Biodiversity & Conservation Biology: Recent submissions
Now showing items 61-80 of 249
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Hatch traits of artificially incubated ostrich eggs as affected by setting position, angle of rotation and season
(AJOL, 2020)High levels of hatching failure in artificially incubated ostrich eggs cause considerable loss of income for the industry. In the 2015 - 2016 breeding seasons, between 846 and 1 549 egg records were used to determine the ... -
Extreme temperatures compromise male and female fertility in a large desert bird
(Nature Research, 2021)Temperature has a crucial influence on the places where species can survive and reproduce. Past research has primarily focused on survival, making it unclear if temperature fluctuations constrain reproductive success, and ... -
A TAXONOMIC REVISION OF THE OTHONNA BULBOSA GROUP (ASTERACEAE: SENECIONEAE: OTHONNINAE)
(Missouri Botanical Garden Press, 2019)Othonna L. (Asteraceae: Senecioneae: Othonninae) is a genus of some 120 species concentrated in the Greater Cape Floristic Region (GCFR) of South Africa, with a few species extending into southern Namibia, Angola, and ... -
Reef benthos of Seychelles - A field guide
(Pensoft Publishers, 2021)During the 2019 First Descent: Seychelles Expedition, shallow and deep reef ecosystems of the Seychelles Outer Islands were studied by deploying a variety of underwater technologies to survey their benthic flora and fauna. ... -
Does the landscape functionality approach provide insight into rangeland conditions in the Tanqua Karoo region, South Africa?
(PeerJ, 2022)The harsh environmental conditions coupled with a long history of overgrazing have altered the ecology of the arid Tanqua Karoo rangelands in South Africa, which necessitates rehabilitation. However, a suitable method ... -
Factors that influence cape fur seal predation on Cape gannets at Lambert’s bay, South Africa
(PeerJ, 2022)Seabird populations experience predation that can impact their breeding density and breeding success. The Cape gannet Morus capensis is endemic to the Benguela upwelling ecosystem and is classified as Endangered by the ... -
High-depth African genomes inform human migration and health
(Choudhury, A. et al. (2021). Author correction: High-depth African genomes inform human migration and health (nature, (2020), 586, 7831, (741-748), 10.1038/s41586-020-2859-7). Nature, 592(7856), E26. doi:10.1038/s41586-021-03286-9, 2021)The African continent is regarded as the cradle of modern humans and African genomes contain more genetic variation than those from any other continent, yet only a fraction of the genetic diversity among African individuals ... -
Too hot to nest? In a hot summer the tortoise Chersina Angulata can switch from nesting to facultative viviparity
(Frontiers Media, 2022)In a captive colony of Chersina angulata in Cape Town, South Africa, we observed in 2015/16 retention of the last egg clutch inside the female until the hatching stage was reached, conforming to the generally accepted ... -
Protect high seas biodiversity
(American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2021)The high seas—marine areas beyond national jurisdiction (1)—cover nearly half of Earth’s surface (2). The high seas support our planet in countless ways, from regulating the climate, to feeding millions of people, to ... -
Quantification and characterisation of microplastics ingested by selected juvenile fish species associated with mangroves in KwaZulu- Natal, South Africa
(Elsevier, 2020)Though the number studies on microplastic ingestion by fish is growing, data on fish species charac- teristic of the South African coastline are scarce. This study quantified and characterised (physically and chemically) ... -
A cursory look at the fishmeal/oil industry from an ecosystem perspective
(Frontiers Media, 2021)By supporting the fishmeal industry, are we competing with marine predators? Should we be taking away food from marine predators to subsidize agriculture? If not for human consumption, should forage fish be left in the ... -
Nutritional quality of Calobota sericea fodders. A preliminary assessment
(Taylor and Francis, 2021)This study aimed to provide preliminary information regarding the nutritional quality of Calobota sericea, a preferred perennial legume forage species from the water-limited rangelands of South Africa. Calobota sericea ... -
Othonna koos-bekkeri Van Jaarsv. is a synonym of Othonna cerarioides Magoswana & J.C.Manning (Asteraceae: Othonninae)
(AOSIS (pty) Ltd, 2021-10-18)Othonna koos-bekkeri Van Jaarsv. is recognised as a synonym of O. cerarioides Magoswana & J.C.Manning. Copyright: © 2021. The Authors -
Oxidative Stress, Ageing and Methods of Seed Invigoration: An Overview and Perspectives
(MDPI, 2021)The maintenance of seed quality during the long-term conservation of plant genetic resources is crucial for averting the projected food crises that are linked to the changing climate and rising world population. However, ... -
Forest canopy gaps offer a window into the future: The case of subtropical coastal forests within an urban matrix in South Africa
(INST NACIONAL INVESTIGACION TECHNOLOGIA AGRARIA ALIMENTARIA, 2021)Alien and indigenous species emergence patterns within canopy gaps in urban subtropical forests are poorly understood. This study compared canopy gap floristics in relation to abiotic and physical characteristics across ... -
In vitro acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity and chemical composition of the dichloromethane extracts of the leaves and inflorescences of the tumbleweed, Trachyandra laxa (N.E.Br.) Oberm. var. rigida (Suesseng.) Roessl
(South African Journal of Botany, 2022)Trachyandra laxa, which belongs to the family Asphodelaceae, is a poisonous geophyte, often consumed by livestock, particularly when pastures are poor. Ingestion of T. laxa by livestock causes paresis and paralysis of the ... -
Too hot to nest? In a hot summer the Tortoise Chersina Angulata can switch from nesting to facultative viviparity
(Frontiers Media, 2022)In a captive colony of Chersina angulata in Cape Town, South Africa, we observed in 2015/16 retention of the last egg clutch inside the female until the hatching stage was reached, conforming to the generally accepted ... -
Estimating leopard density across the highly modified human-dominated landscape of the Western Cape, South Africa
(Cambridge University, 2021)Apex predators play a critical role in maintaining the health of ecosystems but are highly susceptible to habitat degradation and loss caused by land-use changes, and to anthropogenic mortality. The leopard Panthera ... -
Wound healing activities and potential of selected african medicinal plants and their synthesized biogenic nanoparticles
(2021-11)In Africa, medicinal plants have been traditionally used as a source of medicine for centuries. To date, African medicinal plants continue to play a significant role in the treatment of wounds. Chronic wounds are associated ... -
Status of sperm functionality assessment in wildlife species: From fish to primates
(2021-05)(1) Background: in order to propagate wildlife species (covering the whole spectrum from species suitable for aquaculture to endangered species), it is important to have a good understanding of the quality of their sperm, ...