Research profile

I am an ecologist with diverse interdisciplinary research interests, which include rangeland dynamics, land degradation, the cultural importance of biodiversity, the relationship between plant functional traits and vegetation processes, and the causes and impacts of woody encroachment. My current research focuses on processes of woody encroachment and thicket formation, and the functional ecology of the different woody species involved in these processes. 

Recent publications

Selected peer-reviewed articles

Rosell JA, Vetter S, Olson ME, Greve M. 2025. Bark investment is key to forest expansion into African savannas by conferring resistance to fire and seasonal drought. Annals of Botany https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcaf019

Vasquez-Segovia K, Olson ME, Campo J, Angeles G, Martinez-Garcia C, Vetter S, Rosell JA. 2025. Ontogenetic trajectories in carbon allocation to bark contribute to understanding bark-wood metabolic scaling and the functional role of bark tissues. New Phytologist 245: 1953–1968

Nell R, Pillay TP, Vetter S. (2024) Reconstructing thicket clump formation using association rules analysis. Journal of Vegetation Science 35(3), e13265

Clements, H.S., Do Linh San, E., Hempson, G., (...), Winterbach, C.W., Woodhouse, G.M. 2024. The bii4africa dataset of faunal and floral population intactness estimates across Africa's major land uses. Scientific Data 11(1): 191

Briske DD, Vetter S, Coetsee C, Turner MD. 2024. Rangeland afforestation is not a natural climate solution. Frontiers in Ecology & the Environment doi:10.1002/fee.2727

Vetter S, Mostert EC, Swart C, Peter CI, Condy G. 2023. Oldenburgia grandis. Flowering Plants of Africa 68: 212–218

Postgraduate students (* denotes I am/was co-supervisor)

Current/ongoing:

PhD: Bridgette McMillan, Nozuko Ngqiyaza, Zamahlase Zibisi.

MSc: Jordan McCullough

Completed:

MSc: Marina Khoza, Tebadi Bopape*, Lavinia Perumal*, Chrisna Klopper, Nozuko Ngqiyaza, Gareth McAlister*, Anita Wheeler, Imogen Duncan, Michael Nang’alelwa, Carin Swart

PhD: Carin Swart*, Sivuyisiwe Situngu*, Martha Konje

Last Modified: Thu, 26 Jun 2025 14:36:16 SAST