Biology: Molecular Systematics and Physiology, Aquatic Biodiversity

Dr Tshoanelo Miya, Researcher and Lecturer at the University of KwaZulu Natal

My main research interests are in the field of molecular analyses of aquatic biodiversity, focusing on the use of DNA sequences to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships, the phylogeography structure of different species and populations, and the environmental DNA to detect fish species that might have been missed by traditional fish collection methods.

My other interest involves studying the physiology of the Antarctic fish to understand their adaptation strategies and behaviour of the antifreeze protein, using a serum, DNA, and RNA.

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Dr. Tshoanelo Miya specialises in molecular analyses of aquatic biodiversity. She earned her PhD in Ichthyology from Rhodes University, where her thesis focused on the antifreeze biology and molecular systematics of sub-Antarctic notothenioid fishes. This research explored the adaptive mechanisms of these fishes to freezing environments and contributed to the understanding of evolutionary biology in extreme conditions. She has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications, including significant findings on the loss of antifreeze traits in Antarctic fish and the molecular systematics of widespread nototheniid fishes.

Dr Miya has recently ventured into the use of a non-invasive biodiversity monitoring method using environmental DNA. The method can be used in Protected Marine areas to study biodiversity without harming the environment and organisms in the systems. A preliminary study to determine the suitability of this method in South African estuarine environments has been published. The use of eDNA techniques has proven to advance the detection of fish species that are often overlooked by traditional sampling methods and provide crucial insights into aquatic biodiversity.

Currently, Dr Miya is supervising two MSc and PhD students on different topics involving the use of eDNA methods to study fish biodiversity and other aquatic communities in estuaries around KwaZulu Natal coasts. She has graduated five MSc students and supervised 12 honours projects to completion.