Sandra MacFadyen (Postdoctoral fellow, Stellenbosch University)
Host: Prof. Cang Hui (Stellenbosch University)
Biography
Sandra MacFadyen is a postdoctoral researcher and landscape ecologist interested in macroscale ecosystem dynamics, with an emphasis on applied spatial statistics for biodiversity conservation. Having spent over 20 years living and working in the Kruger National Park, South Africa, she is intrigued by the complex and adaptive nature of ecosystems and the complexity therein.
Research
Based in the Kruger National Park, South Africa, her research interests focus on exploring the links between ecological patterns and processes to develop a more holistic understanding of ecosystem dynamics in large protected areas. Her current and medium-term goals are to develop and encourage the use of novel mathematical models to answer important ecological questions.
Contact
Telephone: +27(013) 735 5721
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net
Selected Publications
MacFadyen, S., Hui, C., Verburg, P.H. & Van Teeffelen, A.J.A. (2019). Spatiotemporal distribution dynamics of elephants in response to density, rainfall, rivers and fire in Kruger National Park, South Africa. Diversity and Distributions, 00: 1–15.
MacFadyen, S., Zambatis, N., Van Teeffelen, A.J.A. & Hui, C. (2018). Long-term rainfall regression surfaces for the Kruger National Park, South Africa: A spatio-temporal review of patterns from 1981-2015. International Journal of Climatology, 38.5: 2506-2519.
Foxcroft, L.C., Pyšek, P., Richardson, D.M., Genovesi, P. & MacFadyen, S. (2017). Plant invasion science in protected areas: progress and priorities. Biological Invasions. 19: 1353-1378.
MacFadyen, S., Hui,C., Verburg, P.H. & Van Teeffelen, A.J.A. (2016). Quantifying spatiotemporal drivers of environmental heterogeneity in Kruger National Park, South Africa. Landscape Ecology,31.9: 2013-2029.
Smit, I.P.J., Smit, C.F., Govender, N., van der Linde, M. & MacFadyen, S.(2013). Rainfall, geology and landscape position generate large-scale spatiotemporal fire pattern heterogeneity in an African savanna. Ecography,36.4: 447-459.