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Introduction
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April 2011 - present
April 2011 - September 2015
Publications
Publications (82)
Increasing livestock densities and more severe drought events challenge sustainable management in South Africa’s semi-arid savannas. Effective mitigation strategies require accurate assessments of livestock foraging behaviour. By utilising high-throughput sequencing technology, this study evaluated the use of a dual-locus metabarcoding approach (tr...
Forbs are important contributors to species diversity and ecosystem functions in low-latitude grasslands, where they support diverse herbivore communities and millions of people. Native forb assemblages tolerate disturbances and physiological stressors (fire, herbivory, drought, and frost) that together have shaped their exceptional functional dive...
Forbs are important contributors to species diversity and ecosystem functions in low-latitude grasslands, where they support diverse herbivore communities and millions of people. Native forb assemblages tolerate disturbances and physiological stressors (fire, herbivory, drought, and frost) that together have shaped their exceptional functional dive...
Sub-Saharan Africa is under-represented in global biodiversity datasets, particularly regarding the impact of land use on species’ population abundances. Drawing on recent advances in expert elicitation to ensure data consistency, 200 experts were convened using a modified-Delphi process to estimate ‘intactness scores’: the remaining proportion of...
Savanna rangelands cover large areas of southern Africa. They provide ecosystem functions and services that are essential for the livelihoods of people. However, intense land use and climate change, particularly drought, threaten biodiversity and ecosystem functions of savanna rangelands. Understanding how these factors interact is essential to inf...
SIGNIFICANCE: Grasslands were often viewed as successional vegetation, a precursor to a possible forest, and were thought to have low diversity. However, a growing number of research projects have shown that these ecosystems boast high biodiversity and massive carbon storing potential, and require at least a century to recover after agricultural pl...
Enicostema axillare (Lam.) A. Raynal, commonly known as the Indian whitehead, has a long history of medicinal use in India and some parts of Africa, including South Africa. In ancient times, the plant was often used to treat cough, congestion, alleviation of fever, diabetes, and a range of other diseases. The plant has also demonstrated various pha...
Success of a metabarcoding study is determined by the extent of taxonomic coverage and the quality of records available in the DNA barcode reference database used. This study aimed to create an rbcL and a trnL (UAA) DNA barcode sequence reference database of plant species that are potential herbivore foraging targets and commonly found in semi-arid...
In South Africa, forbs make up the largest component of herbaceous species in grassland and savanna ecosystems , contributing significantly to nutritional food items for herbivores at certain times of the year. However, there are limited reports on the nutraceutical value of native forb species. Here, the proximate composition and the mineral, amin...
The ongoing loss of large trees and densification of shrubs are two prevalent processes that take place in African savannas, with profound consequences for their structure and function. We evaluated herbivore impacts on savanna woody communities using a long‐term exclosure experiment in the Kruger National Park, South Africa, with three treatments:...
The success of a metabarcoding study is determined by the extent of taxonomic coverage and the quality of records available in the DNA barcode reference database used. This study aimed to create an rbcLa and trnL (UAA) DNA barcode sequence reference database of plant species that are potential herbivore foraging targets and commonly found in semi-a...
The fight to save a tiny succulent, Frithia humilis, reveals that even our current conservation approach might not be enough to save SA’s threatened species
Mallotus oppositifolius (Geiseler) Müll. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) is an important and multipurpose medicinal herb found in different African countries. Its various parts possess several pharmacological activities. However, to date, there is no literature review collating the traditional uses, phytochemistry and biological activities of M. oppositifoliu...
Evolvulus alsinoides (L.) L. (Convolvulaceae) is a forb species that is highly valued in traditional medicine for its memory-enhancing effects, and a range of other ethnomedicinal properties. However, there are no studies on the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activities of E. alsinoides collected in South Africa. The present study was de...
Privately protected areas (PPAs) are internationally considered to be important policy implementation instruments to augment and strengthen protected area networks. However, there has been limited reflection on the performance of PPAs over time. This paper aims to identify key risks to the performance of PPAs as policy implementation instruments th...
Decomposition is a major determinant of terrestrial nutrient cycling and therefore an important regulator of ecosystem structure and function. It has been widely documented that large mammalian herbivores (LMH) act as a significant driver of changes to aboveground structure and modifications to edaphic properties. Little is known about the role of...
The genus Aloe has attracted considerable research attention in the last two decades owing to its ethnomedicinal, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and cosmeceutical importance. This review aimed to evaluate the performance of research outputs, identify evolving trends and research hotspots, and present a detailed summary of recent research reports on...
Ethnopharmacological relevance
Sceletium tortuosum (L.) N.E.Br., the most sought after and widely researched species in the genus Sceletium is a succulent forb endemic to South Africa. Traditionally, this medicinal plant is mainly masticated or smoked and used for the relief of toothache, abdominal pain, as a mood-elevator, analgesic, hypnotic, anx...
Fire and herbivory are major drivers in tropical savanna ecosystems and they selected a flora composed of species able to cope with recurrent aboveground biomass removal. Renewal of the herbaceous stratum is made possible by resprouting, mostly through a belowground bud bank. Evaluating the impacts of disturbances on the bud bank can assist in pred...
Grasslands are much more than just grass. Forbs (i.e., the non-graminoid herbaceous component) represent the largest proportion of total species- and functional richness in grassland ecosystems, which secure important ecosystem functions. Here, we present some highlights of only some of the important functions provided by this hyper-diverse plant l...
The genus Merremia Dennst. ex Endl. (Convolvulaceae) is a rich source of structurally diverse phytochemicals with therapeutic relevance. This review presents the first comprehensive, up-to-date information and research progression on the nutritional value, ethnomedicinal uses, phyto-chemistry, pharmacological activities, and toxicity of the genus M...
Ethnopharmacological relevance
Sceletium tortuosum (L.) N.E.Br, the most sought after and widely researched species in the genus Sceletium is a succulent forb endemic to South Africa. Traditionally, this medicinal plant is mainly masticated or smoked and used for the relief of toothache, abdominal pain, and as a mood-elevator, analgesic, hypnotic,...
Fire and herbivory are important natural disturbances in grassy biomes. Both drivers are likely to influence belowground microbial communities but no studies have unravelled the long-term impact of both fire and herbivory on bacterial and fungal communities. We hypothesized that soil bacterial communities change through disturbance-induced shifts i...
Plant functional traits provide a valuable tool to improve our understanding of ecological processes at a range of scales. Previous handbooks on plant functional traits have highlighted the importance of standardising measurements of traits to improve our understanding of ecological and evolutionary processes. In open ecosystems (i.e. grasslands, s...
Land-use effects on grassland flora are difficult to predict due to
poor understanding of species losses caused by transformation.To determine changes in species diversity and composition by comparing transformed with untransformed grassland. Floristics of paired plots were sampled within 18 transformed sites
(representing agricultural and urban...
Background: Low altitude Mopaneveld savanna in the northeastern parts of South Africa is generally well conserved. However, extensive copper mining, agricultural practices and urbanisation in the Phalaborwa region prompted research on the possible effects of land-use change on plant community diversity and function. Species diversity measures are u...
Background: Increased frequency and intensity of droughts related to climate change are predicted to induce pressure on herbaceous communities. Considering that forbs contribute significantly to savanna ecosystem resilience, we investigated forb communities of a protected semi-arid savanna during an extensive drought. Objective: We identified droug...
Review of: William Bond. 2019, Oxford University Press, Great Clarendon Street, Oxford, OX2 6DP, UK 192 pages, Hardcover, Paperback, Ebook ISBN-13: 978-0198812456DOI:10.1093/oso/9780198812456.001.0001$78 (~ R 1 135, Hardcover); $85 (~R 1 240, Ebook); $46 (~R 660, Paperback)
Background: Land-use effects on grassland flora are difficult to predict due to poor understanding of species losses caused by transformation.Objectives: To determine changes in species diversity and composition by comparing transformed with untransformed grassland.Methods: Floristics of paired plots were sampled within 18 transformed sites (repres...
Background: Increased frequency and intensity of droughts related to climate change are predicted to induce pressure on herbaceous communities. Considering that forbs contribute significantly to savanna ecosystem resilience, we investigated forb communities of a protected semi-arid savanna during an extensive drought.Objective: We identified drough...
Attempts to obtain standardised decomposition data to determine potential drivers of carbon release have evolved from the use of cotton strips and standardised leaf litter mixtures to the most recent Tea Bag Index (TBI). The TBI is an internationally standardised method to collect comparable, globally distributed data on decomposition rate and litt...
Plant functional traits provide a valuable tool to improve our understanding of ecological processes at a range of scales. Previous handbooks on plant functional traits have highlighted the importance of standardising measurements of traits to improve our understanding of ecological and evolutionary processes. In open ecosystems (i.e. grasslands, s...
Despite growing recognition of the conservation value of grassy biomes, our understanding of how to restore biodiverse tropical and subtropical grassy biomes (grasslands and savannas; TGB) remains limited. Several tools have recently been identified for TGB restoration including prescribed fires, appropriate management of livestock and wild herbivo...
Translation of the original article "Myth-busting tropical grassy biome restoration” published in Restoration Ecology
Tradução do artigo original “Myth-busting tropical grassy biome restoration” publicado na Restoration Ecology que pode ser acessado aqui (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.13202?af=R). Em caso de citação, deve-se...
The historical focus in research and policy on forest restoration and temperate ecosystems has created misunderstandings for the restoration of tropical and subtropical old-growth grassy biomes (TOGGB). Such misconceptions have detrimental consequences for
biodiversity, ecosystem services and human livelihoods in woodlands, savannas and grasslands...
Projected increases in the frequency and severity of drought events are expected to impose changes in the ecology of native forb communities in semi-arid ecosystems. We examined the state of forb communities during, and directly after an extreme drought event across two contrasting land-use types, which included a protected area (high diversity of...
A major concern during the translocation of higher plant species is related to habitat suitability
and the availability of pollination services. Should these not meet the requirements of the
plant, then successful reproduction and establishment cannot occur. We studied an endangered
succulent, Frithia humilis, which had previously been translocated...
Rainfall and herbivory shape savannah herbaceous communities, but these disturbances are being altered globally. To assess potential consequences of such alterations, we evaluated herbivore effects on species and functional diversity during an episodic drought in a sodic savannah using data collected from long‐term herbivore exclosures in the Kruge...
South African grasslands are ancient and highly biodiverse. Habitat transformation through land-use change is threatening these grassland ecosystems. The loss of plant species per unit area cannot be quantified for transformed grasslands, as the richness of untransformed grasslands has not been determined accurately. The aim of this study was to de...
Savannas are commonly described as a vegetation type with a grass layer interspersed with a discontinuous tree or shrub layer. On the contrary, forbs, a plant life form that can include any nongraminoid herbaceous vascular plant, are poorly represented in definitions of savannas worldwide. While forbs have been acknowledged as a diverse component o...
The eastern savanna landscape within the Kruger National Park (KNP) is a well-studied, spatially heterogeneous savanna ecosystem characterized by various vegetation types, which are commonly linked to a north-south rainfall gradient combined with distinct geological variation across the park from east to west. In contrast, South Africa’s drier west...
This presentation was presented by me at The 17th Annual Savanna Science Networking Meeting, hosted by SANParks' Scientific Services from 3 - 7 March 2019 in the Mdluli Conference Centre, Skukuza.
Herbivores alter plant biodiversity (species richness) in many of the world’s ecosystems, but the magnitude and the direction of herbivore effects on biodiversity vary widely within and among ecosystems. One current theory predicts that herbivores enhance plant biodiversity at high productivity but have the opposite effect at low productivity. Yet,...
Long-term herbaceous vegetation data collected from herbivore and fire exclusion
treatments in a nutrient-rich system in the Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa were used to compare the response patterns of forbs and grasses to varying rainfall conditions. Palatable annual forbs consistently dominated over palatable annual grasses, whereas unp...
The Griqualand West Centre of Endemism (GWC) is one of thirteen centres of plant endemism in southern Africa. The occurrence of 24 endemic plant species in the GWC is ascribed to the region’s topographic, climatic and geological heterogeneity. Vegetation types of the region are subsequently varied with eight vegetation units of the Eastern Kalahari...
Low altitude Mopaneveld savanna in the northeastern parts of South Africa is generally well conserved. However, extensive copper mining, and associated agriculture and urbanisation in the Phalaborwa region prompted research on the possible effects of land-use change, specifically soil disturbances of various magnitudes on plant community structure...
Ecological conservation of savanna ecosystems is dependent upon interactive mechanisms involving bottom-up drivers such as nutrient availability, and top-down controls relating to fire, herbivory and water availability at various spatial scales. Alterations in diverse savanna herbivore communities, suppression of natural fire regimes and increased...
The Griqualand West Centre of Endemism (GWC) is one of thirteen centres of plant endemism in southern Africa. Driven by topography, climate and geological heterogeneity, the GWC hosts 24 endemic plant species. Vegetation types in the region are remarkably rich in plant species while eight vegetation units of the Eastern Kalahari Bushveld Bioregion...
Strip mining alters the natural ecosystem and is especially detrimental
in semi-arid regions, such as Mopaneveld. We need to understand the
dynamic nature of recovery after a major disturbance, to be able to
inform mitigation measures to assist those ecological processes and
functions which did not recover sufficiently. Recovery of these ecosystem...
Ecological studies designed to explain vegetation dynamics and veld condition in semi-arid and arid (dryland) savannas often focus on the interaction between the grassy and woody component, while their interaction with forbs are generally weakly represented. Forbs contribute to a range of ecosystem services and functions for wildlife, livestock and...
Understanding relationships between large herbivores and plant species diversity in dynamic riparian zones, and more specifically sodic zones, is critical to biodiversity conservation. Sodic patches form an integral part of savanna ecosystems because of the ecosystem services and functions they provide,
i.e. accumulation of nutrients, provision of...
The Thesis that I submitted for my Master's Degree
Ecological models to explain savanna heterogeneity and functioning weakly represent herbaceous forbs, which inevitably created knowledge gaps regarding the diversity and ecology of forbs. Forbs constitute over 70% of semi-arid savanna species richness. The aim of this study was therefore to (i) identify forb species that potentially form part of he...
The hump-back relationship between species diversity and productivity predicts highest species richness at
intermediate levels of biomass, and low species numbers in least and most productive habitats. Sodic patches of semi-arid savannas are considered ‘nutrient hotspots’ by producing high-quality forage. The impact of biomass reduction (due to ove...
Biodiversity maintains ecosystem functions and provides ecosystem services. Human-induced transformation of natural vegetation can reduce diversity, and ultimately ecosystem services. Land-use and transformation is therefore considered one of the most important agents of global change. The Phalaborwa-Timbavati Mopaneveld is a semi-arid savanna type...
A classification of the woody component of the riparian vegetation of Zululand coastal thornveld is analysed using the height classes of different woody species as an indication of age. A total of 43 randomly stratified plots was selected using aerial photographs to include all the different plant communities in this rare and endemic vegetation typ...
SAEON is concerned with the provision of reliable long-term data as well as monitoring environmental change, especially in Mopaneveld - an event driven and dynamic system. A long term monitoring project was initiated to detect changes in the diversity and composition of the herbaceous layer of Syenite koppies in the Mopaneveld. It is hypothesized t...
Understanding relationships between large herbivores and plant species diversity in dynamic riparian zones is critical to biodiversity conservation. The Nkuhlu exclosures in the Kruger National Park (KNP) provided opportunity to investigate spatial heterogeneity patterns within riparian zones, as well as how these patterns are affected by fire and...
Savanna ekosisteme in Suid-Afrika word gekenmerk deur heterogeniteit op verskeie skale
Die groot vloede wat in die jaar 2000 in die Kruger Nasionale Park plaasgevind het, het dierivieroewerplantegroei versteur. Dit het die geleentheid gebied om heinings op te rig langsdie Sabierivier om herbivore uit sekere gebiede uit te sluit en sodoende die herstel van die rivieroewerekosisteme te monitor.
The distinctiveness of Maputaland Woody Grassland lies within its richness of geoxylic suffrutices and herbaceous flora. Since it is well documented in the literature and easy to distinguish from other grassland types, it was possible to confirm a locality of this unique vegetation unit west of Richards Bay, where it probably forms the southernmost...
The construction of exclosures along two of the most important rivers in the Kruger National Park was done to investigate how patterns of spatial and temporal heterogeneity of the riparian zone is affected by fire, flood and herbivory. To assist this research programme, vegetation surveys were conducted within exclosures along the Letaba River to c...
The need to conduct research on the impact of elephant on the environment prompted the construction of exclosures along two of the most important rivers in the Kruger National Park. Scientific research on these exclosures along the Sabie and Letaba rivers addresses how patterns of spatial and temporal heterogeneity of the riparian zone are affected...
A classification of the woody component of the riparian vegetation of Zululand coastal thornveld is analysed using the height classes of different woody species as an indication of age. A total of 43 randomly stratified plots was selected using aerial photographs to include all the different plant communities in this rare and endemic vegetation typ...
This is an extract of this Grassland Biome chapter from the pre-publication PDF of the book Mucina, L., & Rutherford, M.C. (eds). Reprint 2011. The Vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Strelitzia 19. South African Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. ISBN: 978-1919976-21-1
An analysis of the vegetation of the Sterkfontein Caves (i.e. the natural area surrounding the caves) is presented. Relevés were compiled in 24 stratified random sample plots. A TWINSPAN classification, refined by Braun-Blanquet procedures, revealed six plant communities, also referred to as vegetation units. For each of these vegetation units the...
A vegetation survey was conducted of the Owen Sitole College of Agriculture (OSCA). Phytosociological data were used to identify plant communities and to determine alpha diversity. Five plant communities were recognised and described. One of these was sub-divided into two sub-communities. An ordination scatter diagram of the distribution of the six...
Data from fifteen phytosociological studies were merged and classified to describe and compare the vegetation of geographically separated and climatically different Mopaneveld types in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Seven vegetation types and ten major plant communities were identified using TWINSPAN. Vegetation types were separated according...