Masters Degrees (Botany and Zoology)

Urban plant invasions: how to classify, prioritize and manage invasive alien plants; Cape Town as a case study

Afonso, Luca (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-03)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Urban areas are considered hotspots for invasions, with human activity being a major source of introduction and causing the dispersal of invasive alien plant species (IAPs). This makes natural and semi ...

Spill your guts: the invasive amphibian gut microbiome

Wagener, Carla (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-03)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Invasive vertebrate species threaten global biodiversity, and significantly impact economic, agricultural and ecosystem services. Alarmingly, the number of introductions of species into non-native areas ...

Evaluating detection efforts and management of alien and invasive species by citizens in Western Cape, South Africa

Tshali, Nolwethu (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-03)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Invasive alien species (IAS) are a growing threat globally and cause a variety of ecological, economic and social impacts. People play a key role in introducing IAS and facilitating their spread but also ...

The gigas effect: A reliable predictor of ploidy? Case studies in Oxalis

Becker, Frederik Willem (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-03)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Whole Genome Duplication (WGD), or polyploidy is an important evolutionary process, but literature is divided over its long-term evolutionary potential to generate diversity and lead to lineage divergence. ...

Familiar mutualist interactions during biological invasions: Consequences for invaders and impacts on natives.

Warrington, Staci (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-12)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Mutualisms are important for plant survival but are easily disrupted when plants are introduced into new environments. This acts as a strong barrier to establishment success. However, non-native plants ...

Effects of warming on the early establishment of an African savanna tree

Randle, Matilda Rose (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-12)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigates the interactive effects of atmospheric warming and the presence of a C4 grass sward on the growth and mortality of establishing savanna tree seedlings (Senegalia nigrescens (Oliv.) ...

Phylogeographic patterning of three co-distributed forest-dwelling reptile species along the east coast of South Africa

Busschau, Theo (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-12)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigates the phylogeographic structure of three co-distributed forest-living reptile species, the Pondo flat gecko (Afroedura pondolia), the forest thread snake (Leptotyphlops sylvicolus) ...

Taxonomy and distribution of moonshine worms (Diopatra sp.) in Knysna estuary

van Rensburg, Hendré (2019-12)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Polychaetes as fish bait have become increasingly popular in the Knysna Estuary over the last decade. The presence of an unknown polychaete, Diopatra sp. was first reported in the Knysna Estuary ten years ...

Deciphering the taxonomic status of parasitic sucking lice occurring on the Aethomys and Micaelamys rodent species complex : a comparative phylogenetic and phylogeographic approach

Bothma, J. C. (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-12)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The present study investigated the phylogenetic and phylogeographic structures of parasites and their hosts in an attempt to better understand the mechanisms involved in parasite evolution. Phylogenetic ...

Assessment of genomic diversity and population sub-structuring of kingklip (Genypterus capensis) off Southern Africa

Schulze, Melissa Jane (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-03)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Kingklip (Genypterus capensis) represents a valuable marine resource for both South Africa and Namibia. Historical exploitation levels led to substantial declines in abundance, resulting in the species ...

The impacts of invasive plants on springtail diversity on sub-Antarctic Marion island

Kgopong, Rashawe Modiwa (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-03)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Invasive species have been intentionally and accidentally introduced globally to both mainland and isolated island ecosystems, with the effects more harmful on islands given their isolation and high ...

Interspecific and temporal variation of condensed tannins and cyanide concentrations in potential dietary sources of extralimital giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) in the Karoo

Marais, Eugene (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 ...

Encapsulating yachts to manage the transfer of marine alien species

Keanly, Catherine (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-03)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In marine systems, the introduction and spread of alien species occurs predominantly through shipping, with hull fouling a dominant vector. Vessel fouling is primarily managed through the application of ...

Polhillia on the brink : taxonomy, ecophysiology and conservation assessment of a highly threatened Cape legume genus

Du Preez, Brian (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-03)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Polhillia C.H.Stirt. is a small, highly threatened genus in the mega-diverse Fabaceae. It is poorly known, and thought to include 8 species restricted to Renosterveld remnants in the Greater Cape Floristic ...

Impacts of invasive birds: assessing the incidence and extent of hybridization between invasive Mallard Ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) and native Yellow-billed Ducks (Anas undulata) in South Africa

Stephens, Kirstin (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-03)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Hybridization with invasive species is a major impact on native congeners, often leading to introgression and the loss of unique genotypes or co-adapted gene complexes. Therefore, hybridization needs ...