Search
Search results for
We found
66 results for you
-
Reductions in Plant Species Richness under Stands of Alien Trees and Shrubs in the Fynbos Biome
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: South African Forestry Journal • Authors: D.M. Richardson --- Jonkershoek Forestry Research Centre, I. A.W. Macdonald --- , G.G. Forsyth --- Jonkershoek Forestry Research Centre,The reduction of species richness of indigenous plants is one of the major problems associated with the presence of dense stands of invasive alien trees and shrubs in the Fynbos Biome of the Cape Province, South Africa. A synthesis was... -
Estimating sample size for a small‐quadrat method of botanical survey for application in mixed Bushveld
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: W.G. Dörgeloh --- Applied Natural Sciences, Republic of South AfricaSpecies density and grass density were measured using a small‐quadrat method in eight plant communities in the Nylsvley Nature Reserve, South Africa. The presence of new species in each additional quadrat was used to calculate sample size. A sample size... -
Life form and species diversity on abandoned croplands, Roggeveld, South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: H van der Merwe --- Department of Plant Science, South Africa MW van Rooyen --- Department of Plant Science, South AfricaThe Roggeveld consists of an island of Mountain Renosterveld (Fynbos biome) surrounded by Succulent Karoo biome vegetation. Since management of abandoned croplands depends on a better understanding of their succession sequences, vegetation recovery on abandoned croplands in the Roggeveld was... -
Impacts of high utilisation pressure on biodiversity components in Colophospermum mopane savanna
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: MC Rutherford --- SANBI, Applied Biodiversity Research Division, South Africa LW Powrie --- SANBI, Applied Biodiversity Research Division, South Africa DI Thompson --- NRF/SAEON, South AfricaThis study aimed to quantify and evaluate the effects of heavy land utilisation, mainly grazing, on plant species richness and diversity, species abundance, vegetation structure and soil characteristics in a communal area in Colophospermum mopane dominated savanna in southern Africa... -
Afromontane forest avifauna of the eastern Soutpansberg mountain range, Northern Province, South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: The Southern African Forestry Journal • Authors: C.T. Symes --- , South Africa S.M. Venter --- Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, South Africa M.R. Perrin --- , South AfricaThe Soutpansberg forests form the northern limit of indigenous forest in South Africa, Commercial afforestation occurs at high altitudes whereas crops and orchards are planted at lower altitudes. A study of five protected afromontane forests in the eastern Soutpansberg identified... -
Physico-chemical conditions and macroinvertebrate fauna in the River Nile from Aswan to Cairo
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Aquatic Science • Authors: M Reda Fishar R Thorne W Peter WilliamsThis paper examines the distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates in relation to physico-chemical conditions along 1 035km of the River Nile from Aswan High Dam to Al Kanater Barrage, Cairo. Total Dissolved Salts and several individual chemical variables showed positive linear... -
The distribution and relative abundance of stream fishes in the upper Manyame River, Zimbabwe, in relation to land use, pollution and exotic predators
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Aquatic Science • Authors: B Gratwicke --- Department of Biological Sciences, Zimbabwe BE Marshall --- Department of Biological Sciences, Zimbabwe T Nhiwatiwa --- Department of Biological Sciences, ZimbabweA survey of the upper Manyame River catchment, middle Zambezi system, Zimbabwe, yielded a total of 22 fish species from 48 stations. The most widespread species (present at >20 stations) were Marcusenius macrolepidotus, Barbus paludinosus, Labeo cylindricus, Clarias gariepinus and... -
The influence of biotope and sampling method on the assessment of the invertebrate community structure in endorheic reed pans in South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Aquatic Science • Authors: AR de Klerk --- Centre for Aquatic Research, Department of Zoology, South Africa V Wepener --- Centre for Aquatic Research, Department of Zoology, South AfricaReed pans in the Mpumalanga Lakes District, South Africa, support an abundant diversity and richness of aquatic macroinvertebrates in a variety of different biotopes which, in the case of depressional wetlands such as reed pans, are not well studied. This... -
The effect of plant density on epiphytic macroinvertebrates associated with a submerged macrophyte, Lagarosiphon ilicifolius Obermeyer, in Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Aquatic Science • Authors: C Phiri --- , Zimbabwe A Chakona --- Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, South Africa JA Day --- Freshwater Research Unit, Zoology Department, South AfricaThe effect of variations in the density of a submerged macrophyte, Lagarosiphon ilicifolius, on epiphytic macroinvertebrate community structure in the shallow waters of a sheltered bay of Lake Kariba were investigated. The body size class distributions of a mayfly, Cloeon... -
The impact of water quality deterioration on macroinvertebrate communities in the Swartkops River, South Africa: a multimetric approach
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Aquatic Science • Authors: ON Odume --- Unilever Centre for Environmental Water Quality, South Africa WJ Muller --- Unilever Centre for Environmental Water Quality, South Africa FO Arimoro --- Unilever Centre for Environmental Water Quality, South Africa CG Palmer --- Unilever Centre for Environmental Water Quality, South AfricaA multimetric approach, using 21 metrics representing five categories — abundance, composition, richness, diversity and biotic indices — was applied to investigate the impacts of water quality deterioration on macro-invertebrate communities in the Swartkops River. Macroinvertebrates were sampled seasonally between... -
Effects of crop diversity on bird species richness and abundance in a highland East African agricultural landscape
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology • Authors: P Kariuki Ndang'ang'a --- , Kenya JohnBM Njoroge --- , Kenya Kamau Ngamau --- , Kenya Wariara Kariuki --- , Kenya PhilipW Atkinson --- British Trust for Ornithology, UK Juliet Vickery --- The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, UKWe examined the effects of crop diversity on avian species richness and abundance in the highland farmlands of Nyandarua, Kenya. We surveyed birds using point counts and recorded habitat data at the same locations estimating cover and growth stage of... -
Patterns of diversity along experimental gradients of disturbance and nutrient supply—the confounding assumptions of the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Marine Science • Authors: MC Pfaff --- Department of Zoology, South Africa C Hiebenthal --- , Germany M Molis --- , Germany GM Branch --- Department of Zoology, South Africa M Wahl --- , GermanyA model of the interactive effects of disturbance and productivity on diversity predicts peak diversity to shift towards higher disturbance regimes as productivity increases, confining the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis to intermediate productivity levels. We conducted a two-factorial (disturbance, nutrients) field... -
Distribution and seasonality of cetaceans in tropical waters between Angola and the Gulf of Guinea
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Marine Science • Authors: CR Weir --- , UKThe species richness, spatial distribution, seasonality and interspecific associations of cetaceans in tropical oceanic waters between the Gulf of Guinea and Angola were examined using 5 905.3 h of dedicated survey effort collected from 13 platforms of opportunity (geophysical vessels)... -
Tube-forming polychaetes enhance invertebrate diversity and abundance in sandy sediments of Mozambique, Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Marine Science • Authors: MS Thomsen --- Marine Department, National Environmental Research Institute, Denmark MF Muth --- Department of Environmental Sciences, USA KJ McGlathery --- Department of Environmental Sciences, USAIn marine soft-bottom systems, polychaetes can increase habitat complexity by constructing rigid tubes (e.g. several onuphid species) that contrast with surrounding topographically flat sediments. These structures can provide predation refuges and increase larval settlement and thereby increase the richness and... -
Diversity of decapod crustaceans at the interface of unconsolidated seabed areas and rocky shores in tropical/subtropical Brazil
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Marine Science • Authors: A Fransozo --- Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Brazil M Furlan --- Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Brazil V Fransozo --- , Brazil G Bertini --- , Brazil RC da Costa --- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Ciências, Brazil LC Fernandes-Góes --- , BrazilThe decapod crustacean assemblages from unconsolidated seabed areas located near rocky shores in the Ubatuba region on the south-east coast of Brazil were analysed by investigating the abundance, richness, diversity and dominance of species. The relationships of the sediment and... -
Epiphytic seaweeds and invertebrates associated with South African populations of the rocky shore seagrass Thalassodendron leptocaule — a hidden wealth of biodiversity
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Marine Science • Authors: CM Browne --- Department of Biological Sciences and Marine Research Institute, South Africa R Milne --- Department of Biological Sciences and Marine Research Institute, South Africa C Griffiths --- Department of Biological Sciences and Marine Research Institute, South Africa JJ Bolton --- Department of Biological Sciences and Marine Research Institute, South Africa RJ Anderson --- Department of Biological Sciences and Marine Research Institute, South AfricaSeagrasses support a great diversity of epiphytic organisms. There are no detailed published accounts of algae and animals growing on seagrasses in South Africa. The seagrass Thalassodendron leptocaule (previously known as Thalassodendron ciliatum) is unique among southern African seagrasses in... -
The effect of fish predation on benthic macroinvertebrates in a seasonal stream in north-western Zimbabwe
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Aquatic Science • Authors: Albert Chakona Brian Marshall Luc BrendonckThe cumulative impact of the entire fish assemblage on benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages was investigated over four months in a removal experiment in isolated pools that persist through the dry season, in an intermittent stream in north-western Zimbabwe. Macroinvertebrate taxonomic richness... -
Caddisfly (Trichoptera) larvae of the Opa River basin, south-western Nigeria
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Aquatic Science • Authors: SylvesterS OgboguCaddisflies in the streams of the Opa River catchment basin in Ile-Ife, south-western Nigeria, were surveyed, documenting nine genera in six families. Hydropsychidae is the most speciose family, with three genera, and has the highest number of individuals in the... -
Vegetative traits predict grass species' invasiveness and the invasibility of restored grassland
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: RWS Fynn --- School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, South Africa PD Wragg --- School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, South Africa CD Morris --- Agricultural Research Council, South Africa KP Kirkman --- School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, South Africa J Naiken --- School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, South AfricaUnderstanding how grass species' traits relate to their invasiveness and the invasibility of their monocultures can inform restoration of diverse grassland. We measured vegetative traits for 18 bunch grass species local to Pietermaritzburg (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa) and measured their competitive... -
Patterns of millipede (Diplopoda), centipede (Chilopoda) and scorpion (Scorpionida) diversity in savanna habitats within the Greater Makalali Conservancy, South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Zoology • Authors: Dave Druce --- University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Michelle Hamer --- University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Rob Slotow --- University of KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaAlthough savanna is one of the most important biomes in southern Africa, it is, apart from the botanical component, one of the least studied. This study aimed to document the distribution patterns, richness and diversity of selected ground-dwelling, flightless arthropods... -
Rules of attraction: the role of bait in small mammal sampling at high altitude in South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Zoology • Authors: Armand D. Kok --- Department of Zoology and Entomology, South Africa Daniel M. Parker --- Department of Zoology and Entomology, South Africa Nigel P. Barker --- Botany Department, South AfricaBaits or lures are commonly used for surveying small mammal communities, not only because they attract large numbers of these animals, but also because they provide sustenance for trapped individuals. In this study we used Sherman live traps with five... -
Benthic macroinvertebrate assemblage composition and distribution pattern in the upper Mthatha River, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Aquatic Science • Authors: AS Niba --- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, South Africa SP Mafereka --- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, South AfricaBenthic macroinvertebrates were sampled and environmental variables measured at Langeni Forest and Kambi Valley, two sites of varying degrees of human impact in the upper Mthatha River, South Africa, in 2010–2011. Four species, Simulium adersi Pomeroy, Baetis harrisoni Barnard, Pseudocloeon... -
Food and wine pairing: A new approach
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: • Authors: Peter Klosse --- Academie voor Gastronomie, Hotel Gastronomique De Echoput, Hoog Soeren, NetherlandsFlavour can be assessed objectively with the use of the newly developed flavour styles theory. In this approach, flavour is structured on the parameters contracting mouthfeel, coating mouthfeel and flavour richness. The result is the flavour styles cube. The eight... -
A comparison of point counts with a new acoustic sampling method: a case study of a bird community from the montane forests of Mount Cameroon
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology • Authors: Ondřej Sedláček --- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Czech Republic Jana Vokurková --- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Czech Republic Michal Ferenc --- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Czech Republic Eric Nana Djomo --- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Czech Republic Tomáš Albrecht --- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Czech Republic David Hořák --- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Czech RepublicAcoustic signals are frequently used for estimating avian species richness, abundance and community composition. However, sampling by traditional methods of bird surveys is often limited by availability of experienced researchers in the field, especially in the tropics. New bioacoustic approaches... -
Bird diversity in the savanna habitats of Akagera National Park, Rwanda, in the post-war recovery period
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology • Authors: Callixte Gatali --- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Sweden Kjell Wallin --- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, SwedenThe biodiversity of Akagera National Park (ANP), Rwanda, has reportedly been declining since 1990 due to conflict and war in the country between 1990 and 1994. In this paper, we describe bird diversity in the post-war recovery period. We used... -
Ecology of metazoan parasites of Clarias gariepinus (Osteichthyes: Clariidae) from the Nwanedi-Luphephe Dams of the Limpopo River System, South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Zoology • Authors: G.N. Madanire-Moyo --- Department of Biodiversity, South Africa W.J. Luus-Powell --- Department of Biodiversity, South Africa P.A.S. Olivier --- Department of Biodiversity, South AfricaA total of 7748 parasites, belonging to 17 metazoan species, was recorded from 45 specimens of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) caught from the Nwanedi-Luphephe Dams, Limpopo River System, South Africa. All host specimens were parasitized by one or more metazoan... -
Towards a standardized and optimized protocol for rapid biodiversity assessments: spider species richness and assemblage composition in two savanna vegetation types
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Zoology • Authors: M.I. Muelelwa --- Centre for Invasion Biology and Department of Zoology, South Africa S.H. Foord --- Centre for Invasion Biology and Department of Zoology, South Africa A.S. Dippenaar-Schoeman --- ARC Plant Protection Research Institute, South Africa E.M. Stam --- National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, South AfricaA semi-quantitative inventory of spider diversity was done in the Blouberg Nature Reserve (BNR) and Western Soutpansberg Conservancy (WSC) situated in the Savanna Biome of the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Two hundred and ninety-six samples of one person-hour work each,... -
Effects of a fast-burning spring fire on the ground-dwelling spider assemblages (Arachnida: Araneae) in a central South African grassland habitat
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Zoology • Authors: Charles R Haddad --- Department of Zoology and Entomology, South Africa Stefan H Foord --- Department of Zoology, Chair in Biodiversity Value and Change, South Africa René Fourie --- Department of Zoology and Entomology, South Africa Anna S Dippenaar-Schoeman --- Biosystematics: Arachnology, Agricultural Research Council–Plant Protection Research Institute, South AfricaFire is widely used as a management strategy in grasslands to maintain vegetation structure and improve grazing quality for large herbivores. The impacts of burning on invertebrates in South Africa remain poorly understood. A study was initiated in spring 2005... -
The effects of fire-breaks on plant diversity and species composition in the grasslands of the Loskop Dam Nature Reserve, South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: Laura M Bachinger --- Department of Plant Science, South Africa Leslie R Brown --- Applied Behavioural Ecology and Ecosystem Research Unit, Department of Environmental Sciences, South Africa Margaretha W van Rooyen --- Department of Plant Science, South AfricaThere is a dearth of knowledge on the effects of annual burning of fire-breaks on species composition, plant diversity and soil properties. Whittaker's plant diversity technique was used to gather data on species composition and diversity in four grassland communities... -
Livestock grazing has minimal effect on the species richness and diversity of semi-arid shrubland in the Western Little Karoo, South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: Nelmarie Saayman --- Directorate of Plant Sciences, Western Cape Department of Agriculture, South Africa Craig Morris --- Agricultural Research Council–Livestock Business Division, Range and Forage Unit, c/o School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, South Africa Hannes Botha --- Directorate of Plant Sciences, Western Cape Department of Agriculture, South AfricaThe Succulent Karoo, one of two arid biodiversity hotspots in the world, is known for its high plant species richness, but little is known about the influence of topography and how it mediates the potentially deleterious effects of grazing. Changes... -
Food and wine pairing: A new approach
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Research in Hospitality Management • Authors: Peter Klosse --- Academie voor Gastronomie, Hotel Gastronomique De Echoput, NetherlandsFlavour can be assessed objectively with the use of the newly developed flavour styles theory. In this approach, flavour is structured on the parameters contracting mouthfeel, coating mouthfeel and flavour richness. The result is the flavour styles cube. The eight... -
Boulder shores in South Africa – a distinct but poorly documented coastal habitat type
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Marine Science • Authors: L Tucker --- Marine Research Institute and Department of Biological Sciences, South Africa CL Griffiths --- Marine Research Institute and Department of Biological Sciences, South Africa F Schroeter --- Marine Research Institute and Department of Biological Sciences, South Africa HD Vetter --- Marine Research Institute and Department of Biological Sciences, South AfricaThis study compares the composition, species richness and biomass of macrofaunal and algal assemblages on intertidal boulder shores as compared with those on adjacent rock-platforms, at six sites along the southwest coast of South Africa. Of 214 species identified, 175... -
The application of camera trapping to assess Rallidae species richness within palustrine wetland habitat in South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology • Authors: Robin B Colyn --- Terrestrial Bird Conservation Programme, South Africa Alastair M Campbell --- Ingula Nature Reserve, South Africa Hanneline A Smit-Robinson --- Terrestrial Bird Conservation Programme, South AfricaWetlands are vital habitats for a variety of organisms and ecosystem services, but the health of these valuable habitats is declining worldwide. The Rallidae species that rely on these habitats are typically elusive, cryptic and difficult to monitor accurately, especially... -
Bird species richness and densities in relation to sulphur dioxide gradients and environmental variables
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology • Authors: Luckson Muyemeki --- Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management (Geography and Environmental Management), South Africa Roelof Burger --- Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management (Geography and Environmental Management), South Africa Stuart J Piketh --- Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management (Geography and Environmental Management), South Africa Steven W Evans --- SARCHI Chair on Biodiversity Value and Change, School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, South AfricaThe expansion of coal-fired power stations in South Africa has resulted in growing environmental concerns as they are the largest emitters of sulphur dioxide (SO2). Sulphur dioxide emissions from power plants pose a potential threat to avian populations. However, the... -
Avian guild assemblages in forest fragments around Budongo Forest Reserve, western Uganda
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology • Authors: Moreen Uwimbabazi --- Department of Forest Biology and Ecosystems Management, Uganda Amy E Eycott --- Institute of Biology, Norway Fred Babweteera --- Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, UK Eric Sande --- Department of Biological Sciences, Uganda Richard J Telford --- Institute of Biology, Norway Vigdis Vandvik --- Institute of Biology, NorwayRemnant forest fragments provide an opportunity for conservation in fragmented landscapes but some patches are more useful than others. Forest fragments around Budongo Forest Reserve, an Important Bird Area in western Uganda, were surveyed to explore the effects of different... -
The impact of river flooding and high flow on the demersal fish assemblages of the freshwater-dominated Great Fish Estuary, South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Marine Science • Authors: P Nodo --- South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), South Africa NC James --- South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), South Africa A-R Childs --- Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, South Africa MDV Nakin --- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, South AfricaFreshwater inflow has a strong impact on the biological, chemical and physical characteristics of estuaries, which in turn affect the distribution and abundance of estuarine organisms. Increased climatic variability associated with climate change is predicated to modify precipitation patterns, which... -
Seasonality, habitat type and locality influenced bird assemblage structure in Nigeria
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology • Authors: Sulaiman I Muhammad --- Department of Biological Sciences, Nigeria Rosli Ramli --- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Malaysia Amy Y Then --- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, MalaysiaThis is the first report of the avian assemblage in the study area of Dutse, Nigeria. In addition to recording bird species, the effects of season, dominant vegetation structure, locality and anthropogenic activities on bird abundance, species richness and diversity... -
Urban bird trends in a rapidly growing tropical city
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology • Authors: Dan Chamberlain --- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, Italy Micheal Kibuule --- Department of Zoology, Uganda Roger Q Skeen --- Nature Uganda, Uganda Derek Pomeroy --- Department of Environmental Management, UgandaLong-term studies of urban birds are relatively scarce, especially in Africa. We analysed trends in species richness and bird species occurrence over a 32-year period in Kampala, Uganda, in order to assess changes in the bird community in a period... -
Changes in bat community composition and activity patterns across a conservation-agriculture boundary
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Zoology • Authors: Fezile Mtsetfwa --- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, School of Natural Resource and Environment, United States Robert A McCleery --- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, School of Natural Resource and Environment, United States Ara Monadjem --- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, School of Natural Resource and Environment, United StatesAgricultural landscapes are typically associated with a decreased biodiversity, particularly when they extend across large spatial scales. Despite the fact that some African bat species seem to provide essential ecosystem services across landscapes, we only have a limited understanding of... -
Long-term impacts of livestock grazing and browsing in the Succulent Karoo: a 20-year study of vegetation change under different grazing regimes in Namaqualand
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: Elelwani Nenzhelele --- Department of Biological Sciences, South Africa Simon W Todd --- South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON): Arid Lands Node, South Africa M Timm Hoffman --- Plant Conservation Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, South AfricaThis study used a fence-line contrast approach to investigate the long-term impact of high grazing pressure on the vegetation at a site in Namaqualand, South Africa. Forty pairs of permanently marked plots were surveyed in 1996, 2006 and 2016. The... -
Long-term physico-chemical and faunal changes in a small, rural South African estuary
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Zoology • Authors: M Kajee --- Department of Biological Sciences and Centre for Invasion Biology, South Africa CL Griffiths --- Department of Biological Sciences and Centre for Invasion Biology, South Africa SJ Lamberth --- Fisheries Management, Department of Agriculture, South AfricaThe Palmiet Estuary is a small, rural estuary in the Western Cape that only closes briefly during dry summers. The system was previously surveyed during 1979 to 1980 and we repeated the survey in April 2015 (mouth closed) and September... -
Impact of land use on woody aboveground biomass in Miombo woodlands of western Zambia – comparison of three allometric equations
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science • Authors: Priscilla Sichone --- Institute for Plant Science and Microbiology, University of Hamburg, Germany Ute Schmiedel --- Institute for Plant Science and Microbiology, University of Hamburg, Germany Jens Oldeland --- Institute for Plant Science and Microbiology, University of Hamburg, Germany Norbert Jürgens --- Institute for Plant Science and Microbiology, University of Hamburg, GermanyGlobally, the intensification of land use for agriculture, timber and fuel is considered the leading threat to the diversity and biomass of forests and woodlands. To suggest management options, it is important to understand the patterns and drivers of diversity,... -
Elevational variation of dung beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) communities on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Zoology • Authors: Christie A Sukhdeo --- Department of Biological Sciences, United States T Keith Philips --- Department of Biology, United States Geraud C Tasse --- Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Cameroon Eric B Fokam --- Department of Biology, United States Katy Morgan --- Department of Biological Sciences, United StatesDung beetles are important for the healthy functioning of tropical forest ecosystems, performing essential roles, including nutrient recycling and secondary seed dispersal. Sensitive to changes in both habitat quality and vertebrate diversity, dung beetles are ideal taxa for monitoring ecosystem... -
Structure and diversity of the Araucaria forest in southern Brazil: biotic homogenisation hinders the recognition of floristic assemblages related to altitude
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science • Authors: Lucia Sevegnani --- Departamento de Ciências Naturais, Brazil André L de Gasper --- Departamento de Ciências Naturais, Brazil Arthur V Rodrigues --- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Florestal, Brazil Débora V Lingner --- Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Brazil Leila Meyer --- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Evolução, Brazil Alexandre Uhlmann --- Embrapa Florestas, Brazil Laio Z Oliveira --- Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Brazil Alexander C Vibrans --- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Florestal, BrazilForest structure and species abundance may respond to environmental features triggered by geomorphology, altitude gradients and human impacts. In this study we investigated if data from a large-area inventory would support the segregation of floristic assemblages related to altitude-oriented forest... -
Differences in soil microbial communities and enzyme activity due to the application of bioslurry under cultivation
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: South African Journal of Plant and Soil • Authors: Motiki M Mofokeng --- , South Africa Johan Habig --- , South Africa Stephen O. Amoo --- , South Africa Christian P du Plooy --- , South Africa Phatu W Mashela --- , South Africa Mokhele E Moeletsi --- , South Africa Sonja Venter --- , South Africa Hintsa T Araya --- , South AfricaSoil micro-organisms influence soil ecosystem processes and properties. Their influence can be modified by cultivation practices, which affect their interaction with cultivated plants as well as soil physical and chemical properties. The study investigated differences in soil microbial activities between... -
The role of size and number of forest patches in the conservation of bird species in a fragmented landscape
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology • Authors: Kwaku Brako Dakwa --- , Ghana Bright Opoku --- , Ghana Judith Toku --- , GhanaWe used presence data to evaluate the role of small patches in bird conservation in the Cape Coast Metropolis of Ghana by surveying 24 forest patches. Cumulative species-area and number curves were plotted by ordering patch size from large to... -
Macrofauna associated with intertidal mussel beds in the Knysna estuarine embayment, South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Zoology • Authors: Alan N Hodgson --- , South Africa Frances Smith --- , South Africa Peter Smith --- , South Africa Louw Claassens --- , South AfricaThe alien invasive mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis, forms biogenic habitats in the embayment of Knysna Estuary. Invertebrate macrofauna inhabiting mussel beds were sampled from six sites in the embayment. In addition, mussel cover, mussel bed depth, density and size of mussels... -
Biodiversity hotspot revisited: reptile and amphibian assemblages of the Uluguru Mountain Forest Reserves, south-eastern Tanzania
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Herpetology • Authors: Felix J Mkonyi --- Dar es Salaam University College of Education, TanzaniaAlthough the knowledge about the Tanzanian reptiles and amphibians has drastically increased in recent years, the knowledge on the amphibian and reptile fauna of the remaining forest reserves of the Uluguru Mountains (UMs) is only partially known. Amphibians and reptiles... -
Macrophyte species diversity and distribution in relation to water quality of the Cheleleka Wetland in Ethiopia
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Aquatic Science • Authors: Haymanot Tesfaye --- , Ethiopia Bikila Warkineh --- , EthiopiaThe Cheleleka Wetland is located in the Ethiopian Rift Valley on the upper shore of Lake Hawassa, after which the regional capital is named. This study investigated the relationship between water quality and the occurrence and diversity of macrophyte species... -
Structural assemblages of plant species in the Owabi Ramsar Wetland in the Ashanti Region of Ghana
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Aquatic Science • Authors: Collins A Nsor --- , Ghana Rockson Acolatse --- , Ghana John N Mensah --- , Ghana Samuel K Oppong --- , Ghana Daniel Dompreh --- , Ghana Louis Addai-Wireko --- , GhanaAnthropogenic activities as predictors of species assemblages in the Owabi Ramsar Wetland were investigated between May and September 2019. Data were collected in 154 plots at five different sites. The prevalence index method was used to categorise the species into... -
Comparative avifaunal richness and diversity in invasive Acacia dealbata patches and adjacent montane grasslands
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Zoology • Authors: Jessica Seath --- , South Africa Charlie Shackleton --- , South AfricaInvasive alien species are regarded as the second greatest threat to biodiversity globally. Yet, at a local scale their effects may vary, underlying the requirement for more local-scale studies across taxa and settings. Here we consider the effects of an... -
Assessment of plant species composition and natural regeneration in abandoned settlements in the lower montane forest of Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science • Authors: Imani Abinery Kikoti --- , Tanzania Cosmas Mligo --- , Tanzania Henry Joseph Ndangalasi --- , TanzaniaAnthropogenic modification of montane forests to other land uses has significant effects on native vegetation and the ecological functions of plant communities, such as in the forests of Mount Kilimanjaro. This study was carried out in Kilimanjaro National Park at... -
A Bat Hawk Macheiramphus alcinus pair preyed primarily on bats and birds that forage in clutter-edge and open-air habitat groups
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Zoology • Authors: G Malan --- , South Africa E Harris --- , South Africa T Harris --- , South Africa A Monadjem --- , EswatiniThis study aimed to analyse the diet of a pair of Bat Hawks Macheiramphus alcinus, based on regurgitated pellets, and the associated habitat-foraging groups that the prey species belonged to. A total of 908 regurgitated pellets were collected from underneath... -
Herpetofaunal utilisation of riparian buffer zones in an agricultural landscape near Mtunzini, South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: The Journal of the Herpetological Association of Africa • Authors: Bryan Maritz --- University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa GrahamJ. Alexander --- University of the Witwatersrand, South AfricaWe measured herpetofaunal species richness and abundance in riparian and non‐riparian habitats of an agriculture‐dominated landscape to compare herpetofaunal utilisation of these two habitat types. Riparian areas hosted higher mean species richness and abundance than non‐riparian areas. Riparian and non‐riparian... -
The impacts of past cultivation on the reptiles in a South African grassland
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Herpetology • Authors: Gavin P. R. Masterson --- University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa Bryan Maritz --- University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa Darian Mackay --- University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa GrahamJ. Alexander --- University of the Witwatersrand, South AfricaHabitat transfonnation is the primary anthropogenic threat to global biodiversity. Fragmentation of reptile populations following habitat transfonnation within a landscape can lead to the extirpation of species. We investigated the effects of land-use on the species richness and abundance of... -
Revised phylogeny of African sand lizards (Pedioplanis), with the description of two new species from south-western Angola
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Herpetology • Authors: Werner Conradie --- , South Africa G. John Measey --- South African National Biodiversity Institute, South Africa WilliamR. Branch --- , South Africa KrystalA. Tolley --- South African National Biodiversity Institute, South AfricaAlthough reptile diversity in Africa is high, it is poorly represented in Angola, with just 257 species known. Despite its greater surface area and habitat diversity Angola has significantly lower lacertid lizard diversity than adjacent Namibia. This is particularly notable... -
Fine-scale variation reveals high structure and floristic heterogeneity in dry forests of the Cerrado
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science • Authors: Frederico Augusto Guimarães Guilherme --- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Jataí, Brasil Deivid Lopes Machado --- Universidade Federal de Jataí, Brasil Gabriel Eliseu Silva --- Universidade Federal de Jataí, Brasil Natanael Moreira Nascimento --- Universidade Federal de Jataí, Brasil Gustavo Luz Ferreira --- Universidade Federal de Jataí, Brasil Kaila de Assis Ressel Pereira --- Universidade Federal de Jataí, Brasil Ana Paula de Souza --- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Jataí, Brasil Pollyana de Godoy Borges --- Universidade Federal de Jataí, Brasil Laura Rezende Souza --- Universidade Federal de Jataí, Brasil James Dean Leal Rocha --- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Jataí, Brasil Christiano Peres Coelho --- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Jataí, Brasil Everton Alves Maciel --- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Jataí, Brasil Wendy Carniello Ferreira --- Universidade Federal de Jataí, Brasil Marlon Zortéa --- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Jataí, Brasil Steffan Eduardo Silva Carneiro --- Universidade Federal de Jataí, BrasilThis study aimed to compare the floristic and tree structure of two dry forests patches located in a forest remnant encompassed in Cerrado biome, south Goiás state, Brazil. In semideciduous (SF) and deciduous (DF) dry forests, we allocated 25 permanent... -
Site- and habitat-dependent variations in the diversity of polychaetes associated with golden kelp Ecklonia radiata holdfasts along the southeast coast of South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Marine Science • Authors: N Nkohla --- Walter Sisulu University, South Africa TS Dlaza --- Walter Sisulu University, South AfricaPolychaetes are important components of the macrofaunal communities associated with golden kelp Ecklonia radiata holdfasts across different spatial scales. However, the polychaete component varies in different habitat types in response to varying environmental conditions. Here, we compared patterns of variation... -
Spatial patterns and environmental drivers of demersal fish assemblages in the Swartkops and Sundays estuarine to marine seascapes, South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Anthropology Southern Africa • Authors: P Nodo --- South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), South Africa AR Childs --- Rhodes University, South Africa P Pattrick --- Nelson Mandela University, South Africa NC James --- South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), South AfricaEstuaries are often observed as the boundary between the ocean and the river, separating coastal environments, rather than being seen as a continuum. Owing to insufficient research on demersal fish communities across nearshore marine to estuarine habitats, particularly in South... -
Mammalian and avian community response to African elephant (Loxodonta africana) habitat disturbance in south-eastern Kenya
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Zoology • Authors: Dakota Vaccaro --- Western Kentucky University, United States Bruce A Schulte --- Western Kentucky University, United StatesAfrican elephants (Loxodonta africana) play a significant role in the modification of their habitat, foremost by decreasing woody vegetation cover and density. Little is known regarding the effects of elephant habitat disturbance (EHD) on medium-to-large mammal and bird communities. While... -
Influence of physico-chemical parameters on benthic macroinvertebrate community dynamics in Isiukhu River, Kenya
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Aquatic Science • Authors: Emmanuel Mzungu --- Kenya Fisheries Service (Western Region), Kenya William A Shivoga --- Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenya Dorothy K Lukhabi --- Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECoR), Ghana Anthony W Sifuna --- Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, KenyaThe current study investigated the influence of physico-chemical parameters on macroinvertebrates distribution, abundance and diversity throughout the Isiukhu River. The sampling sites were selected along the Isiukhu River based on distinct land use types at the upstream, midstream and downstream... -
Effects of forest cover and fragmentation on bird functional guilds in understorey birds in shade coffee habitats of southwest Ethiopia
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology • Authors: Gelaye Gebremichael --- College of Natural Sciences, Jimma University, Ethiopia Anagaw Atickem --- Colleges of Natural Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia Seid Tiku Mereta --- Jimma University, Ethiopia Luc Lens --- Ghent University, BelgiumHabitat loss and fragmentation, as consequences of anthropogenic land use changes, are the main drivers of global biodiversity loss. In this study, we evaluate the response of functional guilds in forest understorey bird communities to the amount of forest cover... -
Distribution and status of reptile species in south-eastern Zimbabwe
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Herpetology • Authors: Kurt M van Wyk --- University of the Western Cape, South Africa Bryan Maritz --- University of the Western Cape, South Africa Bruce W Clegg --- Malilangwe Trust, Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve, ZimbabweWhile the loss of biodiversity in response to anthropogenic drivers is well documented, reptiles are rarely prioritised in global conservation efforts. Although more than 20% of all reptile species are currently listed as threatened, and a growing body of evidence... -
Mycorrhizal fungi in Acacia mearnsii plantations and native fragments of the Pampas biome, southern Brazil
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science • Authors: Etienne Winagraski --- Universidade Federal do Paraná, Brazil Celso Garcia Auer --- Universidade Federal do Paraná, Brazil Pedro Henrique Riboldi Monteiro --- Universidade Federal do Paraná, Brazil Antônio Rioyei Higa --- Universidade Federal do Paraná, Brazil Glaciela Kaschuk --- Universidade Federal do Paraná, BrazilBlack wattle (Acacia mearnsii) was introduced to southern Brazil in the 1930s without any documented history of microbial inoculation. This study tested the hypothesis that black wattle introduction does not harm indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) communities or reduce soil... -
Bird community composition across a land use gradient in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology • Authors: Regine C Tabe Tiku --- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Austria Samuel EI Jones --- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, Cyprus Malange NF Elikwo --- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Cameroon Kowo Cyril --- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Cameroon Steve Ngoy --- Centre de Suiveillance de la Biodiversite, Universite de Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo Virginia Zaunbrecher --- Center for Tropical Research, University of California, United States Ravinder NM Sehgal --- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, United StatesCocoa agroforestry expansion is widespread in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, posing a significant threat to the integrity of protected areas. Despite this threat, the impact of this expansion on forest bird communities remains largely unexamined. This study investigated bird... -
Spatial variation in diversity of rodent species across habitat types in the Kavango East Region, Namibia
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Zoology • Authors: Ester N Kayala --- Department of Environmental Science, University of Namibia, Namibia Seth J Eiseb --- Department of Environmental Science, University of Namibia, Namibia Apia W Massawe --- Africa Centre of Excellence for Innovative Rodent Pest Management and Biosensor Technology Development, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania Rhodes H Makundi --- Africa Centre of Excellence for Innovative Rodent Pest Management and Biosensor Technology Development, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania Loth S Mulungu --- Africa Centre of Excellence for Innovative Rodent Pest Management and Biosensor Technology Development, Sokoine University of Agriculture, TanzaniaThis study aimed to investigate spatial variations in rodent species composition, abundance, richness, and diversity across three habitat types—fallow land, relatively undisturbed land and residential areas—in the Kavango East Region of Namibia. Rodent trapping was performed using PVC live traps...