Thriving Mountains,
Thriving Futures
The Qwaqwa Plant–Animal Interactions Research (Q-PAIR) team is uncovering the hidden worlds of Africa’s mountain ecosystems, revealing how they function, nurturing emerging mountain scientists, and informing decisions that protect biodiversity for future generations.
Science for Southern
Africa’s Living Mountains
Led by pollination ecologist Prof. Sandy-Lynn Steenhuisen, Q-PAIR is based at Qwaqwa Campus, University of the Free State and affiliated with the Afromontane Research Unit. The team investigates how plants and animals interact in sensitive mountain systems, and how these interactions are being reshaped by climate change and invasive species.
Q-PAIR combines rigorous science with curiosity-driven discovery, utilising tools such as acoustic monitoring, camera trapping, genetics, and ecological modelling to reveal the networks that sustain mountain ecosystems. Anchored in its vision of a southern Africa where plants and animals thrive together in healthy, diverse mountain ecosystems, the team is building knowledge and capacity to guide conservation and policy.
Our Approach
Our mission is to advance collaborative ecological research on plant–animal interactions, to understand the impacts of climate change and invasive species on mountain ecosystems, and to develop creative response strategies.
Q-PAIR’s work focuses on three priorities:
Research & Discovery
Advancing ecological understanding of pollination systems, mountain ecosystems, and invasive species ecology.
Training & Mentorship
Supporting Honours, Masters, and PhD students, and celebrating their contributions to biodiversity science.
Collaboration & Partnerships
Training a new generation of African ecologists and ensuring evidence informs biodiversity conservation and policy decisions.
Our Research
Q-PAIR develops locally grounded, globally relevant science to understand and protect Africa’s mountain ecosystems, with a focus on plant–animal interactions under global change.
Pollination Ecology
Investigating natural history and pollination systems to make breakthrough discoveries in biodiversity science
Mountain Ecology
Using biomonitoring and modelling to explore interaction networks and resilience under climate change.
Invasive Species Ecology
Assessing how alien species reshape ecosystems, from soils to plants, animals, and people.
Exploring the Hidden Worlds of
Mountain Ecology
Our research reveals the intricate connections between plants, animals, and landscapes in Africa’s mountain ecosystems.
