Browsing Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology by Title
Now showing items 128-147 of 167
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Snake community structure in a heterogeneous fynbos ecosystem
(University of the Western Cape, 2022)Snakes occur in most terrestrial ecosystems, forming an integral part of many ecological communities. A diverse community of snakes in an ecosystem can indicate a complex habitat structure capable of supporting a diverse ... -
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 ... -
Spatia-temporal dynamics in land use and habitat fragmentation in the Sandveld, South Africa
(University of the Western Cape, 2010)The Cape Floristic Region (CFR) in South Africa, is one of the world's five Mediterranean hotspots, and is also one of the 34 global biodiversity hotspots. It has rich biological diversity, high level of species endemism ... -
Spatial analysis of open space in the quaternary catchment of the Lourens river
(2011)This thesis looks at aspects relating to vegetated open space in the quaternary catchment of the Lourens River, Cape Town, South Africa in 2005 and at GoogleEarth as a source of imagery for research. The research questions ... -
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 ... -
Specias delimitation and assessment of genetic variability in Carpobrotus (Alzoaceae): evidence from amplified fragment length polymorphisms
(University of the Western Cape, 2004)Species of Carpobrotus (Aizoaceae: Ruschioideae) are widely spread throughout South Africa and are commonly used for their medicinal properties. The genus consists of 13 species of which seven occur in South Africa, five ... -
Species delimitation and assessment of genetic variability in Carpobrotus (Aizoaceae): evidence from amplified fragment length polymorphisms
(University of the Western Cape, 2004)During the course of this thesis, AFLP technique was successfully applied to the Aizoaceae taxa. This study involved a substantial component of laboratory work including generating and analysing AFLP data, the operation ... -
Species recognition and reproductive isolation in Malawi cichlid fishes, Metriaclima estherae and M. callainos (Teleostei: Cichlidae)
(University of the Western Cape, 2019)Cichlids are one of the most diverse groups of fishes in the world. The highest concentration of cichlids is found in Lake Malawi, where over 1500 species are recorded to occur, which are dominated by the haplochromine ... -
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, ... -
Studies of foraminifera associated with gelidium pristoides (turner) keutzing (gelidiales: rhodophyta)
(University of the Western Cape, 2002)Our understanding of the macrofauna of hard intertidal substrata around South Africa is fairly comprehensive, and we have a good understanding of the environmental factors responsible for structuring macrofaunal communities ... -
Studies on the diversity and spatial distribution of deep-water sponges along the west and south coasts of South Africa
(University of the Western Cape, 2013)This thesis explores the diversity, spatial patterns and community structure for the sponges (Porifera) along the west and south coasts of South Africa. Species collected were identified to the lowest level of lowest ... -
Studies on the ecology and taxonomy of nematodes of Saldanha Bay, South Africa
(University of the Western Cape, 2013)Few studies of shallow water marine nematodes have been conducted around South Africa, and none from the west coast. Here, I analyse the composition of nematode communities from six stations along a 3 km transect in Saldanha ... -
A survey on external (Ixodidae) and gastrointestinal parasites of small ruminants on an arid communal rangeland in South Africa
(University of Western Cape, 2020)Parasites pose a major constraint on livestock farming. Its impacts are represented as transmission of disease to humans and economic costs for prevention and treatment as well as loss in terms of; livestock mortality and, ... -
A systematic conservation plan for threatened freshwater wetlanddependent waterbirds across South Africa
(University of Western Cape, 2020)Freshwater ecosystems are valuable to all components of biodiversity communities. Globally, these ecosystems are threatened by human activity and as a consequence, many vertebrates, including waterbirds, have become ... -
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, ... -
Systematics of subtribe Anthosperminae and the generic affinities of Anthospermum and Nenax (Rubiaceae: Anthospermeae)
(University of Western Cape, 2021)The last taxonomic treatment of the subtribe Anthosperminae was in 1986 by Puff., nevertheless, few attempts have been made to resolve the phylogeny and the inter- and infrageneric relationships within the subtribe. The ... -
Systematics of subtribes Athanasiinae and Phymasperminae (Anthemideae, Asteraceae)
(University of the Western Cape, 2020)The tribe Anthemideae is a large tribe of the family Asteraceae comprising 111 genera and 1 800 species distributed in Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Northern temperate region, with southern Africa as one of its main centers ... -
Systematics of subtribes Athanasiinae and Phymasperminae (Anthemideae, Asteraceae)
(University of the Western Cape, 2020)The tribe Anthemideae is a large tribe of the family Asteraceae comprising 111 genera and 1 800 species distributed in Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Northern temperate region, with southern Africa as one of its main centers ... -
Systematics of the non-geniculate coralline red algae from the South African south coast
(University of the Western Cape, 2015)The aim of this study was to document the intertidal and shallow subtidal species of non-geniculate coralline red algae from the South Africa south coast. The main emphasis of the study are encompassed in four research ... -
Systematics, diversification and ecology of the Conophytum-clade (Ruschieae; Aizoaceae)
(University of the Western Cape, 2016)The Ruschieae is the most diverse and speciose tribe within the large subfamily Ruschioideae (Aizoaceae), with approximately 71 genera and a distribution centred in the arid parts of the Greater Cape Floristic Region (GCFR) ...