Masters Degrees (Botany and Zoology)
Recent Submissions
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Interspecific and temporal variation of condensed tannins and cyanide concentrations in potential dietary sources of extralimital giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) in the Karoo
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-04)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: During 2016 and 2018 four giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) mortalities occurred in the Karoo potentially caused by acute hydrogen cyanide poisoning. Plants have various defence mechanisms to protect ... -
Comparative phylogeography of three anuran species in the Eastern Cape Province forests, South Africa
(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
(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
(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 ... -
A hidden world beneath the sand : testing phylogeographic and biogeographic patterns of Southern African sandy beach species
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2018-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa‟s sandy shores are listed as some of the best studied in the world, however, most of these studies have focused on documenting biodiversity and the classification of beach type and there is ... -
Syllidae Grube, 1850 (Annelida) from Southern Africa. A taxonomic update, with a focus on Syllis Lamarck, 1818
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2018-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Syllidae is a common polychaete family in South African coastal environments but have not been the focus of research since the publication of a comprehensive polychaete identification guide by Day (1967). ... -
Determining the invasive status of Australian Acacia species in South Africa, and the potential for eradicating species with limited distributions
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2018-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: While widespread invasions of Australian acacia species (wattles) have been fairly well documented, very little is known about species that have no substantial commercial value or those that are not ... -
Patterns and processes of alien plant invasions in small urban areas in South Africa : the Berg River catchment as a case study
(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
(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
(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
(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
(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
(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.
(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 ... -
The evolutionary history and biogeography of South African nudibranch molluscs (Euthyneura: Nudibranchia)
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa lies at the interface of two opposing oceanographical systems boasting incredibly biodiverse and unique marine environments, however it is estimated that a large amount of the biodiversity ... -
An assessment of Melaleuca (Myrtaceae) as invasive species in South Africa
(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
(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
(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
(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)
(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 ...
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