OTS UNDERGRADUATE
PROGRAM STAFF AND FACULTY

Julie Coetzee juliecoetzee@webmail.co.za
Other Faculty Members	Career interests and Experience	My Curriculum Vitae	Research
Education  Languages Conference Presentations Teaching Experience Academic Distinctions Conference Awards Research Activities Publications Seminars Professional Development
Education
PhD in Zoology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2003. Doctoral Thesis: Suitability of Eccritotarsus catarinensis as a biological control agent of water hyacinth. Bachelor of Science with Honors (BSc Hons), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, 1998, with Distinction. Honors dissertation: Establishment and overwintering of a biological control agent of water hyacinth on the South African highveld. Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, 1997, with Distinction
Teaching Experience
2003 – present Resident Professor, Organization for Tropical Studies, South Africa, Special Lecturer, Wits University Faculty member of the OTS Undergraduate Semester Abroad Programmed (USAP) Develop Conservation and Management course, run field projects, lectures and discussions in savanna ecology, conservation and management topics for undergraduates Lecture ecology to undergraduate students in the Department of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand Supervision of graduate student’s honors project   2001 – 2003 Tutor, College of Science, Wits University · Led interactive tutorials to 1st and 2nd year students on skills and concepts in biology   1998 – 2002 Teaching Assistant, Chief TA (2000-2002) various undergraduate Biology courses Organized and instructed laboratory practical sessions to a wide range of undergraduate students, including medical students, College of Science students, and 1st – 3rd year BSc biology and ecology students. Subjects included freshwater biology, marine biology, applied and medical entomology, animal diversity, human and general biology Ran and coordinated Marine and Coastal Systems field trip Course coordinator for Savanna Ecology field trip Lectured and examined first year ecology course
Research Activities
2004 Collaborator on “An integrated management plan for control of water hyacinth in South Africa” Member of a team initiating a program to develop a management plan integrating chemical and biological control of water hyacinth, South Africa’s worst aquatic weed. Funding has been secured from the Working for Water (WfW) Program of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) Coordinator of “A Strategy for the Monitoring of Alien Plant Invasions within the Kruger National Park” Developing a research program to study plant invasions in Kruger National Park, in line with the Park’s strategic management strategy   1999 – 2003 Doctoral Thesis Research, University of the Witwatersrand Assessed the physiological suitability of a recently introduced mirid control agent of water hyacinth to South Africa’s climate; determined the effectiveness of the mirid as a control agent of water hyacinth, under different nutrient conditions, and competition regimes; established the host specificity of the mirid to allow its release in the USA Funds to conduct research were obtained from the University of the Witwatersrand, and the Plant Protection Research Institute (PPRI)   1998 Honours Project, University of the Witwatersrand Investigated the overwintering capabilities of a water hyacinth control agent in a high elevation site in South Africa
Lenguages
English, first language Afrikaans, complete command
Academic Distinctions
Postgraduate Research Scholarships and Awards Year Name of Award Sponsor 2002 Plant Protection Research Institute (PPRI) Research Bursary Working for Water 2002 Postgraduate Merit Award Wits University 2002 Postgraduate Local Merit Scholarship Wits University 2001 PPRI Research Bursary Working for Water 2001 Postgraduate Prestigious Scholarship Wits University 2001 Postgraduate Merit Award Wits University 2001 Postgraduate Local Merit Scholarship Wits University 2000 PPRI Research Bursary Working for Water 2000 Postgraduate Merit Award Wits University 2000 University Administered Postgraduate Scholarship - Fantham Memorial Scholarship Wits University 2000 University Administered Postgraduate Scholarship – EP Bradlow Award Wits University 1999 PPRI Research Bursary Working for Water 1999 Postgraduate Merit Award Wits University 1999 University Administered Postgraduate Scholarship - Fantham Memorial Scholarship Wits University 1999 University Administered Postgraduate Scholarship - EP Bradlow Award Wits University 1998 Postgraduate Merit Award Wits University 1998 NRF Scholarship NRF Undergraduate Scholarships and Prizes 1997 Peter Thompson Prize – Best student in Plant Systematics 3 Tree Society of Southern Africa 1996 University Council Merit Scholarship Wits University 1996 Standard Bank Scholarship Standard Bank 1996 Tree Society of Southern Africa Award - Best Student in Plant Systematics 2 Tree Society of Southern Africa 1995 University Council Entrance Scholarship Wits University 1995 Standard Bank Scholarship Standard Bank       Certificates of Merit- Botany 1 Botany 11 Botany 111 Certificate of First Class Zoology 1 Maths 1 Chemistry 1 Zoology 111 Zoology 111 Class Representative
Publications
· Coetzee, JA, Byrne, MJ & Hill, MP. 2003. Failure of Eccritotarsus catarinensis, a biological control agent of water hyacinth, to persist on pickerelweed, a non-target host in South Africa, after forced establishment. Biological Control. · Coetzee, JA, Center, TD, Byrne, MJ & Hill, MP. In review. The impact of Eccritotarsus catarinensis, a sap-feeding mirid biocontrol agent, on the competitive performance of waterhyacinth. Biological Control. · Byrne, MJ, Coetzee, JA, McConnachie, AJ, Parasram, W & Hill, MP. 2003. Predicting climate compatibility of biological control agents in their region of introduction. Proceedings of the Xi th International Symposium on the Biological Control of Weeds. 27 April – 2 May, 2003. Canberra, Australia. · Hill, MP, Center, TD, Stanley, J, Cordo, HA, Coetzee, JA & Byrne, MB. 1999. The performance of the water hyacinth mirid, Eccritotarsus catarinensis, on water hyacinth and pickerelweed: a comparison of laboratory and field results. Proceedings of the Xth International Symposium on the Biological Control of Weeds. 4-14 July 1999, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA. pp. 357-366.
Conference Presentation
· Coetzee, JA, Byrne, MJ & Hill, MP. 2003. Is the water hyacinth mirid (Hemiptera: Miridae) physiologically suited to South Africa’s climate? Proceedings of the 14th Entomological Conference, Pretoria, 6-9 July 2003. · Coetzee, JA. 2003. The combined effect of herbivory and competition on water hyacinth performance. 31st Annual Workshop on Biological and Integrated Control of Weeds, Tsitsikamma National Park. · Coetzee, JA, Byrne, MJ & Hill, MP. 2001. Biocontrol agents and non-target hosts – does the water hyacinth mirid pose a threat to pickerelweed? Proceedings of the 13th Entomological Conference, Pietermaritzburg, 2-5 July 2001. · Coetzee, JA, Byrne, MJ & Hill, MP. 2001. Does the water hyacinth mirid pose a threat to pickerelweed? 29th Annual Workshop on Biological and Integrated Control of Weeds, Malagas, 7-11 May 2001. · Coetzee, JA, Byrne, MJ & Hill, MP. 1999. Thermal physiology of Biological Control Agents of Water Hyacinth. The 12th Congress of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa, Potchefstroom, 12-15 July, 1999. · Coetzee, JA, Byrne, MJ & Hill, MP.1998. Establishment of Eccritotarsus catarinensis on Eichhornia crassipes and Pontederia cordata in the field. African Zoology; current trends and perspectives. Symposium of the Zoological Society of Southern Africa, Durban, 6-10 July, 1998. · Coetzee, JA & Byrne, MJ. 1997. The Jacaranda City under threat: leaf miners attacking Jacaranda mimosifolia. Insects in the African Environment. The 11th Congress of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa, Stellenbosch, 30 June – 4 July, 1997.
Conference Awards
2003 – Danish International Development Assistant (DANIDA) – Cleaner Cotton Project Best Student Paper on an Environmental Topic, 14th Entomological Congress, Pretoria, 6-9 July, 2003.
Seminars
Wits University, March, 2001. Biological Control of Water Hyacinth in South Africa. University of Florida, Fort Lauderdale, Invasive Plant Research Group, a branch of the U.S.D.A., Agricultural Research Service, October 2000. Biological Control of Water Hyacinth in South Africa. Plant Protection Research Institute, Pretoria, October, 1999. Host specificity of Eccritotarsus catarinensis – is pickerelweed threatened?
Professional Development
MEMBERSHIP Member of the Zoological Society of South Africa - 1998-1999 Member of the Entomological Society of South Africa - 1997-1999 SERVICE TO: PROFESSION - 2002 – Supplied and released biological control agents on three occasions to the Kruger National Park for control of water hyacinth on their dams 2003 – present – Lecture to the Conservation Leadership Group of the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) COMMUNITY - 1997-1999 – assisted in the Yebo Gogga Insect show at the Johannesburg Zoo 1999 – sat on the Marketing Committee for the Yebo Gogga Insect show at the Johannesburg Zoo 1999 - appeared in the Wits TV Production 3UP, an educational program for children