The genus Boccardia (Polychaeta: Spionidae) associated with mollusc shells on the south coast of South Africa
- Simon, Carol A, Worsfold, T M, Lange, Louise, Sterley, Jessica A
- Authors: Simon, Carol A , Worsfold, T M , Lange, Louise , Sterley, Jessica A
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , Article
- Identifier: vital:6873 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011620 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0025315409990452
- Description: Three species of Boccardia (B. polybranchia, B. pseudonatrix and B. proboscidea) were associated with mollusc shells on the south and south-east coasts of South Africa. Boccardia polybranchia was widely distributed along the coast and falls within the known distribution range of this species. Comparisons with material from other, international, locations showed that some specimens have been misidentified. No characters could be found to characterize distinct species for different regions within the range of B. polybranchia, as currently recognized. Boccardia pseudonatrix was found only at the most eastern site, increasing its known distribution range. Boccardia proboscidea, a non-indigenous species, was found only on abalone farms and was most abundant in the west.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Simon, Carol A , Worsfold, T M , Lange, Louise , Sterley, Jessica A
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , Article
- Identifier: vital:6873 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011620 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0025315409990452
- Description: Three species of Boccardia (B. polybranchia, B. pseudonatrix and B. proboscidea) were associated with mollusc shells on the south and south-east coasts of South Africa. Boccardia polybranchia was widely distributed along the coast and falls within the known distribution range of this species. Comparisons with material from other, international, locations showed that some specimens have been misidentified. No characters could be found to characterize distinct species for different regions within the range of B. polybranchia, as currently recognized. Boccardia pseudonatrix was found only at the most eastern site, increasing its known distribution range. Boccardia proboscidea, a non-indigenous species, was found only on abalone farms and was most abundant in the west.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
The invasive ‘mothcatcher’ (Araujia sericifera Brot.; Asclepiadoideae) co-opts native honeybees as its primary pollinator in South Africa
- Coombs, Gareth, Peter, Craig I
- Authors: Coombs, Gareth , Peter, Craig I
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6510 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005937
- Description: Background and aims: Successful invasive plants such as Araujia sericifera usually either are capable of automatic self-pollination or maintain pollinator services by having generalized pollination systems to make use of local pollinators in the invaded range. Alternatively, plants must co-opt new pollinators with similar morphology to native pollinators or reproduce asexually. We aimed to document the pollination biology of A. sericifera in South Africa. Given the success of this species as an invader, we predicted that sexual reproduction occurs either through self-pollination or because A. sericifera has successfully co-opted native insect pollinators. Methodology: We examined the pollination biology of the South American A. sericifera in South Africa. We documented the effective pollinators including a comparison of the efficacy of nocturnal versus diurnal pollinators as well as the breeding system and long-term natural levels of the pollination success of this species. Principal results: We found that native honeybees (Apis mellifera) were the main pollinators of A. sericifera in South Africa. Visiting moths are unimportant pollinators despite being attracted by the pale colour and nocturnal scent of the flowers. Plants from the Grahamstown population were incapable of autonomous self-pollination but pollinator-mediated self-pollination does occur. However, the highest fruit initiation resulted from out-crossed pollination treatments. The high pollen transfer efficiency of this species was comparable to other hymenopteranpollinated exotic and native milkweeds, suggesting that A. sericifera maintains pollinator services at levels experienced by indigenous asclepiad species. Conclusions: Araujia sericifera reproduces successfully in South Africa due to a combined ability of this species to attract and exploit native honeybees as its pollinators and of individual plants to set fruit from pollinator-mediated self-pollination.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Coombs, Gareth , Peter, Craig I
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6510 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005937
- Description: Background and aims: Successful invasive plants such as Araujia sericifera usually either are capable of automatic self-pollination or maintain pollinator services by having generalized pollination systems to make use of local pollinators in the invaded range. Alternatively, plants must co-opt new pollinators with similar morphology to native pollinators or reproduce asexually. We aimed to document the pollination biology of A. sericifera in South Africa. Given the success of this species as an invader, we predicted that sexual reproduction occurs either through self-pollination or because A. sericifera has successfully co-opted native insect pollinators. Methodology: We examined the pollination biology of the South American A. sericifera in South Africa. We documented the effective pollinators including a comparison of the efficacy of nocturnal versus diurnal pollinators as well as the breeding system and long-term natural levels of the pollination success of this species. Principal results: We found that native honeybees (Apis mellifera) were the main pollinators of A. sericifera in South Africa. Visiting moths are unimportant pollinators despite being attracted by the pale colour and nocturnal scent of the flowers. Plants from the Grahamstown population were incapable of autonomous self-pollination but pollinator-mediated self-pollination does occur. However, the highest fruit initiation resulted from out-crossed pollination treatments. The high pollen transfer efficiency of this species was comparable to other hymenopteranpollinated exotic and native milkweeds, suggesting that A. sericifera maintains pollinator services at levels experienced by indigenous asclepiad species. Conclusions: Araujia sericifera reproduces successfully in South Africa due to a combined ability of this species to attract and exploit native honeybees as its pollinators and of individual plants to set fruit from pollinator-mediated self-pollination.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
The synthesis and photophysical properties of water soluble tetrasulfonated, octacarboxylated and quaternised 2,(3)-tetra-(2 pyridiloxy) Ga phthalocyanines
- Masilela, Nkosiphile, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Masilela, Nkosiphile , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6579 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004142
- Description: The photophysical behaviour of chlorogallium 2,(3)-tetra-(2 pyridiloxy) phthalocyanine (ClGaT-2-PyPc) and its quaternised derivative were compared with that of the water soluble anionic tetrasulfonated gallium phthalocyanine ((OH)GaTSPc) and hydoxy gallium octacarboxy phthalocyanine ((OH)GaOCPc). Although both the quaternised compound and the tetrasulfonated gallium phthalocyanine aggregated in aq. solution at pH 11, resulting in low fluorescence and triplet yields, the presence of the surfactant Cremophore EL improved yields. Triplet quantum yields ranged from 0.52 to 0.70 and fluorescence quantum yields ranged from <0.01 to 0.21. The nature of substituent (sulfonate, carboxy and pyridiloxy) did not influence photophysical properties. Chlorogallium 2,(3)-tetra-(2 pyridiloxy) phthalocyanine and its quaternised derivative displayed longer triplet lifetime than both the tetrasulfonated gallium phthalocyanine ((OH)GaTSPc) and hydroxy gallium octacarboxy phthalocyanine in DMSO and in aq. media in both the presence and absence of surfactant.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Masilela, Nkosiphile , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6579 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004142
- Description: The photophysical behaviour of chlorogallium 2,(3)-tetra-(2 pyridiloxy) phthalocyanine (ClGaT-2-PyPc) and its quaternised derivative were compared with that of the water soluble anionic tetrasulfonated gallium phthalocyanine ((OH)GaTSPc) and hydoxy gallium octacarboxy phthalocyanine ((OH)GaOCPc). Although both the quaternised compound and the tetrasulfonated gallium phthalocyanine aggregated in aq. solution at pH 11, resulting in low fluorescence and triplet yields, the presence of the surfactant Cremophore EL improved yields. Triplet quantum yields ranged from 0.52 to 0.70 and fluorescence quantum yields ranged from <0.01 to 0.21. The nature of substituent (sulfonate, carboxy and pyridiloxy) did not influence photophysical properties. Chlorogallium 2,(3)-tetra-(2 pyridiloxy) phthalocyanine and its quaternised derivative displayed longer triplet lifetime than both the tetrasulfonated gallium phthalocyanine ((OH)GaTSPc) and hydroxy gallium octacarboxy phthalocyanine in DMSO and in aq. media in both the presence and absence of surfactant.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
The use and appreciation of urban green spaces: the case of selected botanical gardens in South Africa
- Ward, Catherine D, Parker, Caitlin M, Shackleton, Charlie M
- Authors: Ward, Catherine D , Parker, Caitlin M , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6662 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007086
- Description: There are few formal studies on the contribution of botanical gardens as urban green spaces, particularly within developing countries. Therefore, this paper reports on an assessment of the use and appreciation of botanical gardens as urban green spaces in South Africa. Users and staff were surveyed in six national botanical gardens. The gardens provided numerous benefits in terms of conservation, education and recreation. However, the people using the gardens were not demographically representative of the general population of the surrounding city or town. Generally, most of the visitors were middle- to old-aged, well-educated professionals with medium to high incomes. Most were white and English was their home language. There was an even gender representation. Most visited only a few times per year. The majority of users visited the gardens for recreation and psychological reasons rather than educational ones. However, the staff of each garden placed emphasis on education in the gardens and amongst surrounding schools. Most visitors appreciated the conservation dimensions of botanical gardens, and felt that there was insufficient public green space in their town or city. Understanding how people perceive and use the botanical gardens of South Africa is important to inform future research and strategies regarding the conservation of urban green space within a developing country.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Ward, Catherine D , Parker, Caitlin M , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6662 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007086
- Description: There are few formal studies on the contribution of botanical gardens as urban green spaces, particularly within developing countries. Therefore, this paper reports on an assessment of the use and appreciation of botanical gardens as urban green spaces in South Africa. Users and staff were surveyed in six national botanical gardens. The gardens provided numerous benefits in terms of conservation, education and recreation. However, the people using the gardens were not demographically representative of the general population of the surrounding city or town. Generally, most of the visitors were middle- to old-aged, well-educated professionals with medium to high incomes. Most were white and English was their home language. There was an even gender representation. Most visited only a few times per year. The majority of users visited the gardens for recreation and psychological reasons rather than educational ones. However, the staff of each garden placed emphasis on education in the gardens and amongst surrounding schools. Most visitors appreciated the conservation dimensions of botanical gardens, and felt that there was insufficient public green space in their town or city. Understanding how people perceive and use the botanical gardens of South Africa is important to inform future research and strategies regarding the conservation of urban green space within a developing country.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- «
- ‹
- 1
- ›
- »