A5019997646- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- African Botany and Ecology Studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Archaeology and Rock Art Studies
- Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
- Marine animal studies overview
- Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Plant Diversity and Evolution
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Agriculture and Rural Development Research
- Polar Research and Ecology
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies
- Ethnobotanical and Medicinal Plants Studies
- Paleopathology and ancient diseases
- Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies
- Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
- Identification and Quantification in Food
University of Pretoria
2015-2025
University of Cambridge
2022
Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital
2020
Endangered Wildlife Trust
2020
Mammal Research Institute
2014-2019
iThemba Laboratory
2018
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
2012
University of the Witwatersrand
2006-2009
University of Cape Town
1995-1998
A proxy rainfall record for northeastern South Africa based on carbon isotope analysis of four baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) trees shows centennial and decadal scale variability over the last 1,000 years. The is in good agreement with a 200-year tree ring from Zimbabwe, it indicates existence dipole between summer winter areas Africa. wettest period was c. AD 1075 Medieval Warm Period, driest periods were 1635, 1695 AD1805 during Little Ice Age. Decadal-scale suggests that forcing...
Abstract Carbon exchange in drylands is typically low, but during significant rainfall events (wet anomalies) act as a C sink. During these anomalies the limitation on uptake switches from water to nitrogen. In Namib Desert of southern Africa, N inventory soil organic matter available for mineralisation insufficient support observed increase primary productivity. The C4 grasses that flourish after are not capable fixation, and so there no clear mechanism adequate fixation dryland ecosystems...
Nile crocodile ( Crocodilus niloticus ) mass mortality events in the Olifants River between Letaba confluence South Africa and Lake Massingir Mozambique have been attributed to pansteatitis: a disease that affects fat depots of animals. The is also found sharptooth catfish Clarias gariepinus same area, cause pollution. Although Valley polluted, impact interventions such as dam construction on biodiversity receives little attention. We show onset pansteatitis epidemic crocodiles at...
The article reports the radiocarbon investigation results of Lebombo Eco Trail tree, a representative African baobab from Mozambique. Several wood samples collected large inner cavity and outer part tree were investigated by AMS dating. According to dating results, age values all increase sampling point with distance into wood. For walls, (up maximum age) represents major anomaly. only realistic explanation for this anomaly is that such cavities are, in fact, natural empty spaces between...
Rapid anthropogenic environmental change is expected to impact a host of ecological parameters in Southern Ocean ecosystems. Of critical concern are the consequences these changes on range species that show fidelity migratory destinations, as philopatry hypothesized help or hinder adaptation climate depending circumstances. Many baleen whales feeding grounds and also capital breeders meet reproductive costs through seasonal energy intake. right (Eubalaena australis, SRWs) have strong...
Carbon isotope analysis of four baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) trees from the Pafuri region South Africa yielded a 1000-year proxy rainfall record. The record age model was based on 17 radiocarbon dates, cross correlation climate record, and ring structures that were presumed to be annual for two trees. Here we present five additional baobabs Mapungubwe region, approximately 200km west Pafuri. chronology demonstrates are not necessarily annually formed, accordingly is revised. Changes in...
The archaeological incidence of ancient human faecal material provides a rare opportunity to explore the taxonomic composition and metabolic capacity ancestral intestinal microbiome (IM). Here, we report results shotgun metagenomic analyses an South African palaeo-faecal specimen.Following recovery single desiccated specimen from Bushman Rock Shelter in Limpopo Province, Africa, applied multi-proxy analytical protocol sample. extraction DNA its subsequent sequencing facilitated...
Middle Stone Age technological and behavioural developments in southern Africa are central to understanding the emergence of modern humans, elucidating role environmental change this trajectory is dependent on emerging palaeoclimatic reconstructions. Climate proxies from sites often poorly preserved, coarsely resolved or subject anthropogenic selection not considered favour global despite fact that climate regimes at relevant archaeological differ profoundly. Sibudu has a well-preserved...
Abstract The article reports the growth stop phenomenon, which was documented only for baobabs, i.e. trees belonging to Adansonia genus. identification of enabled by radiocarbon dating, allows a complex investigation samples collected from trunk/stems baobabs. In several cases, outermost rings were close bark, found be old, with ages hundreds years, instead being very young. Dating results six baobabs are presented. For multistemmed may occur one or stems. We identified four factors that...
Due to the strong individual cost of being predated, potential prey species alter their behavior and physiology in response predation risk. Such alterations may cause major indirect consequences on populations that are additive direct demographic effects caused by killed. However, although earlier studies showed general presence apex predators, recent data suggest be highly context dependent not consistently present. We combined behavioral with endocrine stress stable isotopes assess...
Summary Pansteatitis (yellow fat disease) is ubiquitous in the free‐ranging population of Oreochromis mossambicus from Loskop Reservoir ( LR ), South Africa. The disease nutritionally mediated and associated with a diet high polyunsaturated or rancid fats, frequently fish origin. While piscivory has never been reported dietary studies O. their native range, opportunistic omnivorous feeding habits mean that cannot be ruled out as cause disease. n = 91) was compared Flag Boshielo FBR ; 81)...
ABSTRACT Rising atmospheric CO 2 concentrations affect climate directly through radiative effects and indirectly by changing plant water‐use efficiency. Under global warming scenarios these widely reported changes will have a substantial impact on future bush encroachment, crop yields, river flow feedbacks. Tree‐ring intrinsic efficiency (iWUE) records for Africa show 24.6% increase over the 20th century. As high iWUE can partly counterbalance projected decreases in regional precipitation,...
There are few stressful factors which have been investigated to affect adrenocortical function in the African wild dog (AWD) Lycaon pictus. Understanding what animals perceive as stressors is important for not only implementation of management practices promoting general animal welfare captivity, but also because a prolonged stress perception known disrupt reproduction, immune and ultimately pose threat survival. In this regard, faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) measurements commonly...
High-precision radiocarbon dating of individual growth rings demonstrates that Mimusops caffra produces annual rings. Direct comparison the carbon isotope composition from two specimens northern coast KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, with historic climatic record exists AD 1927, shows a response to amount rainfall recorded for each year. The δ 13 C is particularly sensitive extreme events such as tropical cyclones and droughts. It demonstrated whole wood samples provide an accurate conditions....
The year 2016 witnessed the fall of a symbol botanical world: historic Chapman baobab Botswana. This article presents results our investigation standing and fallen tree. had an open ring-shaped structure composed six partially fused stems. Several wood samples collected from stems prior after their collapse were analysed by using radiocarbon dating. date oldest sample was 1381 ± 22 BP, which corresponds to calibrated age 1345 (+10, −15) calendar years. dating show that belonged three...
The alien invasive silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix established a self-sustaining feral population in an oligotrophic impoundment, Flag Boshielo Dam, South Africa. ability of this to persist dam with low algal biomass (median annual suspended chlorophyll = 0.08 µg l−1), and limited access rivers considered large enough for successful spawning, has implications their potential other systems. Stomach content stable isotope analysis were used assess the trophic ecology H. molitrix, which...
Stable isotope analysis (SIA) has revolutionised ecological studies over the past thirty years. One of major fields where SIA is applied in marine environment related to definition ecosystem structure and function. With top predators such as sharks, a method choice because tissue samples can be collected without sacrifice animal. In elasmobranch research, influence compounds urea, trimethylamine oxide lipids must considered when using stable isotopes markers. Currently, range pre-treatments...