Caswell Munyai | Ecology | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Caswell Munyai | Ecology | Best Researcher Award

Senior Lecturer at University of KwaZulu-Natal | South Africa

Dr. Caswell Munyai is a distinguished South African entomologist and academic whose expertise bridges biodiversity research, ecological education, and science communication. He is an Honorary Researcher at the University of the Witwatersrand and a Senior Lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. His work is rooted in macroecology, myrmecology, community ecology, and the sustainable management of invertebrate resources. A passionate educator, he has guided numerous postgraduate students to successful completion, fostering the next generation of scientists. Beyond academia, Dr. Munyai is dedicated to public engagement, contributing to nature documentaries such as Namuli and the Netflix impact feature Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey, which translate complex ecological science into compelling storytelling. His professional service includes leadership roles in academic societies, editorial activities, and national research funding panels. As a National Research Foundation–rated scientist and participant in the prestigious Future Professors Programme, Dr. Munyai exemplifies academic excellence, leadership, and innovation. His career demonstrates a commitment to advancing scientific knowledge while making it accessible and relevant to society, with a focus on conserving biodiversity and addressing the ecological challenges posed by invasive species, habitat change, and climate impacts.

Publication Profile

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Education

Dr. Munyai holds a comprehensive academic background in environmental sciences, ecology, and resource management. His undergraduate training established a strong foundation in environmental science, followed by advanced specialization in ecology and resource management. His postgraduate studies expanded into macroecology and myrmecology, enabling him to develop deep expertise in ant ecology, biogeography, and ecosystem dynamics. His master’s research integrated large-scale ecological patterns with species-level behavioral insights, while his doctoral work advanced understanding of macroecological processes in invertebrate communities, particularly ants. Through these qualifications, he acquired a blend of theoretical knowledge, quantitative analysis skills, and field-based research experience. His educational journey also included competitive research placements, where he engaged with leading international scientists, refined laboratory and field methodologies, and developed strong collaborative networks. This multidisciplinary training has equipped him with the ability to address ecological questions from multiple perspectives, integrating biodiversity monitoring, species interactions, and conservation strategies. His academic formation reflects a dedication to bridging the gap between field observations and broader ecological theory, producing research that not only advances scientific understanding but also informs environmental management, conservation policy, and sustainable use of biodiversity resources in complex and changing ecosystems.

Professional Experience

Dr. Munyai’s professional career spans academic teaching, research leadership, and service to the scientific community at both national and international levels. As a senior faculty member in the School of Life Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, he teaches and coordinates undergraduate and postgraduate modules, supervises postgraduate research, and contributes to academic administration. He has held leadership roles such as Postgraduate Committee Coordinator, facilitating seminars, workshops, and research skills training. His experience also includes teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and international field instruction in biodiversity-rich environments, notably contributing to specialist ant courses in Africa. Dr. Munyai serves as an external examiner for numerous South African universities and has assessed both master’s dissertations and doctoral theses. He is actively involved in the governance of his institution through participation in examination boards, curriculum moderation, and faculty committees. Beyond academia, he plays a key role in national research evaluation processes, chairing funding panels and reviewing grant applications for the National Research Foundation and other funding bodies. His professional trajectory reflects a balance between high-quality research, committed teaching, and substantial academic service, positioning him as an influential figure in the advancement of ecological sciences in southern Africa.

Research Interest

Dr. Munyai’s research interests lie at the intersection of entomology, macroecology, and conservation biology, with a strong focus on myrmecology—the study of ants. His work examines biodiversity patterns, species interactions, and ecosystem functioning, particularly in the context of environmental change. He investigates the impacts of alien invasive plants and invertebrates on native biodiversity, as well as the potential for integrated pest management strategies to mitigate these effects. His studies extend to entomophagy, exploring the ecological, cultural, and economic implications of insect consumption. Community ecology is central to his research, providing insights into species distribution, habitat preferences, and the role of invertebrates in ecological resilience. He is especially interested in macroecological approaches that integrate large-scale biogeographic data with local ecological processes. Through his field and laboratory research, he addresses pressing conservation challenges, including habitat loss, climate change, and invasive species management. His work contributes not only to the theoretical understanding of biodiversity patterns but also to the development of applied conservation and management strategies that benefit both ecosystems and human communities, particularly in biodiversity-rich but ecologically vulnerable regions.

Research Skills

Dr. Munyai possesses a versatile and advanced skill set encompassing field ecology, taxonomic identification, ecological data analysis, and science communication. He is an expert in sampling, identifying, and cataloguing invertebrate species, particularly ants, using both classical taxonomy and modern analytical tools. His macroecological expertise includes spatial modeling, biodiversity assessment, and statistical analysis of ecological datasets. He is skilled in designing and executing field surveys across diverse habitats, from savannas to montane forests, ensuring rigorous data collection for both short-term studies and long-term monitoring programs. His research incorporates experimental approaches to assess ecological interactions, invasive species dynamics, and biological control measures. In the realm of applied ecology, he develops strategies for integrated pest management and sustainable resource use. Dr. Munyai is also experienced in supervising research teams, mentoring postgraduate students, and coordinating multi-institutional projects. His strong peer-review record demonstrates his critical evaluation skills and engagement with cutting-edge scientific literature. Complementing his technical abilities, he excels in science communication, using publications, conferences, and media—including documentaries—to disseminate research findings to both scientific audiences and the broader public.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Munyai is a National Research Foundation Y2-rated scientist, recognized for his significant contributions to ecological research and potential for future leadership in his field. His selection for the Future Professors Programme reflects his standing as an emerging academic leader with the capacity to shape the future of higher education and research in South Africa. In addition to these distinctions, he serves as Deputy President of the Southern African Entomological Society, a role that underscores his leadership and influence within the entomological community. His expertise is further acknowledged through invitations to chair prestigious research funding panels, assess research proposals, and evaluate academic theses across multiple institutions. He has been entrusted with guiding national research priorities in agricultural sciences, biodiversity, and sustainability, demonstrating the high level of confidence placed in his judgment and expertise. These honors not only reflect his research achievements but also his dedication to building scientific capacity, fostering collaboration, and promoting biodiversity conservation. His blend of academic excellence, leadership roles, and service contributions positions him among the most respected and influential figures in his discipline.

Author Metrics

  • Citations: 1,325+

  • h-index: 16

  • i10-index: 23

Publications Top Notes

1. GlobalAnts: a new database on the geography of ant traits (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Citations: 186
Year: 2017

2. Ant assemblages have darker and larger members in cold environments
Citations: 153
Year: 2016

3. Nutritional composition of edible insects consumed in Africa: A systematic review
Citations: 137
Year: 2020

4. Indigenous knowledge about consumption of edible insects in South Africa
Citations: 125
Year: 2020

5. Climate mediates the effects of disturbance on ant assemblage structure
Citations: 101
Year: 2015

6. Ants on a mountain: spatial, environmental and habitat associations along an altitudinal transect in a centre of endemism
Citations: 79
Year: 2011

7. Changes in land use alter ant diversity, assemblage composition and dominant functional groups in African savannas
Citations: 63
Year: 2018

8. A global database of ant species abundances
Citations: 53
Year: 2017

9. Dominance–diversity relationships in ant communities differ with invasion
Citations: 48
Year: 2018

10. Temporal patterns of ant diversity across a mountain with climatically contrasting aspects in the tropics of Africa
Citations: 45
Year: 2015

Conclusion

Dr. Caswell Munyai exemplifies the integration of scientific excellence, educational leadership, and public engagement. His career is characterized by a commitment to advancing knowledge in entomology, macroecology, and conservation while ensuring that research outcomes have tangible benefits for biodiversity management and community awareness. As an educator, he has cultivated a strong record of student supervision, producing graduates who contribute to science and society. As a researcher, his work addresses urgent environmental challenges, from invasive species to climate impacts, using both theoretical frameworks and practical solutions. His leadership in scientific societies, research funding bodies, and academic governance highlights his influence in shaping the future of ecological science in South Africa and beyond. Through his involvement in documentaries and public outreach, he bridges the gap between science and the public, inspiring appreciation and stewardship of the natural world. Dr. Munyai’s career trajectory reflects a rare combination of scholarly depth, collaborative spirit, and dedication to conservation advocacy, making him a driving force in both academic and societal efforts to safeguard biodiversity for future generations.

 

Sandra Hervías-Parejo | Ecology | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Sandra Hervías-Parejo | Ecology | Best Researcher Award

Postdoctoral Researcher at Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies(UIB-CSIC), Spain.

Dr. Sandra Hervías-Parejo is a leading island ecologist with expertise in biotic interactions, food webs, and the role of keystone species in ecosystem functioning. Her work focuses on how global change and invasive alien species alter ecological complexity and resilience, particularly in fragile island systems. Dr. Hervías-Parejo has pioneered multilayer ecological network frameworks that reveal the cascading effects of species loss. She integrates empirical fieldwork, mathematical modeling, and long-term ecological data to address biodiversity conservation challenges. With a research footprint across the Galapagos, Seychelles, Canaries, Tierra del Fuego, and Svalbard, she brings global insight into local conservation actions. Her landmark contributions include quantifying the role of missing data in multilayer network robustness, advancing the theory of “function keystoneness,” and integrating multilayer food web analysis into island biogeography. Dr. Hervías-Parejo has published 45 ISI-indexed articles, 93% in Q1 journals, and her studies have been cited over 675 times, earning her a Google Scholar H-index of 22. She is a frequent contributor to policy-related reports, international conferences, and top-tier academic journals. Her research aligns with global sustainability goals, especially those targeting biodiversity protection and climate action. With a strong leadership profile, she continues to mentor the next generation of ecologists and conservationists.

Publication Profile

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Education

Dr. Hervías-Parejo’s academic background reflects a deep and sustained commitment to ecological science and conservation. She earned her PhD in Ecology from the University of Murcia, Spain, in 2014, following years of field and theoretical research in ecological interactions and conservation biology. Her doctoral training built upon a prior Master’s degree in Invasive Species Management (2009), also at the University of Murcia, where she developed a keen interest in the ecological impacts of non-native species. Earlier, she completed a Certificate in Teaching Skills from the University of Granada (2006), supporting her pedagogical development and future teaching roles. Her academic journey began with a Degree in Biology (2004), which she undertook jointly at the University of Granada and the University of La Laguna in Tenerife—giving her first-hand exposure to island ecosystems that would become central to her career. This strong educational foundation, blending ecological theory, teaching methodologies, and applied conservation management, laid the groundwork for her later groundbreaking research on keystone species, food web networks, and ecosystem restoration. Her academic progression demonstrates a consistent focus on the interface between ecological science and real-world environmental challenges, particularly within vulnerable and complex island systems.

Professional Experience

Dr. Hervías-Parejo currently holds the position of Interim Substitute Professor in the Department of Botany at the University of Granada, Spain, a role she began on May 9, 2025. Her professional journey has been dynamic and internationally engaged, marked by high-impact postdoctoral appointments. From November 2022 to May 2025, she worked on a prestigious ERC Advanced Grant, which she left upon securing her current teaching role. Prior to that, from August 2020 to July 2022, she held a Vicenç Mut Postdoctoral Fellowship funded by the Government of the Balearic Islands (CAIB). Between 2018 and 2020, she contributed as a postdoctoral researcher at IMEDEA (Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies) in Spain. Her earlier international experience includes a postdoctoral position at the Charles Darwin Research Station in the Galapagos (2016–2017), where she gained critical insights into island ecology and conservation management. Throughout these roles, she contributed to and led major research efforts on biodiversity loss, network ecology, and conservation interventions. Her professional path illustrates a consistent evolution toward academic leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration, and impactful scientific inquiry across world-renowned ecological institutions.

Research Interest

Dr. Hervías-Parejo’s research interests center on the ecology of island systems, with a strong emphasis on biotic interactions, ecosystem restoration, and the effects of global environmental change. She specializes in food web theory, functional traits, and multilayer ecological networks, especially in the context of invasive species and keystone species dynamics. A defining theme of her work is understanding how species loss and ecological simplification affect biodiversity and function in fragile ecosystems. Her scientific curiosity extends to quantitative ecology, ecological modeling, and the application of multilayer networks to track and predict changes in community structure. Her fieldwork spans iconic archipelagos such as the Galapagos, Seychelles, Canary Islands, Svalbard, and Tierra del Fuego. In these systems, she investigates species hierarchies, pollination effectiveness, and avian-seabird ecology, linking fundamental research to conservation outcomes. Her interests also encompass human-mediated disturbances, particularly the role of alien species and the mechanisms by which they alter ecosystem resilience. These interdisciplinary and globally-relevant research topics underpin her contributions to environmental policy, ecological forecasting, and sustainable management strategies that aim to protect biodiversity amid escalating climate and anthropogenic pressures.

Research Skills

Dr. Hervías-Parejo possesses a comprehensive suite of research skills spanning empirical fieldwork, theoretical ecology, and quantitative modeling. She is a recognized innovator in the development and application of multilayer ecological networks, having pioneered methodologies to estimate interlayer edge weights, integrate spatiotemporal variability, and assess function keystoneness. Her technical toolkit includes network analysis, biodiversity metrics, statistical modeling, and ecological informatics, as well as proficiency in GIS-based habitat mapping and bioacoustics monitoring—notably for estimating populations of burrowing seabirds. She has also contributed novel insights into plant–pollinator networks, species interaction strength, and dietary analysis of invasive predators using ecological and statistical tools. Equally strong in field ecology, Dr. Hervías-Parejo has led biodiversity surveys, species monitoring programs, and ecological restoration assessments in remote and logistically challenging island environments. In the lab and office, she exhibits skill in data synthesis, hypothesis testing, and manuscript development, with a demonstrated ability to translate complex models into conservation applications. Her work is deeply collaborative, incorporating interdisciplinary tools to bridge the gap between fundamental science and practical conservation. These integrated research capabilities allow her to deliver high-impact insights on ecological resilience, species interactions, and restoration strategies.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Hervías-Parejo has achieved a remarkable track record in securing competitive research funding, totaling over €5.8 million, with more than €2.5 million acquired as principal investigator or lead coordinator. Her success includes prestigious programs such as the European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant, the Vicenç Mut Postdoctoral Fellowship, and other national and international funding bodies. These accomplishments reflect both scientific excellence and leadership in large, interdisciplinary teams. In recognition of her expertise, she has been invited as a reviewer for over 22 high-ranking SCI-indexed journals, including Nature Communications, Ecology Letters, Global Change Biology, and Journal of Applied Ecology. She also serves as an associate editor for Food Webs and the Management of Invasive Species Journal, and she is listed as a scientific expert in the Spanish State Research Agency’s Expert Collaborators Bank (BECA). Dr. Hervías-Parejo’s work has been featured in major policy-oriented publications and global media outlets such as Nature Portfolio. These accolades underscore her position as a thought leader in conservation science and affirm the societal relevance of her work, particularly in relation to the UN Sustainable Development Goals targeting biodiversity conservation and climate action.

Author Metrics

  • Total Citations: 679

  • h-index: 13

  • i10-index: 22

Publications Top Notes

1. Estimating population size of a nocturnal burrow-nesting seabird using acoustic monitoring and habitat mapping

  • Authors: S. Oppel, S. Hervías-Parejo, N. Oliveira, T. Pipa, C. Silva, P. Geraldes, M. Goh, et al.

  • Journal: Biodiversity Data Journal (Pensoft Publishers)

  • Year: 2014

  • Citations: 111

2. Assessing the impact of introduced cats on island biodiversity by combining dietary and movement analysis

  • Authors: S. Hervías, S. Oppel, F.M. Medina, T. Pipa, A. Díez, J.A. Ramos, et al.

  • Journal: Journal of Zoology

  • Year: 2013

  • Citations: 74

3. Studying the effects of multiple invasive mammals on Cory’s shearwater nest survival

  • Authors: S. Hervías, A. Henriques, N. Oliveira, T. Pipa, H. Cowen, J. Ramos, et al.

  • Journal: Biological Invasions

  • Year: 2012

  • Citations: 55

4. Spatial foraging segregation by close neighbours in a wide-ranging seabird

  • Authors: F.R. Ceia, V.H. Paiva, R.S. Ceia, S. Hervías, S. Garthe, J.C. Marques, et al.

  • Journal: Oecologia

  • Year: 2015

  • Citations: 46

5. Species functional traits and abundance as drivers of multiplex ecological networks: first empirical quantification of inter-layer edge weights

  • Authors: S. Hervías-Parejo, C. Tur, R. Heleno, M. Nogales, S. Timóteo, A. Traveset

  • Journal: Proceedings of the Royal Society 

  • Year: 2020

  • Citations: 35

6. Pollination effectiveness of opportunistic Galápagos birds compared to that of insects: From fruit set to seedling emergence

  • Authors: S. Hervías-Parejo, A. Traveset

  • Journal: American Journal of Botany

  • Year: 2018

  • Citations: 33

7. Throwing the baby out with the bathwater: does laurel forest restoration remove a critical winter food supply for the critically endangered Azores bullfinch?

  • Authors: R.S. Ceia, H.L. Sampaio, S.H. Parejo, R.H. Heleno, M.L. Arosa, J.A. Ramos, et al.

  • Journal: Biological Invasions

  • Year: 2011

  • Citations: 30

8. Tripartite networks show that keystone species can multitask

  • Authors: S. Timóteo, J. Albrecht, B. Rumeu, A.C. Norte, A. Traveset, C.M. Frost, et al.

  • Journal: Functional Ecology

  • Year: 2023

  • Citations: 24

9. Small size does not restrain frugivory and seed dispersal across the evolutionary radiation of Galápagos lava lizards

  • Authors: S. Hervías-Parejo, R. Heleno, B. Rumeu, B. Guzmán, P. Vargas, J.M. Olesen, et al.

  • Journal: Current Zoology

  • Year: 2019

  • Citations: 22

10. Dispersal of fern spores by Galápagos finches

  • Authors: S. Hervías-Parejo, J.M. Olesen, M. Nogales, A. Traveset, R. Heleno

  • Journal: Journal of Ornithology

  • Year: 2019

  • Citations: 16

Conclusion

Dr. Sandra Hervías-Parejo exemplifies a new generation of ecologists who combine theoretical innovation, field-based insight, and policy relevance. Her work advances the scientific frontier in island ecology, multilayer networks, and ecosystem resilience, while directly informing strategies for restoration and biodiversity protection. With extensive experience across renowned ecological hotspots and strong ties to global research networks, she operates at the intersection of ecological science and real-world conservation impact. Her publications, citations, editorial work, and international collaborations demonstrate a sustained commitment to excellence and leadership in environmental science. Notably, she maintains a consistent focus on training young scientists, fostering careers in academia, NGOs, and the environmental sector. Through her methodological breakthroughs, field innovations, and ability to frame local findings within global contexts, she has significantly contributed to our understanding of species interactions and ecological stability in the Anthropocene. Her integrated, interdisciplinary approach not only enhances ecological knowledge but also strengthens the practical capacity of society to address biodiversity loss and climate challenges. Dr. Hervías-Parejo’s profile reflects a balance of scientific rigor, creative inquiry, and collaborative spirit—qualities that position her among the foremost voices in contemporary ecology.