A5103147897- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Plant and animal studies
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Innovation, Sustainability, Human-Machine Systems
- Forest Management and Policy
- Climate Change and Geoengineering
- Global Energy and Sustainability Research
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
- Climate Change Communication and Perception
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Health and Conflict Studies
- Seedling growth and survival studies
- Environmental Conservation and Management
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Oceanographic and Atmospheric Processes
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Risk Perception and Management
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
University of Cape Town
2013-2024
University of Washington
2018-2024
South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative
2016-2021
South African National Biodiversity Institute
2010-2021
University of Washington Bothell
2021
National Research Foundation
2013
Current evidence of phenological responses to recent climate change is substantially biased towards northern hemisphere temperate regions. Given regional differences in change, shifts phenology will not be uniform across the globe, and conclusions drawn from systems might applicable other regions on planet. We conduct largest meta-analysis date drivers trends among southern species, assessing 1208 long-term datasets 89 studies 347 species. Data were mostly Australasia (Australia New...
Human development has ushered in an era of converging crises: climate change, ecological destruction, disease, pollution, and socioeconomic inequality. This review synthesizes the breadth these interwoven emergencies underscores urgent need for comprehensive, integrated action. Propelled by imperialism, extractive capitalism, a surging population, we are speeding past Earth's material limits, destroying critical ecosystems, triggering irreversible changes biophysical systems that underpin...
Abstract Aim Evidence is accumulating of a general increase in woody cover many savanna regions the world. Little known about consequences this widespread and fundamental ecosystem structural shift on biodiversity. Location South Africa. Methods We assessed potential response bird species to shrub encroachment African by censusing five habitats along gradient increasing cover, from grassland/open woodland shrubland dominated various species. also explored historical population trends across...
Abstract Aim Climate change and other anthropogenic global drivers act in complex, mutually exacerbating ways to alter the abundance distribution of species. In South Africa, pied crows Corvus albus have increased numbers range recent decades. Popular opinion links these changes urbanisation infrastructure development, but there has been no empirical test this idea. We aimed clarify crow population Africa. Location Methods used publicly available long‐term datasets, Southern African Bird...
Many migratory bird species, including the barn swallow ( Hirundo rustica ), have advanced their arrival date at Northern Hemisphere breeding grounds, showing a clear biotic response to recent climate change. Earlier helps maintain synchrony with earlier springs, but little is known about associated changes in phenology non-breeding grounds. Here, we examine of swallows South Africa, where large proportion northern European population spends its season. Using novel analytical methods based...
ABSTRACT Aim To move towards modelling spatial abundance patterns and to evaluate the relative impacts of climatic change upon species abundances as opposed range extents. Location Southern Africa, including Lesotho, Namibia, South Swaziland Zimbabwe. Methods Quantitative response surface models were fitted for 78 bird species, mostly endemic (68) or near‐endemic region, model relationships between reporting rates (i.e. proportion checklists a particular grid cell), recorded by African Bird...
Abstract Long‐term datasets needed to detect the impacts of global change on southern biodiversity are still scarce and often incomplete, challenging adaptation planning conservation management. Biological data probably most limited in arid countries from oceans, where natural environmental variability (‘noise’) means that long time series required ‘signal’ directional change. Significant national international investment collaboration for nations reliably track trends improve rapid climate...
Abstract Arid shrublands in the Karoo (South Africa) seldom accumulate sufficient combustible fuel to support fire. However, as a result of invasion by an alien perennial grass ( Pennisetum setaceum ), they could become flammable. This paper reports on experiment assess effects fire following P. . We established 10 plots (5 × m) separated 2.5 m, and added five tons ha −1 alternate halves plot) leaving remaining interspersed controls. Plots with were burnt, behaviour was measured during...
Abstract Aim To examine potential impacts of climatic change on bird species richness the fynbos and grassland biomes, especially conservation concern, to consider implications for biodiversity strategy. Location Southern Africa, defined this study as South Lesotho Swaziland. Methods Climate response surfaces were fitted model relationships between recorded distributions reporting rates 94 current bioclimatic variables. These models used project species’ ranges future scenarios derived from...
Abstract Aim Test hypotheses that present biodiversity and endemic species richness are related to climatic stability and/or biome persistence. Location Africa south of 15° S. Methods Seventy eight HadCM3 general circulation model palaeoclimate experiments spanning the last 140,000 years, plus a pre‐industrial experiment, were used calculate measures variability for 0.5° grid cells. Models fitted relating distributions nine biomes South Africa, Lesotho Swaziland climate. These models...
Biological communities are increasingly faced with novel urban habitats and their response may depend on a combination of biological habitat traits. The pollinator species to particular importance because all involved in the pollination mutualism be affected. Nectarivorous bird worldwide show varying tolerances areas, but studies from Africa lacking. We investigated nectarivorous medium‐sized South African city asked which garden traits best predict community assembly specialist...
Rahlao SJ, Milton Esler KJ & Barnard P (2010). The distribution of invasive Pennisetum setaceum along roadsides in western South Africa: the role corridor interchanges. Weed Research 50, 537–543. Summary Roads and rivers may be dispersal corridors for alien grass seeds that fly float. These two systems interact at bridge interchanges are also disturbed artificial habitats. (perennial fountain grass) establishes on river banks benefits from habitat conditions prevailing these across biomes...
There can be few starker challenges for environmental change biologists than the need to see as many species possible through bottlenecks of next two centuries. Increasingly, we will have work in ‘triage’ mode—making tough decisions about probability species' survival,
Abstract Aim To explore the magnitude and spatial patterns of last glacial stage orbitally forced climatic changes suborbital fluctuations in southern Africa, to evaluate their potential roles determining present biodiversity patterns. Location Africa south 15° S. Methods Palaeoclimate scenarios for were derived 17 time slices using outputs from HadCM3 atmosphere–ocean general circulation model experiments, including five designed mimic Heinrich events. Species distribution models birds...
We conducted a greenhouse study to examine the effects of different habitat conditions and environmental resources on growth rates crimson fountaingrass, an invasive, alien, perennial grass in South Africa. To help understand factors promoting spread this emergent alien grass, we investigated temperature regimes, nutrient moisture addition, soil type seedling biomass allocation. Our results suggest that fountaingrass seedlings do not tolerate drought because they died within 1 mo without...
At the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) meeting in Nagoya October 2010, world's governments signed up to an encouragingly ambitious set of conservation targets. These included protecting 17% land surface and 10% oceans by 2020. The also achieved its three interlinked goals: adoption a new 10-year Strategic Plan (CBD, 2011); Resource Mobilization Strategy increase development assistance support biodiversity; international protocol access sharing benefits from use planet's genetic...
ABSTRACT Aim To test the following hypotheses: that Fynbos species had more extensive distributions at Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), extending onto exposed ‘Agulhas Plain’; genetically distinct British taxa could have persisted through LGM on adjacent areas of shelf. Location Southern Africa; Europe. Methods Climatic response surfaces were fitted for 14 and two European birds. These models used to hindcast palaeoclimates simulated using a fully coupled atmosphere–ocean general circulation...