Rosemary Lowe-McConnell is one of the pioneers of tropical fish ecolog
y. During a colourful and eventful career spanning over 45 years, she
has worked in the tropical waters of Africa and South America and cont
ributed significantly to our understanding of the ecology, zoogeograph
y, phenology, evolution and taxonomy of tropical fishes. She has also
assisted countless young ichthyologists and fisheries scientists and s
timulated ichthyology through her lucid books on fish ecology. She con
tinues to play an active role in the promotion of ichthyology and ecol
ogy from her home in Sussex in the English countryside. A brief biogra
phy and tribute is given so that her contributions to tropical fish ec
ology can be more widely appreciated.