Peer-Reviewed Publications

How Much Does Light Pollution Alter Vector Disease Transmission at Scale?

Coetzee, B. W. T., and  L. van Zyl.  2025. How Much Does Light Pollution Alter Vector Disease Transmission at Scale?. African Journal of Ecology  63, no. 5: e70067.  https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70067

Memory-based navigation in elephants: implications for survival strategies and conservation.

Morel, M., Guldemond, R., de la Garza, M.A., Bakker, J. 2025. Memory-based navigation in elephants: implications for survival strategies and conservation. Veterinary Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12040312

Local elephant movements, turning angles, and water access across a rainfall gradient in Southern Africa.

Bucciarelli, J.R., Pimm, S.L., Huang, R.M., Chase, M.J., Leggett, K., Bastos, A.D., van Aarde, R.J. 2024. Local elephant movements, turning angles, and water access across a rainfall gradient in Southern Africa. Biological Conservation. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110669

The environmental light characteristics of forest under different logging regimes.

Coetzee, B.W.T., van Zyl, L. 2024. The environmental light characteristics of forest under different logging regimes. Ecology and Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70623

Integrating habitat suitability modeling with gene flow improves delineation of landscape connections among African savanna elephants.

de Flamingh, A., Alexander, N., Perrin-Stowe, T.I.N., Donnelly, C., Guldemond, R.A.R., Schooley, R.L., van Aarde, R.J., Roca, A.L. 2024. Integrating habitat suitability modeling with gene flow improves delineation of landscape connections among African savanna elephants. Biodiversity and Conservation. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-024-02910-0

Protecting and connecting landscapes stabilizes populations of the Endangered savannah elephant.

Huang, R.M., Maré, C., Guldemond, R.A.R., Pimm, S.L., van Aarde, R.J. 2024. Protecting and connecting landscapes stabilizes populations of the Endangered savannah elephant. Science Advances. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adk2896

Demographic responses of an insular elephant population to removal as a management intervention.

Guldemond, R.A.R., Louw, C.J., Maré, C., Nørgaard, C., van Aarde, R.J. 2022. Demographic responses of an insular elephant population to removal as a management intervention. Conservation Science and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12741

Mapping potential connections between Southern Africa’s elephant populations.

Huang, R.M., van Aarde, R.J., Pimm, S.L., Chase, M.J., Leggett, K. 2022. Mapping potential connections between Southern Africa’s elephant populations. PLoS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0275791

The 2020 elephant die-off in Botswana.

van Aarde, R.J., Pimm, S.L., Guldemond, R., Huang, R., Maré, C. 2021. The 2020 elephant die-off in Botswana. PeerJ. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.10686

Random population fluctuations bias the Living Planet Index.

Buschke, F., Hagan, J., Santini, L., & Coetzee, B.W.T. 2021. Random population fluctuations bias the Living Planet Index. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 5, pp 1145–1152. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-021-01494-0

Antarctica’s wilderness fails to capture continent’s biodiversity

Leihy, R.I., Coetzee, B.W.T., Morgan, F., Raymond, B., Shaw, J.D., Terauds, A., Bastmeijer, K., Chown, S.L. 2020. Antarctica’s wilderness fails to capture continent’s biodiversity. Nature, 583(7817), Article 7817. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2506-3

Partial migration in savanna elephant populations distributed across southern Africa.

Purdon, A., Mole, M.A., Chase, M.J. & van Aarde, R.J. 2018. Partial migration in savanna elephant populations distributed across southern Africa. Scientific Reports 8:11331 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-29724-9

Origin and phylogeography of African savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana) in Kruger and nearby parks in southern Africa.

De Flaming, A., Roca, A.L. & van Aarde, R.J. 2018. Origin and phylogeography of African savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana) in Kruger and nearby parks in southern Africa. Conservation Genetics 19: 155-167.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-017-1005-z

Matrix transformation alters species-area relationships in fragmented coastal forests.

Freeman, M.T., Olivier, P.I. & van Aarde, R.J. 2018. Matrix transformation alters species-area relationships in fragmented coastal forests. Landscape Ecology 33, pp 307–322. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-017-0604-x

A systematic review of elephant impact across Africa.

Guldemond, R.A.R., Purdon, A. & van Aarde, R.J. 2017. A systematic review of elephant impact across Africa. PLoS ONE 12(6): e0178935. https://doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0178935

Savanna elephant numbers are only a quarter of their expected values.

Robson, A.S., Trimble, M.J., Purdon, A., Young-Overton, K.D., Pimm, S.L. & van Aarde, R.J. 2017. Savanna elephant numbers are only a quarter of their expected values. PLoS ONE 12(4): e0175942. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0175942

Validating space-for-time substitution in a new-growth coastal dune forest.

Rolo, V., Olivier, P.I., Guldemond, R.A.R. and van Aarde, R.J. 2016. Validating space-for-time substitution in a new-growth coastal dune forest. Appl Veg Sci, 19: 235-243. https://doi.org/10.1111/avsc.12210

Local Scale Comparisons of Biodiversity as a Test for Global Protected Area Ecological Performance: A Meta-Analysis.

Coetzee, B.W.T., Gaston, K.J., & Chown, S.L. 2014. Local Scale Comparisons of Biodiversity as a Test for Global Protected Area Ecological Performance: A Meta-Analysis. PLOS ONE, 9(8), 11. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0105824

Supporting conservation with biodiversity research in sub-Saharan Africa’s human-modified landscapes.

Trimble, M.J., van Aarde, R.J. 2014. Supporting conservation with biodiversity research in sub-Saharan Africa’s human-modified landscapes. Biodivers Conservation 23, pp 2345–2369. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-014-0716-4

Coastal dune topography as a determinant of abiotic conditions and biological community restoration in northern Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.

Ott, T., van Aarde, R.J. 2014. Coastal dune topography as a determinant of abiotic conditions and biological community restoration in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Landscape Ecology  Engineering 10, pp 17–28 . https://doi.org/10.1007/s11355-013-0211-1

Functional connectivity within conservation networks: Delineating corridors for African elephants.

Roever, C.L., van Aarde, R.J. & Leggett, K. 2013. Functional connectivity within conservation networks: Delineating corridors for African elephants. Biological Conservation 157: 128-135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2012.06.025

Is microclimate-driven turnover of dung beetle assemblage structure in regenerating coastal vegetation a precursor to re-establishment of a forest fauna?

Davis, A.L.V., van Aarde, R.J., Scholtz, C.H. et al. 2013. Is microclimate-driven turnover of dung beetle assemblage structure in regenerating coastal vegetation a precursor to re-establishment of a forest fauna? Journal of Insect Conservation  17, pp 565–576. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-012-9542-8

Age Determination by Back Length for African Savanna Elephants: Extending Age Assessment Techniques for Aerial-Based Surveys.

Trimble, M.J., van Aarde, R.J., Ferreira, S.M., Norgaard, C.F., Fourie, J., Lee, P.C. & Moss, C.J. 2011. Age Determination by Back Length for African Savanna Elephants: Extending Age Assessment Techniques for Aerial-Based Surveys. PloS ONE 6(10): e26614. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0026614

Decline of Birds in a Human Modified Coastal Dune Forest Landscape in South Africa.

Trimble, M.J., van Aarde, R.J. 2011. Decline of Birds in a Human Modified Coastal Dune Forest Landscape in South Africa. PLoS ONE 6(1): e16176. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0016176

Species Inequality in Scientific Study.

Trimble, M.J. and van Aarde, R.J. 2010. Species Inequality in Scientific Study. Conservation Biology, 24: 886-890. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2010.01453.x

Density as an explanatory variable of movements and calf survival in savanna elephants across southern Africa.

Young, K.D. & van Aarde R.J. 2010. Density as an explanatory variable of movements and calf survival in savanna elephants across southern Africa. Journal of Animal Ecology 79: 662-673. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2656.2010.01667.x

Fences are More than an Issue of Aesthetics.

Trimble, M.J. and van Aarde, R.J. 2010. Fences are More than an Issue of Aesthetics. BioScience 60(7), pp 485-486.  https://doi.org/10.1525/bio.2010.60.7.20

Forest patch size and isolation as drivers of bird species richness in Maputaland, Mozambique.

Guldemond, R.A.R. and van Aarde, R.J. 2010. Forest patch size and isolation as drivers of bird species richness in Maputaland, Mozambique. Journal of Biogeography, 37: 1884-1893. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2699.2010.02338.x

A review of historical trends in the distribution and abundance of elephants in Mozambique.

Ntumi, C.P., Ferreira, S.M. & van Aarde, R.J. 2009. A review of historical trends in the distribution and abundance of elephants in Mozambique. Oryx 43(4): 568-579. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0030605309990482

A rapid method to estimate population variables for African elephants.

Ferreira, S.M. & van Aarde, R.J. 2008. A rapid method to estimate population variables for African elephants. Journal of Wildlife Management 72(3): 822-829. https://doi.org/10.2193/2007-151

A meta-analysis of the impact of African elephants on savanna vegetation.

Guldemond, R. & van Aarde, R.J. 2008. A meta-analysis of the impact of African elephants on savanna vegetation. Journal of Wildlife Management 72(4): 892-899. https://doi.org/10.2193/2007-072

Megaparks for metapopulations: addressing the causes of locally high elephant numbers in southern Africa.

van Aarde, R.J. &  Jackson., T.P. 2007 Megaparks for metapopulations: addressing the causes of locally high elephant numbers in southern Africa. Biological Conservation 134: 289-297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2006.08.027

Community convergence in disturbed sub-tropical dune forests.

Wassenaar, T.D., van Aarde, R.J., Pimm, S.L. and Ferreira, S.M. 2005. Community convergence in disturbed sub-tropical dune forests. Ecology 86, pp 655-666. https://doi.org/10.1890/03-0836

African elephants and contraception.

Pimm, S.L. & van Aarde, R.J. 2001. African elephants and contraception. Nature 411: 766. https://doi.org/10.1038/35081154

Books

Let Elephants Roam

Let Elephants Roam is the work of conservation ecologist Rudi van Aarde, who, until his recent untimely death in 2023, was a world-renowned champion of Africa’s remaining savanna elephants. His unshakeable mission was to find a way for elephants to thrive alongside people and their livelihoods.

This book is the culmination of Rudi’s determination to show us – scientists, governments, industrialists and ordinary citizens alike – how we can, and must, provide for the spatial needs of elephants.