Email: che.weldon@nwu .ac.za
Phone: +27 18 299 2375

Short CV - Dr. Ché Weldon
Ché Weldon obtained the degrees B.Sc. (1996), B.Sc. Hons. (1997), M.Sc. (1999) from the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, and a Ph.D. (2005) from the North-West University, Potchefstroom.

During his post graduate studies at the University of the Free State he acted as teaching assistant in the Zoology Department (1997-99). After finishing his M.Sc. he took a position at the Avian Demography Unit as field biologist involved with the Southern African Frog Atlas Project (2000). While completing his Ph.D. at North-West University, he was research assistant to the Anuran Study Group (2001-05). He accepted a position as Post-Doctoral Fellow in the School of Environmental Sciences and Development at the North-West University in 2005. In 2007 he was appointed as Senior Lecturer in Zoology at the North-West University in Potchefstoom.


RESEARCH INTERESTS - Dr. Ché  Weldon

Research interests include amphibian conservation and monitoring, parasitology, pathology and epidemiology of amphibian diseases. Dr. Weldon has studied African amphibians extensively, and has conducted amphibian research in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenia and Madagascar. His research focuses on the role of the amphibian chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) on amphibian declines in Africa and Madagascar. Specific research interests include:

• Mapping the geographical distribution of Bd in Africa.
• Factors that facilitate the transmission and spread of Bd, including the frog trade.
• Developing biodiversity management plans for frogs that are threatened by Bd.
• Taxonomy of polystomatid flatworms of Malagasy frogs.

Recent Publications

• Weldon C., De Villiers A.L. and Du Preez L.H. 2007. Quantification of the African clawed frog trade from South Africa, with implications for biodiversity conservation. African Journal of Herpetology 56: 77-83.
• Smith K.G., Weldon C. and Du Preez L.H. 2007. Relationships between size, development, and Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis Infection in South African tadpoles. Diseases of  Aquatic Organisms 74: 159-164.
• Weldon C., Du Preez L.H. and Vences M. 2008. Non-finding of the amphibian chytrid fungus in Madagascar. Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali (in press).
• Smith K.G. and Weldon C. 2008. Comment on Knapp and Morgan (2006). A conceptual framework for detecting oral chytridiomycosis in tadpoles. Copeia  (In press).
• Andreone F., Carpenter A.I., Cox N., Du Preez L., Freeman K., Furrer S., Garcia G., Glaw F., Glos J., Knox D., Köhler J., Mendelson III J., Mercurio V., Mittermeier R.A., Moore R.D., Rabibisoa N.H.C., Randriamahazo H., Randrianasolo H., Raminosoa N.R., Ramilijaona O.R., Raxworthy C.J., Vallan D., Vences M., Vieites D.R., Weldon C. The challenge of conserving amphibian megadiversity in Madagascar. PLoS Biology (in press).

CONTACT DETAILS - Dr. Ché Weldon

Dr. Ché Weldon
School of Environmental Sciences and Development
Potchefstroom Campus
North-West University
Private Bag X6001
Potchefstroom 2520
South Africa