Browsing Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology by Title
Now showing items 60-79 of 167
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Effects of season and cohort on the haematology of the geometric tortoise Psammobates geometricus.
(University of the Western Cape, 2012)The geometric tortoise is one of the world‟s rarest terrestrial tortoises and is endemic to the Southwestern Cape, South Africa. There has been cause for conservation concern for Psammobates geometricus, yet as is common ... -
Empirical and model derived respiration responses to climate in different soils of an arid South African ecosystem
(2009)This study examined the magnitude of soil CO2 efflux in an arid South African ecosystem, the flux responses as well as those of key limiting nutrients to soil temperature increases and moisture reductions consistent with ... -
Epiphytic diatom assemblages associated with South African kelps: Ecklonia maxima and Laminaria pallida
(University of Western Cape, 2020)Kelp forests are dynamic and productive ecosystems which host large biodiversity of sessile fauna and flora, including diatoms. These microalgae occur at the base of coastal marine food webs and contribute substantially ... -
The evaluation and development of diagnostic tools for the detection of ichthyophonus hoferi in fish host tissue samples
(University of the Western Cape, 2019)Ichthyophonus hoferi is a highly pathogenic histozoic parasite that has low host specificity capable of producing mass mortalities of epizootic proportions in marine commercial fish populations. Currently in Southern Africa, ... -
Evaluation of quantitative motility and zona pellucida binding of human spermatozoa in an assisted reproductive programme
(University of the Western Cape, 1994)Male factor disorders affect more than 30% of infertile couples. Thus, it has become important to perform a andrological consultation and a basic semen evaluation in all male partners of couples consulting for infertility. ... -
Evaluation of the level of compliance of Veterinary medicine package inserts with Regulatory authority guidelines
(University of the Western Cape, 2021)Background: Veterinary medicines play an imperative role in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of animal diseases. Many veterinary stock remedies in South Africa are available to the public without the intervention ... -
Examining intra- and interspecific variability in the diet and carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of kingklip and monkfish caught off the West and South coasts of South Africa
(University of Western Cape, 2020)Kingklip (Genypterus capensis) and monkfish (Lophius vomerinus) and are ecologically and economically important demersal fish species that are found along both the eastern and western parts of southern Africa’s coastline. ... -
Food resources available to juvenile fish (particularly rhabdosargus holubi) in seagrass beds of the swartkops etuary
(University of the Western Cape, 2023)Estuarine habitats are critical nursery areas for many species of marine fishes during their early life stages in terms of food availability and structural complexity, which increases survival and growth rates. The Cape ... -
Foraging ecology of Naja nivea and Dispholidus typus
(University of the Western Cape, 2019)It is widely reported that snakes can be major predators of avian nests, but the use of a single avian prey type by competing species has rarely been examined. This study aimed to investigate predation of a single food ... -
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 ... -
Genetic analysis of resistance to powdery mildew (podosphaeara leucotricha) in apple (Malus x dornestica Borkh.)
(University of the Western Cape, 2008)Apple powdery mildew, caused by Podosphaera leucotricha, is one of the major diseases of the cultivated apple in the Western Cape, causing severe losses in yield and affecting fruit quality. This affects the deciduous ... -
Genetic analysis of the Cape Sand Frog, Tomopterna delalandii (Tschudi 1838)
(University of the Western Cape, 2015)Tomopterna delalandii occurs throughout the west coast, Western Cape and south coast of South Africa. This range stretches across three distinct biogeographical assemblages. Based on historical records and the fact that ... -
Genetic and morphological comparisons within the orthopteran family Pneumoridae
(University of the Western Cape, 2019)Bladder grasshoppers belong to the order Orthoptera, ancient family Pneumoridae and Superfamily Pneumoroidea. This small group of grasshoppers are sound producing, nocturnal, herbivorous grasshoppers endemic to the coastal ... -
The genus Spongites (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) in South Africa
(University of the Western Cape, 2019)Coralline red algae (Corallinales, Hapalidiales, Sporolithales: Corallinophycidae, Rhodophyta) are widespread and common in all the world’s oceans (Adey & McIntyre 1973; Johansen 1981; Littler et al. 1985; Björk et al. ... -
A global revision of the nongeniculate coralling algal genere Porolithon Foslie (defunct) and Hydrolithon Foslie (Corallinales, Rhodophyta)
(University of the Western Cape, 2005)The purpose of this thesis was to provide a revision and characterization of the species of nongeniculate coralline algae previously ascribed to the now defunct genus Porolithon; to provide a modern account of selected ... -
Granivores as ecosystem regulators of woody plant increasers in semi-arid Savannas of the Lowveld, South Africa
(University of the Western Cape, 2006)In recent years, a global trend of increasing woody vegetation densities in semi-arid savanna habitats has been recorded, commonly described in South Africa as 'bush encroachment'. The shrubs and trees that do this ... -
Growth of juvenile abalone under aquaculture conditions
(University of the Western Cape, 2006)The aim of this research was, first to test the suitability of different seaweeds and formulated feeds as food for post-weaning juvenile South African abalone and secondly, to test the effects of basket design on the growth ... -
Heteroscleromorph demosponge taxonomy and diversity of the Amathole region (Eastern Cape, South Africa)
(University of Western Cape, 2022)Sponges are functionally important and ubiquitous components of the global marine benthos. South Africa accounts for roughly 4% of the global marine sponge diversity, comprising 374 described species and seven varieties/forms, ... -
How do teachers and learners navigate the terrain of ecology and what are the associated conceptual understanding?
(2011)This thesis relates the teaching of ecology in schools to the requirements of the National Curriculum Statements, Grades R-9 and Grades 10-12, for Natural and Life Sciences. It examines the conceptual understanding of the ... -
How Do Teachers and Learners Navigate the Terrain of Ecology and What are the Associated Conceptual Understandings?
(University of the Western Cape, 2011)This thesis relates the teaching of ecology in schools to the requirements of the National Curriculum Statements, Grades R-9 and Grades 10-12, for Natural and Life Sciences. It examines the conceptual understanding of the ...