Browsing Magister Scientiae (Biodiversity and Conservation Biology) - MSc (Biodiv & Cons Biol) by Title
Now showing items 82-101 of 131
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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 ... -
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 ... -
Phylogeography and co-evolution of ectoparasitic mites that live on the rodent host species Lemniscomys rosalia (Rodentia: Muridea)
(University of the Western Cape, 2022)Lemniscomys rosalia is a widespread, possibly cryptic species of murid grass mouse. Cytogenetic evidence points towards cryptic speciation in L. rosalia as the eastern African karyotype (2N = 54; FNA = 62) differs from the ... -
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 ... -
Predicting reptile species distributions and biogeographic patterns within Kruger National Park
(University of the Western Cape, 2018)Knowledge of global reptile ecology is limited and there remains much to understand in terms of detailed reptile species information, including that of their distributions. In South Africa, despite being one of SANParks ... -
Quantifying competition in two co-occurring southern African psammophiinae snakes: Psammophis crucifer and psammophylax r. Rhombeatus
(University of Western Cape, 2020)Studies on snake competitive interactions have relatively been well documented globally, however, those examples tend to be dominated by non-African examples. Africa has a large and spectacular reptile diversity and yet ... -
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 ... -
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 ... -
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 ... -
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 ... -
The relevance of fog and dew precipitation to succulent plant hydrology in an arid South African ecosystem
(2009)Fog and dew interception and utilization by plant canopies remains one of the least considered aspects of vegetation studies at any scale yet the few studies that have been conducted point to their considerable influence ... -
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 ... -
The reproductive physiology of The south african pilchard.
(UWC, 1995)Epipelagic fish species form an integral component of the world's supply of protein. The most abundant of these fish belong to the order Clupeiformes (clupeoids) which include sardine, pilchard, sardinella, sprat, and ... -
Reptile community responses to an avian ecosystem engineer
(University of the Western Cape, 2023)In the Kalahari, sociable weavers (Philetairus socius) build huge, communal nests. Although Kalahari tree skinks (Trachylepis spilogaster) are known to preferentially use trees that host such colonies, the degree to which ... -
Review of South African genera of the family hexabothriidae price, 1942, parasites of chondrichthyan fishes
(2009)The oligonchoinean monogenean family Hexabothriidae Price, 1942 currently consists of approximately 60 valid species, representing 15 genera. Hexabothriids are gill parasites of chondrichthyan fishes (sharks, rays and ... -
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 ... -
The role of grazers and basal sustrate cover in the control of intertidal algal distribution
(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. -
The roles of intertidal marine gastropod shells as secondary substrate for macroalgae
(University of the Western Cape, 2014)Primary space within the marine benthos is by far the most limited resource for which all sessile organisms must compete. It only ever becomes available when the organisms occupying it dies or are forced to leave the area. ... -
Seasonal movement and activity patterns of the endangered geometric tortoise, psammobates geometricus
(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 ... -
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 ...