Maloti DrakensbergHP

ASSOCIATES

Dr Nick Rivers-Moore

Position:                                Independent Researcher

Discipline:                             Aquatic Ecology

Centre:                                   Centre for Water Resources Research (CWRR)

School:                                   School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Campus:                                 Agriculture Campus

 

 

Biography 

With a PhD in environmental hydrology from Natal University awarded in 2004, and more than 20 years of experience, I have since built up expertise and experience as a researcher and consulting aquatic ecologist, working mainly in South African river systems.  My research interests focus primarily on the field of environmental hydrology, where I have applied my skills across disciplines including freshwater conservation planning in southern African; climate change; ecological modelling; pest blackfly and trout ecology.  I am currently co-editor for the African Journal of Aquatic Science, and subject editor for Water SA.

Qualifications

BSc, BSc (Hons), MSc (Environment and Development), PhD (Hydrology)

Current Research Projects

  1. JNCC (Joint Nature Conservation Committee) Environmental pollution programme – project leader on three-year project ‘Addressing research gaps on the impacts of solid waste and wastewater on water resources in South Africa’ (2022-2025);
  2. WWF-Zambia and WWF-US: Co-research on a project to develop Freshwater Conservation Plan for the Cubango, Cuito and Cuando Rivers, Angola – Kavango Zambezi (KAZA) TFCA

Recently Completed Projects (2020-23)

  1. WWF-Zambia and WWF-US: Freshwater conservation planning to highlight aquatic areas of ecological importance as inputs into surface water resource protection areas in Zambia;
  2. JNCC ‘Reducing Pollution through Partnership in South Africa’ programme (2021-2022); researcher and lead author on report ‘An appraisal of impacts from major pollution types on inland biodiversity for South Africa’ (https://hub.jncc.gov.uk/assets/bd078383-adb7-4fd4-a3ed-5c90fe67a477)

Hobbies and Interests

Reading, especially detective stories

Model railways

South African history, through the lens of stamps and coins

Mechanical timepieces – clocks and watches

Five recent publications

  • Rivers-Moore, N.A. and Dallas, H.F. (2022) A spatial freshwater thermal resilience landscape for informing conservation planning and climate change adaptation strategies. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 32(5): 832-842, DOI 1002/AQC.3812.
  • Rivers-Moore, N.A., Ramulifho, P.A. and Foord, S.H. (2021). Baetid abundances are a rapid indicator of thermal stress and riparian zone intactness. Journal of Thermal Biology, Volume 102, 103125, ISSN 0306-4565, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2021.103125.
  • Rivers-Moore, N.A., Paxton, B. Chivava, F., Katiyo, L., Phiri, H., Katongo, C. and others (2021). Aquatic areas of ecological importance as inputs into surface water resource protection areas in Zambia. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 31(8): 1983-1997; DOI: 10.1002/aqc.3604.
  • Rivers-Moore, N.A. and de Moor, F.C. (2021) Climate-linked freshwater habitat change will have cost implications: Pest blackfly outbreaks in two linked South African rivers. River Research and Applications 37: 387-398.
  • Rivers-Moore, N.A. and de Moor F.C. (2021). Longitudinal species turnover rates are predictable and should guide location of sampling sites for South African river surveys to assess aquatic biodiversity. African Journal of Aquatic Science 46(1): 45-53. https://doi.org/10.2989/16085914.2020.1800442.