Position: Professor
Phone: (035)902-6741
Email: VivierL (at) unizulu.ac.za
Building &Room: K201, Zoology Building, KwaDlangezwa Campus
Biography:
Prof Leon Vivier is the Head of Department of Zoology. He has 28 years of experience in lecturing Zoology and associated disciplines, with research interests focusing on coastal community ecology (rivers, estuaries and coastal lakes). Lectures Anatomy and Physiology, Freshwater and Estuarine ecology, Research Methodology and Ecotoxicology at undergraduate level since 1992. Supervises postgraduate studies at honours, MSc and PhD level.
Lecture ‘s the following modules:
- 4ZOL121 (Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology 1)
- 4ZOL122 (Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology 2)
- 4ZOL311 (Animal Ecology 1)
- 4ZOL322 (Research Design and Application)
Qualifications:
PhD (University of Zululand) and MSc (University of Pretoria)
Research interests:
Prof Leon Vivier interest focuses on the community ecology of northern KZN estuaries, coastal lakes and rivers, specializing on macrobenthos, fish, water quality and ecotoxicology. Current research includes community ecology of estuarine zoobenthos and fish and sediment toxicity for the nearshore marine and estuarine environment. Research in the Zoology department focuses on the ecology of numerous important Zululand estuarine systems, notably Lake St Lucia, Richards Bay Harbour, Mhlathuze Estuary and the Mlalazi Estuary.He has participated in many collaborative research projects e.g. community biotic studies of Richards Bay Harbour and adjacent estuarine and wetland areas, Environmental Reserve for Zululand Coastal Lakes and Estuaries, Environmental Flow Assessments for Rivers, Design and monitoring of fishways in KZN, Ecostatus of the riverine systems such as the Phongolo River floodplain. He has supervised post-graduate students since 1992.