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 ant Pachycondyla analis (formerly Megaponera foetens, commonly known as the Matabele ant) is a widespread ponerine in sub-Saharan Africa. It feeds solely on termites of economic importance belonging to the sub-family Macrotermitinae. These termites are captured during organised raids on their nests and galleries. Previous studies mostly concentrated on certain aspects of the raiding behaviour and trail laying pheromones in this species. Thus the detailed raiding behaviour and c...
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...
This study explores the threats of climate change on agriculture and food security globally, focusing on Nigeria. Nigeria, as the most populous country in Africa, is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change on its agricultural sector. The research conducts a comprehensive literature review and synthetic analysis to identify the key factors that make Nigeria's food production systems susceptible to climate change. Nigeria's diverse climate, influenced by latitude, topography, win...
Abstract: Most developing countries like Ethiopia are striving hard to solve acute protein deficiency in the diets of their increasing populations through cultivation of mushrooms in the urban areas without heavily depending on agricultural lands and capital. This study was conducted in Debre Berhan University, College of Natural and computational Sciences, with the aim of assessing the proximate chemical composition, biological efficiency and suitability of the selected substrates (Millet s...
Abstract: Biogas technology, which is meant to produce methane rich gas through anaerobic digestion of biological materials, is an environmentally friendly technology that reduces emission of green house gases. Therefore, this research was initiated to utilize biomasses such as barley straw (BS) and goat manure (GM) for biogas production. In this study, biogas production from co-digestion of the BS and GM in five mix ratios (100%BS, 75%BS: 25%GM, 50%BS: 50%GM, 25%BS: 75%GM and 100%GM mix) we...
Abstract: Environmental factors such as topography, climate, geology, biotic factors and land-use activities are largely responsible for creating local differences in soil characteristics. These in turn create variations in the agricultural potential and management options of the soils that need detailed study in order to have adequate and comprehensive information and be able to solve site specific problems related to their sustainable use. However, there exists still a dearth of data in th...
Abstract: The experiment was conducted to determine Semen quality and AI efficiency of fayoumi, white leghorn and kokkoekes breeds with local hens at Haramaya University. For the experiment of AI efficiency total of 45 similar hens were purchased from Karamile local markets. The hens were vaccinated and all management techniques were used according to Haramaya University poultry farm procedure. To determine semen quality, cockerels of 3 breeds and 10 from each breed with similar age were tak...