Abstract Savannas are mainly characterised by co-existence of woody and herbaceous vegetation. In Namibia, savannas occupy about 64% of the country’s land area. They are characterised by the arid to semi-arid climatic conditions and play a vital role in livestock and vegetation production. Most vegetation communities in savannas are influenced by rainfall and species interactions. Change in climatic pattern has shown that a decrease in rainfall can cause more frequent droughts and ultimatel...
Abstract Cross-species hybridization approaches have been used for genetic analysis of species that do not have complete genome arrays available. The study used the cross-species DNA-DNA hybridization approach to characterize Ximenia americana biological processes. Preliminary micro-array studies done in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Namibia has created X. americana DNA-DNA hybridization to a well-known Arabidopsis thaliana genechip (ATH1). A. thaliana prob...
ABSTRACT The Namibian Porphyra capensis Kützing was studied as very little was known of its taxonomy, ecology, phylogeny or nutritional status. It was hypothesized that it was phlogenetically related to the South African P. capensis as they share common ancestry. DNA was extracted from thalli and partial sequences obtained from their 18SrDNA and ITS regions. GenBank sequences of interest were incorporated, alignments made and phylogenetic trees were generated using MEGA 5.1. The results show...
TABLE OF CONTENTS Title page……………………………………………………………………………….i Certification…………………………………………………………………………….ii Dedication……………………………………………………………………….……..iii Acknowledgment………………………………………………………………….……iv Abstract……………………………………………………�...
Abstract The phenomenon and increasing rate of urbanisation is causing many researchers to look deeper at life in cities. Increasingly recognised are the benefits of urban green space and their associated recreational parks and nature reserves. While there is a growing literature on the environmental services provided by these areas; so too is there a growing literature on the numerous social benefits that recreational green spaces in particular afford their users. Although imagined and gener...
Abstract Erica makes up 7% of all species in the Cape flora. It is the most species-rich genus in the Cape Floristic Region (CFR), which has an area 0f 90 000km2. Erica species have great inter- and intra-specific variation in floral form as well as in post-fire regeneration strategies. Previous studies of other plant groups (Barrett et al. 1996; Button et al. 2012) have illustrated changes in floral traits with a shift from outcrossing to selfing. The aim of this thesis was to determine whet...
ABSTRACT The blue amphibole asbestos, crocidolite, which occurs as interbedded seams in banded ironstones of the Lower Griquatown stage of the Transvaal System in the Northern Cape Province, is the finely fibrous form of the soda-amphibole riebeckite. Despite the widespread occurrence of the Precambrian type of banded ironstones, crocidolite is a mineral of rare occurrence and is only developed to a relatively minor extent in South Afric.a, Western Australia and Central China. The com...
ABSTRACT This study aimed at investigating the teaching of Biology and Physical Science practical works in Senior Secondary schools in the Zambezi Region, Namibia. The study was guided by four questions: 1. Did the teaching of Biology and Physical Science practical works in Senior Secondary schools in the Zambezi region follow the learning objectives outlined in the subjects’ curricula?; 2. What practical skills do the Biology and Physical Science teachers aim to achieve from the practical...
ABSTRACT Information on genetic variation of breeding materials helps maintain genetically diversity and sustains long term selection gain. Marama bean [Tylosema esculentum (Burchell) Schreiber] occurs naturally in arid, dry parts of Southern Africa and due to the high nutrient value of the seeds and tubers, rich in protein, oil and starch, is a potential crop for arid areas where few conventional crops can survive. Microsatellites are becoming the molecular marker system of choice because t...
ABSTRACT Recent developments indicated increasing gene-pool depletion for most medicinal plants in Nigeria despite their pharmaceuticals and therapeutic potentials. Initial socio-economic study involving three countries (Nigeria, Ghana and Republic of Benin) identified ten most frequently used medicinal plants. This list was superimposed on a vegetation map of Nigeria for the production of a distribution map ahead of an eco-geographic survey for population and phenological studies. Sample sit...
Abstract The protection of biodiversity within cities is becoming more crucial by the increasing number of people living in urban areas. Within this study urban agriculture projects (UAP) are analysed according to their ability to face this challenge. It was uncertain if UAP exist in Windhoek, this study proofs that they do. This research was undertaken in two cities: Windhoek, Namibia and Berlin, Germany under special consideration of two main research questions: (1) Does UAP have the abili...
Abstract Biotic and abiotic factors can alter the abundance and community composition of mammals and in turn that of associated parasites. The aim of the study was to measure the impact of climatic variables (temperature and relative humidity) on mammal populations and on the population dynamics of associated micro- and ecto-parasites. For this, the current study described prevalence and diversity of pathogenic Leptospira, the etiological agent of leptospirosis, and fleas, arthropod vectors ...
ABSTRACT Medicinal plants are rich in a wide variety of bioactive compounds associated with various ailments; including antibacterial activity and some of them have been used worldwide in traditional settings to treat diarrheal diseases. However evidence on safety and efficacy of some of these traditional medicinal plants is lacking, preventing their mainstream use. This study aimed at determining the antibacterial activity of Boscia albitrunca, Ziziphus mucronata, Combretum apiculatum, Sola...
ABSTRACT Basidiomycetous fungi, including Ganoderma lucidum, have a variety of uses such as providing nutrition and as medical remedies. The mushroom G. lucidum has been used for a long time to cure liver problems, heart condition, asthma, cancer high blood pressure and arthritis. Recently, it has been associated with boosting immune systems in HIV infected persons. It is for these reasons that the mushroom has attracted a lot of attention leading to proposals of cultivating to increase supp...
ABSTRACT Starch is of substantial industrial significance for food and non-food uses. Plant roots and tubers such as potato and cassava are rich in starch and they are among the sources of starch for food consumption and industrial use. With climatic changes it is important to find crops that can be used as food and will still be able to survive the arid conditions. Marama is a plant that grows in the arid Namibian conditions, that bears a storage root that it is underutilized and has a pote...