ABSTRACT The objectives of this study were to confirm for the first time, the identity of Trametes mushrooms from Northern Namibia and then to generate information on local uses and bioactive compounds of these Trametes species. To achieve this, samples were collected from Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshikoto and Oshana regions and identified as Trametes species based on morphological features. These were a basidiocarp with concentric zones, brown, tan or grey colour and pores from 2-3 pores/mm to po...
ABSTRACT River-floodplains are highly productive environments capable of supporting large fisheries. In the Kavango and Caprivi Regions in Namibia, artisanal gillnet fisheries catch is dominated by three cichlids: Oreochromis andersonii, Oreochromis macrochir and Tilapia rendalli. Their abundance is declining because of increased fishing pressure and their stocks are becoming vulnerable to overfishing. The aim of this thesis was to provide management recommendations for the three cichlids by ...
ABSTRACT Floodplain fisheries are typically multi-species and in most cases harvested with a variety of gears. In the upper- Zambezi, artisanal gillnet fishers mainly target three cichlids: Oreochromis andersonii, Oreochromis macrochir and Coptodon rendalli. However, their abundance is declining because of increased fishing pressure and their stocks are becoming vulnerable to overfishing. The principal aim of this PhD thesis was to assess the fish population dynamics in a highly variable syst...
Abstract This study was conducted in Namibian waters that forms part of the Benguela current ecosystem. This upwelling-driven ecosystem supports high abundances of fish species, some of which have been the backbone of Namibian commercial fishery for decades. The study of the trophic relationships of prey species of commercial fish is important, as it improves understanding of the ecology of their predators and considers multi-species interactions in fisheries management. The objectives of thi...
ABSTRACT The synthesis and characterization of two sets of metal complexes containing ligands derived from 2-acetylpyridine and hydrazide derivatives is reported. The first set consists of complexes containing a ligand derived from 2-acetylpyridine and S-methyldithiocarbazate while the second set is of complexes containing a ligand derived from 2-acetypyridine and thiocarbohydrazide. The ligands were synthesized via an acid catalysed condensation reaction and the metal complexes were synthesi...
Abstract The potential of the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae to serve as a bio-control agent of ticks has been studied and promising results reported. In this study, efficacy of M. anisopliae conidia formulated in either oil or water, in inducing mortalities to various developmental stages of ticks was evaluated. A fungal concentration of 108 conidia/ml induced in Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi mortalities of: 87% in eggs, 100% in unfed larvae, 72% in engorged nymphs, 91% in u...
ABSTRACT Globally, floodplains are acknowledged as hydrologically important, environmentally sensitive, and ecologically productive ecosystems that perform several natural functions. They provide both cultural and natural services that are of great value to society (Peel, 2012). Flooding occurs naturally along river’s and is an integral part of a healthy watercourse. It is believed that flooding may nurture life in and around rivers as the waters transport nutrient-rich sediments that contr...
ABSTRACT Tylosema esculentum (Burchell) L. Schreiber is a herbaceous perennial drought tolerant legume that is endemic to the arid and semi-arid zones of southern Africa. Its agronomic potential is on the basis of its seed’s nutritional composition that is comparable with soybean and peanut, the two mostly consumed legumes. In this study SSR markers were used to assess genetic diversity in natural populations of marama in the Namibian germplasm. Additionally, in the present study, the inter...
Abstract Soils influence the growth and performance of plants. Sendelingsdrif is a new area in Sperrgebiet National Park that had been identified by NAMDEB for diamond mining. Little is known about soil properties in this area yet after mining, it will be important to have good knowledge of soil properties and post-mining substrate to facilitate restoration of the mined and surrounding sites. The main aim of the study was to determine how the physical and chemical properties of post-mining su...
ABST RACT The main objective of the study was to analyze the situation of livestock production in Liberia. The specific objectives were to analyze the population of livestock in Liberia, to establish the factors limiting the production of livestock in Liberia, to analyze Liberia land use system of the livestock production sector and to analyze the economic impact of livestock production in Liberia. The study was a case study which surveyed three counties in Liberia: Nimba, Bong and Montserrad...
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 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...