JESSICA BUCCIARELLI
I am a PhD student working under the supervision of Bernard Coetzee (UP), Robert Guldemond (UP), Yolandi Ernst (University of the Witwatersrand), and Stuart Pimm (Duke University). My research focuses on modelling elephant movement ecology across diverse landscapes. While my MSc research examined multiple protected areas across southern Africa, my PhD is centred on elephant movements within the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area.
Through the lens of connectivity conservation, I aim to understand where elephants travel, what drives their movements, and how this knowledge can help link protected areas more effectively. To do this, I will model elephant movement patterns using multiple spatial datasets to identify key barriers and opportunities that shape their behaviour. Additionally, my research will explore the impact of human activities, climate change, and land use changes on elephant movement across landscapes.
