Browsing Magister Scientiae (Biodiversity and Conservation Biology) - MSc (Biodiv & Cons Biol) by Author "Faculty of Science"
Now showing items 1-20 of 24
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Adequacy of existing protected areas in conserving biodiversity at global and regional levels in relation to socio-economic conditions
Gaika, Lindiwe (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 diet and feeding of the pelagic goby, sufflogobius bibarbatus, off Namibia
Cedras, Riaan Brinley (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 ... -
Documenting the association between a non-geniculate coralline red alga and its molluscan host
Eager, Rosemary (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 ... -
The effect of copper on the growth, development and chemical composition of some dryland wheat cultivars
Gordon, Julie Johannes (University of the Western Cape, 2005)Heavy metal accumulation in arable land as a result of mining activities, pesticides and fertilisers has become a global concern. Steinkopf and Concordia in the Northern Cape are well-known for subsistence farming, but ... -
The effects of differences in feeding regime and of export simulations on the growth of the abalone Haliotis midae Linnaeus
Francis, Tamson L. (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 ... -
Granivores as ecosystem regulators of woody plant increasers in semi-arid Savannas of the Lowveld, South Africa
Petersen, Leif Michael (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
Dlaza, Thembinkozi Steven (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 ... -
Impacts of the invasive reed Arundo donax on biodiversity at the community-ecosystem level
Guthrie, Gené (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 ... -
In vivo effects of crinum macowanii on the rat cardiovascular system
Persson, Kirstin Gracia (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 ... -
The inorganic pollution of the Franschhoek River : sources and solutions
Adams, Kim Marie (University of the Western Cape, 2011)The aim of the study was to quantify the extent of inorganic chemical pollution of the Franschhoek River and draw relationships between contaminants in water, sediment and plants. The invasive Acacia mearnsii and Salix ... -
Lichen thermal sensitivities, moisture interception and elemental accumulation in an arid South African ecosystem
Maphangwa, Khumbudzo Walter (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 ... -
Monitoring of heavy metals in the Bottelary River using Typha capensis and Phragmites australis
Ma, Ying (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 ... -
Patterns of resource use by livestock during and after drought in a communal rangeland in Namaqualand
Samuels, Mogamat Igshaan (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 ... -
Re-descriptions of some Southern african Scyphozoa: out with the old and in with the new
Neethling, Simone (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 ... -
Rehabilitation as a method of understanding vegetation change in Paulshoek, Namaqualand
Simons, Liora-lee (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 ... -
The relationship between sediment composition and infaunal polychaete communities along the southern coast of Namibia
Clarke, Dylan Thomas (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 ... -
A Remote sensing change detection study in the arid Richtersveld region of South Africa
Main, Russell Stuart (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 ... -
Risk analysis and potential implications of exotic Gyrodactylus species on cultured and wild cyprinids in the Western Cape, South Africa
Maseng, Monique Rochelle (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 ... -
The role of grazers and basal sustrate cover in the control of intertidal algal distribution
Madikiza, Liwalam Onwabile (University of the Western Cape, 2006)This study investigated the role of grazing as a possible cause for the upper limit of distribution of algae on a typical South African south coast. -
Seasonal movement and activity patterns of the endangered geometric tortoise, psammobates geometricus
Van Bloemestein, Ulric Patrick (University of the Western Cape, 2005)Due to the critical status of Psammobates geometricus and the vulnerability of their habitat, there is a need to allocate areas for their protection. The aim of this study was to provide information on the space requirements ...