Masters Degrees (Ecology)
Recent Submissions
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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 ... -
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 ... -
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) ... -
The effects of fragmentation and forest structural components on the diversity of forest bird species in Durban, South Africa.
(2018)The pressure to meet the demands of the growing human population has resulted in the conversion of a large proportion of the Earth’s natural habitats into modified landscapes. With increasing urbanisation, generalist ... -
The competitive effect of vetiver grass on native grasses and implications for grassland rehabilitation in South Africa.
(2018)Astract available in PDF file. -
Use of freshwater fish to evaluate the wellbeing of selected rivers in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
(2017)Freshwater makes up just 0.01 % of the total water on earth but the fish species inhabiting it make up around 20 % of all vertebrate species. For centuries, human settlements have relied upon freshwater fish for food, ... -
Aspects of the ecology of Cape porcupines on farmlands, peri-urban and suburban areas in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
(2018)The unprecedented changes in the environmental and ecological processes of the biosphere have led some to believe that we have transitioned into a new geological era from the Holocene. This current era is known as the ... -
Response of estuarine and freshwater macroinvertebrate assemblages to habitat, water quality, flow and land use change in the lowland Amatikulu/Nyoni catchment.
(2018)Water has become a scarce commodity in Sub-Saharan Africa and in drought prone South Africa. Due to the extensive utilization of water resources in South Africa, management and monitoring of our rivers and estuaries is ... -
Macroinvertebrates as ecological indicators of the wellbeing of the lower uMvoti and Thukela Rivers, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
(2018)The excessive use of water resources and climate change stressors is impacting the quality and quantity of surface aquatic ecosystems in South Africa, a semi-arid country. Although South Africa is considered to be a ... -
Use of ground-dwelling arthropods as bioindicators of ecological condition in grassland and forest vegetation at eThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal.
(2018)Epigaeic arthropods are among the most diverse and abundant group of animals. They are important in the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. Assemblages of arthropods may be affected by vegetation type, seasonality and ... -
A biogeographic study of the KwaZulu-Natal sandstone sourveld patches within the eThekwini Municipal Area.
(2016)KwaZulu-Natal Sandstone Sourveld (KZNSS) is an endangered vegetation type in South Africa. Approximately 68% of KZNSS is transformed, with remaining patches existing within an urban and suburban matrix. Fragmented patches ... -
Assessing the success of red-billed oxpecker translocations as a conservation tool in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
(2016)There are numerous factors that contribute to a bird species becoming threatened and in need of increased conservation efforts in order to survive. Compared with fossil records, current extinction rates are much higher ... -
Pollination ecology and the functional significance of unusual floral traits in two South African stapeliads.
(2017)Carrion and dung mimicking plants often exhibit unusual floral traits which are believed to attract necro- and coprophagous insects as pollinators. Our understanding of these unusual traits and their functions is very ... -
Movement, home range and habitat use in leopard tortoises (Stigmochelys pardalis) on commercial farmland in the semi-arid Karoo.
(2016)Given the ever-increasing demand for resources due to an increasing human population, vast ranges of natural areas have undergone land use change, either due to urbanisation or production and exploitation of resources. In ...