Ecology: Recent submissions
Now showing items 21-40 of 84
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Building a conservation strategy for the harpy eagle in the Amazon Forest.
(2020)Apex predators are threatened worldwide and are considered a priority in the conservation biology agenda. Their decline is associated with habitat loss and degradation, and persecution arising from perceived and actual ... -
Aspects of the urban ecology of the Spotted Thick-knee (Burhinus capensis)
(2021)Abstract available in PDF. -
Ecology of the South African giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa) across a land-use gradient in central KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
(2020)Abstract available in pdf. -
Parthenium hysterophorus distribution and efficacy of control in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, northern KwaZulu-Natal.
(2020)Abstract available in pdf. -
Impacts of foraging behavior [sic] by Cape porcupines and their effects on nutrient cycling in mesic savannas.
(2021)Through feeding and associated activities, herbivores play a major role in determining the structure of savannas. The Cape porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) is a semi-fossorial, large (ca. 12 kg) herbivorous rodent ... -
Taxonomic, functional, and avian community dynamics in selected Southern Mistbelt Forests of southern KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
(2020)Human population increase and landscape transformation result in the reduction of natural habitats, such as forests, causing changes in forest patch composition, habitat amount, patch size, isolation, shape, and edges. ... -
Effects of increased temperature on growth and nutritional value of mesic grasslands, with or without woody legume seedling competition.
(2020)Mesic grasslands are complex ecosystems covered in grasses and other graminoid vegetation. The species composition varies due to variation in rainfall and temperature; these grasslands are climatically supported. They ... -
Pollinator-driven divergence among populations of a self-fertilizing lily, Hesperantha coccinea (Iridaceae).
(2021)Two major trends in floral evolution – pollinator shifts and the evolution of autonomous selffertilisation – are generally considered alternative evolutionary responses to pollen-limitation of plant reproductive success. ... -
Fleshy-fruited invasive plant species in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: native avian seed dispersal and impact assessment.
(2019)Globally, alien plant species have been recognised as a major threat to biodiversity. The increased global trade and travel have resulted in the increased introduction of new species. Direct or indirect introductions of ... -
Assessment of the current ecological integrity of the uMngeni River, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, using fish community structures and attributes of the Labeobarbus natalensis (Castelnau, 1861) populations.
(2019)Rivers are the main source of freshwater water for human communities and provide people with numerous ecosystem services such as water purification, transportation, power generation, food supply, and water for domestic, ... -
The effects of Chromolaena odorata on tree growth dynamics at Buffelsdraai Landfill site.
(2019)Ecological restoration is a process which assists the recovery of an ecosystem which was previously disturbed or degraded. Through continuous disturbances, invasive alien plants (IAPs) are able to successfully spread and ... -
The breeding system and demography of the Transvaal Sesame-bush, Sesamothamnus lugardii (Pedaliaceae)
(2019)The aim of this research was to assess the breeding system, pollination relationship and demography of the Transvaal Sesame-bush, Sesamothamnus lugardii N. E. Br. Ex Stapf. (Pedaliaceae). S. lugardii is an arid savanna ... -
Snake population declines and conservation: a global synthesis, and perspectives from southern Africa, based on long-term field observations.
(2018)Amphibian and reptile declines have been documented from across the globe in recent decades. This is a result of anthropogenically driven effects including transformation of the landscape, habitat destruction, environmental ... -
Habitat use of Long-crested Eagles in human-modified landscapes of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
(2019)Loss of natural habitats due to land use change is threatening biodiversity globally, a cause for concern given the resulting loss of essential ecosystem services. Conservation of biodiversity within human-modified landscapes ... -
Management of multiple stressors to the lower reach of the Thukela River ecosystem.
(2019)South Africa is a water scarce country which is experiencing an increase in the demand and development of water resources. The Thukela River in KwaZulu-Natal is the second largest river in South Africa and the largest in ... -
Aspects of the ecology of African woolly-necked storks (Ciconia microscelis) in an anthropogenic changing landscape in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
(2018)Urbanisation is the fastest-growing forms of anthropogenic land use change and a major threat to biodiversity worldwide. However, despite the negative impacts of urbanisation on native species, some species persist in ... -
Assessment of spatial and temporal variation in water quality of the Pienaars River, Limpopo water management area.
(2018)Abstract available in pdf. -
Managing nesting hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) on a small tropical island.
(2018)Although human impact has caused the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) to be on the brink of extinction, conservation efforts are on the increase and management strategies are being re-defined to manage the species ... -
The relative tolerance of mesic grassland species to defoliation and competition.
(2018)Effective grazing management is dependent on understanding grass species responses to herbivory. These responses to herbivory can be broadly grouped into 3 categories, namely decreaser (plants that decline in abundance) ... -
Understanding the effects of changing climate and land use on woody plant encroachment in South African grasslands and savannas.
(2017)The increase in dominance of woody species, observed in many grasslands and savannas worldwide, highlights the sensitivity of woody herbaceous biomass ratios to changed environmental conditions. While the major factors ...