015) A computer-aided framework for subsurface identification of white shark pigment patterns. African journal of marine science, 37(3), 363-371. Read here
  • Jewell, O. J., Wcisel, M. A., Towner, A. V., Chivell, W., Van der Merwe, L., & Bester, M. N. (2014) Core habitat use of an apex predator in a complex marine landscape. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 506, 231-242. Read here
  • Jewell, O. J., Johnson, R. L., Gennari, E., & Bester, M. N. (2013) Fine scale movements and activity areas of white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) in Mossel Bay, South Africa. Environmental biology of fishes, 96(7), 881-894. Read here
  • Towner, A. V., Wcisel, M. A., Reisinger, R. R., Edwards, D., & Jewell, O. J. (2013) Gauging the threat: the first population estimate for white sharks in South Africa using photo identification and automated software. PloS one, 8(6), e66035. Read here
  • Towner, A. V., Underhill, L. G., Jewell, O. J., & Smale, M. J. (2013) Environmental influences on the abundance and sexual composition of white sharks Carcharodon carcharias in Gansbaai, South Africa. PLoS one, 8(8), e71197. Read here
  • Jewell, O. J. D. (2012) Foraging ecology of white sharks Carcharodon carcharias at Dyer Island, South Africa. MSc Thesis, University of Pretoria. Read here
  • Towner, A. V., Smale, M. J. & Jewell, O. J. (2012) Boat strike wound healing in the white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) global perspectives on the biology and life history of the white shark. In Domeier, M. L., editor, Global Perspectives on the Biology and Life History of the White Shark, chapter 6, pages 77-84. CRC Press.
  • Towner, A.V. (2012) Great White Sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) in Gansbaai, South Africa: Environmental influences and changes over time: 2007–2011. MSc Thesis, University of Cape Town. Read here
  • Jewell, O. J., Wcisel, M. A., Gennari, E., Towner, A. V., Bester, M. N., Johnson, R. L. & Singh, S. (2011) Effects of smart position only (SPOT) tag deployment on white sharks Carcharodon carcharias in South Africa. PLoS One, 6(11), e27242. Read here
  • Wcisel, M., Chivell, W. & Gottfried, M. D. (2010) A potential predation attempt by a great white shark on an Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin. African Journal of Wildlife Research, 40(2), 184-188. Read here

Cetaceans

  • Vermeulen, E., Bouveroux, T., Plön, S., Atkins, S., Chivell, W., Cockcroft, V., Conry, D., Gennari, E., Hörbst, S., James, B. S., Kirkman, S., Penry, G., Pistorius, P., Thornton, M., Vargas-Fonseca, A., Elwen, S. H. & Kirkman, S. (2018) Indian Ocean humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea) movement patterns along the South African coast. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 28(1), 231-240. Read here
  • Vermeulen, E., Wilkinson, C., Thornton, M., Peters, I. & Findley, K. (2017) International Whaling Commission: South African southern right whale aerial survey.
  • Vinding, K., Bester, M., Kirkman, S. P., Chivell, W. & Elwen, S. H. (2015) The use of data from a platform of opportunity (whale watching) to study coastal cetaceans on the southwest coast of South Africa. Tourism in Marine Environments, 11(1), 33-54. Read here

Penguins

  • Waller, L. (2011) The African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus): Conservation and Management Issues. PhD Thesis, University of Cape Town.

Seals

  • Wcisel, M. A, O’Riain, M. J., De Vos A. & Chivell W. (2014) The role of refugia in reducing predation risk for Cape fur seals by white. Behavioral ecology and sociobiology, 69(1), 127-138. Read here
  • Vinding, K., Christiansen, M., Hofmeyr, G. J., Chivell, W., McBride, R. & Bester, M. N. (2013) Occurrence of vagrant leopard seals, Hydrurga leptonyx, along the South African coast. African Journal of Wildlife Research, 43(1), 84-87. Read here
  • Wcisel, M. A. (2013) The effects white shark presence has on Cape fur seal movements at Geyser Rock, South Africa. MSc Thesis, University of Cape Town.

Seabirds

  • Cook, T. R., Jewell, O. J., Chivell, W. & Bester, M. N. (2012) An albino cape cormorant Phalacrocorax capensis. Marine Ornithology, 40, 72-73. Read here

Turtles

  • Jewell, O. J. D. & Wcisel, M. A. (2012) A leatherback turtle stranding at Danger Point, Gansbaai, South Africa. South African Journal of Wildlife Research. 42(2) 147–150. Read here

Our scholarly graduates:

  • Alison Towner – MSc Zoology, University of Cape Town
  • Michelle Wcisel – MSc Zoology, University of Cape Town
  • Oliver Jewell – MSc Zoology, University of Pretoria.
  • Lauren Waller – PhD, University of Cape Town
  • Katja Vinding-Petersen - PhD, University of Pretoria