Dr Chantel Elston
Research Interests:
The distribution patterns and spatial ecology of selected batoids along the South African coastline.
Position: Postdoctoral researcher: South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity; Research Associate: Rhodes University
Dr Chantel Elston first joined NRF-SAIAB as an MSc student and now works as a postdoctoral researcher. Her research focuses primarily on the overlooked, but often endangered, rays. More specifically, a large part of her work tries to identify movement patterns and important habitats for rays, so that management and conservation initiatives can occur at relevant spatial scales. She uses the techniques of passive acoustic telemetry and baited remoted underwater videos to accomplish these goals.
Dr Elston also manages a South African citizen science project dedicated to shark and ray conservation and education, known as the South African Elasmobranch Monitoring Project, or ELMO Africa for short.
Education
Degree | Institution and location | Graduated |
BSc. Ecology and Evolution, Marine Biology (with distinction) | University of Cape Town, Cape Town | 2012 |
BSc. (Hons) (first class) Marine Biology | University of Cape Town, Cape Town | 2013 |
MSc. (with distinction) Ichthyology | Rhodes University, Makhanda | 2016 |
PhD. Ichthyology | Rhodes University, Makhanda | 2019 |