Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology: Recent submissions
Now showing items 141-160 of 167
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The diet and feeding of the pelagic goby, sufflogobius bibarbatus, off Namibia
(University of the Western Cape, 2009)The general diet of Sufflogobius bibarbatus in the northern Benguela upwelling ecosystem was investigated from gut content analysis in two separate studies. The first study was conducted over two 48 h diel sampling stations ... -
Risk analysis and potential implications of exotic Gyrodactylus species on cultured and wild cyprinids in the Western Cape, South Africa
(University of the Western Cape, 2010)The expansion of the South African aquaculture industry coupled with the lack of effective parasite management strategies may potentially have negative effects on both the freshwater biodiversity and economics of the ... -
Lichen thermal sensitivities, moisture interception and elemental accumulation in an arid South African ecosystem
(University of the Western Cape, 2010)Elevated temperatures accompanying climate warming are expected to have adverse effects on sensitive lichen species. This premise was examined by measuring the sensitivity of different lichen species to elevated temperatures ... -
Re-descriptions of some Southern african Scyphozoa: out with the old and in with the new
(University of the Western Cape, 2009)Two species of Chrysaora are described from the northern Benguela ecosystem: C. fulgida and C. africana. These species can be diagnosed by a combination of morphological features including lappet and tentacle number, shape ... -
Spatio-temporal dynamics in land use and habit fragmentation in Sandveld, South Africa
(University of the Western Cape, 2010)This research assessed landuse changes and trends in vegetation cover in the Sandveld, using remote sensing images. Landsat TM satellite images of 1990, 2004 and 2007 were classified using the maximum likelihood classifier ... -
Testing the suitability of local seaweeds and formulated feed as a food source for abalone (Haliotis midae Linnaeus) in an Integrated Land-based Aquaculture System
(University of the Western Cape, 2008)The direct methanol fuel cell or DMFC is emerging as a promising alternative energy source for many applications. Developed and developing countries, through research, are fast seeking a cheap and stable supply of energy ... -
The effects of differences in feeding regime and of export simulations on the growth of the abalone Haliotis midae Linnaeus
(University of the Western Cape, 2008)Beach-cast kelp (the most widely used feed for commercially grown South African abalone) is plentiful during winter months when periodic storms cause kelp to wash ashore. During summer, however, this resource is not always ... -
A Remote sensing change detection study in the arid Richtersveld region of South Africa
(University of the Western Cape, 2007)The Richtersveld falls within the succulent karoo and dester biomes. This studu made use of remote sensing technologies in order to investigate possible vegetation cover changes that have taken place over time, and which ... -
Documenting the association between a non-geniculate coralline red alga and its molluscan host
(University of the Western Cape, 2010)To further investigate the strength of the association and the relative advantages of the association to both organisms, several manipulation experiments were set up. A cage experiment set up in the shallow subtidal zone ... -
Impacts of the invasive reed Arundo donax on biodiversity at the community-ecosystem level
(University of the Western Cape, 2007)Arundo donax is an invasive species that mostly impacts on sensitive riparian ecosystems. Arundo is also invasive in South Africa, though less is known about its ecology, biology, and impacts. Since California and the ... -
Adequacy of existing protected areas in conserving biodiversity at global and regional levels in relation to socio-economic conditions
(University of the Western Cape, 2005)At a meeting of worl leaders at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, it was recognized that because of the tremendous increase in the size of the global populations (which ... -
The relationship between sediment composition and infaunal polychaete communities along the southern coast of Namibia
(University of the Western Cape, 2005)This study examined the relationship between sediment structure and infaunal polychaete communities off the southern coast of Namibia from two separate sets of data, and a total of ninety-two samples. It also examined ... -
Species-level phylogenetic reconstruction of the African cycad genus Encephalartos (Zamiaceae)
(University of the Western Cape, 2007)This thesis explores species-level phylogenetic relationships of the African cycad genus Encephalartos, which is one of the eleven genera of cycads. The genus is confined to Africa and comprises approximately 65 species, ... -
In vivo effects of crinum macowanii on the rat cardiovascular system
(University of the Western Cape, 2007)Crinum macowanii (C. macowanii) (Amaryllidacea) as authenticated by Mr. F. Weitz at the Herbarium, University of the Western cape, is widely used a traditional remedy and is thought to have therapeutic value (Fennell and ... -
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 ... -
The ecology of tadpoles in a temporary pond in the Western Cape with comparisons to other habitats
(University of the Western Cape, 2006)This work centered on the tadpoles in a temporaray pond in the middle of Kenilworth racecourse, Cape Town, South Africa. Trapping was carried out over two wet seasons and five species were found. The racecourse was selected ... -
Patterns of resource use by livestock during and after drought in a communal rangeland in Namaqualand
(University of the Western Cape, 2006)Pastoralists in Africa have developed complex mechanisms by which they can alleviate the threat of drought. They practice mobility as one of the strategies to avoid the worst effects of natural stress and disperse grazing ... -
Rehabilitation as a method of understanding vegetation change in Paulshoek, Namaqualand
(University of the Western Cape, 2005)Heavy grazing of rangelands in the succulent karoo has placed the biodiversity of these areas at risk. In Paulshoek, overgrazing has resulted in the removal of much of the palatable vegetation from low lying areas. The ... -
Monitoring of heavy metals in the Bottelary River using Typha capensis and Phragmites australis
(University of the Western Cape, 2005)The aim of this study was to use plants to determine the degree of heavy metal contamination in water and sediments in order to effectively monitor and provide possible recommendation to improve the water quality in the ... -
Sources of heavy metals in vegetables in Cape Town and possible methods of remediation
(University of the Western Cape, 2012)Cape Town includes two vegetable farming areas within the city limits, the Joostenbergvlakte/Kraaifontein area and the Philippi area. Both areas supply produce to local markets and further afield. Sporadically, high levels ...