University of Oxford
11a Mansfield Rd
OX1 3SZ
UK
Leventis African Biodiversity Fellow 2026
Adroit Takudzwa Chakandinakira
Background
Adroit Takudzwa Chakandinakira is a Zimbabwean freshwater and fisheries ecologist whose motivation is rooted in a long standing interest and connection to the lakes and river systems that underpin both biodiversity and community livelihoods. Growing up in a landscape where ecological change is immediately visible and socially consequential, she developed a deep appreciation for the dynamics of freshwater ecosystems and the ways in which environmental stability supports human wellbeing. This early exposure continues to shape her scientific interests and her commitment to evidence based conservation.
She holds a Master of Science in Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sustainability, which provides the analytical and conceptual grounding for her work at the interface of ecology, resource governance, and community engagement. She is particularly driven by the challenge of generating robust ecological data that can inform management decisions, strengthen fisheries governance, and support sustainable use of aquatic resources. The interplay between ecological processes, anthropogenic pressures, and policy responses remains central to her professional identity.
As Principal Ecologist at the Lake Kariba Fisheries Research Institute under the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, she works across research, monitoring, and stakeholder coordination to support the stewardship of Lake Kariba, one of Africa’s major freshwater systems. Her role allows her to integrate scientific analysis with practical management and collaborative problem solving.
She holds a Master of Science in Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sustainability, which provides the analytical and conceptual grounding for her work at the interface of ecology, resource governance, and community engagement. She is particularly driven by the challenge of generating robust ecological data that can inform management decisions, strengthen fisheries governance, and support sustainable use of aquatic resources. The interplay between ecological processes, anthropogenic pressures, and policy responses remains central to her professional identity.
As Principal Ecologist at the Lake Kariba Fisheries Research Institute under the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, she works across research, monitoring, and stakeholder coordination to support the stewardship of Lake Kariba, one of Africa’s major freshwater systems. Her role allows her to integrate scientific analysis with practical management and collaborative problem solving.
Current Research
During her tenure as a Leventis Fellow, Adroit will conduct a quantitative analysis of long‑term fisheries monitoring datasets to examine the ecological impacts of Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia) on Lake Kariba’s inshore fishery. Her work will focus on detecting shifts in species composition, diversity patterns, and relative abundance over time, with particular attention to how the rapid expansion of this invasive species is restructuring community dynamics.
Preliminary evidence from datasets held by the Lake Kariba Fisheries Research Institute indicates marked ecological disruption associated with the proliferation of O. niloticus, including competitive displacement of native cichlids. O. niloticus now constitutes up to 80% of recorded inshore catches, signalling a profound alteration of the fishery’s trophic and functional structure.
Through detailed statistical analysis, Adroit aims to elucidate the mechanisms underpinning this dominance, assess its implications for fisheries sustainability, and generate evidence that can inform adaptive management strategies for one of Africa’s most important freshwater systems. Adroit is passionate about leveraging data-driven solutions, stakeholder engagement, and conservation strategies for sustainable fisheries.
During her tenure as a Leventis Fellow, Adroit will conduct a quantitative analysis of long‑term fisheries monitoring datasets to examine the ecological impacts of Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia) on Lake Kariba’s inshore fishery. Her work will focus on detecting shifts in species composition, diversity patterns, and relative abundance over time, with particular attention to how the rapid expansion of this invasive species is restructuring community dynamics.
Preliminary evidence from datasets held by the Lake Kariba Fisheries Research Institute indicates marked ecological disruption associated with the proliferation of O. niloticus, including competitive displacement of native cichlids. O. niloticus now constitutes up to 80% of recorded inshore catches, signalling a profound alteration of the fishery’s trophic and functional structure.
Through detailed statistical analysis, Adroit aims to elucidate the mechanisms underpinning this dominance, assess its implications for fisheries sustainability, and generate evidence that can inform adaptive management strategies for one of Africa’s most important freshwater systems. Adroit is passionate about leveraging data-driven solutions, stakeholder engagement, and conservation strategies for sustainable fisheries.
Brief CV
- Completed a BSc (Honours) Degree in Wildlife and Safari Management at Chinhoyi University of Technology in 2013.
- Obtained an MSc in Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sustainability from Bindura University of Science Education in 2017.
- Worked as a Research Assistant at Chinhoyi University of Technology (2016–2017), contributing to ecological fieldwork, academic article review, and community‑based research on water resources and climate change.
- Joined the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority in January 2018 as an Aquatic Ecologist, conducting fisheries research, aquatic biodiversity monitoring, and data analysis for freshwater ecosystems.
- Served as a Project Steering Committee member for FAO and UNDP‑GEF initiatives focused on community resilience and fisheries sustainability in Lake Kariba (2018–2021).
- Appointed Acting Principal Aquatic Ecologist at the Lake Kariba Fisheries Research Institute in 2021, leading fisheries monitoring, invasive species assessments, climate‑related ecological studies, and stakeholder engagement.
- Served concurrently as the Alternate Focal Person for the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, supporting national wetland reporting and implementation (2021–present).
- Became Principal Aquatic Ecologist for the Lake Kariba Fisheries Research Institute in 2023, overseeing fisheries management, ecological monitoring, policy support.
Publications
ORCID for full publication list: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8065-8114
Adroit has authored and co‑authored several peer‑reviewed publications spanning freshwater ecology, invasive species, socio‑ecological systems, and biomonitoring. Selected publications are as follows:
- Chapata, T. E., Utete, B., and Chakandinakira, A. T. (2024). Assessing the drivers and barriers for gender participation and roles in rod and line angling along the shores of Sanyati Basin in Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe. Sustainable Environment, 10(1), 2345451. https://doi.org/10.1080/27658511.2024.2345451
- Chakandinakira, A. T., Madzivanzira, T. C., Mashonga, S., Muzvondiwa, J. V., Ndlovu, N., and South, J. (2023). Socioeconomic impacts of Australian redclaw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus in Lake Kariba. Biological Invasions, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-023-03074-8
- Madzivanzira, T. C., Chakandinakira, A. T., Mungenge, C. P., O’Brien, G., Dalu, T., and South, J. (2022). Get it before it gets to my catch: misdirection traps to mitigate against socioeconomic impacts associated with crayfish invasion. Management of Biological Invasions, 14(2), 335-346. https://doi.org/10.3391/mbi.2023.14.2.10
- Mwedzi, T., Mangadze, T., Chakandinakira, A.T., and Bere, T. (2022). Stream biomonitoring: The role of diatoms, macroinvertebrates and fish. In Emerging Freshwater pollutants (pp 9-24). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-822850-0.00008-9
- Chakandinakira A.T, Mwedzi T, Tarakini T and Bere T. (2019). Ecological Responses of Periphyton Dry Mass and Epilithic Diatom Community Structure for Different Atrazine and Temperature Scenarios. Water SA 45 (4) 580-591. https://doi.org/10.17159/wsa/2019.v45.i4.7539