A newly discovered species has been named after a South African ecologist. Dr Martine Jordaan is also a Fauna Ecologist at CapeNature. A newly described Paradiplozoon species (which is a type of ectoparasitic flatworm) now bears her name. This was done in recognition of her knowledge and passion for the aquatic life of the Cape Fold Ecoregion.

“CapeNature is proud to see Dr Jordaan’s contribution recognised in this way,” added Naidoo

CapeNature CEO Dr Ashley Naidoo says she’s also very enthusiastic to study the region’s fish as well as understand their parasitofauna.

Naidoo says the newly identified species – Paradiplozoon jordaanae – is named after Dr Jordaan and was described through studies of parasites found on the gills of two near-threatened endemic freshwater fish species.

“For me, the specialness of it is seeing how your little bit feeds into something bigger. It really shows the value of collaboration and what can be achieved when people with different expertise work towards the same goal,” said Dr Jordaan.

These freshwater fish species, Clanwilliam sawfin (Cheilobarbus serra) and the Clanwilliam redfin (Sedercypris calidus) are from the Matjies and Rondegat rivers in the Cape Fold Ecoregion. He says the recognition highlights the importance of collaboration in advancing conservation science in the Western Cape.

“In the case of fish parasites, there is this whole undiscovered world that you can basically only access under a microscope. And as conservation is such an applied and practical field, we do not always have time to investigate these specialist disciplines,” she said.

The Cape Fold Ecoregion

Naidoo says that having a species named after Dr Jordaan is significant recognition, not only for her personally, but also for the freshwater biodiversity work being undertaken within the Cape Fold Ecoregion. He added that this collaboration demonstrates how partnerships, both formal and informal, between conservationists and academic researchers can deepen scientific understanding and strengthen conservation outcomes.

Naidoo elaborated that the species was identified by researchers from the Water Research Group at North-West University (NWU). This followed a collaboration that began nearly six years ago, when Dr Jordaan encountered an unusual fish parasite during fieldwork on redfin fish. He says the parasite in this case was a fish ectoparasitic flatworm, not seen in the rivers of the Cape ecoregion for many years.

“Dr Jordaan said conservation science often depends on partnerships that allow specialists from different fields to contribute towards a common conservation objective.”