Dr Josie South

Profile

I am an aquatic ecologist with broad interests across invasion science, fisheries, community ecology, and conservation. I predominantly work on fish and crayfish in freshwaters although I am involved in several projects on marine systems, including tropicalisation and the marine ornamental fish trade. Largely i am interested in what things eat, how they eat them, and the broader implications of this – including how ecological change scales into human change and human wellbeing. Most of my research is in the tropics and subtropics, with some work closer to home in Yorkshire.

I am a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow running a multi-national attempt to better predict invasion impact in freshwaters. I lead the Crayfish Functional Traits (CRAFT) Network which aims to archive and reconcile trait based ecology for all crayfish species over time and space to better model outcomes of change in non-model species. I am an honorary research associate at the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity and the Centre for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University.

I am keen to improve student training opportunities and always looking for collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Deputy Director of Postgraduate Studies

Research interests

I am mainly interested in what things eat, how they eat them, and the wider implications of trophic interactions. Usually applied in the context of global change coogy, namely biological invasions, climate change and pollution in aquatic systems. Other research endeavours include using behaviour and morphometrics to predict trophic interactions and community structure, as well as marine and inland fisheries sustainability. My research has wider relevance to sustainable resource management, conservation tourism and food security.

I work closely with colleagues in South East Asia on conservation of peat swamp fishes – you can see some information about these projects here: Sanctuary Film and Saving the Bettas of Bangka Island

You can read about our work on crayfish invasions here: Groundup crayfish article and Invasions in Kruger National Park

Primary investigator (PI)

• Predicting population change under thermal stress.
• Upscaling invasive species impact prediction

Qualifications

• PhD Queens University Belfast
• BSc Hons 1:1 Queens University Belfast

Professional memberships

• Events Sec. British Ecological Society Biological Invasions Special Interest Group
• Southern African Society of Aquatic Scientists

Student education

I teach on a number of modules and field courses, relating to aquatic ecology and invasion biology.

Research groups and institutes

• Sustainable ecosystems and adaptation

Current postgraduate researchers

• Emma Baker
• James Hodson