Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf): Open Journal Systems
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Advancing ecosystem accounting in estuaries: Swartkops Estuary case study
No full textRapid degradation of ecosystems and loss of ecosystem services have sparked interest in developing approaches to report and integrate such change with socio-economic information systems, such as the System of National Accounts. Here we describe an approach and application of ecosystem accounting for individual estuaries, building on approaches previously applied at national and bay levels. Using the Swartkops Estuary as a case study, the focus is on physical accounts for ecosystem extent and condition, as well as accounts for two important ecosystem services (carbon sequestration and recreational use). Pressure accounts are also introduced to demonstrate the value of identifying key areas for management and restoration interventions in response to changes in extent and/or condition accounts. Greater resolution in these account reports, achieved through zoning, provides spatially explicit information on ecosystem assets and their services within an estuary to also inform management decision-making at local level. Further, these accounts can also inform local restoration prioritisation, in support of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030), for example offsetting irreversibly degraded areas in one zone with restoration or maintenance of similar habitats in another.
Significance:
This study is the first to apply the ecosystem accounting approach at the individual estuary level.
We provide spatially explicit information on ecosystem assets and their services in support of resource management.
Physical accounts include extent and condition, as well as ecosystem service and pressure accounts.
These accounts inform estuary management and restoration at the local governance level
To ‘train’ or to ‘educate’ for doctoral work? – that is the question: A review of Doctoral Training and Higher Education in Africa
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The use of M-learning to foster the development of self-regulated learning in university students: A systematic review
Full text linkThe rapid development of mobile technologies and their price decrease have enabled mobile devices to become ubiquitous. Both lecturers and students are integrating mobile technologies into teaching and learning. The continuous global innovation in emerging mobile technologies and their ever-increasing overlap with the lives of students and lecturers in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have thrust Mlearning and self-regulated learning into prominence. Accordingly, this review analyses conference proceedings and national and international journals on the potential of M-learning for fostering self-regulated learning. To select relevant sources, a systematic literature review approach was employed. This study fills gaps in existing literature and investigates how mobile devices might enhance self-regulated learning among university students. It also signals future research directions and offers implications for researchers and practitioners in HEIs
Exploring the autism “diagnostic odyssey” in the Greater Accra region of Ghana
Full text linkIntroduction: Despite the increasing global prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), there is limited information about ASD in Africa. Existing research on ASD in Africa shows that autistic children are diagnosed relatively late or not at all. The purpose of this study was to understand the barriers to an autism diagnosis and to engage key stakeholders to action plan steps to reduce the barriers. Methods: We conducted a participatory, mixed methods study using semi-structured interviews, a survey, photo elicitation, and focus groups with 11 participants (four parents and seven health professionals) in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. Findings: Neuro-paediatricians in our study reported that it takes, on average, two to six visits over two weeks to two years or more to diagnose a child. Our thematic qualitative analysis yielded three overarching themes, with barriers and facilitators for each: 1) Systemic, 2) Community, and 3) Parent/Family factors that influence the diagnostic process. The action plan of our stakeholder focus group prioritizes community education to dispel myths and encourage autism acceptance within the Ghanaian community. Conclusion: Knowledge about the diagnostic odyssey can help facilitate early diagnosis and intervention. Implications for practice This research study confirmed known challenges to the autism diagnostic process. It contributed nuanced insights into the role of culture, the importance of education, and the need for community involvement in improving the diagnostic process, early occupational therapy intervention, and autism acceptance within the community
Pine Emperor moths from KwaZulu-Natal use the same pheromone component previously isolated from Nudaurelia cytherea (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) from the Western Cape
No full textNudaurelia spp. (Saturniidae) are sporadic pests of pine plantations in South Africa. Taxonomic uncertainty exists in South Africa with this group and represents an impediment to the development and implementation of pheromone-based management tactics. Populations from the Western Cape have been described as Nudaurelia cytherea while those from KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga have been described as Nudaurelia clarki. We compared Cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences from moths from the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and Mpumalanga regions. We also analysed female pheromone gland extracts with gas-chromatography electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) and gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for moths from KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. COI gene barcoding sequences were identical for moths from the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and Mpumalanga regions providing preliminary evidence to suggest that these populations may be the same species. Based on the available literature, the morphology and origin of our samples suggests that pheromone analyses in this study were done on N. clarki. Male N. clarki antennae respond to two compounds in female extracts. One of these compounds was confirmed with a synthetic standard to be (Z)-dec-5-en-1-yl-3-methylbutanoate, the sex pheromone previously identified from N. cytherea. The identity of the second compound could not be confirmed. Both male and female antennae responded to four structurally related compounds in the synthetic pheromone standard. Field trials with custom-made traps confirmed attraction of N. clarki males to polydimethylsiloxane and polyisoprene lures loaded with synthetic (Z)-dec-5-en-1-yl-3-methylbutanoate
Biology of the invasive shell lerp psyllid, Spondyliaspis cf. plicatuloides (Froggatt) (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae)
No full textSpondyliaspis cf. plicatuloides (Froggatt) (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae) is native to Australia but was first detected outside its native range in 2014, in South Africa. It feeds on eucalypt species and thus has the potential to become a pest in commercial Eucalyptus plantations. Information on the basic biology of this insect, which is important for the development of surveillance and management strategies, is lacking. To investigate the life cycle and general biology of S. plicatuloides, the psyllid was reared under controlled glasshouse conditions on potted red-flowering gum, Corymbia ficifolia. The egg incubation period, number of nymphal instars and their developmental time, adult fecundity, adult longevity and duration of the life cycle were determined. The major diagnostic features used to differentiate the five nymphal instars were the number of antennal segments, wing pad development and body length. Females reached reproductive maturity 2.3 ± 0.47 (mean ± SD) days after eclosion and laid 16.2 ± 3.9 (mean ± SD) eggs on average. Reproduction was sexual. The first nymphal instar took 10.7 ± 1.2 (mean ± SD) days to hatch from the egg. The nymphal instars completed their development in 22.6 ± 1.4 (mean ± SD) days under the brown scalloped shelters they secrete. The insect's total life cycle lasted 37.37 ± 1.17 (mean ± SD) days from egg to adult death. Males and females lifespan is also reported. The study provides the first information on the basic biology of S. cf. plicatuloides that will be useful for future studies on surveillance and management strategies
Institutional Arrangements and Support Systems for Independent Smallholder Irrigators in the Msinga Local Municipality, South Africa
No full textThis article describes the present institutional arrangements for irrigators’ resource access, agricultural support systems accessible to irrigators, and the various constraints irrigators experience. The survey acquired data from 101 snowballed respondents for the quantitative phase of the study. The qualitative phase gathered information from four purposively selected focus group discussions. According to the findings, irrigators commonly gained access to production land through traditional authority (81.2%). Gender was a barrier to land access, where male-headed families had larger land sizes than female-headed ones (t=4.993, p=0.028). Concerning irrigation water, irrigators abstract it wherever they find access, without any institutional arrangement or restriction. The main limitations to irrigators’ water availability were competition and the drying out of the water source, particularly spring water. Government assistance was rare among independent irrigators. Smallholder support services tend to be distributed unevenly among South African smallholders, usually leaving independent irrigators unsupported. Lastly, irrigators experience constraints in their farming that government existing services have the potential to address. Therefore, this study proposes that the government recognize independent irrigators as possible drivers of poverty and food insecurities. The study recommends institutional inclusion and the extension of support systems to independent irrigators