Program Overview

Introduction to the Conservation Biology Masters Program

The Conservation Biology Masters program is a postgraduate degree offered by the University of Cape Town.

Program Overview

The program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of conservation biology, including the principles of conservation, research methods, and practical applications.

Research Areas

The program covers a range of research areas, including:

• Understanding Biodiversity: Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology
  • Coevolutionary arms races in brood parasites and their hosts
  • The evolution, ecology and conservation of honeyguide-human mutualism
  • Cooperation and population dynamics in the Sociable Weaver
  • Pied Babblers
  • Sociable Weaver nests as a resource
  • Why do Afrotropical birds breed when they do?
  • Moult and migration
  • Threats, demography and mating systems of resident plovers
  • Evolution in island birds and the 'insularity' syndrome
• Maintaining Biodiversity: Species-Level Conservation
  • Impacts of power infrastructure
  • Conserving Martial Eagles
  • Vulture conservation
  • Southern Ground-Hornbill conservation
  • Conserving Southern Ocean seabirds
• Maintaining Biodiversity: Global Change
  • Hot Birds - Climate change and desert birds
  • Global change and urban birds
  • Understanding the ecological impacts of Pied Crows
  • Plastics in the environment
• Citizen Science
  • SAFRING
  • Southern African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP2)
  • CWAC, CAR and the VMs

Completed Research Programmes

The program has completed research in the following areas:

• Bird pollination in the Cape Floristic Region
• Shorebirds under threat
• Conserving Benguela endemic seabirds
• Conserving Verreaux's Eagles
• Conserving islands and their birds
• Detecting aliens from space
• Smart beaks: non-visual senses in birds
• Understanding colour polymorphism in birds
• Understanding urban raptor populations

Study and Research Opportunities

The program offers various study and research opportunities, including:

• Studying at the Fitz
• Prospective Students
• Conservation Biology MSc
  • Conservation Biology MSc: Overview
  • Details for Applicants

Alumni

The program has a list of alumni who have graduated with a Conservation Biology MSc degree, including:

• MSc CB: 2025
• MSc CB: 2024
• MSc CB: 2023
• MSc CB: 2022
• MSc CB: 2021
• MSc CB: 2020
• MSc CB: 2019
• MSc CB: 2018
• MSc CB: 2017
• MSc CB: 2016
• MSc CB: 2015
• MSc CB: 2014
• MSc CB: 2013
• MSc CB: 2012
• MSc CB: 2011
• MSc CB: 2010
• MSc CB: 2009
• MSc CB: 2008
• MSc CB: 2007
• MSc CB: 2006
• MSc CB: 2005
• MSc CB: 2004
• MSc CB: 2003
• MSc CB: 2002
• MSc CB: 2001
• MSc CB: 2000
• MSc CB: 1999
• MSc CB: 1998
• MSc CB: 1997
• MSc CB: 1996
• MSc CB: 1995
• MSc CB: 1994
• MSc CB: 1993

Current Students

The current students enrolled in the Conservation Biology Masters program for the years 2025/6, 2024/5, and 2023/4 are:

2025/6

• Sebastian Acevedo
• Lauryn Bull
• Kumbirai Chiro
• Emma Del Cuore
• Mieke Deyzel
• Maxime Gadeyne
• Tsholofelo Kohitlhetse
• Deborah Lanzi Mazzocchini
• Nkazimulo Lima
• Lemein Parmuntoro
• Emily Pernet
• Carolina Policarpo
• Prudence Tegueu Kemeni
• Niels Zwartjes

2024/5

• Catharina Caspers
• David Chapoloko
• Lara Howard
• Atalante Itzicsohn
• Dembo Jatta
• Clara Marincowitz
• Lesedi Moagi
• Keyura Pather
• Natalie Psillos
• Claude Schippers
• Jade Simoen
• Tanki Thubela

2023/4

• Tevin Adams
• Zoe Allouchery
• Abigail Campbell
• Alex Faria
• Mpho Havhi
• Wiro-Bless Kamboe
• Casper Morch
• Choolwe Mulenga
• Maggie Mwale
• Obakeng Pule
• Lawrence Steyn
• Wambui Waibochi
• Robi Watkinson