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Dr Tercia Strydom

Dr Tercia Strydom

Senior Manager: Systems Ecology , Savanna Research Unit

Location: Skukuza, Kruger National Park

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: +27 (0)13 735 4024

Introduction

Tercia joined Scientific Services in 2011 as a Junior Scientist before being appointed as the Abiotic Scientist in 2015. In 2024, she was appointed as the Senior Manager: Systems Ecology

Research Associate, Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences, University of the Free State

South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP) registration in Water Resources Science (Pri. Sci. Nat)

 

Education

  • PhD Soil Science ( University of the Free State,2024)
  • MSc Hydrology (University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2014)
  • BSc Hons Environmental and Water Sciences (University of the Western Cape, 2011)
  • BSc Environmental and Water Sciences (University of the Western Cape, 2010)

Research Focus and Interest

  • Soil hydrology
  • Fire ecology
  • Geohydrology

Publications

Journal Articles

ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9077-9446

Recent Publication (2023 to date)

  • Sánchez-García, C., Santín, C., Strydom, T., Otero, X. L., & Doerr, S. H. (2025). Burning poop: chemical composition and carbon dynamics of large herbivore dung burned in African savanna fires. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF WILDLAND FIRE, 34(3).
  • Reed, C. G., Budny, M. L., du Toit, J. T., Helcoski, R., Schimel, J. P., Smit, I. P., Strydom, T., … & Burkepile, D. E. (2025). Elephant megacarcasses increase local nutrient pools in African savanna soils and plants. BIOGEOSCIENCES, 22(6), 1583-1596.
  • Knowles, T., Stevens, N., Amoako, E. E., Armani, M., Barbosa, C., Beale, C.,… Strydom, T., …& Archibald, S. (2025). Viability and desirability of financing conservation in Africa through fire management. NATURE SUSTAINABILITY, 1-8.
  • Roberts, G., Wooster, M. J., & Strydom, T. (2025). Assessment and validation of Meteosat SEVIRI fire radiative power (FRP) retrievals over Kruger National Park. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED EARTH OBSERVATION AND GEOINFORMATION, 136, 104375.
  • Strydom, T., Smit, I. P., & van Tol, J. J. (2024). The effect of time since last fire occurrence on selected soil hydrological properties in a South African savanna. PLANT & SOIL, 1-13.
  • Mills, A. J., van Mazijk, R., Allen, J. L., & Strydom, T. (2024). Soil geochemistry and constraint of tree seedlings immediately after germination on Macrotermes termite mounds in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION, 14(5), e11348.
  • Strydom, T., Smit, I. P., & van Tol, J. J. (2024). Short and long-term fire effects on soil C and N in an African savanna. GEODERMA REGIONAL, 37, e00802.
  • Strydom, T., Smit, I. P., Govender, N., Coetsee, C., Singh, J., Davies, A. B., & van Wilgen, B. W. (2023). High‐intensity fires may have limited medium‐term effectiveness for reversing woody plant encroachment in an African savanna. JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, 60(4), 661-672.
  • Mills, A.J., Strydom, T., Allen, J.L. and Baum, J. (2023). Potential geochemical constraints on tree seedlings in northern Kruger National Park grasslands. KOEDOE, 65(1), p.1773. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/koedoe.v65i1.1773
  • Sanchez-Garcia, C., Santín, C., Neris, J., Sigmund, G., Otero, X. L., Manley, J., … Strydom, T., … & Doerr, S. H. (2023). Chemical characteristics of wildfire ash across the globe and their environmental and socio-economic implications. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL, 178, 108065.
  • Petersen, R. M., Nel, J. M., Strydom, T., Riddell, E., Coetsee, C., & February, E. (2023). The use of stable isotopes to identify surface water–groundwater interaction in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. WATER SA, 49(2), 96-102.
  • Coetsee, C., February, E. C., Wigley, B. J., Kleyn, L., Strydom, T., Hedin, L. O., … & Pellegrini, A. (2023). Soil organic carbon is buffered by grass inputs regardless of woody cover or fire frequency in an African savanna. JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, 111(11), 2483-2495.
  • Gold, Z. J., Pellegrini, A. F., Refsland, T. K., Andrioli, R. J., Bowles, M. L., Brockway, D. G., …Strydom, T., … & Staver, A. C. (2023). Herbaceous vegetation responses to experimental fire in savannas and forests depend on biome and climate. ECOLOGY LETTERS, 26(7), 1237-1246.
  • Lind, B., Strydom, T. and Hanan, N.P. (2023). Termite mound impacts on hydrology vary with herbaceous vegetation and topsoil texture. JOURNAL OF ARID ENVIRONMENTS, 216, p.104997, DOI: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2023.104997
  • Vernooij, R., Eames, T., Russell-Smith, J., Yates, C., Beatty, R., Evans, J., … Strydom, T.,… & Van der Werf, G. R. (2023). Dynamic savanna burning emission factors based on satellite data using a machine learning approach. EARTH SYSTEM DYNAMICS, 14(5), 1039-1064.

Technical and Scientific Reports

Riddell, E.S., Nel, J.M., Gokool, S., Jarmain, C., Raubenheimer, R., Strydom, T. and Swemmer, A. (2017). Quantification of Transmission Losses along the Letaba River. Report 2338/1/17. Water Research Commission, Pretoria, RSA. ISBN 978-1-4312-0931-6

Strydom, T., Rowe, T., Riddell, E., Govender, N. and Lorentz, S. (2014). Pyrohydrology in African Savannas. Report 2146/1/14. Water Research Commission, Pretoria, RSA. ISBN 978-1-4312-0585-1

Petersen, R.M., Ellis, G. and Strydom, T. (2012). Baseline survey of groundwater levels in the Kgalagadi Transfronteir Park (Kalahari Gemsbok National Park). Scientific Services, SANParks, Skukuza, South Africa.