Browsing by Author "Smith, K."
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- ItemAppropriate uses of EICAT protocol, data and classifications(2020) Kumschick, S.; Bacher, S.; Bertolino, S.; Blackburn, T.M.; Evans, T.; Roy, H.E.; Smith, K.The Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT) can be used to classify alien taxa according to the magnitude and type of their environmental impacts. The EICAT protocol, classifications of alien taxa using the protocol (EICAT classification) and the data underpinning classifications (EICAT data) are increasingly used by scientists and practitioners such as governments, NGOs and civil society for a variety of purposes. However, the properties of the EICAT protocol and the data it generates are not suitable for certain uses. Therefore, we present guidelines designed to clarify and facilitate the appropriate use of EICAT to tackle a broad range of conservation issues related to biological invasions, as well as to guide research and communication more generally. Here we address common misconceptions and give a brief overview of some key issues that all EICAT users need to be aware of to take maximal advantage of this resource. Furthermore, we give examples of the wide variety of ways in which the EICAT protocol, classifications and data can be and have been utilised and outline common errors and pitfalls to avoid.
- ItemBiological invasions in World Heritage Sites: current status and a proposed monitoring and reporting framework(2020) Shackleton, R.T.; Bertzky, B.; Wood, L.E.; Bunbury, N.; Jäger, H.; van Merm, R.; Sevilla, C.; Smith, K.; Wilson, J.R.U.; Witt, A.B.R.; Richardson, D.M.UNESCO World Heritage Sites (WHS) are areas of outstanding universal value and conservation importance. They are, however, threatened by a variety of global change drivers, including biological invasions. We assessed the current status of biological invasions and their management in 241 natural and mixed WHS globally by reviewing documents collated by UNESCO and IUCN. We found that reports on the status of biological invasions in WHS were often irregular or inconsistent. Therefore, while some reports were very informative, they were hard to compare because no systematic method of reporting was followed. Our review revealed that almost 300 different invasive alien species (IAS) were considered as a threat to just over half of all WHS. Information on IAS management undertaken in WHS was available for fewer than half of the sites that listed IAS as a threat. There is clearly a need for an improved monitoring and reporting system for biological invasions in WHS and likely the same for other protected areas globally. To address this issue, we developed a new framework to guide monitoring and reporting of IAS in protected areas building on globally accepted standards for IAS assessments, and tested it on seven WHS. The framework requires the collation of information and reporting on pathways, alien species presence, impacts, and management, the estimation of future threats and management needs, assessments of knowledge and gaps, and, using all of this information allows for an overall threat score to be assigned to the protected area. This new framework should help to improve monitoring of IAS in protected areas moving forward.
- ItemA comparative analysis of grade 1 and grade 2 water in the Tygerberg Hospital in vitro fertilisation programme(Health and Medical Publishing Group (HMPG), 1987-02) Kruger, T. F.; Van Wyk, H.; Stander, F. S. H.; Smith, K.; Menkveld, R.; Van der Merwe, J. P.There are conflicting reports in the literature about the effect of the water source for growth and insemination media in an in vitro fertilisation (IVF) programme. A controlled trial was carried out in which two-cell mouse embryos were cultured in Ham F10 medium containing either grade 1 water (test group) or grade 2 water (control group). Of the two-cell embryos, 92,0% (69 of 75) in the test group and 91,8% (67 of 73) in the control group cleaved to the blastocyst stage (no statistically significant difference). On the basis of this experiment grade 2 water was used in the Tygerberg Hospital human IVF programme with good results. A continuing pregnancy rate of 23% per embryo transfer over a 1-year period is reported.
- ItemThe Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)’s Post-2020 target on invasive alien species – what should it include and how should it be monitored?(2020) Essl, F.; Latombe, G.; Lenzner, B.; Pagad, S.; Seebens, H.; Smith, K.; Wilson, J.R.U.; Genovesi, P.The year 2020 and the next few years are critical for the development of the global biodiversity policy agenda until the mid-21st century, with countries agreeing to a Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Reducing the substantial and still rising impacts of invasive alien species (IAS) on biodiversity will be essential if we are to meet the 2050 Vision where biodiversity is valued, conserved, and restored. A tentative target has been developed by the IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG), and formally submitted to the CBD for consideration in the discussion on the Post-2020 targets. Here, we present properties of this proposal that we regard as essential for an effective Post-2020 Framework. The target should explicitly consider the three main components of biological invasions, i.e. (i) pathways, (ii) species, and (iii) sites; the target should also be (iv) quantitative, (v) supplemented by a set of indicators that can be applied to track progress, and (vi) evaluated at medium- (2030) and long-term (2050) time horizons. We also present a proposed set of indicators to track progress. These properties and indicators are based on the increasing scientific understanding of biological invasions and effectiveness of responses. Achieving an ambitious action-oriented target so that the 2050 Vision can be achieved will require substantial effort and resources, and the cooperation of a wide range of stakeholders.
- ItemThe development of one- and two-cell mouse embryos in the absence of human serum(Health & Medical Publishing Group, 1986) Kruger, T. F.; Stander, F. S. H.; Smith, K.; Lombard, C. J.One- and two-cell embryos were obtained from F1 hybrid female mice stimulated with human menopausal gonadotrophin and randomly distributed into two groups - group 1 (no serum) and group 2 (10% patient's serum). Fifty of 53 (94.3%) one-cell embryos in group 1 had cleaved to the blastocyst stage and 44 of 49 (89.79%) in group 2 after 96 hours (no significant difference - chi-square test). In the two-cell embryos in group 1, 78 of 89 (87.6%) reached the blastocyst stage after 72 hours and 80 of 86 (93.02%) in group 2 (no significant difference - chi-square test). According to microscopic evaluation cleavage to the blastocyst stage without serum supplementation is possible. The value of serum is discussed.
- ItemThe in vitro fertilisation programme at Tygerberg Hospital and the University of Stellenbosch. Five years' experience, April 1983 - January 1988(Health & Medical Publishing Group, 1990) Kruger, T. F.; Van der Merwe, J. P.; Odendaal, H. J.; Stander, F. S. H.; Grobler, G. M.; Hulme, V. A.; Erasmus, E. L.; Coetzee, K.; Windt, M.-L.; Swart, Y.; Smith, K.; Menkveld, R.The results of the in vitro fertilisation programme at Tygerberg Hospital for the period April 1983 to January 1988 are presented. Of the 1117 laparoscopies performed, 825 patients reached the transfer stage. A live-birth rate of 9.3% was achieved. The pregnancy rate after transfer of 4 embryos was 25,9% compared with 15,4% after 2 embryos and 10,8% after 3 embryos (P = 0.0001). The multiple pregnancy rate was 2.8% in the group receiving 2 embryos and 11.7% and 10,4% in those receiving 3 and 4 embryos, respectively. Of the 77 successful pregnancies (90 babies), 1 baby died at 34 weeks' gestation as the result of abruptio placentae due to preeclampsia and 1 cot death occurred. The only congenital abnormality encountered was a cleft palate.
- ItemTranslation as secondary communication. The relevance theory perspective of Ernst-August Gutt(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2002) Smith, K.Ernst-August Gutt started one of the greatest translation debates of the past ten years when he suggested that relevance theory holds the key to providing a unified account of translation. The bulk of the debate has been between practitioners of functional equivalence and advocates of a relevance theoretic approach to translation. However, opponents of the relevance theoretic approach have widely misunderstood Gutt’s claims and objectives, with the result that too much discussion has focused on minor points of his account of translation. This article will attempt to clarify his objectives and claims, and to clear up some common misunderstandings about the implications of embracing a relevance theoretic approach to translation.