Robin Petersen
Scientist: Water Resources, Garden Route & Frontier Research Unit
Education
- MSc (Geo-hydrology), 2012, University of the Western Cape
- SANParks Junior Scientist Programme Graduate, 2012
- BSc Honours (Environmental and Water Science), 2008, University of the Western Cape
- BSc, 2007, University of the Western Cape
Research Focus and Interest
I have postgraduate training in earth sciences and geo-hydrology, with 10 years’ experience in water resources management and protection.
I am responsible for the implementation of the Integrated Water Resources Management and Aquatic Ecosystems and Groundwater Research programmes for inland ecosystems of the South African National Parks. I contribute to the solicitation and implementation of collaborative water resources management and protection projects to generate new knowledge, build networks and improve sustainable water resource use and protection. I provide knowledge translation and integration by making sense of a diversity of monitoring and research findings and aids in articulating and highlighting its relevance to aquatic conservation management, practice and policy.
As a specialist scientist my vision is to contribute strategic planning and reporting initiatives and the implementation of regional and/or thematic research and planning mechanisms for the benefits of our water resources and the vulnerable human communities who depend on them.
Publications
Journal Articles
Riddell, E.S., Govender, D., Botha, J., Sithole, H., Petersen, R.M. and Shikwambana, P., 2019. Pollution impacts on the aquatic ecosystems of the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Scientific African, 6, p.e00195.
O’Brien G.C., Ross, M., B, Hanzen C, Vuyisile Dlamini A, Petersen, R., Diedericks, G.J., Burnett, M.J., 2019. ‘River connectivity and fish migration considerations in the management of multiple stressors in South Africa’. Marine and Freshwater Research https://doi.org/10.1071/MF19183
Reinwarth, B., Petersen, R., Baade, B., 2018. ‘Inferring mean rates of sediment yield and catchment erosion from reservoir siltation in the Kruger National Park, South Africa: An uncertainty assessment’, Geomorphology
Petersen, R.M., Hoffman, A.C., Kotze, P. & Marr, S.M., 2017, ‘First record of the invasive Australian redclaw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus (von Martens, 1868) in the Crocodile River, Kruger National Park, South Africa’, Koedoe 59(1), a1435. https:// doi.org/10.4102/koedoe. v59i1.1435
Smit, I.P.J., Riddell, E.S., Cullum, C. and Petersen, R. (2013). Kruger National Park research supersites: Establishing long-term research sites for cross-disciplinary, multiscaled learning. Koedoe 55(1): Art. #1107, 7 pages. v55i1.1107
Book or Book Chapters
O’Brien, G.C., M. Burnett & R. Petersen, 2018. Rivers of the Kruger National Park in a sea of dams. pp 38-39. From Sea to Source 2.0. Protection and restoration of fish migration in rivers worldwide.
O’Brien, G.C., M. Burnett & R. Petersen, 2018. Tiger fish of (Hydrocynus vittatus) of the Sabie River. pp 308-309. From Sea to Source 2.0. Protection and restoration of fish migration in rivers worldwide.
Petersen, R., N. Govender & S. Midzi, 2018. Dam removals in South Africa. pp 204.From Sea to Source 2.0. Protection and restoration of fish migration in rivers worldwide.
Technical and Scientific Reports
Roux, D., Russell, I., Nel, J., Van Niekerk, L., Oosthuizen, A., Holness, S., Barendse, J., Bradshaw, P., Sink, K., Biggs, H., Dopolo, M., Petersen, R., Cruywagen, K. and Fisher, R. (2013). SANParks Global Environmental Change Assessment: Aquatic Ecosystems. Scientific Report 01/2013. South African National Parks, Skukuza.
Petersen, R., Ellis, G. and Strydom, T. (2012). Baseline survey of groundwater levels in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (Kalahari Gemsbok National Park). Technical report. South African National Parks, Skukuza. 13 pages
Petersen, R. and Ellis, G. (2012). Groundwater quality report for the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (Kalahari Gemsbok National Park). Technical report. South African National Parks, Skukuza. 22 pp.
Petersen, R. and Strydom, T. (2012). Fish deaths along the Sabie River at Kruger Park Lodge. Technical report. South African National Parks, Skukuza. 7 pp.
Petersen, R. (2012). A conceptual understanding of groundwater recharge processes and surface- water/groundwater interactions in the Kruger NP. Thesis. University of the Western Cape, Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa.