288 research outputs found
Pontus de Tyard, Œuvres complètes, sous la direction d'Eva Kushner, tome 1 : Œuvres poétiques. Édition critique par S. Bokdam, E. Kushner, G. Mathieu-Castellani, J. Ritch et F. Rouget
No full textCarrols Anne. Pontus de Tyard, Œuvres complètes, sous la direction d'Eva Kushner, tome 1 : Œuvres poétiques. Édition critique par S. Bokdam, E. Kushner, G. Mathieu-Castellani, J. Ritch et F. Rouget. In: Réforme, Humanisme, Renaissance, n°61, 2005. pp. 172-174
Pontus de Tyard, Œuvres complètes, sous la direction d'Eva Kushner, tome 1 : Œuvres poétiques. Édition critique par S. Bokdam, E. Kushner, G. Mathieu-Castellani, J. Ritch et F. Rouget
No full textCarrols Anne. Pontus de Tyard, Œuvres complètes, sous la direction d'Eva Kushner, tome 1 : Œuvres poétiques. Édition critique par S. Bokdam, E. Kushner, G. Mathieu-Castellani, J. Ritch et F. Rouget. In: Réforme, Humanisme, Renaissance, n°61, 2005. pp. 172-174
An integrated planning approach for the conservation of freshwater ecosystems in South Africa
No full textIncludes bibliographical references (p. 125-140).Freshwater ecosystems underpin the fabric of society and the environment, providing essential ecosystem services such as water and food, upon which all human beings depend. In order to secure these vital services requires the sustainable management of freshwater ecosystems. At present however, freshwater biodiversity is under severe threat from anthropogenic disturbances, and the situation is expected to worsen due to population growth and global change. Coupled with the threats to freshwater biota are the limited resources available to secure their protection. There is a need to therefore prioritise freshwater ecosystems in a comprehensive, adequate and representative manner to maximise the outcomes of conservation effort. The concept of systematic conservation planning was developed to address this challenge. It offers a suitable framework for achieving conservation goals in the face of other competing land uses. The principles of systematic conservation planning are being widely applied in terrestrial and marine ecosystems, but their application in freshwater ecosystems is still relatively limited. Freshwater ecosystems provide challenges to conservation planning that are unique from those of terrestrial and marine ecosystems, such as the longitudinal nature of river systems and the associated connectivity, and catchment divides that constrain some obligate species. As a result freshwater ecosystems require conservation planning tools and approaches that are specifically geared towards addressing these unique challenges. Progress has recently been achieved in addressing some of these challenges, but there are still other outstanding issues that have not been comprehensively addressed. The aim of this thesis was to develop new frameworks, and test approaches for the application of systematic conservation planning principles in the conservation of freshwater ecosystems in South Africa. The thesis addressed a range of issues along the systematic conservation planning continuum from biodiversity assessment to implementation. I first carried out a focused review of systematic conservation literature between 1987- 2006, to gauge the extent to which freshwater ecosystems have being integrated in conservation assessments. Most of the focus was found to be on terrestrial ecosystems with minimal incorporation of freshwater biodiversity. Wetlands for example, were in most cases incorporated into conservation assessments without taking their diversity into account. This was partly attributed to the difficulty of classifying wetlands. I therefore developed and tested a hierarchical GIS framework for automating wetland classification as a strategy for incorporating wetland biodiversity, functions and benefits into broad scale conservation planning
Evaluating protected area effectiveness using bird lists in the Australian Wet Tropics
No full textAimProtected areas underpin many global conservation efforts. However, it is often unclear whether they are effective in maintaining their biodiversity values, both absolutely, and also relative to other conservation actions or land uses. Longitudinal population data are critical for determining protected area performance robustly, but such data are rare. As such, there is often insufficient information with which to make adequate, informed decisions for policy and management. Conversely, informally collected data, such as species lists, are common, especially for birds, and they are often the only source of historical data. The aim of this study was to use list data to evaluate the contribution of protected areas to the conservation of endemic birds
Balancing agricultural and ecological needs : biodiversity, land use and ecosystem services in the Koedoes River Catchment, Limpopo.
No full textM. Sc. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 2015.A major topic in natural science research is land degradation and unwise land use resulting in
biodiversity loss and impact negatively on ecosystem functioning. In addition, an increasing
human population trend leads to food security concerns. Some commercial farmers are ideally
placed on the interface between agricultural and natural systems to investigate these issues. In
this thesis we investigate the quaternary catchment-scale biodiversity, land-use patterns and
interactions between conservation, restoration and agricultural activities in an agriculturally
productive valley. The 40,000ha Koedoes River Catchment in Limpopo Province produces
high numbers of tomatoes, avocados and mangoes. Most of this catchment is managed by
ZZ2, a farming conglomerate that practice an environmentally sensitive approach to
commercial farming. In the first two chapters a fine-scale vegetation map is created for the
catchment, accompanied by detailed descriptions of the eleven mapped vegetation units. Over
a 1300m altitudinal range, three biomes, 49 red-listed plant species, fifteen protected tree
species and more than 500 species of vascular plant are represented in the catchment. In a
subsequent chapter, the catchment-wide land-use patterns were mapped and related to
vegetation patterns. The most expansive vegetation type appears to be one of the most
threatened because large areas have been converted to croplands, while one of the most biodiverse
vegetation units is severely threatened by degradation and invasive plants. Using this
information, in addition to stakeholder feedback regarding the relative supply and demand for
ecosystem services, a map of high priority biodiversity, ecosystem services and agricultural
use areas was created to serve as a strategic management tool for stakeholders and land
managers. In the final chapter the fine-scale effects of land use practices on biodiversity and
ecosystem functioning are investigated. Using invertebrate community data from three
adjacent headwater sub-catchments, invertebrate diversity and downstream biological water
quality (measured by SASS5) was related to upstream land use. Ultimately, this thesis serves
to illustrate some of the complex interactions and inter-dependencies between conservation
and agriculture, and to offer evidence for mutually beneficial synergies between both these
important sectors
The impact of land degradation on landscape function in Mount Fletcher, Eastern Cape.
No full textMaster of Science in Environmental Science. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 2016.The severity of natural vegetation degradation has become a serious challenge, causing negative impacts on the vegetation ecosystems, livestock population, and productivity, landscape organization and river systems. The research project focussed on the impact of land degradation on the landscape function and vegetation cover. The study was addressing two main aims. The first aim was to assess the landscape function analysis (LFA) method as a tool to determine the landscape functioning and differentiate the condition of the rangeland into various levels of degradation caused by over-grazing. The second aim was to determine the effects of excluding grazing herbivores using on ecosystem functioning.
Monitoring is an important part of the restoration process, it allows restoration practitioners to assess success and to adapt management strategies and restoration methods, so as to evaluate change in their restoration objectives. The landscape function analysis method was applied in this study. The LFA method is a field based technique that examines the landscape level of ecosystem function and determines the functional status of rangelands. The LFA consists landscape organization and soil surface assessment indices which reflect the ability of the landscape to capture and retain resources. Data were collected inside and outside of the exclosure plots to determine whether there were differences in some measured parameters (landscape organization index, total patch area, number of patches/10 m, average inter-patch length, stability, infiltration and nutrient cycling) between the non-grazed (exclosure) and continuously grazed area.
The vegetation cover from the exclosure plots was more improved as well as landscape functioning. These results demonstrated that grazing exclusion is an effective measure for maintaining the landscape functioning and improving above ground cover. The adoption of livestock exclusion practice had a profound impact on vegetation recovery and in turn on litter accumulation and improvement of soil fertility. The landscape organization indices and the soil surface assessment (SSA) indices played the most important roles in contributing to the knowledge of the landscape functioning. The study found that LFA method can be used as a tool to detect the landscape functioning and differentiate between intact and degraded areas
Land use and its impact on the Succulent Karoo
No full textThe Succulent Karoo biome (SK biome) is one of the 25 internationally recognized biodiversity hotspots in South Africa with approximately 1940 endemic species. The SK biome is, however, poorly conserved with less than 5% of the area under formal protection. It is also highly threatened by a range of different land use practices. Considering the lack of protected areas and the high levels of endemism (about 40%), which characterize the region, the current and future land use practices are likely to be the key factors in determining the future conservation of the area. Understanding the land use pattern and its drivers that have occurred in the SK biome provides a useful starting point for outlining the future research needs and establishing conservation goals. This project investigates a range of different land use practices such as urban settlement, mining, cropland, conservation and livestock production with their associated environmental drivers. The study used a Geographical Information System (GIS) to map the current extent of land use practices based on available data from different sources in the SK biome. The study also mapped the current extent of livestock density in two land tenure systems (private and communal) of Namaqualand and developed a statistical model to assess the future agricultural potential in the SK biome. The current status of the land use practices in the SK biome shows that most of its area is used for extensive grazing (90%) followed by conservation (4.8%). Due to the aridity of the area, agriculture potential is low. The results confirmed that the conservation status of the SK biome is relatively low but improving, with 4.8% of the biome conserved. Only 3.5%, however, is formally protected in statutory reserves. The remaining conserved area (1.3%) is conserved in non-statutory reserves
The conservation value of abandoned croplands in Mpumalanga’s grasslands
No full textDissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2014.The South African grassland biome is one of the most transformed and least protected biomes in the country. The conservation of this species-rich biome is further complicated by the occurrence of abandoned croplands in areas classified as ‘natural’. In fact, more than 10 % of the areas classified as natural in Mpumalanga are abandoned croplands. Although it is recognized that they differ from pristine grasslands in species richness and diversity, few studies have assessed the value of abandoned croplands for conservation. The aim of this study was to determine the value of abandoned croplands for conservation in Mpumalanga’s grasslands in terms of species composition and landscape connectivity. In the first part of the study the species composition of abandoned croplands was compared to that of pristine natural grassland in the Nooitgedacht Dam Nature Reserve in Mpumalanga. In the second part of the study the contribution of abandoned croplands to overall landscape connectivity in the grassland biome of Mpumalanga was evaluated. It was found that there is a significant difference in species composition, especially for resprouting forb species, between abandoned croplands and pristine natural grasslands. There were also a significant difference in total species richness and forb species richness, while alien plant species richness was significantly higher in abandoned cropland plots. There was no significant difference in medicinal plant species richness. It could be seen that, although different to pristine natural grasslands, the vegetation on these abandoned croplands was not degraded, and can be valuable providers of ecosystem services such as medicinal plants and thatching grass, and can also serve as habitat for different species. It was found that the pristine natural grassland patches in Mpumalanga are already relatively well connected and that abandoned croplands further improved the overall landscape connectivity of grassland habitat patches by 33 %. The results indicated that abandoned croplands have a definite value for conservation by contributing to species richness and connecting the landscape.lk2014Plant ScienceMScUnrestricte
An assessment of fire regimes on different vegetation types using MODIS burned area products.
No full textMaster of Science in Geography. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 2017.Cost-efficient satellite data has been widely used to map the spatial and temporal distribution of fires in resource scarce regions such as southern Africa. However, the accuracy of such data is often unknown, which compromises the integrity of the mapped burnt areas. In that regard, there is need to validate the accuracy of these data products if they are to be used for drawing strategies for monitoring and managing natural resources such as grasslands. This study, therefore, evaluated the mapping accuracy of the cost-free MODIS burned area satellite data products for 2013 and 2014 burning seasons in the grasslands of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. To validate MODIS data, we used independent reference data derived from the new generation Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) based on the new accuracy assessment procedure promulgated. A total of 60 ground sampling sites were used in this study in conjunction with Landsat 8 data to validate MODIS burned area products. Results of this study illustrate a high level of agreement (>80% overall accuracy) between the MODIS burned area products and the independent reference data. Meanwhile, Landsat data was also validated by ground collected points yielding an accuracy of 94%. Specifically, MODIS data was validated by ground collected points yielding an accuracy of 87%. These findings suggest that MODIS burned area products (MCD45A1) are an accurate, reliable and cheap data source for mapping burnt areas at a regional scale
Assessing the level of habitat fragmentation of the KwaZulu-Natal sandstone sourveld.
No full textM. Sc. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 2015.Numerous processes, including habitat loss and fragmentation, contribute to ecosystem degradation, resulting in the loss of ecosystem functioning and diversity. The KwaZulu-Natal Sandstone Sourveld (KZN SS) is a grassland ecosystem type that is currently classified as endangered due to extensive habitat loss. A large percentage of this ecosystem has been converted through agriculture and development. This is due to the fact that this vegetation type occurs in a prime agricultural area for timber and sugar cane plantations. This has led to the physical fragmentation of the KZN SS, the exacerbated effects of which could diminish the biological persistence of this ecosystem. Apart from a few conserved areas (only several hundred hectares), most remnant patches of KZN SS are exposed to frequent fire and stressful levels of grazing.
Very little is known about this vegetation type and thus the current level of habitat fragmentation and connectivity of the landscape is presently unknown. Furthermore, there is currently no standard method used to quantify habitat fragmentation. The overall aim of this study was to quantify habitat fragmentation of the KZN SS using measures of structural and functional connectivity. Through the use of various measures of habitat fragmentation and connectivity, this study identified priority areas of KZN SS, and designed landscape corridors to improve landscape connectivity.
There are numerous measures that can be implemented to assess landscape and habitat connectivity, including graph theory. The Conefor Sensinode software, which employs graph theory, was chosen to aid in assessing the level of habitat fragmentation. The integral index was chosen as the best connectivity index to use in determining landscape connectivity. Once the data had been processed within Conefor, it was then imported into a Geographical information system (GIS) where the data was finally represented. A least-cost analysis was then run in ArcGIS to determine the best route for a landscape corridor to undertake within the eThekwini Metropolitan area. This analysis took into account the priority areas of KZN SS identified, the protected areas network, and the DMOSS (Durban Metropolitan Open Space System). The study ascertained that the KZN SS is a highly fragmented landscape, which has resulted in very low levels of connectivity between fragments in the eThekwini Metro. Priority areas have been identified and landscape corridors have been suggested. This situation needs to be addressed if species within the KZN SS are to persist. This study recommends that the eThekwini
Municipality can safeguard the biodiversity of this endangered ecosystem by focusing on managing the patches of KZN SS that have been identified as having a high level of importance within the landscape
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