Masters Degrees (Botany and Zoology)

Comparative phylogeography of three anuran species in the Eastern Cape Province forests, South Africa

Kushata, Judith Natsai Theodora (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2018-12)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Taxa with different degrees of habitat specificity have been known to be susceptible to varying factors imparting fragmentation within forests. Therefore, delimiting their evolutionary history through ...

The hydrological and ecophysiological effects of simulated climate warming on the soil and vegetation of the Nama Karoo

Edwardes, Amy (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2018-03)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Climate change is increasingly recognised as threat to individual species performance and survival. Manipulative field experiments, such as warming experiments, are crucial to understanding the potential ...

Response of different plant functional types to environmental variability on Marion Island : quantifying diurnal patterns over a seasonal cycle using the photochemical reflectance index

Zietsman, Alta (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2018-03)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Marion Island forms part of the Prince Edward Island group, situated near the latitude of 47° South. Seasonal and temporal variability in climate on Marion Island has been described as muted, due to the ...

Patterns and processes of alien plant invasions in small urban areas in South Africa : the Berg River catchment as a case study

McLean, Phil (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2018-03)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Many studies in invasion biology focus on the negative consequences of invasive alien plant species in natural areas. In South Africa, national legislation relating to invasive species focusses mainly on ...

Optimal sampling and spatiotemporal change in epibenthos at a sub-Antarctic Marine Protected Area

Adams, Robyn (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-12)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There have been notable regional and temporal changes in many biological systems around the Prince Edward Islands (PEI) in the Southern Ocean, but little work has focused on epibenthic assemblages. The ...

An assessment of invasive predatory marine crabs and the threat they pose along the South African coastline

Swart, Cheruscha (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-12)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Invasions by marine alien species are occurring at an unprecedented rate and are known to negatively impact upon society and biodiversity. Due to the weak regulatory forces exerted by native predators, ...

Amphibian conservation in an urban park : a spatial approach to quantifying threats to Anura on the Cape peninsula

Ebrahim, Zishan Cassiem (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-12)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Species’ threat assessments produce generalized threat impact scores, often by considering regional-scale representations of threats. Cities, on the other hand, produce municipal-scale, high resolution ...

The impact of Xenopus laevis predation on aquatic ecosystems

Thorp, Corey James (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-03)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Predator-prey interactions are dynamic and the ability to predict their impact on prey species has become an important aspect in ecology. One method to predict the impact of a predator species on a prey ...

The world without birds : an experimental test of the ecological significance of pollinating birds for plant communities

Botha, Pieter Willem (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-03)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Since pollinators are declining in many parts of the world, it is vital to understand the consequences of pollinator loss. How will plant communities be affected? If pollinators are keystone mutualists, ...

The Iingcungcu Project : restoring nectar feeding birds, building biodiversity leadership.

Mnisi, Bongani (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-03)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Plant-pollinator interactions are threatened by habitat fragmentation and little is being done to mitigate its varying impacts. Thus the Iingcungcu study put together three chapters 1) aiming to establish ...

An assessment of Melaleuca (Myrtaceae) as invasive species in South Africa

Jacobs, Llewellyn E. O. (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-03)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Evaluating potentially invasive plants is an important part of invasive species management. Reports of several naturalized and invasive Melaleuca species in South Africa prompted an investigation into ...

Ailanthus altissima : an assessment of its distribution at different spatial scales and options for management in South Africa

Walker, Gareth Alexander (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-03)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The constant flow of goods into and out of cities has resulted in the proliferation of invasive species in urban areas and, because of this, cities are viewed as ‘hotspots’ for invasive species. The rise ...

Managing invasive alien plants on private land in the Western Cape : insights from Vergelegen Estate

Jansen van Rensburg, Jacques (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-03)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Invasive alien plants (IAPs) are a major threat to biodiversity and ecosystem services in South Africa and are particularly widespread and damaging in the Cape Floristic Region (CFR). Activities such as ...

In vitro growth and development of the sweet medicinal plant Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni

Magangana, Tandokazi (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-03)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a plant native to the Amambay region located north-east of Paraguay in South America. S. rebaudiana is a natural, sweet perennial herb that contains ent-kaurene diterpene ...

Investigating the morphology, locomotory performance and macroecology of a sub-Saharan African frog radiation (Anura: Pyxicephalidae)

Rebelo, Alexander Douglas (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-03)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The phenotypic diversity among closely related species is often attributed to the process of natural selection. This process retains heritable traits within a population, increasing effectiveness of ...