Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology
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Functional importance of snakes in a strandveld ecosystem
(University of the Western Cape, 2018)Gaps in our knowledge of the functional roles of snakes within ecosystems limit our ability to predict the potentially cascading effects their removal from an ecosystem might create. Extirpation of snake species could ... -
Coastal marine heatwaves: Understanding extreme forces
(University of the Western Cape, 2017)Seawater temperature from regional to global scale is central to many measures of biodi- versity and continues to aid our understanding of the evolution and ecology of biolog- ical assemblages. Therefore, a clear understanding ... -
Post-Fire response of botanical and microbial communities in the succulent Karoo
(University of the Western Cape, 2018)Fire as a form of disturbance is unique in the way it impacts upon the environment, acting like a herbivore with a ubiquitous appetite. Consuming both dead and living material, converting complex organic molecules into ... -
The phylogeography, biomass allocation and phenology of Salicornia tegetaria (S. Steffen, Mucina & G. Kadereit) Piirainen & G. Kadereit, an endemic salt marsh species in South Africa
(University of the Western Cape, 2018)Salicornia tegetaria is an endemic salt marsh macrophyte that is widely distributed in estuaries along the South African coast. The aims of the study were to understand the phylogeography of the species, compare the biomass ... -
Analysis of three wetland medicinal plants: Centella asiatica, Cyperus longus and Typha capensis found in the Western Cape Province of South Africa.
(University of the Western Cape, 2017)South Africa is recognised worldwide for its rich diversity of plants, many of which have been used in ethno-medicine. However, the use of wetland plant species in ethno-medicine required further investigations. This ... -
Diversity and Zoogeography of South African Bryozoa
(University of the Western Cape, 2017)The taxonomic history of South African bryozoans is fragmented and outdated, with the majority of published works in the 20th Century. Sampling gaps exist in deep-sea regions and parts of the coastline, while existing ... -
Patterns in diversity, abundance, distribution and community structure of epi-pelagic copepods in the south-western Indian Ocean
(University of the Western Cape, 2016)The primary objective of this study was to investigate patterns in diversity, abundance, distribution and community structure of epi-pelagic copepods across the South West Indian Ocean Ridge (SWIOR). A survey was conducted ... -
The phylogeography, biomass allocation and phenology of Salicornia tegetaria (S. Steffen, Mucina & G. Kadereit) Piirainen & G. Kadereit, an endemic salt marsh species in South Africa
(University of the Western Cape, 2018)Salicornia tegetaria is an endemic salt marsh macrophyte that is widely distributed in estuaries along the South African coast. The aims of the study were to understand the phylogeography of the species, compare the biomass ... -
An analysis of the fire regime and its effects on post-fire recovery in Namaqualand Granite Renosterveld vegetation
(University of the Western Cape, 2017)Namaqualand Granite Renosterveld (NGR) is a fire-prone shrubland largely confined to the Kamiesberg Uplands. More than 20% has been transformed by agricultural activities such as grazing and dryland cropping. The history ... -
Impacts and control of alien Proteaceae invasion in the Western Cape Province, South Africa
(University of the Western Cape, 2017)Research focused on ecological impacts and control of invasive alien species (IAS) is gaining attention worldwide. The eradication and control of invasive alien plants (IAP) is essential for the restoration of native plant ... -
Dynamics and biological implications of the Port St Johns cyclonic lee eddy
(University of the Western Cape, 2016)This project describes the current dynamics of the cyclonic lee eddy off Rame Head, Port St Johns and Waterfall Bluff, and how its physical forcing may influence the biological communities. Three research surveys were ... -
Ecklonia maxima kelp forests along a thermal gradient: community composition and recovery from disturbance
(University of the Western Cape, 2017)Climate change will influence species distributions, survival and ecosystem functioning, mostly through changes in sea surface temperatures and storm disturbance. Species are expected to shift poleward in response to ocean ... -
An acoustic, genetic and morphological review of the genus Bullacris (Orthoptera; Pneumoridae)
(University of the Western Cape, 2017)Bladder grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Pneumoridae) are nocturnal African herbivores that are endemic to the coastal regions of southern Africa. They rely heavily on sound communication for mate location and have a unique body ... -
Phylogenetic assessment and historical biogeography of the Psammophis leightoni complex
Stable and accurate taxonomy remains a primary component of conservation. By overlooking taxonomic disorder, conservation management strategies may ineffectively distribute resources. The Psammophis leightoni species complex ... -
An Investigation of Benthic Epifauna to Support Classification and Mapping of Outer Shelf Ecosystems in KwaZulu-Natal
(University of the Western Cape, 2017)Ecosystem classification and mapping are foundational steps for effective ecosystem-based marine spatial planning, marine ecosystem assessment and integrated ocean management. The aims of this study were to interrogate and ... -
Seaweed extract effects on potato (Solanum Tuberosum 'BP1') and grape (Vitis Vinifera Var. Sultana) Production
(University of the Western Cape, 2017)Field trials were conducted to determine the effects of a locally produced seaweed extract product (Afrikelp LG-1), on the growth parameters and yield of Solanum tuberosum 'BP1'potato crop and Vitis vinifera var. sultana ... -
Assessing livestock farmers' ecological knowledge and adaptation to climate and environmental change in arid regions of South Africa
(University of the Western Cape, 2017)Challenges that come with micro-level climate change projections have resulted in the inadequacy of our understanding of local climatic changes and the appropriate adaptation strategies. This has resulted in indigenous ... -
Intra- and interspecific variability in the distribution patterns and diet of the two most common catsharks caught in demersal trawls off the West and South coasts of South Africa: Evidence for habitat and resource partitioning?
(University of the Western Cape, 2017)The objective of this thesis was to elucidate intra- and interspecific variability in the distribution patterns and diet of the two most common demersal catsharks taken as by-catch by the commercial trawling industry ... -
Systematics of geophytic Othonna (Senecioneae, Othonninae)
(University of the Western Cape, 2017)A member of the Senecioneae subtribe Othonninae, Othonna L. is a genus of some 120 species mainly concentrated in the Greater Cape Floristic Region (GCFR) of South Africa, with a few species extending into southern Namibia, ... -
A web-based biodiversity toolkit as a conservation management tool for natural fragments in an urban context
(University of the Western Cape, 2017)The collection of biological information has a long history, motivated by a variety of reasons and in more recent years is largely being driven for research and academic purposes. As a result biological information is often ...
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