Aidan Bossert
PhD
Supervisors: Karen Filbee-Dexter & Albert Pessarodona
I am a PhD candidate in the School of Biological Sciences, based within the University of Australia’s Oceans Institute. My research interests are centred around blue carbon and the functioning of the world’s coastal vegetated ecosystems in the face of climate change, especially seagrass meadows. Much of my work has focussed on safeguarding the ecosystem services provided by South Africa’s endangered Zostera capensis meadows. I completed a bachelors and honours degree in Biodiversity in Ecology as well as a master’s degree in Botany at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, where I developed skills in carbon stocks quantification, habitat restoration and stable isotope modelling.
Throughout my academic career I have always held a passion for interdisciplinary collaboration, which led me to working in the private sector for a year after my master’s…
Qualifications
2021: BSc Biodiversity and Ecology (Undergraduate degree)
Stellenbosch University, South Africa
Major subjects included Ecology, Genetics, Botany, Zoology, Conservation biology and Invasion biology
2022: BSc (Hons) Biodiversity and Ecology (Postgraduate degree)
Stellenbosch University, South Africa
Thesis based: focused on evaluating the blue carbon stocks of a South African seagrass (Zostera capensis) at its upper and lower estuarine distributional limits.
2024: MSc Biodiversity and Ecology (Postgraduate degree)
Stellenbosch University, South Africa
Thesis based: developing a seagrass blue carbon budget for Langebaan Lagoon, assessing seagrass restoration potential within the lagoon and exploring the possibility of using carbon finance to fund future restoration efforts.
Achievements and awards
2025: Emerging blue carbon scholarship for higher degree research, University of Western Australia
2024: Best Presentation - Stellenbosch University Botany and Zoology Annual Research Meeting
2024: Best Presentation - Stellenbosch University Centre for Invasion Biology and School for Climate Studies Combined Annual Research Meeting
2024: South African National Research Foundation (NRF) Marine and Coastal Research grant
2024: South African Sasol-NRF collaborative research grant
2023: Best Speed Presentation - Oppenheimer Research Conference, South Africa
2022: Best Presentation - Stellenbosch University Botany and Zoology Annual Research Meeting
Publications
Bossert A, von der Heyden S, Colling J, Ndhlovu A, 2024. Partitioning the sources of sediment organic carbon in South African seagrass meadows. African Journal of Marine Science 46, 169–175. https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2024.2370867
Bossert A, von der Heyden S, Ndhlovu A, 2025. Zostera capensis sedimentary carbon stock variability: An intra-estuarine site comparison. Estuaries and Coasts 48, 15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-024-01452-6
von der Heyden S, Mofokeng R, Adams J, Midgley G, Pillay D, Watson K, Boshoff B, Bossert A, Combrink C, Engelbrecht T, Govender S, Mokumo M, Ndhlovu A, Searle A, 2024. Nine decades of research on Zostera capensis: from foundational science to conservation and resilience. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 748, 197–212. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14711
Bossert A, Watson KM, Ndhlovu A, von der Heyden S, 2025. Ex situ mariculture supports the restoration potential of the endangered seagrass, Zostera capensis. South African Journal of Science. 121, (9/10). https: //doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2025/19767
Bossert A, Watson KM, Ndhlovu A, von der Heyden S. 2025. Quantifying and conserving blue carbon stocks in a South African marine protected area. Regional Studies in Marine Science. 92,104609. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104609
Bossert A, Ndhlovu A, von der Heyden S, Colling J (2025). Dataset: Zostera capensis sedimentary carbon content of the Berg and Breede estuaries. Smithsonian Environmental Research Centre. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25573/serc.29852861.v1
Bossert A, Ndhlovu A, Watson K, von der Heyden S (2025). Dataset: Estimating seagrass carbon stocks to inform NetZero targets: Spatiotemporal insights from a protected tidal lagoon. Smithsonian Environmental Research Centre. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25573/serc.29868626.v1