A5042676417- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Spider Taxonomy and Behavior Studies
Stellenbosch University
2015-2022
Abstract Aims The environmental and socio‐economic impacts of alien species need to be quantified in a way that makes comparable. This allows managers prioritize their control or removal based on impact scores can easily interpreted. Here we aim score all known amphibians, compare them other taxonomic groups determine the magnitude ecological how these relate key traits. Location Global. Methods We used generic scoring system ( GISS ) assess impacts. These were compared previously assessed...
By altering or eliminating delicate ecological relationships, non-indigenous species are considered a major threat to biodiversity, as well driver of environmental change. Global climate change affects ecosystems and communities, leading changes in the phenology, geographic ranges, population abundance several species. Thus, predicting impacts global on current future distribution invasive is an important subject macroecological studies. The African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis), native South...
Classification of alien species' impacts can aid policy making through evidence based listing and management recommendations. We highlight differences a number potential difficulties with two scoring tools, the Environmental Impact Alien Taxa (EICAT) Generic Scoring System (GISS) using amphibians as case study. Generally, GISS EICAT assessments lead to very similar impact levels, but scores from schemes are not equivalent. Small attributable discrepancies in verbal descriptions for scores....
Background. Frogs are generalist predators of a wide range typically small prey items. But descriptions dietary items regularly include other anurans, such that frogs considered to be among the most important anuran predators. However, only existing hypothesis for inclusion anurans in diet post-metamorphic postulates it happens more often bigger frogs. Moreover, this has yet tested. Methods. We reviewed literature on frog order test size and determine whether there putative explanations In...
Abstract The magnitude of impacts some alien species cause to native environments makes them targets for regulation and management. However, which target is not always clear, comparisons a wide variety are necessary. Impact scoring systems can aid management prioritization species. For such tools be objective, they need robust assessor bias. Here, we assess the newly proposed Environmental Classification Alien Taxa (EICAT) used amphibians test how outcomes differ between assessors. Two...
The widespread African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) occurs in sympatry with the IUCN Endangered Cape platanna gilli) throughout its entire range south-western Cape, South Africa. In order to investigate aspects of interspecific competition between populations X. laevis and gilli, an assessment their niche differentiation was conducted through a comprehensive study on food composition trophic structure at two sites: Good Hope (CoGH) Kleinmond. A total 399 stomach contents (n = 183) gilli 216)...
Dispersal forms are an important component of the ecology many animals, and reach particular importance for predicting ranges invasive species. African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) move overland between water bodies, but all empirical studies from populations with none their native southern Africa. Here we report on incidents movement found through a capture-recapture study carried out over three year period in Overstrand, South The maximum distance moved was 2.4 km most 91 representing 5%...
Abstract Although of crucial importance for invasion biology and impact assessments climate change, it remains widely unknown how species cope with adapt to environmental conditions beyond their currently realized climatic niches (i.e., those existing populations are exposed to). The African clawed frog Xenopus laevis , native southern Africa, has established numerous invasive on multiple continents making a pertinent model organism study niche dynamics. In this study, we assess whether the...