From the small town of Estcourt in KwaZulu-Natal, Ms Asande Hadebe is breaking new ground as the first in her family to achieve multiple university degrees.
Having previously graduated cum laude for her honours degree, Hadebe has continued to excel academically, now earning herself a Master of Science (MSc) qualification in Entomology from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) for her dissertation titled: ‘The Effect of Stressors, Disturbance Regimes and Environmental Gradients on Riparian Arthropods: Implications for Management and Conservation’. She was supervised by Professor Caswell Munyai, Dr Sindiso Nkuna and Professor Rob Slotow.
Hadebe is currently working as an entomology intern at the South African Sugarcane Research Institute (SASRI), where she is involved in pest control research, bridging the gap between academic knowledge and real-world agricultural applications.
Her MSc research focused on riparian zones – an ecosystem found along rivers and streams, which are among the most threatened yet ecologically important environments.
“Riparian areas play a critical role in supporting biodiversity and maintaining ecosystem health, but they are increasingly under pressure from human activities and climate change,” said Radebe.
Her study systematically reviewed how environmental disturbances and stressors, such as flooding, invasive plant species and river engineering, affect terrestrial arthropods – an extremely diverse group of invertebrates characterised by segmented bodies, jointed limbs and a dorsal brain with a ventral nerve cord, for example, insects, crustaceans, and arachnids. It further examined how the biodiversity of arthropods responds to seasonal changes and increasing distance along and from riparian habitats into surrounding upland areas in the upper catchment area of the uMngeni River.
The findings revealed that riparian disturbances negatively affected arthropod biodiversity, although responses varied between taxa. At the local scale, her study found that ant and spider populations decreased as movement was made away from riparian zones, highlighting the importance of these habitats as biodiversity hotspots.
Hadebe’s research also identified strategies for conservation. “Protecting and restoring riparian zones requires maintaining habitat diversity, preserving natural vegetation and ensuring natural water flow,” she said. “These ecosystems are dynamic, and conservation efforts need to reflect that complexity.”
Beyond the academic contribution, Hadebe hopes that her work will inform conservation policies and sustainable land management practices, particularly in developing country contexts where such research is often limited.
Looking ahead, she plans to continue contributing to entomology and ecological research, with a focus on sustainable agriculture and biodiversity conservation.
Words: Sally Frost
Photograph: Sethu Dlamini