Research interests
My primary research focus is on fish conservation and alien fish invasions. The research is multidisciplinary and focuses not only on describing natural systems and processes but also incorporates research on understanding how humans alter and benefit from aquatic systems. It includes assessments of the distribution and impacts of alien fishes in aquatic ecosystems ranging from headwater streams in the Eastern Cape to estuarine Lakes in the Wilderness National Park; biological and ecological investigations on fishes in both invaded and natural environments; assessments of fisheries based on indigenous and alien fishes and, more recently the role that alien fishes play in subsistence and recreational fisheries in South Africa and other African countries.
Current students and associates
PhD students
- B.R. Ellender (Rhodes Univ.)
- Jose Halafo (Rhodes Univ.)
- A. Bulirani (junior co-supervisor, Bunda College, Univ. Malawi)
- R. Jones (junior co-supervisor, Rhodes Univ.)
MSc students
- R. Peel (Univ. Namibia)
- A. Olds (Rhodes Univ.)
- T. Bokhutlo (Rhodes Univ.)
- H.C. Newcombe (Rhodes Univ.)
- E. Simasiku (Rhodes Univ.)
Post doctoral associates
- Dr D Woodford
Past students
PhD students
- Henning Winker 2007-2010 (Rhodes Univ.)
MSc students
- R. Wasserman 2009-2010 (Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University)
- M. Ramoejane 2008-2010 (Rhodes Univ.)
- V.G. Mthombeni 2007-2009 (Rhodes Univ.)
- B. Donovan 2006-2010 (Rhodes Univ.)
- G.R.L. Traas 2008-2009 (Rhodes Univ.)
- B.R. Ellender 2008-2009 (Rhodes Univ.)
- G.Z. Kanyerere 2003-2004 (Rhodes Univ.)
Publications
- Booth AJ, Traas GRL, Weyl OLF (2010) Adult African sharptooth catfish, Clarias gariepinus, population dynamics in a small invaded warm-temperate impoundment. Africa Zoology 45(2): 299-308.
- Winker H, Weyl OLF, Booth AJ, Ellender BR (2010) Validating and corroborating the deposition of two annual growth zones in asteriscus otoliths of common carp Cyprinus carpio from South Africa’s largest impoundment. Journal of Fish Biology 77, 2210–2228, doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.2010.02797.x
- Weyl PSR, DeMoor FC, Hill MP, Weyl OLF (2010) The effect of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides on aquatic macroinvertebrate communities in the Wit River, Eastern Cape, South Africa. African Journal of Aquatic Science. 35(4): 273-282.
- Weyl OLF, Ribbink AJ, Tweddle D (2010) Lake Malawi: fishes, fisheries, biodiversity, health and habitat, Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management, 13: 3, 241 — 254. DOI: 10.1080/14634988.2010.504695
- Winker H, Ellender B, Weyl OLF, Booth AJ (2010) Validation of growth zone deposition in otoliths of two large endemic cyprinids in Lake Gariep, South Africa. African Zoology 45(1): 133-138.
- Ellender BR, Weyl OLF, Winker H, Booth AJ (2010) Quantifying the annual fish harvest from South Africa's largest freshwater reservoir. Water SA 36(1) 45-51.
- Ellender BR, Weyl OLF, Winker H, Stelzhammer H, Traas GRL (2010) Estimating angling effort and participation in a multi-user, inland fishery in South Africa. Fisheries Management and Ecology 17(1): 19-27, doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2400.2009.00708.x
- Ellender BR, Weyl OLF, Winker H (2009). Who uses the fisheries resources in South Africa's largest impoundment? Characterising subsistence and recreational fishing sectors on Lake Gariep. Water SA 35(5): 677-682.
- Filmalter JD, Weyl OLF, Sauer WH (2009) Otoliths and vertebrae as potential hard structures for ageing South African yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares. African Journal of Marine Science 2009, 31(2): 271–276.
- Richardson TJ, Booth AJ, Weyl OLF (2009) Rapid assessment of the fishery potential of Xonxa Dam near Queenstown, South Africa. African Journal of Aquatic Science. 34(1): 87-96.
- Weyl OLF, Stadtlander T, Booth AJ (2009) Establishment of translocated populations of smallmouth yellowfish, Labeobarbus aeneus (Pisces: Cyprinidae) in lentic and lotic habitats within the Great Fish River system, South Africa. African Zoology 44, 93-105.
- Ellender BR, Weyl OLF, Shanyengange M.K., Cowley PD (2008) Juvenile population dynamics of Oreochromis mossambicus in an intermittently open estuary at the limit of its natural distribution. African Zoology 43(2):277-283.
- Weyl, O.L.F., Booth, A.J. (2008) Validation of annulus formation in otoliths of a temperate population of adult African sharptooth catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) using fluorochrome marking of wild fish. Journal of Fish Biology 73(4): 1033-1038. DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8649.2008.01975.x
- Weyl OLF (2008) Rapid invasion of a subtropical lake fishery in central Mozambique by Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Pisces: Cichlidae). Aquatic Conservation Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. 18: 839-851. DOI:10.1002/aqc.897
- Booth A.J., Weyl, O.L.F. (2008) Retention of T-bar anchor and dart tags in a wild population of African sharptooth catfish, Clarias gariepinus. Fisheries Research 92: 333-339.
- Whitehead A, Weyl OLF & Bills R (2007) Reproductive and feeding biology of the endangered fiery redfin, Pseudobarbus phlegethon (Barnard, 1938) (Teleostei: Cyprinidae), in the Noordhoeks River, South Africa. African Journal of Aquatic Science, 32(3): 99-111. doi: 10.2989/AJAS.2007.32.3.8.307
- Weyl OLF, Potts W, Britz P, & Rouhani Q. (2007) The need for inland fisheries policy in South Africa: a case study of the North West Province. Water SA. 33(4): 497-504.
- Weyl O.L.F. & Lewis H. (2006) First record of predation by the alien invasive freshwater fish Micropterus salmoides L. (Centrarchidae) on migrating estuarine fishes in South Africa. African Zoology 41(2): 294-296.
- Kanyerere, G.Z., Weyl, O.L.F. and Booth, A.J. (2005). Management advice for Diplotaxodon limnothrissa in the southeast arm of Lake Malawi, based on per-recruit analysis. African Journal of Aquatic Science 30(2) 141-145.
- Weyl, O.L.F., Nyasulu, T. & Rusuwa, B. (2005) Assessment of catch, effort and species changes in the pair trawl fishery of southern Lake Malawi, Malawi, Africa. Fisheries Management and Ecology 12: 395-402.
- Kanyerere, G.Z., Weyl, O.L.F. and Booth, A.J. (2005) Growth, reproduction and population structure of Diplotaxodon limnothrissa in the southeast arm of Lake Malawi. African Journal of Aquatic Science. 30(1): 37–44.
- Weyl O.L.F., Booth, A.J., Mwakiyongo K.R and Mandere D.S. (2005) Management recommendations for Copadichromis chrysonotus (PISCES: Cichlidae) in Lake Malombe, Malawi, based on per-recruit analysis. Fisheries Research 71: 165-173.
- Weyl OLF, Kazembe J, Booth AJ & Mandere, DS (2004) An assessment of a light attraction fishery in southern Lake Malawi. African Journal of Aquatic Science 29(1): 1-11.
- Weyl, OLF, Mwakiyongo K.R and Mandere D.S. (2004) An assessment of the nkacha net fishery of Lake Malombe, Malawi. African Journal of Aquatic Science. 29(1): 47-55.
- Booth, A.J & Weyl, O.L.F. (2004) Investigations into a potential directed fishery for Labeo cylindricus in Lake Chicamba, Mozambique. African Zoology. 39(1): 77-90.
- Bills, R & O.L.F. Weyl (2002). A new Chetia (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from the Lecitu River, Buzi system, Mozambique. JLB Smith Institute, Special Publication 1: 1-11.
- Booth, A. J. & Weyl, O.L.F. 2000. Histological validation of macroscopic staging criteria for Labeo cylindricus (Pisces: Cyprinidae). Journal of African Zoology 35(2): 223-231.
- Weyl, O.L.F & Booth, A.J. 1999. On the life history of a Cyprinid fish Labeo cylindricus. Environmental Biology of Fishes. 55: 215-225.
- Weyl, O.L.F & Hecht, T. 1998. A successful population of largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, in a subtropical lake in Mozambique. Environmental Biology of Fishes. 54: 53 - 66.
- Weyl, O.L.F. & Hecht, T. 1998. The biology of Tilapia rendalli and Oreochromis mossambicus (Pisces: Cichlidae) in a subtropical lake in Mozambique. South African Journal of Zoology. 33(3):178 - 188.
- Weyl, O., Kaiser, H. & Hecht, T. 1996. Breath holding in tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus. South African Journal of Science. 92: 152-154.
- Weyl, O., Kaiser, H. & Hecht, T. 1996. On the efficacy and mode of action of 2-phenoxyethanol as an anaesthetic for goldfish, Carassius auratus (L.), at different temperatures and concentrations. Aquaculture Research. 27: 757-764.
- Kaiser, H., Weyl, O. & Hecht, T. 1995. Observations on agonistic behaviour in Clarias gariepinus larvae and juveniles, under different densities and feeding frequencies in a controlled environment. Journal of Applied Ichthyology. 11: 25-36.
- Kaiser, H., Weyl, O., & Hecht, T. 1995. The effect of socking density on growth, survival and agonistic behaviour of African catfish. Aquaculture International 3: 217-225.
Book chapters and conference proceedings
- Rensburg,B. J. van, Weyl, O.L.F., Davies, S. J., Wilgen, L. J. van, Peacock, D. S., Spear, D. & Chimimba, C. T. 2011. Chapter 15: Invasive Vertebrates of South Africa. In: Biological Invasions: Economic and Environmental Costs of Alien Plant, Animal, and Microbe Species. 2nd Edition. Pimentel, D. (Ed.), Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press. pp: 326-378.
- Richardson, D.M., Wilson, J.R.U., Weyl, O. and Griffiths, C.L. (2010). South Africa:Invasions. In: Encyclopedia of Biological Invasions. Simberloff, D. and Rejmánek, M. (eds.) University of California Press, pp. 643-651.
- Weyl OLF (2008) Lessons learnt from 10-years of co-management in Lake Malombe, Malawi Africa and their applicability to Sri Lanka’s perennial reservoirs. In: Wijeyaratne MJS & Amarasinghe US (eds) Participatory Approaches to Reservoir Fisheries management: Issues Challenges and Policies. Proceedings of the Symposium held on 03-06 October 2004, Dambulla, Sri Lanka. German Technical Technical Cooperation (GTZ) & Sri Lanka Association for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Colombo, Sri Lanka, ISBN 978-955-9044-61-1. pp 1-16.
- Weyl OLF, Booth AJ, Mwakiyongo K, Banda MM (2005) Per-recruit simulation as a rapid assessment tool for a multi-species small-scale fishery in Lake Malombe, Malawi, Africa. In: Fisheries assessment and management in data -limited situations. G.H. Kruse, V.F. Gallucci, D.E. Hay, R.I. Perry, R.M. Peterman, T.C. Shirley, P.D. Spencer, B. Wilson & D. Woodby (Eds). University of Alaska Sea Grant Program AK-SG-05-02. pp 235-254.
- Zwieten P.A.M. van, Njaya F. & Weyl O.L.F. 2003. Effort development and the decline of the fisheries of Lake Malombe: does environmental variability matter? pp: 132-164, In: E. Jul-Larsen, J. Kolding, R. Overå, J. Raakjær Nielsen & P.A.M. van Zwieten (eds) Management, co-management or no-management? Major dilemmas in southern African freshwater fisheries, FAO Fisheries Technical Paper 426/2. Rome, FAO. 266p.
