Abstract: The conservation of biotic diversity is a growing challenge within southern Africa at the beginning of the 21st century. Growing populations and trends toward a questionable Western development model place demands on the use of land for food, fiber, and fuel production. The traditional establishment and use of formal conservation areas is being challenged against the needs of humans and the past unbalances created by colonial rule. Conservation areas, as isolated islands in a sea o...
Abstract: The inter- and intraspecific taxonomy of the genus Lepus is highly controversial. Since these animals play an important ecological role as prey species, their conservation is of high priority. A prerequisite for adequate management strategies is the precise knowledge of taxonomic borders and geographic distributions of the taxa in question. Especially in African hares the clear delimitations of the species and subspecies are still unresolved. In an attempt to obtain a clearer under...
Abstract: Please read the abstract in the section, 00front, of this document
Abstract: Please read the abstract in the 00front part of this document
Abstract: The micro frog, Microbatrachella capensis (Boulenger, 1910), is a Critically Endangered anuran found in fragmented marshland habitats along the southern coast of the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The genetic diversity between and within the remaining populations (Kenilworth, Grootwitvlei, Kleinmond, Lamloch, Hagelkraal, and Buffeljacht/Ratelrivier) of Microbatrachella capensis in the Western Cape Province of South Africa was assessed, sampling 12 specimens from each popula...
Abstract: Field-based mesocosm studies may be used as conceptual experiments to examine theoretical questions using the generated empirical data. A field-based Drosophilidae-nectarine mesocosm, comprising sun and shaded microclimate treatments arranged in a checkerboard design, was used in this thesis to examine four theoretical objectives. First, the efficacy of spatial analysis for detecting empirical pattern was examined. Natural variation weakened spatial structuring. However, hypothesis...
Abstract: Small populations of animals are vulnerable to the consequences of breeding within a closed group – inbreeding depression and genetic drift lead to reductions in genetic variability, which in turn can give rise to the amplification of deleterious traits. Traditionally, managers attempt to minimise these effects by controlling the genetic structure via a manipulation of the paternal line, in the case of rhinos usually by translocation of breeding and sub-adult bulls. This strategy...
Abstract: African honeybee workers, Apis mellifera scutellata can activate their ovaries under queenless conditions to produce male (haploid) offspring. In contrast, laying workers of the Cape honeybee, Apis mellifera capensis, produce female (diploid) offspring via thelytokous parthenogenesis. In the early 1990’s colonies of A. m. capensis were transported into the distribution area of A. m. scutellata (corresponding to the summer rainfall region of South Africa), leading to the “capens...
Abstract: The woodwasp Sirex noctilio is one of the most serious invasive pests of Pinus plantations in the southern hemisphere. Extensive control programs have been developed to manage this pest, of which biological control has been a major component. This thesis examined the factors that could influence the control of S. noctilio in South Africa. A critical comparison of S. noctilio infestations and control efforts throughout the southern hemisphere revealed that control has not been unifo...
Abstract: The bioorganic fertilizer obtained through aerobic fermentation comprises a number of growth substances, vitamins, antibiotics, amino acids and useful micro-organisms. Bioorganic liquid fertilizer not only increases bioorganic fertility of crops (in comparison to the control and prototype fertilizer), but also accelerates their maturation and nutrient quality. Thus, the present study was aimed to produce bioorganic liquid fertilizer from camel manure and groundnut husks through aer...
Abstract: Crop yield in most parts of western Ethiopia, where the study area is located, is generally low due to low soil fertility, particularly as a result of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) deficiency, and soil acidity. Although field pea is capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen biologically in association with root nodule bacteria, the effectiveness of the bacteria under different host plants and environmental factors has not been evaluated in the study area. This study was initiated to...
Abstract: In sub-Saharan Africa, plant nutrient deficiency, due to nutrient mining, is a major growth limiting factor for crop production. As a result, some soils become non responsive to Rhizobial inoculation. In an effort to find out possible correction, a field experiment was carried out on-farm, during 2016/17 growing season, at Gondar Zuria woreda in Tsion and Denzaz Kebeles to evaluate the effect of Rhizobium inoculation, S and Zn application on yield and yield parameters, nodulation, ...
Abstract: Potato is an important food security and cash crop in eastern Hararghe Zone. However, the productivity of the crop is constrained by low soil fertility and poor fertilizer management practices. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted at Haramaya watershed in Haramaya District, Eastern Ethiopia; during the 2014 using irrigation. The main objective of the study was to assess the effects of integrated nutrient management on potato growth, yield and yield components and selected ph...
Abstract: The diffusion of agricultural practices is shaped by the relationships among actors in the social systems and this influences the extent of their adoption by the farmers. The objectives of this study were to assess farmers’ social networks and their explicit role in the diffusion and adoption of selected Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices in Sheema District of Uganda. The mixed-methods approach including both qualitative and quantitative measurements to contextually collec...
Abstract: The study was conducted to assess dairy production practices, milk composition, and microbial quality of smallholder dairy farms in Kombolcha Woreda, East Hararghe Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. The study was undertaken in purposely selected three rural Kebeles of Kombolcha Woreda (Bilisuma, Tula, and Sibilu) where dairy Farmers from each Kebele were also purposely selected. A sample of households with at least one lactating cow was selected for interview using a simple random samp...