Browsing Magister Scientiae (Biodiversity and Conservation Biology) - MSc (Biodiv & Cons Biol) by Issue Date
Now showing items 1-20 of 108
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The effect of maternal nicotine exposure on the quantity and quality of neonatal rat lung connective tissue
(University of the Western Cape, 1994)The infants of smoking mothers (compared to non-smoking mothers) have been shown to have a lower birth mass, a lower brain mass, an increased perinatal mortality rate as well as a predisposition to respiratory abnormalities ... -
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. ... -
Chytridiomycosis in amphibian populations in the Western Cape, South Africa
(University of the Western Cape, 2002)There have been many cases reported of amphibian populations declining. These are often due to anthropogenic factors such as habitat destruction and pollution. However, some declines have not had an obvious cause and many ... -
The effect of exogenous growth regulators on salinity tolerance in Erucastrum strigosum
(University of the Western Cape, 2003)Randomized block experiments were conducted to examine the putative amelioratory effects of kinetin or gibberellic acid at concentrations (0, 4, 12.5, 40, and 125 μM) in Erucastrum strigosum plants subjected to a salinity ... -
The water quality and ecological status of the Diep river catchment, Western Cape, South Africa
(University of Western Cape, 2004)The study illustrates the current ecological integrity of the Diep River system, based on the recent river health assessment using the South African Scoring System version 5 (2000-2003) and the water quality data ... -
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 ... -
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 ... -
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 ... -
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 effect of copper on the growth, development and chemical composition of some dryland wheat cultivars
(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 ... -
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 ... -
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 ... -
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 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. -
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 ... -
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, ... -
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 ... -
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 ... -
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 ... -
Amphibian monitoring in Kakamega Forest, Kenya
(2007)Since the late 1970 there has been increased concern of amphibian decline and extinction. Several causes for the worldwide declines have been suggested and include ultraviolet radiation, predation, pollution, climate change, ...
