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On P- frames and their generalisations
Full text linkThesis (M.Sc. (Mathematics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024In this dissertation, we study P -frames and their generalisations. On the generalisations of P - frames we consider, in particular essential P -frames, CP -frames, almost P -frames, F -frames, F ′-frames and PF -frames. We show that a frame L is a P -frame if and only if every ideal of RL is a z-ideal. We also consider R-modules and then show that a frame L is a P -frame if and only if every RL-module is flat. Furthermore, we consider the Artin-Rees property and show that a frame L is a P -frame if and only if RL is an Artin-Rees ring. Concerning CP -frames we show, analogously to P -frames, that a frame L is a CP -frame if and only if every ideal of RcL is a zc-ideal. It turns out that in CP -frame radical ideals are precisely zc-ideals. We show, regarding F -frames, that L is an F -frame if and only if RL is a B´ezout ring. We show that L is an F -frame if and only if every ideal of RL is convex. Finally, we introduce PF -frames and show that L is a PF -frame if and only if it is an essential P -frame which is also an F -frame.ETDP SET
Antecedents of employee pro-environmental behaviour in hospitality firms in the Capricorn and Waterberg District Municipalities, Limpopo Province
Full text linkThesis (M. Com. (Business Management)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024This study explored the factors leading to pro-environmental behaviour among the
employees of small hotels in the Capricorn and Waterberg district municipalities of the
Limpopo Province. The objectives of this study were: to investigate the relationship
between values (altruistic values, Biospheric values, and egoistic values) and the new
ecological paradigm; to determine the relationship between the new ecological
paradigm and awareness of consequences; to examine the relationship between an
awareness of consequences and an ascription of responsibility; to determine the
relationship between an ascription of responsibility and personal norms; to examine
the relationship between personal norms and employee pro-environmental behaviour;
to determine if anticipated pride moderates the relationship between personal norms
and employee pro-environmental behaviour; to investigate if personal norms, mediate
the relationship between social norms and pro-environmental behaviour. Empirical
evidence shows that individuals who prioritise altruistic values and biospheric values
are more likely to hold pro-environmental beliefs and engage in behaviours that
support sustainability and conservation. The study revealed that there is a significant
relationship between values (altruistic values, egoistic values, and biospheric values)
and performance and these findings are consistent with a number of studies
conducted previously. The results uncovered that, altruistic values positively and
significantly affect NEP. The study consistently demonstrated a positive correlation
between the NEP and awareness of consequences. Empirical evidence highlights that
individuals who hold a NEP are more likely to demonstrate increased awareness of
environmental consequences and to engage in pro-environmental behaviour. This
suggests that the NEP serves as an essential factor in shaping individuals’ attitudes
towards the environment along with the awareness of the impact their behaviour has
on the ecosystem. Empirical evidence found that individuals who exhibit greater
awareness of environmental consequences and ascribe greater responsibility to
themselves for their actions are more likely to engage in sustainability behaviours. This
implies that individuals who understand the impact of their actions on the environment
and take responsibility are more likely to make pro-environmental choices. The
findings emphasise the importance of fostering a sense of responsibility and
understanding the interdependence between individuals and the environment to
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create a culture of sustainability. Overall, the relationship between social norms and
pro-environmental behaviour is mediated by personal norms, which are specifically
the best predictor of pro-environmental behaviour. The study recommends that regular
workshops for SMME hotel staff from all divisions of the company must be organised
to educate them on the value of preserving and protecting the environment. Green
practice should also be included as a course in entrepreneurial programmes at higher
education institutions so that these employees can take them as their subjects or
modules, preparing them to protect the environment when running their day-to-day
operations. Employees at SMMEs need to be aware of the influence of organisational
factors on green practice to gain a competitive advantage. They need to be fully aware
of how organisational variables affect green practices and how crucial they are to
improving the efficiency of SMME hotels. SMME hotel management must regularly
educate themselves and every employee on green practices. To gain a competitive
advantage, they must also increase their level of knowledge about green practices
and acquire new skills to function more effectively. Additionally, SMME hotel managers
must be able to educate both current employees and new hires on how organisational
issues might influence green practices
Detection of metabolic disorders for African women in a rural South African setting : a case of Ga-Dikgale Limpopo Province, South Africa
Full text linkThesis (M. Sc. (Statics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024The waist circumference cut-off point for diagnosing metabolic syndrome in
Sub-Saharan Africa is based on standards established for European populations.
The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of metabolic
syndrome and other related disorders and to determine the waist circumference
cut-off point that effectively discriminates between African women with
and without metabolic syndrome. Initially, the study participants with metabolic
syndrome were identified using the National Cholesterol Education Program
- Third Adult Treatment Panel criteria, which was subsequently adapted to
the International Diabetes Federation definition. According to the National
Cholesterol Education Program - Third Adult Treatment Panel definition, metabolic
syndrome is present if at least three of the following criteria are met: Triglycerides
≥1.7 mmol/L, High-density lipoprotein cholesterol <1.29 mmol/L, Glucose
≥5.6 mmol/L, Systolic Blood Pressure ≥ 130 mmHg, or Diastolic Blood
Pressure ≥ 85 mmHg. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome and obesity (body
mass index ≥30 kg) were 19% and 30%, respectively.
The optimal waist circumference for diagnosing metabolic syndrome was obtained
using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and was found
to be 88 cm. Machine learning methods, including logistic regression, linear
discriminant analysis and random forest were employed to further validate
the cut-off point. The 88 cm cut-off point demonstrated superior performance
compared to the European 80 cm cut-off pint, based on prediction accuracy,
specificity and positive predictive value. The study highlights how important
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it is to have population-specific cut-off points for correctly diagnosing metabolic
syndrome in order to reduce the risk of misdiagnosis and related complications.
The findings advocate for using the 88 cm cut-off point, which differs with the
recommended cut-off point of 80 cm. This is a as a quick and cost-effective measure
for identifying obesity, potentially improving public health interventions
for African populations
Investigating smallholder farmers' knowledge and perceptions on climate-resilient legumes in selected villages of Limpopo Province, South Africa : a case of tepary bean
Full text linkThesis (M. Agricultural Management (Agricultural Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2025Climate change is said to be a major hazard to global food security. Smallholder farmers
from disadvantaged villages are more vulnerable to the effects of climates of change and
this affects their agricultural productivity. Changes in the climate can lead to reduced crop
yields, water scarcity, increased pests and diseases, and food security among other
effects. It has been proposed that smallholder farmers need to react to these effects of
climate change by changing the types of crops they grow, to more climate-resilient and
versatile ones. Among those crops are tepary beans, which have been proven to
withstand different climatic changes. Tepary beans are climate-resilient legumes native
to the southwestern United States and Mexico. Not only are tepary beans climate-resilient
but are also high in nutrition, rich in fibre, good source of minerals and resistant to pests
and diseases.
Despite the potential benefits of tepary beans, there is not enough understanding of
smallholder farmers' knowledge and perceptions regarding these climate-resilient
legumes. Given these reasons it becomes relevant to investigate smallholder farmers’
knowledge and perceptions on climate-resilient tepary beans. In addition to the existing
body of knowledge, this study will give policymakers, academics, and development
practitioners important insights and raise awareness for additional research on the role of
tepary beans in promoting food security and adapting to climate change. Hence, the study
aimed to investigate factors that influence smallholder farmers’ knowledge and
perceptions on climate-resilient legumes such as tepary beans in selected villages of
Limpopo Province, South Africa.
This study had four objectives, namely: to profile the socio-economic characteristics of
smallholder farmers, assess smallholder farmers’ knowledge and perceptions on climate resilient legumes such as tepary bean, describe the typologies of different legume crops
that smallholder farmers are knowledgeable about and those that they are planting,
including challenges associated with planting these crops and finally, to analyse the
socio-economic factors influencing smallholder farmers’ knowledge and perceptions on
climate-resilient legumes such as tepary bean. This study was conducted in 9 selected
villages of Limpopo province namely, Thabakgone, Mamotintane, Ga-Motholo,
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Bloodriver, Ga-Thoka, Tjiane, Mphakane, Ga-Phasha and Ga-Kobe, where a total of 100
smallholder legumes farmers were sampled using purposeful sampling. The study used
both qualitative and quantitative data collected through interviews with smallholder
farmers using well-structured questionnaires. The data was analysed using Statistical
Package for Social Science (SPSS).
Descriptive statistics were used to to profile the socio-economic characteristics of
smallholder farmers and to describe the typologies of different legume crops that
smallholder farmers are knowledgeable about and those that they are planting, including
challenges associated with planting these crops. In order to assess smallholder farmers’
knowledge and perceptions on climate-resilient legumes such as tepary bean, the study
used Descriptive statistics by employing the Likert scale. Multinomial Logistics
Regression model was used to generate the results of the socio-economic factors
influencing smallholder farmers’ knowledge. Binary Logistics Regression model was used
to generate the results of the socio-economic factors influencing smallholder farmers’
perceptions on climate-resilient legumes such as tepary bean in selected villages of
Limpopo Province.
The results of Multinomial Logistics Regression model showed that employment status,
production cost, nutritional value, land size, and production cost were significant. These
variables had an influence on the knowledge smallholder farmers have on climate resilient legumes. A positive relationship between employment and knowledge of climate resilient legumes implied that being employed is linked to an increase in the knowledge
of climate-resilient legumes amongst smallholder farmers classified as having medium
knowledge. The positive relationship between nutritional value and knowledge of
smallholder farmers means that with knowledge of nutritional value of tepary beans are
likely to adopt. The negative relationship between production cost and knowledge of
climate-resilient legumes mean that high costs of production can reduce the smallholder
farmers' willingness to gain knowledge.
Binary Logistic Regression model results showed that production cost, land size, marital
status, nutritional value, employment and access to extension services do determine how
smallholder farmers perceive climate-resilient legumes. This proposes that smallholder
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farmers are willing to accept higher costs if they perceive the long-term benefits of the
crop in terms of climate resilience. The positive relationship between land size and
smallholder farmers’ perceptions towards climate resilient beans could mean that larger
sizes of land influence farmers to easily adopt to new and different crops. Marital status
and perceptions of smallholder farmers on climate-resilient beans have a positive
relationship, which suggests that married smallholder farmers have people who depend
on them and may be more open to adopting climate-resilient crops to maintain food
security.
The results showed that nutritional value of tepary beans is not enough to balance
concerns about its adaptability to climate stresses, particularly in areas where climate resilient traits are prioritized over nutritional content. Results also show that other means
of income make farmers less likely to perceive climate-resilient beans positively. The
statistically significant negative relationship between access to extension services and
smallholder farmers perceptions showed that smallholder farmers having access to
information does not guarantee positive perceptions. This means that available extension
programs might not be aligned with the needs of smallholder farmers who are growing
climate-resilient legumes.
In conclusion, both the hypotheses of the study were rejected as the results showed that
there was difference in the level of knowledge and perceptions of smallholder farmers on
climate-resilient legumes and socio-economic factors do influence smallholder farmers’
knowledge and perceptions on climate-resilient legumes such as tepary beans.
Policymakers could create training programmes that accommodate all smallholder
farmers despite the size of their land. Extension services should be improved to cater for
the challenges and needs of smallholder farmers
Re-thinking gender : feminist representation of gender paradoxes in selected novels by Emecheta and Adichie
Full text linkThesis (Ph.D. (English Studies)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024This study is a qualitative enquiry on the paradoxes brought about by the hegemonic concept of gender, which are fundamentally based on the differences of biological sex. Gender ideology proves to be problematic in the ways in which it facilitates inequality in African societies. The problem identified and addressed by this study is that dominant gender ideals are to a large extent, imposed and influenced by colonialism in many African countries. Furthermore, the way in which contemporary African cultural ideologies facilitate gender disparity demonstrates that they are diluted products of the interface of the native and coloniser. In line with these views, this research sought to reimagine gender ideologies through a thematic analysis of Emecheta’s Double Yoke (1983) and The Joys of Motherhood (1979), as well as Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus (2003) and Americanah (2013). These novels were purposively sampled due to their impactful contribution to African literature which advocates for gender equality in the continent and diaspora. Moreover, the novels explore different plights of black women throughout the pre-colonial, colonial as well as post-colonial era, from early advocacy against sexist labour restrictions to contemporary issues of imperial aesthetics. African centred perspectives of Womanism and Stiwanism were employed as theoretical lens to analyse the literature discussed as well as the chosen literary texts. The analysis and review of the selected literature demonstrates that since the incursion of colonialism, African men and women were juxtaposed against white/European men and women and in that way, the former were re-constructed through a modification driven by Western ideologies. In addition, the study examined how African and Western cultures as well as religions perceive gender with regard to chastity, marriage and parenthood. The analysis of Double Yoke revealed that black women in post-colonial Nigeria, are confronted with the burden of establishing identities within a society that is filled with contradicting traditional and modern ideologies. Matladi (2022) explains that even with constitutions based on human rights, many post-independence African states embody patriarchy in various ways. The Joys of Motherhood on the other hand, exposed how colonialism tempered with African practices of marriage (monogamy and polygyny), son preference as well as the othering of women in their role as mothers. Purple Hibiscus mainly exposes the toxicity of a patriarch who forces his subjects into submission through physical and psychological abuse. Lastly, Adichie uses Americanah to portray the struggles of black women in the diaspora whereby their existence as black and female continues to be used as a discriminatory tool even in the 21st century. Moreover, in the African context, traditional ideologies of approved femininity perpetually bolster the marginalisation of females in the private and public spaces. The current study is distinguished by its adoption of African centred theoretical perspectives to analyse the selected literature, particularly in its deviation from the redundant critiques of universalising gender and validity of feminist and womanist theories in the African context. The current research undertaking recommends that studies on African societies must be actively committed to the liberatory practice of decolonising sex and gender ideologies in their attempt to debunk the myth of African societies and cultures as naturally and inherently patriarchal. Furthermore, indigenous African cultures should cease to be cited as justifications for gender bias but instead, should be seen as having an ability to evolve. And lastly, while black people in Africa and diaspora may share some commonalities, their experiences should be accurately analysed by considering their differences.University of Limpopo Human Resource Departmen
Isolation, structure elucidation, antimicrobial activity and effects of plant extracts used for the treatment of "u wela"
Full text linkThesis (Ph.D. (Botany)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024Medicinal plants still account for a substantial significant portion of daily medication in
South Africa and across the globe. In the Vhembe District, traditional health
practitioners and local people use medicinal plants to combat various ailments such
as “u wela”, sexually transmitted diseases, diabetes, and tuberculosis in humans. “U
wela" also known as “divhu” in “Tshivenda” is a sexually transmitted disease that
affects males due to unprotected sexual encounters with a woman who had an
abortion or miscarriage. The study aimed to investigate medicinal plants used to treat
“u wela” and isolate the active compounds from the most promising plant species.
Eight plant species (Elaeodendron transvaalense (Burtt Davy) R. H. Archer, Albizia
versicolor Welw. ex Oliv, Xanthocercis zambesiaca Baker, Cassia abbreviata subsp.
beareana (Holmes) Brenan, Anthocleista grandiflora Gilg, Myrothamnus flabellifolius
Welw. Mimusops zeyheri Sond and Capparis tomentosa Lam.) used to combat “u
wela” were selected from the Ethnomedicinal plant's database of over 300 medicinal
plants used for medicinal purposes in humans. These plant species are used by the
local community and traditional health practitioners in the Vhembe District to combat
“u wela”. The plant materials were extracted with solvents of various polarities such as
acetone, hexane, methanol, dichloromethane, ethyl-acetate, and water. Methanol
extracted a large quantity of plant materials (15.6%), followed by acetone (6.2%), and
DCM (0.2%). Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) was used to determine the chemical components of different plant extracts. The TLC plates were developed using different eluent solvent systems such as Benzene: ethanol: ammonia hydroxide (BEA), Chloroform: ethylacetate: formic acid (CEF), and Ethyl-acetate: methanol: water (EMW). The separated compounds were visualised under ultraviolet light at the wavelength of 365 nm and 254 nm before being sprayed with the vanillin-sulphuric acid spray reagent. More
compounds were observed in TLC chromatograms separated with BEA (54%),
followed by the CEF (33%) and EMW (13%) solvent system, indicating that the majority of compounds were found to be non-polar. Serial dilution assay was used to determine the antifungal activity of the plant extracts against the fungal pathogen, Candida albicans. The plant extracts of A. versicolor, C. abbreviata had excellent activity with a low MIC value ranging between 0.02, and 0.03 mg/ml. Noteworthy, aqueous extracts of E. transvaalense, A. versicolor, X. zambesiaca, M. zeyheri, and C. abbreviata were active against the tested fungal pathogen with MIC values of 0.02 mg/ml. Furthermore, the plant extracts were
screened for antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and
Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The acetone and methanol extracts of E. transvaalense, X.
zambesiaca, C. abbreviata, A. grandiflora, C. tomentosa, M. zeyheri, and M.
flabellifolius had excellent activity against the bacterial pathogens with MIC values
ranging between 0.02-0.08 mg/ml. In bioautograms developed in BEA, active
compounds were visible in the acetone, DCM, and ethyl-acetate extracts of A.
versicolor with Rf values of 0.24. A similar active compound was observed in the DCM
extract of E. transvaalense with the same Rf value of 0.24 against E. coli.
The serial exhaustive extraction method was used to extract plant materials using
solvents of different polarities such as hexane, chloroform, acetone, and methanol.
The acetone extract was selected based on good antifungal activity against the tested
microorganisms and the presence of active compounds was observed in different plant
extracts. Column chromatography of the acetone fractions led to the isolation of three
compounds. The antimicrobial activity of the isolated compounds was determined
against the fungi and bacteria. All compounds were active against the tested
microorganisms with MIC values of 0.02-0.08 mg/ml. In bioautography assay,
compounds with similar Rf values (0.31) were observed against N. gonorrhoeae.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Mass Spectrometry (MS) were used for the
identification of the isolated compounds. Compound 1 was identified as 10-isopropyl-
4,4-dimethylhexadecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[b]phenanthren-3-ol and compound 2 as a
1-(2,2,5a,9b-tetramethyl-5-vinyldodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]naphthalen-7-yl)ethenone.
The cytotoxicity of acetone extracts and isolated compounds were investigated
using the (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol) -2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide) (MTT) assay. The
crude extract was less cytotoxic with LC50 = 1.06 mg/ml. Compound 2 was not toxic at
the highest concentration with LC50 values greater than 200 μg/ml against the Vero
kidney monkey cells. Compound 1 was less toxic towards the Vero cells with LC5
0.179 mg/ml. The study supports the traditional use of the selected plant species to
combat “u wela” by the local people and traditional health practitionersNational Research Foundation (NRF
Effect of threonine supplementation level on performance of male ross 308 broiler chickens fed a diet containing cellulase
Full text linkThesis (M.Sc. Agriculture (Animal Production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2023An experiment was conducted to evaluate threonine supplementation levels for optimal performance and carcass quality of male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days and fed diets mixed with a cellulase enzyme. The diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous but with different dietary threonine levels. A complete randomized design was used. The treatments were CT4 (4 g of threonine/kg DM), CT5 (5 g of threonine/kg DM), CT6 (6 g of threonine/kg DM) and CT7 (7 g of threonine/kg DM) g of threonine/kg DM. A quadratic type of equation was used to determine dietary threonine levels for optimal performance of the chickens. Dietary threonine levels of 4, 5, 6 or 7 g/kg DM used in the present study had no effect (P>0.05) on feed intake, dry matter (DM) digestibility, live weight, live weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), metabolizable energy (ME) intake and nitrogen retention of male Ross 308 broiler chickens. Dietary threonine levels had no (P>0.05) effect on gut organ digesta pH values, gut organ lengths and gut organ weights of Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 42 days. Dietary threonine level had no effect (P>0.05) on wing weights of the chickens aged 42 days. However, threonine level in the diet affected (P0.05) on meat lightness and yellowness of the chickens. However, threonine level in the diet affected (P0.05) thigh, drumstick, and breast pH values of the chickens. However, dietary threonine level affected (P0.05) meat flavour and juiciness values. However, dietary threonine level affected (P<0.05) meat tenderness, shear force and water holding capacity values of the chickens. A dietary threonine level of 4.78 g per kg DM was calculated to result in optimal meat tenderness of the chickens. The results obtained indicate that threonine levels required for optimal performance of the chickens are within the recommended dietary levels of 4 to 8 g/kg DM for broiler chickens, possibly indicating that diets containing cellulase require additional threonine to utilize additional energy generated
The relationship between rewards and benefits and the motivation of allied health workers at the Pietersburg Hospital in Limpopo Province
Full text linkThesis (MBA. (Business Administration)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024This study investigated the relationship between rewards and benefits, and the motivation of Allied Health workers employed at the Pietersburg Hospital in Limpopo Province, South Africa, who are independent practitioners according to their registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.
The study was guided by the following objectives: To explore the kind of rewards and benefits that the employer provides to Allied Health employees at the Pietersburg Hospital. To investigate the rewards and benefits that the Allied Health workers at the Pietersburg hospital perceive as contributing to their motivation to perform. To determine the rewards and benefits that the Allied Health workers at the Pietersburg hospital perceive as not contributing to their motivation to perform.
The study employed a quantitative, cross-sectional research design to collect data. The target population for the study was 91, which constituted the total number of Allied Health workers employed by the Pietersburg Hospital at the time of data collection for the study. All the targeted participants were included in the final sample. A pilot study was conducted using six participants from the overall targeted population, leaving a total of 85 people who were qualifying to participate in the study. A total of 63 out of 85 participants responded, thus resulting in a total response rate of 74.2%. Data collected were analysed using IBM SPSS and results were presented using tables and graphs.
The overall findings of the study indicated that the rewards and benefits provided by the Pietersburg Hospital are in line with those recommended by the country’s laws. In addition, both factors, according to the theory of Herzberg are considered as motivators, as well as hygiene factors which were found to be considered important to motivate the participants for performance. The participants identified the lack of some factors as demotivating rather than factors identified being as demotivators.
The study recommends more concerted effort to clarify policies like those for promotion, provision of requisite resources for effective productivity and activities for team building as mostly suggested by the participants themselves
Narrative essay writing in Xitsonga home language : a case of grade 10 learners in Mopani District, Limpopo Province, South Africa
Full text linkThesis (M.Ed. (Language Education)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024This research reveals that learners encounter difficulties when writing essays. The purpose of this study is to investigate Grade 10 learners’ inability to write narrative essays at Sekgosese East Circuit, Mopani District in the Limpopo Province. The research methodology utilized in carryng out this study is qualitative approach, an interpretive case study, wherein purposive and non-probability sampling method are applied in the sampling of the two Xitsonga home language teachers together with the six learners’ narrative essays. Furthermore, the semi-structured interview and documents analysis are used to collect data and through didactic analysis approach, the collected data is analyzed. The findings of this study indicate the common errors committed by learners in writing essays, which compromise their abilities to write narrative essays and recommend essay writing strategies that can be used to improve learners’ essay writing abilities. The researcher applied for ethical clearance from the University of Limpopo’s Research and Ethics Committee (TREC) to conduct the study, through the submission and approval of a research proposal. The researcher further requested permission to conduct the study from the Limpopo Provincial District Director of Education and the selected school principals by sending letters to them. Since most learners are minors, for them to take part, permission was sought from their parents. The researcher also sent consent forms to be signed by parents and teachers indicating that they allow their children to take part in the study
The use of fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages and ichthyoparasites as indicators of the health status of Nwanedi and Luphephe rivers in Limpopo Province, South Africa
Full text linkThesis (M.Sc.( Zoology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024Nwanedi and Luphephe rivers originates from the Soutpansberg mountains and flows downstream through three ecoregions, namely, Soutpansberg 2.01 Ecoregion at an altitude of 1100 m, Limpopo Plain 1.02 Ecoregion in the middle of the catchment, and Limpopo Plain 1.01 Ecoregion where the Nwanedi River meets the Limpopo River. However, due to increasing human interactions and agricultural developments in the lower reaches, there is a need to determine the present ecological state (PES) of this system. The aim of the study was to determine the PES of the Nwanedi and Luphephe rivers based on fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages and the composition of ichthyoparasites from Pseudocrenilabrus philander (Weber, 1897), a fish species that commonly occurs in the middle and upper catchment of the system. The findings were then compared to a previous survey conducted by Angliss et al. (2007) to determine if the state of these rivers has changed over time.
This study was conducted at 10 sites traversing the length of the rivers and across the aforementioned ecoregions, within the Soutpansberg 2.01 Ecoregion (sites 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5), Limpopo Plain 1.02 Ecoregion (sites 6 and 7) and Limpopo Plain 1.01 Ecoregion (sites 8, 9 and 10). Field surveys were undertaken during summer (October 2021) and winter (May 2022). Water quality measurements were taken at each site using a handheld multiparameter instrument and water samples collected to analyse nutrients and metal content at an accredited laboratory. Fish were sampled using electroshocking and a cast net. Specimens caught were identified and recorded and thereafter returned live to the environment. These data were used to categorise the respective ecoregions using the Fish Response Assessment Index (FRAI) protocol. Macroinvertebrates were sampled using the South African Scoring System Version 5 (SASS5) protocol and using the Macroinvertebrate Response Assessment Index (MIRAI) method the PES for each ecoregion was determined. Specimens of P. philander were examined for ichthyoparasites and infestation indices calculated to determine if there was a change in parasite load and diversity between the sites caught.
Water constituents measured were compared against the acceptable target water quality range (TWQR) prescribed by DWAF (1996a) for aquatic ecosystems. The concentration of NO3 was high in the lower reaches of the river where the aquatic vegetation was denser. All physico-chemical parameters, nutrients and metals content
were within the TWQR guidelines across the sites and ecoregions. Fish assemblages’ results revealed Soutpansberg 2.01 Ecoregion to have a high abundance and species richness, with numbers decreasing with altitude. A canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) revealed most fish species in the Soutpansberg 2.01 Ecoregion to be strongly correlated with high oxygen concentrations with only one species in the Limpopo Plain 1.01 strongly associated with water conductivity, total dissolved solids and salinity. The FRAI results indicated the PES of the Nwanedi and Luphephe rivers to be in good or close to natural conditions based on an assigned ecological category (EC) of class A/B calculated for the Soutpansberg 2.01 Ecoregion and fair with an ECs of classes C and D determined for the Limpopo Plain 1.02 and Limpopo Plain 1.01 ecoregions, respectively. When compared to the findings by Angliss et al. (2007) with scores of C, C and D designated for the respective ecoregions, the ecological state reported in this study for the Limpopo Plain 1.02 and Limpopo Plain 1.01 ecoregions would indicate that system conditions have deteriorated over time.
With regard to macroinvertebrates a decline in water quality at sites 1, 2, 3 and 7 based on SASS scores and Average Score per Taxon (ASPT) was reported. The ASPT scores reported for sites 4 and 5 indicated natural water quality conditions while those reported for sites 6 and 9 indicated a slight deterioration in water quality. Conversely, the MIRAI results categorised the PES of the Nwanedi and Luphephe rivers as fair with an EC of class D. When compared to the work undertaken by Angliss et al. (2007) the invertebrate communities in these rivers have deteriorated from an EC of class C/D to that of class D. Ichthyoparasites results revealed the Soutpansberg 2.01 Ecoregion had good water quality based on the high prevalence of Cichlidogyrus philander Douëllou, 1993, a gill monogenean specific to P. philander, and poor water quality for Limpopo Plain 1.02 Ecoregion due to the absence of this parasite observed from P. philander collected in this section of the river.
In conclusion, water quality was reported to be good in the Soutpansberg 2.01 Ecoregion with conditions deteriorating slightly in the Limpopo Plain 1.02 and Limpopo Plain 1.01 ecoregions. The water quality results were supported by the FRAI, MIRAI and parasite indices findings. The PES of the pooled data for each ecoregion revealed conditions to have deteriorated when compared to the historic work done by Angliss et al. (2007). For comparative purposes future studies should consider doing more frequent surveys using the methods elucidated above when establishing the PES.DSI-NRF SARChI
Chair in Ecosystem Healt