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...
ABSTRACT Inappropriate slaughtering and retail operations can compromise food safety specifically in densely populated areas like informal markets. The bacteriological quality and prevalence of Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli O157:H7 on beef samples from the three different outlets (supermarket, butchery and open market) were assessed to determine their safety for human consumption. A total of 138 of beef samples were collected at random from three different outlets. The bacteriological...
ABSTRACT The main purpose of this study was to investigate the challenges affecting Grade 12 learners’ academic performance in Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary level (NSSCO) Biology in the //Kharas Region, Namibia. The study addressed three research questions. Two categories of sample, made up of 140 learners and 12 teachers respectively were selected using the simple random sampling method to participate in the study. Furthermore, after the preliminary analysis of the questio...
While leopards (Panthera pardus) currently occupy the most extensive geographic range of all large felids, they are also suffering the highest rate of current range loss amongst large terrestrial carnivores. This is primarily because most leopards still range outside of formally protected areas where they are exposed to the full suite of anthropogenic threats affecting carnivores including habitat loss, prey depletion, conflict with humans, and commercial harvest for body parts. The extensive...
In comparison to their ecophysiological and behavioral aspects, the skeletal system of African mole-rats (Bathyergidae) has been relatively understudied. Only a few studies have assessed their skeletal system, but these have mostly focused on their cranial and dental systems, with little attention on their postcranial skeleton. This PhD thesis provides a considerable amount of information about the functional anatomy, morphological diversity and postnatal bone morphogenesis of the appendicula...
Abstract Coccolithophores are a biogeochemically important phytoplankton group, fulfilling an important role in the global carbon cycle through primary production and the formation and export of calcium carbonate. Despite this biogeochemical importance, relatively little is known about their ecophysiology, for example their response to nutrient availability in terms of both macronutrient (nitrate, phosphate) and micronutrient (trace metal) or how this impacts on their competition with other p...
Abstract Climate change is a reality. One of the main ecological concerns regarding climate change is the predicted increase in atmospheric and sea temperatures. The latter is expected to rise by roughly 2.5O C by the end of 2050 with dramatic impacts on marine ecosystems predicted around the world. Seagrass ecosystems are a good example of vital ecosystems that are threatened by climate change and other anthropogenic factors. A decline in global seagrass cover of 29% has been estimated over ...
The genus, Leucadendron, of the Cape Proteaceae family, is made up of over 70 dioecious species that vary in their degree of sexual dimorphism. Males are generally more highly ramified (branched) with smaller leaves compared to corresponding females. It has been hypothesised that sexual dimorphism in Leucadendrons is linked to serotiny (a fire-adapted reproductive strategy), where highly serotinous females may incur extra resource costs in order to keep their transpiring cones alive betwe...