A5039400958- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Plant and animal studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Insect behavior and control techniques
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Entomological Studies and Ecology
- Climate change impacts on agriculture
- Agricultural Innovations and Practices
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Nuts composition and effects
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
- Plant Physiology and Cultivation Studies
- Agroforestry and silvopastoral systems
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
- Horticultural and Viticultural Research
University of Venda
2016-2024
Wageningen University & Research
2016
Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences
2014
Abstract More sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural practices, including ecological intensification, are needed to reduce biodiversity loss environmental degradation. We evaluated the potential of intensification through enhancement pollination services in an intensively managed insect‐pollinated crop, Macadamia integrifolia . compared effects importance agronomic practices that include input (i.e. irrigation honeybees), orchard design requiring no external inputs spatial...
The global macadamia industry is growing rapidly, and the world's biggest nut producer, South Africa, continuously expanding its production. Insect pest mitigation research are mainly focused on damage caused by heteropteran species, whereas associated with lepidopteran tortricid moths in African orchards understudied. Here we explore potential biocontrol of natural predators through full exclosure bats birds, daytime only (birds), night (bats possibly nocturnal birds), control treatments....
Abstract The diet of insectivorous bat species is difficult to study and the least invasive tool gain information on these predators’ foraging preferences their faecal pellets. aim this was determine whether bats consumed insect pest in macadamia orchards, with additional goal incentivising farmers adopt a more integrated management approach (IPM). We used molecular provide insight into diet, analysing pellets fluorescent-labelled species-specific primers (COI). Faecal were collected from...
Abstract The relative importance of ecosystem services and disservices can change with landscape structure in a poorly understood way. We compare the impact biocontrol, provided by bats birds, that crop raiding vervet monkeys on yield South African macadamia orchards. Insectivorous birds are known to feed pest insect species, like nut borer or green vegetable bug. Vervet move into orchards during day premature nuts. Bats, benefit from patches natural vegetation adjacent With exclusion...
Bats are important indicator species which can help in identifying areas where conservation efforts should be concentrated and whether these affected by ongoing climate change. To elucidate factors limiting influencing the elevational distribution of bats a recognised biodiversity hotpot, Soutpansberg mountain range (in Vhembe Biosphere Reserve) northern South Africa, we collected data around Luvhondo Private Nature Reserve, catching acoustically monitoring over an altitudinal gradient from...
Abstract In order to gain insight into the pattern of bat species composition over altitude and environmental variables driving observed pattern, we compared data from moist southern drier northern aspects Soutpansberg range in South Africa. Acoustical monitoring additional capturing bats was used for analysis distribution patterns comparisons community composition. Bat activity generally followed a linear decline with increasing altitude, possibly related reproductive females preferring...
Data available on request from the authors.
The loss of roost sites is one the major drivers worldwide decline in bat populations and site preferences, either natural or artificially provided, are not well known for African species specifically. In this study we focus on preference different artificial by insectivorous bats macadamia orchards northern South Africa. From June 2016 to July 2017 monitored 31 houses, mounted poles six orchards, presence other occupants. Twenty-one multi-chambered houses three designs were erected sets...
Abstract In many crops, both pollination and biocontrol determine crop yield, whereby the relative importance of two ecosystem services can be moderated by landscape context. However, additive interactive effects in different contexts are still poorly understood. We examined South African macadamia orchards. Combining observations experiments, we disentangled their on production with variation orchard design context (i.e., cover natural habitat altitude). Insect increased nut set average...
Quantifying how multiple ecosystem services and functions are affected by different drivers of Global Change is challenging. Particularly in African savanna regions, highly integrated land-use activities created a landscape mosaic with flows resources between land use types. A framework needed that quantifies the effects climate change, management policy interventions on most relevant for rural communities, such as provision food, feed, carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling natural pest...