Search
Search results for
We found
90 results for you
-
Influence of climatic and edaphic factors on the distribution of eragrostis lehmanniana nees in Arizona, USA
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Journal of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa • Authors: J R Cox --- US Department of Agriculture, USA G B Ruyle --- Renewable Natural Resources, USALehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana Nees) was introduced into Arizona, USA, from South Africa in 1932 and has since been sown throughout the southwestern USA and Northern Mexico. The species is well adapted in southeastern Arizona where it has been sown... -
A gradient analysis of grassed mountain catchments in the natal Drakensberg
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Journal of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa • Authors: R.S. Walker --- Department of Environment Affairs,An indirect gradient analysis was carried out on vegetation and environmental data from the Mdedelelo Wilderness Area of Cathedral Peak State Forest in Highland Sourveld. Vegetation ordination axes were correlated with environmental variables deduced to have influenced species‐composition. Altitude proved... -
Towards visual assessment of succulent valley bushveld
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Journal of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa • Authors: G.C. Stuart‐Hill --- Department of Grassland Science, Republic of South AfricaVisual vegetation assessment was tested for repeatability and accuracy and compared with an objective survey technique for time and cost efficiency. Eighteen operators first inspected a range of sites where ecological status was known. Using these for reference, they then... -
The use of degradation gradients for the assessment and ecological interpretation of range condition
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Journal of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa • Authors: O.J.H. Bosch --- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Republic of South Africa H.G. Gauch --- Department of Soil, Crop and Atmospheric Sciences, United States of AmericaMultivariate procedures were used to subdivide the southern African climatic climax grasslands of the 700–800‐mm rainfall zone into relatively homogeneous grazing areas. A degradation gradient was constructed for each of these areas. This was done by means of centred PCA... -
An alternative approach to veld condition assessment in the non‐grassveld regions of South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Journal of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa • Authors: G.C. Stuart‐Hill --- Department of Grassland Science, Republic of South Africa F.O. Hobson --- , Republic of South AfricaTraditional veld condition assessment methods score veld either in terms of its ‘state of health’ or its value for a specific land‐use objective. This is problematic and we propose that ‘veld condition’ should simply be a descriptive index, devoid of... -
An investigation into the problems associated with revegetating chrysotile tailings
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: South African Journal of Plant and Soil • Authors: L. van Rensburg --- , Republic of South Africa L. Pistoruis --- , Republic of South AfricaThe present investigation was initiated because of the limited success achieved in the past at attempts to revegetate chrysotile tailings with their associated inherent environmental risk factors. The current set of experiments and surveys, as with several previous studies, were... -
Grondgeassosieerde, lineêre plantegroeipatrone in die Warmbadomgewing van die Limpopo-provinsie van Suid-Afrika
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: South African Journal of Plant and Soil • Authors: J.J. Dinkelmann --- Departement Geografie en Omgewingstudies, E. Verster --- Departement Geografie en Omgewingstudies, T.H. van Rooyen --- Departement Geografie en Omgewingstudies,Lineêre mikroreliëfverskynsels wat op lugfoto's soos vingerafdrukpatrone vertoon en bestaande uit boomryke kruine en grasryke trôe is op die voethang van die Baviaansberg, Warmbadomgewing (Suid-Afrika) beskryf. Vir die doel om die oorsprong van die verskynsels te verklaar is van 'n... -
Germination strategies of Strandveld Succulent Karoo plant species for revegetation purposes: III Effect of relative humidity and storage site on seed viability
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: South African Journal of Plant and Soil • Authors: A.J. de Villiers --- Department of Botany, Republic of South Africa M.W. van Rooyen --- Department of Botany, Republic of South Africa G.K. Theron --- Department of Botany, Republic of South AfricaChanges in seed viability owing to fluctuations in environmental conditions (temperature and relative humidity) are crucial factors to consider during post-mining revegetation efforts in the Strandveld Succulent Karoo. The effect of relative humidity and storage site on seed viability was... -
Evaluation of soil conservation measures on a highly erodible soil in the Free State province, South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: South African Journal of Plant and Soil • Authors: D Garry Paterson --- Agricultural Research Council–Institute for Soil, Climate and Water, South Africa Hendrik J Smith --- Agricultural Research Council–Institute for Soil, Climate and Water, South Africa Andri van Greunen --- Free State Provincial Department of Agriculture, South AfricaSoil erosion is a problem in South Africa, and is exacerbated by poor land use practices and erodible soils. Several methods are available to address the problem and a runoff trial was conducted over four rainfall seasons on an erodible,... -
FACTORS INFLUENCING VIABLE BACTERIA IN A TURBID MAN-MADE IMPOUNDMENT
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Journal of the Limnological Society of Southern Africa • Authors: D.F. Toerien --- , South Africa 0001 D.N. Sadie --- , South Africa 0001 P. Stegmann --- , South Africa 0001The numbers of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria in the waters and sediments of the small turbid impoundment, Wuras Dam, are very high (≥100 000 ml −1 and ≥ 1x106 bacteria g−1 respectively). Viable bacterial numbers in the open water seem to... -
A CONCEPTUAL MODEL OF A SILTATION SYSTEM IN SHALLOW LAKES WITH LITTORAL VEGETATION
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Journal of the Limnological Society of Southern Africa • Authors: P.J. Weisser --- Facultad de Ciencias,In shallow lakes a siltation system develops when wind driven water turbulence erodes the lake floor, silt is resuspended and transported by means of waterdrift into the littoral vegetation. Here, due to the resistance of the vegetation, the turbulence is... -
DISSEMINATION OF AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES ON WINDBLOWN VEGETATION MATS IN LAKE CHILWA, MALAWI
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Journal of the Limnological Society of Southern Africa • Authors: M.A. Cantrell --- Lake Chilwa Co-ordinated Research Project, MalaŵiExceptionally high water levels in Lake Chilwa, Malaŵi, resulted in large tracts of the swamp vegetation becoming detached from the periphery of the lake. The open water became littered with large rafts of the bulrush, Typha domingeneis together with other... -
PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL AND BIOTIC RESPONSES TO DECREASING WATER DEPTH IN A HIGHVELD PAN FOLLOWING WET AND DRY SUMMERS
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Southern African Journal of Aquatic Sciences • Authors: KH Rogers --- Department of Botany, WN Ellery --- Department of Botany, NL Winternitz --- Department of Botany, R Dohmeier --- Department of Botany,The classification of highveld pans by Geldenhuys (1982) emphasized the spatial diversity of morphology, vegetation and fauna. However, since the characteristics of individual pans also change seasonally and over longer term wet/dry cycles, he called for more detailed limnological studies... -
AN ASSESSMENT OF THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF ALIEN INVASIVE VEGETATION ON THE GEOMORPHOLOGY OF RIVER CHANNELS IN SOUTH AFRICA
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Southern African Journal of Aquatic Sciences • Authors: Kate Rowntree --- Department of Geography, South AfricaInvasion of the riparian zone by alien vegetation is recognised as a serious problem in many areas of South Africa. Vegetation is a dynamic component of river channels. It is an important control variable affecting channel form whereas the flow... -
THE BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATE FAUNA OF A SOUTH AFRICAN MOUNTAIN STREAM AND ITS RESPONSE TO FIRE
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Southern African Journal of Aquatic Sciences • Authors: D.L. Britton --- Freshwater Research Unit, Zoology Department, South AfricaThe effects of a late-summer prescribed burn on the temperature and benthic macroinvertebrate fauna of a south-western Cape mountain stream were investigated over a period of 12 months. Temperature and discharge regimes appear well-defined and relatively predictable from year to... -
Impacts of non-selective grazing on cover, composition, and productivity of Nama-karoo grassy shrubland
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: P.C. Beukes R.M. CowlingThe non-selective rotational grazing system has undergone a long and controversial development. The merits of this grazing system, where relatively large numbers of livestock are herded into numerous small paddocks for short timespans with long rests between grazings, have not... -
Ecosystem development on seven rehabilitated discard dumps
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: TL Morgenthal L Van RensburgTo successfully rehabilitate disturbed land the initial input of resources and the maintenance afterwards must be an integrated process. The achievement of a good vegetation basal, crown and organic ground cover can be regarded as one of the central aims... -
A comparison of the effects of different rangeland management systems on plant species composition, diversity and vegetation structure in a semi-arid savanna
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: M Smet D WardMost of South Africa's land surface is arid or semi-arid rangeland. Three management systems exploit these areas: commercial livestock ranching, communal livestock ranching and game ranching. The ways in which these management systems affect rangeland ecology is contentious due to... -
Diet selection by sheep and goats in the Arid Karoo
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: P.C.V. du Toit --- Department of Agriculture, Republic of South Africa C.D. Blom --- Department of Agriculture, Republic of South Africa W.F. Immelman --- Department of Agriculture, Republic of South AfricaThe diet selected by Afrino, Dorper and Merino sheep, and Angora goats was studied in the Arid Karoo at Carnarvon. The diets selected by these small stock species and breeds was established through breed by breed comparisons, with a view... -
Evaluation of the point‐centred‐quarter method of sampling Kaffrarian Succulent Thicket
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: G.C. Stuart‐Hill --- Department of Grassland Science, Republic of South AfricaThe objective was to evaluate the efficiency and repeatability of the point‐centred‐quarter method. The parameter which was most efficiently sampled was species composition (relative density) with 90% replicate similarity being achieved with 100 point‐centred‐quarters. However, this technique cannot be recommended,... -
Browse production and leaf phenology of some trees and shrubs in different Colophospermum mopane savanna communities
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: B. Dekker --- Department of Agriculture, Republic of South Africa G.N. Smit --- Department of Agriculture, Republic of South AfricaLeaf dry mass (DM) at peak biomass was estimated for different plant communities in a semi‐arid savanna. These estimates included the total leaf DM, as well as estimates of the leaf DM at browsing heights of 1.5 m, 2.0 m... -
Perspective article: Simulation models for semi‐arid rangelands of southern Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: T. Wiegand --- Department of Ecological Modelling, Germany F. Jeltsch --- Department of Ecological Modelling, Germany S. Bauer --- Department of Ecological Modelling, Germany K. Kellner --- Department of Plant‐ and Soil Sciences, South AfricaIn semi‐arid regions, the effects of grazing or sparing management on natural communities of long‐lived plants generally take decades to become evident. Event‐driven dynamic behaviour, unpredictable and low rainfall, and complicated interactions between species make it difficult to gather sufficient... -
Impact of sustained drought on a semi‐arid Colophospermum mopane savanna
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: T.G. O'Connor --- Department of Range and Forage Resources, Republic of South AfricaVegetation change on different substrate types was measured over 15 years in semi‐arid Mopani Veld. Baseline data were collected in the terminal year (1982) of a decade of above‐average rainfall, whilst the period of monitoring was characterised by below‐average rainfall,... -
Physicochemical characteristics of communal rangeland soils along two defined toposequences in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: MS Lesoli --- Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, South Africa S Dube --- Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, South Africa AO Fatunbi --- Agricultural and Rural Development Research Institute, South Africa B Moyo --- Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, South AfricaTo proffer a sustainable solution to rangeland degradation, an understanding of the innate soil properties is vital. This study investigated the relative association of surface (0–20 cm) soil physicochemical properties, viz. electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity (CEC), soil organic carbon,... -
Impacts of mine dump pollution on plant species diversity, composition and structure of a semiarid savanna in Namibia
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: I Mapaure --- Department of Biological Sciences, Namibia PM Chimwamurombe --- Department of Biological Sciences, Namibia BS Mapani --- Department of Geology, Namibia FA Kamona --- Department of Geology, NamibiaEffects of mine dump pollution on semiarid savanna vegetation were investigated in Kombat, Namibia. Vegetation structure, species richness, composition and diversity were compared between polluted and control sites. Concentrations of arsenic, chromium, copper, lead and zinc in soils were significantly... -
The effects of a deferred grazing system on rangeland vegetation in a north-western, semi-arid region of Tanzania
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: Ismail S Selemani --- Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norway Lars O Eik --- Department of International Environment and Development Studies (Noragric), Norway Øystein Holand --- Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norway Tormod Ådnøy --- Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norway Ephraim Mtengeti --- Department of Animal Science and Production, Tanzania Daniel Mushi --- Department of Animal Science and Production, TanzaniaThe present study assessed the effects of deferred grazing management on rangeland condition using aboveground biomass, vegetation cover and species composition as indicators of range condition. The experiment was based on traditionally conserved exclosures (ngitili). Data were collected in Shinyanga... -
Towards reduced herbicide use in forest vegetation management
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: The Southern African Forestry Journal • Authors: K.M. Little I. Willoughby R.G. Wagner P. Adams H. Frochot J. Gava S. Gous R.A. Lautenschlager G. örlander K.V. Sankaran R.P. WeiMechanical, manual, thermal, biological and chemical methods of managing forest vegetation have, to a large extent, been developed independently. The effectiveness and relatively low cost of chemical herbicides, however, have led to systems of vegetation management that rely on their... -
Targeted spot vegetation management in Pinus radiata and P. elliottii plantations, Tsitsikamma, South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: The Southern African Forestry Journal • Authors: S.F. Gous --- , New ZealandTowards the end of 1995, granular herbicides were introduced in South African forestry. Traditionally, weed control was done by manual slashing or herbicides were applied by knapsack sprayer. Targeted, spot herbicide application is more environmentally friendly, less expensive and easier... -
Primary habitats of the St Lucia Estuarine System, South Africa, and their responses to mouth management
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Aquatic Science • Authors: Ricky Taylor JanineB Adams Sylvi HaldorsenFour primary habitats have been identified in the St Lucia estuarine system, each having a suite of characteristic vegetation types. These can be described as follows: (1) open water; (2) intertidal shoreline; (3) 'dry' shoreline and island (i.e. those habitats... -
Population demographics of Palaemon peringueyi (Macpherson 1990) (Decapoda: Palaemonidae) in a small intermittently open Eastern Cape estuary
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Aquatic Science • Authors: PW FronemanThe population demographics of the caridean shrimp Palaemon peringueyi was investigated monthly at four sites over a period of one year in the small, intermittently-open Grants River Estuary situated on the south-east coastline of southern Africa. Mean total abundance and... -
The distribution and abundance of the endangered Knysna seahorse Hippocampus capensis (Pisces: Syngnathidae) in South African estuaries
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Aquatic Science • Authors: JacquelineF Lockyear Thomas Hecht Horst Kaiser PeterR TeskeThe occurrence, distribution and abundance of the endangered Knysna seahorse Hippocampus capensis in 10 estuaries on South Africa's warm temperate south coast, were investigated. Seahorses were found only in the Knysna, Swartvlei and Keurbooms estuaries. Sex ratios were even and,... -
The response of Cyperus papyrus (L.) and Miscanthidium violaceum (K. Schum.) Robyns to eutrophication in natural wetlands of Lake Victoria, Uganda
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Aquatic Science • Authors: J Kipkemboi --- Department of Zoology, Kenya F Kansiime --- , Uganda P Denny --- , The NetherlandsInterrelationships between nutrient concentrations and aerial biomass, root numbers, length and rhizomes size in Cyperus papyrus (L.) (papyrus) and Miscanthidium violaceum (K. Schum.) Robyns (synonymous to Miscanthus violaceus (K. Schum) Pilg.) were established in five different wetlands around the northern... -
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... -
Macroinvertebrates associated with two submerged macrophytes, Lagarosiphon ilicifolius and Vallisneria aethiopica, in the Sanyati Basin, Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe: effect of plant morphological complexity
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, Department of Zoology, South AfricaVallisneria aethiopica and Lagarosiphon ilicifolius are common and abundant submerged macrophytes in Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe. The two species have distinct structural morphologies, with Vallisneria consisting of long ribbon-like leaves, while Lagarosiphon has filiform stems with numerous small alternate leaves. This... -
The effects of fire on wetland structure and functioning
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Aquatic Science • Authors: DC Kotze --- School of Agriculture, Earth and Environmental Sciences, South AfricaFire is an extensively used wetland management tool in both tropical and temperate areas, but its effects on wetlands are not well understood. The purpose of this paper is to review the effects of fire on wetland hydrology, biogeochemical cycling... -
Trends in waterbird diversity at Banzi, Shokwe and Nyamithi pans, Ndumo Game Reserve, South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology • Authors: Madel Whittington --- Department of Nature Conservation, South Africa Gerard Malan --- Department of Nature Conservation, South Africa MichaelD Panagos --- Department of Nature Conservation, South AfricaOur understanding of the timeous changes to pan-associated bird diversity is very important for the conservation of these wetlands. At Ndumo Game Reserve, a Ramsar site located in northern KwaZulu-Natal, seasonal (from March 2005 to January 2006 at Nyamithi Pan)... -
Weed composition in relation to site in re-established pine compartments on the Mpumalanga Escarpment, South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: The Southern African Forestry Journal • Authors: Leander Jarvel --- Sappi Forests Research: Shaw Research Centre, Robert Pallett --- Sappi Forests Research: Shaw Research Centre,A survey of weed species distribution patterns and abundance in clearfelled pine compartments in the Mpumalanga escarpment region was undertaken to determine the relationship between weed species and cover abundance in relation to environmental and compartmental factors. In total359 transects... -
Efficiency of inventory plot patterns in quantitative analysis of vegetation: a case study of tropical woodland and dense forest in Benin
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science • Authors: ValèreK Salako --- Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, Benin RomainL Glele Kakaï --- Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, Benin AchilleE Assogbadjo --- Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, Benin Belarmain Fandohan --- Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, Benin Marcel Houinato --- Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, Benin Rodolphe Palm --- Agro-Bio Tech, BelgiumThe main issue in forest inventory is the reliability of data collected, which depends on the shape and size of inventoried plots. There is also a need for harmonisation of inventoried plot patterns in West Africa. This study focused on... -
The impact of indigenous ungulate herbivory over five years (2004–2008) on the vegetation of the Little Karoo, South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: MT Hoffman --- Plant Conservation Unit, Botany Department, South Africa CF Madden --- Plant Conservation Unit, Botany Department, South Africa K Erasmus --- Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, South Africa N Saayman --- Department of Agriculture: Western Cape, South Africa JC Botha --- Department of Agriculture: Western Cape, South AfricaThis study investigated the impact of rainfall and herbivory by indigenous herbivores over five years (2004–2008) on the vegetation of the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve (SWR), a 54 000 ha privately owned conservation area in the Little Karoo. Changes in floristic... -
The effects of soil conditions and grazing strategy on plant species composition in a semi-arid savanna
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: M-L Britz D WardThe tree:grass ratio of savannas is important, especially in the semi-arid savannas of South Africa. An increase in tree cover leads to reduced productivity and profitability of rangelands. We investigated the effects of soil type and grazing strategy on the... -
Restoring bare patches in the Nama-Karoo of South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: N Visser C Morris MB Hardy JC BothaOften veld degrades to a point beyond which vegetation cover, plant density and species composition do not recover despite the removal of the grazing impact. In such cases restoration interventions become necessary to assist with the re-establishment of vegetation. The... -
Performance of Eucalyptus dunnii as influenced by vegetation control when felled at nine years in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science • Authors: KM LittleIn 1997, a trial was initiated to determine the impact of eight vegetation control treatments on the growth of Eucalyptus dunnii Maiden at a warm-temperate site in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, South Africa. The treatments included a Weedy and Weed-free check,... -
Estimating plot-level forest structural attributes using high spectral resolution ASTER satellite data in even-aged Eucalyptus plantations in southern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science • Authors: MT Gebreslasie FB Ahmed JAN van AardtThis study assessed the suitability of both visible and shortwave infrared of ASTER reflectance bands and various vegetation indices for estimating forest structural attributes of Eucalyptus species. The study was conducted in even-aged monoculture plantations of E. grandis and E... -
Fire can suppress the development of macrophyllous thickets
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: Paul Gordijn --- South African Environmental Observation Network, Grasslands, Wetlands and Forests Node, South Africa David Ward --- School of Life Sciences, South AfricaThe ingression of woody plants into savannas, known as bush or shrub encroachment, has become a global concern. Fire has been acknowledged as a key factor in managing woody vegetation in savannas. This study assessed the role of fire in... -
The impact of land use on woody plant cover and species composition on the Grahamstown municipal commonage: implications for South Africa's land reform programme
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: James R Puttick --- Plant Conservation Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, South Africa M Timm Hoffman --- Plant Conservation Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, South Africa James Gambiza --- Department of Environmental Science, South AfricaUsing an analysis of aerial photographs from 1942, 1985 and 2004 we assessed the impact of changing land tenure and land-use regimes on the cover of thicket vegetation on the Grahamstown commonage. Land-use impacts were examined by comparing plant species... -
Temporal and spatial variability in the abundance, biomass and distribution of Palaemon peringueyi (Decapoda: Crustacea) are influenced by biological but not physico-chemical factors in the permanently open Kariega Estuary, South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Aquatic Science • Authors: NP Nyalungu --- South African National Parks, Cape Research Centre, South Africa AN Hodgson --- Department of Zoology and Entomology, South Africa PW Froneman --- Department of Zoology and Entomology, South Africa M Dopolo --- South African National Parks, Cape Research Centre, South Africa M Masubelele --- South African National Parks, Cape Research Centre, South AfricaBiological and physico-chemical factors affecting abundance and biomass of shrimp Palaemon peringueyi were investigated in 2010–2011 in the lower, middle and upper reaches of the freshwater-deprived permanently open Kariega Estuary. Shrimp abundance and biomass ranged from 0 to 88 ind... -
Mammal and bird road mortalities on the Upington to Twee Rivieren main road in the southern Kalahari, South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Zoology • Authors: K. L. Bullock --- Department of Nature Conservation, South Africa G. Malan --- Department of Nature Conservation, South Africa M. D. Pretorius --- Department of Nature Conservation, South AfricaRoad ecology is becoming an increasingly important aspect of conservation biology. Carcasses lying on the road often confront visitors travelling to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park between Upington and the Twee Rivieren Rest Camp. This study investigated the species killed, the... -
Grassland bird response to vegetation structural heterogeneity and clearing of invasive bramble
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Zoology • Authors: Chevonne Reynolds --- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa Craig T. Symes --- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South AfricaSpatial and temporal patterns of disturbance and the subsequent heterogeneity are critical in maintaining biodiversity within grassland ecosystems. Grassland birds have evolved within this ‘shifting mosaic’ to become reliant on specific habitat characteristics maintained under varying levels of both natural... -
Impact of marine inundation after a period of drought on the lakeshore vegetation of Lake St Lucia, South Africa: resilience of estuarine vegetation
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Aquatic Science • Authors: EJJ Sieben --- Department of Plant Sciences, South Africa WN Ellery --- Department of Geography, South Africa BW Dullo --- Center for Energy and Environmental studies, The Netherlands AP Grootjans --- Center for Energy and Environmental studies, The NetherlandsThe shore of Lake St Lucia in the vicinity of Catalina Bay, in the southern part of the lake, receives freshwater input as surface and groundwater seepage from the adjacent elevated coastal plain. Vegetation, water quality and landform were recorded... -
Herbaceous biomass–species diversity relationships in nutrient hotspots of a semi-arid African riparian ecosystem
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: Helga van Coller --- Unit of Environmental Sciences and Management, South Africa Frances Siebert --- Unit of Environmental Sciences and Management, South AfricaThe hump-back relationship between species diversity and productivity predicts highest species richness at intermediate levels of biomass, and low species numbers in least and most productive habitats. Sodic patches of semi-arid savannas are considered ‘nutrient hotspots’ by producing high-quality forage... -
Establishing Cynodon dactylon on mining tailings and mining-impacted soil of a copper–cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: JE Granger --- SAEON, South Africa TG O'Connor --- SAEON, South AfricaMining for copper and cobalt generates extensive mounds of removed topsoil and subsoil, and tailings with toxic levels of copper and cobalt. The threat of soil erosion in a high rainfall regime can be countered with rapid establishment of a... -
Plant selection and grazing activity of the invasive snail Theba pisana in coastal Algoa Bay, South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Zoology • Authors: Sean van Elden --- DST–NRF Research Chair in Shallow Water Ecosystems, South Africa Nelson AF Miranda --- DST–NRF Research Chair in Shallow Water Ecosystems, South Africa Renzo Perissinotto --- DST–NRF Research Chair in Shallow Water Ecosystems, South Africa Janine B Adams --- Department of Botany, South AfricaThe land snail Theba pisana is a coastal species native to the Mediterranean but has been introduced to regions all over the world, including South Africa and Australia, where it is considered a pest. This study examines the diet of... -
The population dynamics of the estuarine isopod Exosphaeroma hylocoetes (Barnard, 1940) within three temporarily open/closed southern African estuaries
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Zoology • Authors: T.O. Henninger [AN0001] P.W Froneman --- Department of Zoology and Entomology, South Africa A.N. Hodgson --- Department of Zoology and Entomology, South AfricaThe population dynamics of the estuarine isopod, Exosphaeroma hylocoetes, was investigated monthly from February 2006 to August 2007 in three temporarily open/closed Eastern Cape estuaries, the East and West Kleinemonde and Kasouga Estuaries. Mean isopod abundances and biomasses ranged between... -
Effects of smoke, ash and heat shock on seed germination of seven species from Central Zagros rangelands in the semi-arid region of Iran
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: Ali Asghar Naghipour --- Department of Natural Resources, Iran Hossein Bashari --- Department of Natural Resources, Iran Seyed Jamaleddin Khajeddin --- Department of Natural Resources, Iran Pejman Tahmasebi --- Faculty of Natural Resources and Earth Science, Iran Majid Iravani --- Department of Natural Resources, IranFire products have been widely identified as germination cues for a number of species from both fire-prone and fire-free ecosystems. However, there is uncertainty about the effects of fire products on seed germination of semi-arid rangeland species. We examined the... -
A baseline classification of riparian woodland plant communities in the Okavango Delta, Botswana
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science • Authors: Gaolathe Tsheboeng --- Okavango Research Institute, Botswana Mike Murray-Hudson --- Okavango Research Institute, Botswana Keotshepile Kashe --- Okavango Research Institute, BotswanaIn the Okavango Delta information on the riparian woodland vegetation community composition and distribution is generally lacking. Past studies in the Delta were mainly focused on the quantitative classification of seasonal floodplain herbaceous vegetation communities. The aim of this study... -
Different drivers create spatial vegetation cover and vertical structure in semi-arid African savannas
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: Rheinhardt Scholtz --- Scientific Services, South African National Parks, South Africa Gregory A Kiker --- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, USA Gregory D Duckworth --- Department of Statistics, South Africa Ursula M Scharler --- School of Life Sciences, South Africa Henry G Mwambi --- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, South Africa Frederick J Venter --- Conservation Management, South AfricaImportant drivers of woody cover in African savannas are rainfall, soil and nutrients, and disturbance factors, such as fire and herbivory. However, very little is known about how these drivers influence woody cover at specific height classes. The main aim... -
Effects of land-use changes on benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages in the tropical Umfurudzi River, Zimbabwe
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Aquatic Science • Authors: T Bere --- Chinhoyi University of Technology, Zimbabwe G Chiyangwa --- Chinhoyi University of Technology, Zimbabwe T Mwedzi --- Chinhoyi University of Technology, ZimbabweThe responses of benthic macroinvertebrates to land-use-induced changes in water quality and habitat because of contrasting land-use types along the Umfurudzi River, Zimbabwe, were investigated in 2013. Five stations in a communal area upstream of Umfurudzi National Park, four on... -
Distribution and community structure of Ostracoda (Crustacea) in shallow waterbodies of southern Kenya
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Aquatic Science • Authors: B Rumes --- Limnology Unit, Department of Biology, Belgium T Van der Meeren --- Limnology Unit, Department of Biology, Belgium K Martens --- Limnology Unit, Department of Biology, Belgium D Verschuren --- Limnology Unit, Department of Biology, BelgiumThe current study presents the ostracod communities recovered from 26 shallow waterbodies in southern Kenya, combined with an ecological assessment of habitat characteristics. A total of 37 waterbodies were sampled in 2001 and 2003, ranging from small ephemeral pools to... -
Forest health and vitality: the detection and monitoring of Pinus patula trees infected by Sirex noctilio using digital multispectral imagery
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Southern Hemisphere Forestry Journal • Authors: R Ismail O Mutanga U BobThe Eurasian woodwasp, Sirex noctilio, causes considerable tree mortality in commercial pine plantations in southern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Broad-scale visual assessments of infestation provided by forest managers are currently used to measure forest health and vitality. The effectiveness of visual... -
Long-term livestock grazing increases the recruitment success of epigeal termites: insights from a >75-year grazing experiment in the Karoo, South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: James G Hagan --- Department of Biological Sciences, South Africa Justin CO du Toit --- Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute, South Africa Michael D Cramer --- Department of Biological Sciences, South AfricaEpigeal termites alter ecosystem-level processes through foraging and mound building. These effects are proportional to density. Whilst much is known about the factors influencing mound density in natural settings, how termites respond to livestock grazing has been overlooked. We compared... -
Phytomass estimation using eMODIS NDVI and ground data in arid rangelands of Morocco
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: Hamid Mahyou --- Centre Régional de la Recherche Agronomique d’Oujda, Morocco Bernard Tychon --- Department of Environmental Sciences and Management, Belgium Marie Lang --- Department of Environmental Sciences and Management, Belgium Riad Balaghi --- Centre Régional de la Recherche Agronomique de Meknès, MoroccoThe assessment of rangeland productivity in semi-extensively grazed arid rangelands is a prerequisite for livestock management in relation to sustainable use of pastoral resources. The objective of this study was to assess rangeland productivity based on normalised difference vegetation index... -
Long-term vegetation change (>20 years) in the plains habitat on the Goegap Nature Reserve, Succulent Karoo, South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: Margaretha W van Rooyen --- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, South Africa Annelise le Roux --- CapeNature, Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve, South Africa Helga van der Merwe --- South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON): Arid Lands Node, South Africa Noel van Rooyen --- Private, South Africa Conrad Geldenhuys --- Environment and Nature Conservation, South AfricaBecause vegetation change in arid ecosystems is slow, long-term data are essential to gain an understanding of how the vegetation responds to short-term, inter-annual variation in rainfall; long-term cyclic rainfall patterns; and grazing pressure. The point intercept method was conducted... -
Effects of short-term intensive trampling on Karoo vegetation
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: Jeannine McManus --- Landmark Foundation, South Africa Stefan A Goets --- Landmark Foundation, South Africa William J Bond --- Department of Biological Sciences, South Africa Joh R Henschel --- South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON): Arid Lands Node, South Africa Bool Smuts --- Landmark Foundation, South Africa Suzanne J Milton --- South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON): Arid Lands Node, South AfricaPlant growth forms likely respond differently to disturbances such as trampling. We investigated the trampling effect of 1 600 sheep encamped at night in temporary enclosures (kraals, corrals or pens), which were relocated weekly. To examine trampling effects and regeneration... -
Vegetation responses to seasonal weather conditions and decreasing grazing pressure in the arid Succulent Karoo of South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: Ute Schmiedel --- Institute for Plant Science and Microbiology, Germany Jens Oldeland --- Institute for Plant Science and Microbiology, GermanyThe Succulent Karoo biome is a renowned centre of biodiversity and endemism in the arid winter rainfall region of South Africa that is threatened by climate change. On 20 permanently marked plots within a biodiversity observatory, species richness and cover... -
Estimating evapotranspiration in semi-arid rangelands: connecting reference to actual evapotranspiration and the role of soil evaporation
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: Onalenna Gwate --- Institute for Water Research, Rhodes University, South Africa Sukhmani K Mantel --- Institute for Water Research, Rhodes University, South Africa Andiswa Finca --- Agricultural Research Council–Animal Production Institute, South Africa Lesley A Gibson --- School of Engineering, UK Zahn Munch --- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, South Africa Anthony R Palmer --- Institute for Water Research, Rhodes University, South AfricaIn a context of water scarcity, efforts to increase landscape production should focus on improving water productivity. This requires an appreciation of the various components of evapotranspiration (ET), including soil evaporation (Es) because the latter reflects ‘unproductive’ water loss. Both... -
The effect of fire history on soil nutrients and soil organic carbon in a semi-arid savanna woodland, central Namibia
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: Elise Nghalipo --- Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Sciences, Namibia Dave Joubert --- Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Sciences, Namibia Heather Throop --- School of Earth and Space Exploration and School of Life Sciences, USA Alexander Groengroeft --- Institute of Soil Science, GermanyFire is an integral part of savanna ecosystems that has shaped these systems since the Miocene. Substantial uncertainty about fire effects in semi-arid ecosystems exists. Fire may affect ecosystem productivity directly through nutrient volatilisation, increased mineralisation and altering organic matter... -
Vegetation dynamics in the face of a major land-use change: a 30-year case study from semi-arid South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: Olli Hyvärinen --- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence, South Africa M Timm Hoffman --- Plant Conservation Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, South Africa Chevonne Reynolds --- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence, South AfricaAlthough wildlife production is widely considered beneficial for semi-arid environments, few studies have reported on the long-term environmental effects of converting from livestock production to game ranching. Asante Sana Game Reserve in South Africa was stocked with domestic livestock for... -
Could drought constrain woody encroachers in savannas?
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: Madelon F Case --- , United States Benjamin J Wigley --- , India Corli Wigley-Coetsee --- , South Africa A Carla Staver --- , United StatesDroughts are expected to become more frequent and severe, due to climate change, with uncertain consequences for savanna vegetation. Drought-driven tree mortality has been observed in some savannas, but little is known about how tolerant savanna trees are to drought,... -
Mapping subtidal estuarine habitats with a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV)
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Marine Science • Authors: J Wasserman --- Botany Department, DST/NRF Research Chair in Shallow Water Ecosystems, South Africa L Claassens --- Department of Zoology and Entomology, South Africa JB Adams --- Botany Department, DST/NRF Research Chair in Shallow Water Ecosystems, South AfricaSubtidal habitats have not yet been accounted for in habitat maps of South African estuaries. In this study, a novel method for mapping subtidal estuarine habitats, using a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) piloted from a boat, was developed and... -
The effectiveness of riparian zones in mitigating water quality impacts in an agriculturally dominated river system in South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Aquatic Science • Authors: CR Petersen --- , South Africa NZ Jovanovic --- , South Africa MC Grenfell --- , South AfricaThis study evaluates relationships between contrasting land uses representing an anthropogenic impact gradient in a coastal agricultural catchment, and riparian vegetation, as reflected in changes in nutrient dynamics and water quality. The objectives were to: 1) determine the water and... -
Influence of the soil on the spatial structure of forest species – preliminary results in a terra firme secondary forest plot, Amapá, Brazil
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science • Authors: Ronaldo Oliveira dos Santos --- , Brazil Robson Borges de Lima --- , Brazil Rubiene Neto Soares --- , Brazil Bruno de Souza Dantas --- , Brazil Adriano Castro de Brito --- , Brazil Michelle Vasconcelos Cordeiro --- , Brazil Jadson Coelho de Abreu --- , Brazil Breno Marques da Silva e Silva --- , BrazilIn recent years there has been increasing interest in the relationships between edaphic factors in tropical forests due to the complexity and the dynamic nature of plant interactions with the physical environment. This research sought to investigate the correlation of... -
Community diversity, functional traits and adaptation of Stipa tenacissima L. under different grazing regimes in a North African arid montane rangeland
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: Jamila Msadek --- , Tunisia Abderrazak Tlili --- , Tunisia Marwa Moumni --- , Tunisia Mounir Louhaichi --- , Tunisia Mohamed Tarhouni --- , TunisiaThe mountain rangeland chain of Matmata (southern Tunisia) is characterised by an arid Mediterranean climate with severe droughts and high temperatures, combined with substantial human disturbance. In order to withstand these harsh conditions, plants have developed adaptive strategies and functional... -
Effect of soil type on spatial distribution and nutritive value of grass species growing in selected rangelands of South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: South African Journal of Plant and Soil • Authors: Khuliso E Ravhuhali --- , South Africa Victor Mlambo --- , South Africa Tefera S Beyene --- , South Africa Lobina G Palamuleni --- , South AfricaThe distribution and status of grass species is essential for sustainable management of rangelands. Therefore, this study assessed the spatial distribution and nutritive value of grass species as influenced by soil type in selected rangelands of the North West province... -
Woody cover change in relation to fire history and land-use in the savanna-woodlands of north-east Namibia (1996–2019)
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: Glynis Humphrey --- , South Africa Conor Eastment --- , South Africa Lindsey Gillson --- , South Africa M Timm Hoffman --- , South AfricaVegetation cover estimates for trees, shrub-grass mosaics, and grassland and bare ground, were quantified in the savanna-woodland of Bwabwata National Park, north-east Namibia. Changes in woody cover were analysed using repeat photographs in combination with aerial photographs and recent satellite... -
Historic changes in the fire-rainfall relationship at a woodland-savanna transition zone in southern Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: T Hamilton --- , South Africa S Archibald --- , South Africa S Woodborne --- , South AfricaSouthern Africa is dominated by fire-prone arid and semi-arid landscapes that are expected to experience increased maximum temperatures, rainfall variation and frequency of extreme rainfall events in the future. These conditions will affect fire and vegetation dynamics, but feedback and... -
Use of remotely sensed derived metrics to assess wetland vegetation responses to climate variability-induced drought at the Soetendalsvlei wetland system in the Heuningnes Catchment, Western Cape province, South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Aquatic Science • Authors: NC Ndlala --- , South Africa T Dube --- , South AfricaWetland vegetation plays an important role in the environmental functioning of wetlands through the provision of ecosystem services, such as food and critical habitat for organisms that live in or near water resources. The ecosystem services provided by wetland vegetation... -
The chemistry of the pedoderm – part 4: grasslands and savannas within Mokala National Park, South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: Anthony J Mills --- , South Africa Klaus Kellner --- , South AfricaTreed savannas and treeless grasslands occur across Mokala National Park, South Africa. To identify soil properties potentially underpinning these marked differences in vegetation structure, we analysed the soil chemistry of 27 composite pedoderm samples in both savannas and grasslands. Savannas... -
Spatial and temporal distribution of call activities of two Gephyromantis species (Mantellidae) along forest–farmbush habitat in Ranomafana, Madagascar
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Herpetology • Authors: Noelikanto Ramamonjisoa --- , , Madagascar Harisoa Rakotonoely --- , , Madagascar Hannah Thomas --- , MadagascarUnderstanding how changes in land use affect the distribution, abundance and behaviour of organisms is an increasingly important question in ecology. We investigated the distribution and the differential calling behaviour of two diurnal terrestrial frogs, Gephyromantis decaryi (Near Threatened) and... -
Expansion of the Grassland Biome in the eastern Karoo corresponds with changes in rainfall and livestock numbers
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: G Arena --- University of Cape Town, South Africa MT Hoffman --- University of Cape Town, South Africa H van der Merwe --- University of Cape Town, South Africa TG O’Connor --- , South AfricaThe persistent spread of shrublands is a global phenomenon observed across semiarid grassland-shrubland boundaries. Observations in South Africa, however, have detected a contrasting trend of increasing grass cover across the transition between the Nama-Karoo and Grassland Biomes over the last... -
Tree diversity, vegetation structure and management of mangrove systems on Viti Levu, Fiji Islands
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science • Authors: Ashik Rubaiyat --- University of Göttingen, Germany Nicholas Rollings --- The University of the South Pacific, Fiji Islands Stephen Galvin --- The University of the South Pacific, Fiji Islands Ralph Mitloehner --- University of Göttingen, Germany Sohag Miah --- University of Göttingen, Germany Hans Juergen Boehmer --- The University of the South Pacific, Fiji IslandsMangrove forest ecosystems are critical natural resources, particularly in the South Pacific region. Mangrove forests in Viti Levu, Fiji’s main island, are threatened by infrastructure development activities and population growth. Consequently, the protection and restoration of mangrove forest are of... -
Burrow site selection in the Sungazer (Smaug giganteus): a threatened South African endemic lizard
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Herpetology • Authors: Wade K Stanton-Jones --- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa Daniel JD Natusch --- Macquarie University, Australia Graham J Alexander --- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South AfricaElucidating factors that drive microhabitat selection in a species is important for informing the conservation management of the species. For species that use microhabitats as long-term refuge sites, selection pressures are likely to be strong because the microhabitat must fulfil... -
Seasonal movements of Black Coucals Centropus grillii in Nigeria
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology • Authors: Soladoye B Iwajomo --- University of Lagos, Nigeria Himma Bakam --- Kaduna State University, Nigeria Shiiwua A Manu --- University of Jos, Nigeria Ulf Ottosson --- AP Leventis Ornithological Research Institute, University of Jos, Nigeria Kasper Thorup --- Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, DenmarkThe scale of movement associated with the migration of many intra-African bird species is still poorly known even with the increasing availability of tracking devices. In this study, we tracked the movements of Black Coucals Centropus grillii breeding in Nigeria... -
Grass dynamics along a woody-plant density reduction gradient in a South African savanna
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: Piet Monegi --- Animal Production–Agricultural Research Council, South Africa Ntuthuko R. Mkhize --- Animal Production–Agricultural Research Council, South Africa Julius T. Tjelele --- Animal Production–Agricultural Research Council, South Africa David Ward --- Kent State University, United States Zivanai Tsvuura --- University of KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaWoody plant encroachment threatens ecosystem services and functioning, thereby reducing herbaceous plant population persistence and community stability. We assessed the impact of woody removal intensity (WRI) on the grass ground cover, grass composition, diversity and richness, and rangeland condition in... -
Estimation of standing crop biomass in rangelands of the Middle Atlas mountains using remote sensing data
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: S Boukrouh --- University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P), Morocco Y Bouazzaoui --- Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Morocco A El Aich --- Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Morocco H Mahyou --- Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Morocco M Chikhaoui --- Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Morocco M Ait Lafkih --- Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Morocco O N’Dorma --- Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Morocco CL Alados --- Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología (CSIC), SpainIn the Middle Atlas rangelands, traditional methods for estimating standing crop biomass are labour-intensive and impractical. Remote sensing offers an initiative for standing crop biomass large-scale monitoring. The aim of this study was to estimate standing crop biomass, comprising annual... -
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... -
Preliminary evaluation of residual herbicides for the control of camelthorn bush (Alhagi maurorum Medik.)
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: South African Journal of Plant and Soil • Authors: B.D. Viljoen [cor0005] C.W. Stoltsz --- Agricultural Research Council, Plant Protection Research Institute, South Africa M. van der Rijst --- Agricultural Research Council, Biometry Unit, South AfricaCamelthorn bush (Alhagi maurorum Medik.) invasion in South Africa is a serious, but still relatively localized problem, with the potential to spread into many other parts of the country. Previous research revealed the difficulty in killing the deep extensive root... -
Using a low-cost drone to assess herbaceous biomass and quality in the Sahelian Rangeland ecosystems
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: Haftay Hailu Gebremedhin --- College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Haramaya University, Ethiopia Paulo Salgado --- Pôle Pastoralisme et Zones Sèches, Pôle de recherche de Hann, Senegal Cofélas Fassinou --- Pôle Pastoralisme et Zones Sèches, Pôle de recherche de Hann, Senegal Simon Taugourdeau --- Pôle Pastoralisme et Zones Sèches, Pôle de recherche de Hann, SenegalExisting ways of assessing rangeland plant biomass and nutritional quality mostly rely on field surveys, which are difficult to generalise across plots, along with laboratory-based techniques that entail lengthy pre-processing procedures. As a solution, drones have emerged as a promising... -
Invasion of Neltuma juliflora (mesquite) and its effects on soil physicochemical properties in a semi-arid rangeland of South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: Siviwe Odwa Malongweni --- Sol Plaatje University, South AfricaInvasive species threaten ecosystem functions in African rangelands by altering soil properties, and affecting overall health and productivity. This study compared soil physicochemical characteristics under invasive Neltuma juliflora and native Vachellia karroo across two zones (beneath tree canopy versus open... -
Pelargonic acid for the management of firebreak tracer-lines: results from four trials implemented in South Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science • Authors: Keith M Little --- Nelson Mandela University, South AfricaMost South African planted forests occur in high wildfire risk regions, with firebreaks used to minimise the risk of run-away fires. Desiccant herbicides together with burning are used for firebreak preparation in a stepwise manner. In late summer, 1–2 m... -
The grazing paradox: assessing contradictions of continuous versus rotational grazing systems in southern Africa
Item type: Journal Article • Journal: African Journal of Range & Forage Science • Authors: Katharina Meyer --- Institute of Plant Science and Microbiology, University of Hamburg, Germany Ute Schmiedel --- Institute of Plant Science and Microbiology, University of Hamburg, GermanyUnsustainable grazing practices result in degradation of arid and semiarid rangelands in southern Africa. Continuous grazing systems are often blamed for degradation, while rotational grazing systems are seen as more sustainable. The discussion about the impact of these grazing practices...