Who we are

The C·I·B is an inter-institutional Centre of Excellence established in 2004 within the DST-NRF Centres of Excellence Programme. Its members undertake research on the biodiversity consequences of biological invasions, largely through post-graduate student training. The principal aims of the Centre's work are to reduce the rates and impacts of biological invasions by furthering scientific understanding and predictive capability, and by developing research capacity.

The C·I·B has its physical home at the University of Stellenbosch, but comprises a network of senior researchers and their associated postdoctoral associates and graduate students throughout South Africa. Find out more about us.

Highlighted Paper

The role of polyploidy in facilitating plant invasions

Fallopia bohemia is of Asian origin and represents one of the worst invaders in Central Europe

Much remains to be understood about why some introduced species become invasive whereas others do not. Recently, polyploidy (whole genome duplication) has been proposed as an important determinant of invasiveness in plants. Genome duplication has played a major role in the evolutionary history of angiosperms and can drastically alter a plant’s genetic make-up, morphology, physiology and ecology within only one or a few generations.

read article

Recently published book

Alien & Invasive Animals: A South African Perspective

by Mike Picker and Charles Griffiths

Front cover of Alien & Invasive Animals: A South African Perspective

While alien plants have been well publicised, this is the first book to be published on alien animals of Africa. It describes the history of each invasion, and the ecological and economic impacts in South Africa; and it discusses the effect of introduced biocontrol agents (usually insects), which are also alien species released deliberately to control problem plants.

View more information about this book

For Students

Photo: J. Shaw In support of our vision, we are offering bursaries to students who are studying towards an Honours, Masters or Doctoral degree in biodiversity, environmental sociology or invasion biology. Click on links to the left under “Student & Research support” to find out more about the support and bursaries that are on offer.

Events

Biological Invasion-Related Events

Going to a sub-Antarctic Island or other isolated site?

Please see this video for quarantine guidelines.

News
30 January 2012

Collembola, or springtails, are small (1-2 mm), primitive wingless invertebrates (Apterygotes) and are amongst the most abundant and widespread organisms in the world. They occur in all habitat types from the Arctic to the Antarctic…

16 January 2012

Say the word ‘bat’ and we think Dracula, vampires and blood. Rarely do we think of fruit bats chewing on juicy fruits and of the vital ecological services they provide while we sleep soundly at night.

14 December 2011

The Wilderness Lakes system, situated in the Western Cape of South Africa, forms a major component of the SANParks managed Garden Route National Park. The lakes and interconnecting channels are part of a RAMSAR site.

08 December 2011

Professor Brian Huntley, a Research Associate at the C·I·B, has just been honoured with the Edward T. La Roe III Memorial Award. The Award recognises the innovative application of science to resource management and policy.

Past C·I·B Events