Abstract: Urban vegetation stands as a pivotal ecosystem for the provision and support of ecosystem services in towns and cities leading to the attainment of SDG 11: “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.” In pursuit of this goal, this study aimed at determining the present urban tree species richness, diversity and carbon stock potential in Lilongwe City, Malawi. Six distinct urban forest types were identified: Cemeteries, Institutional lands, Par...
Abstract: Previous vegetation studies and their ecosystem services have concentrated largely on natural ecosystems, with less emphasis on managed areas like agricultural systems. Moreover, the protection and conservation of vegetation would be not only successful in protected areas alone but also in the agriculture environment and surrounding it. More recently, human-altered ecosystems such as conventional agroforestry like agri-silviculture have become increasingly conscious of their abilit...
ABSTRACT This study examined the implementation of Revenue Sharing policy at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park towards improvement of people’s livelihood and support for conservation. Bwindi is a world heritage site and a home of almost 50% of the World Mountain Gorillas. Distributive, procedural, recognitive and contextual dimensions of equitable benefit sharing were explored and analysed. Revenue Sharing policy implementation was regarded as the independent variable while community livel...
Abstract Devil’s claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) is a geophyte that occurs mainly in Central, East and South eastern Namibia where it was previously regarded as a nuisance due to its fruit-claws getting caught on sheep and other livestock. The species has been exploited due to its medicinal properties leading to concerns regarding its sustainability. Efforts to conserve it have been tried in order to understand conditions suitable for its management but there are still poor results in the g...
ABSTRACT Species diversity, richness and composition of fish in bottom-trawling were investigated off the Namibian coast between Oranjemund and Henties Bay. Sampling followed a systematic transects design, along latitude gradients (28-22oS) at different seafloor depths (100-500m). In total 18 transects were sampled containing 105 stations. At each trawled station the whole catch was sorted into species type and the total body mass (kg) of each fish species was recorded. A total of 91 fish spe...
ABSTRACT The impact of heavy metal pollution on vegetation and communities of ground-dwelling invertebrates was investigated at Kombat Mine tailings dump in Namibia. Sixteen transect lines were marked around the dump. Plots, 15m x 15m, were marked at 50m intervals along each transect. Top soils in the demarcated plots were sampled and analysed for concentrations of heavy metals and total sulphur. Woody plant species were identified, counted and heights measured. Herbaceous plants were identif...
ABSTRACT Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench is the fifth most important cereal crop in the world, and in Namibia, sorghum is the second most important. The genetic resources of sorghum remain unexplored in Namibia. This could lead to a loss of genetic diversity as wild relatives and foreign varieties could interbreed with landraces, resulting in an undesired alteration of its genetic make-up. This study was conducted to evaluate the genetic diversity among the Namibian Sorghum bicolor accessions sto...
ABSTRACT Fleas and other ectoparasites infesting small mammals were studied from December 2005 to June 2006 at Waterberg Plateau Park, Namibia. The main aim of this study was to investigate seasonal occurrence of fleas and other ectoparasites on small mammals at selected sites at Waterberg Plateau Park. Small mammals were live-trapped, marked and released. Ectoparasites were collected (by brushing) from these small mammals before they were marked and released. Fleas, ticks and lice were store...
ABSTRACT This study sought to determine the biology and the uses of baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) populations in Outapi and Onesi constituencies in Omusati Region, Namibia. As one of the important Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs)-providing species of ecological and socio-economic significance, there is need to have a better understanding of the biology and local uses of the species before its full potential and sustainable harvesting is realized. A comparison of densities, distribution pat...
Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the relations between the intensity of land use and the characteristics of different habitat types within the grassland ecosystem in the Biosphere Area “Schwäbische Alb” in Germany. Data has been collected based on 50 examination plots (4×4 m) of the Biodiversity Exploratories project. These plots represented different land use types and levels of intensity which are 1) grazed, ungrazed 2) once, twice, three times mowed, 3) fertilised, unf...
Abstract The main objective of this study was to determine sardine age by counting rings on otoliths and to analyse the length, age and growth through regression and Von Bertalanffy Growth models. Otoliths amounting to 826 pairs were collected from the annual sardine research survey of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources in October 2013. A total of 713 sardine otoliths were mounted on black Perspex plates and aged by means of counting rings using a Zeiss microscope at a magnificati...
Abstract The study's purpose was to delineate seasonal space use variations of the endangered Grevy's zebra (Equus grevyi), and to determine the extent of overlap of these areas with livestock grazing zones in order to identify core areas suitable for conservation efforts. E. grevyi requires protection as their population size severely decreased in the last century and they continue to suffer from habitat loss. Additional importance lies in reconciling interests of wildlife protection and liv...
TABLE OF CONTENTS Contents i List of figures vi List of tables viii Acknowledgments ix Abstract x Declaration xi CHAPTER 1 1 1. INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 General introduction 1 1.2 Problem statement 3 1.3 Specific objectives 4 1.4 Key questions 4 1.5 Research predictions 5 CHAPTER 2 8 2. LITERATURE REVIEW 8 ii 2.1 Background on black rhinoceros 8 2.2 Distribution of black rhinoceros: historical and current range 9 2.3 Conservation and management 10 2.4 General ecology and habitat preferences 12 2.5 ...
ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine the impact of the smelter waste on plant species diversity and structure in the Tsumeb area. The most important sources of contamination are solid and gaseous emissions from the Tsumeb Smelter, airborne particles from the Tsumeb tailings pond and airborne particles from slag mill waste. Six sites: Inside Smelter Site, Outside Smelter Site, Abattoir Hill Site, Transnamib Site, Nomtsoub Site and Airport Site were selected and ten 10 m x 10 m...
ABSTRACT Acacia erioloba, a tree species of great ecological and economic importance is threatened by urban expansion and a lack of sustainable management in the Windhoek area. The overall objective of this study was to determine the diversity and structure of an Acacia erioloba woodland and the influence of herbivory, wood harvesting, fire and physical soil properties on vegetation structure. Forty quadrats 625m2 in size were demarcated in pairs on alternative sides of a transect line to s...