An assessment of caracal population density and human-predator conflict in the Winterberg, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Smith, Emma Ruth
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Felis -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Felis -- Effect of human beings on -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Predatory animals -- Control -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Wildlife depredation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Human-animal relationships , Felis -- Conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Felis -- Monitoring -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Animal populations -- Estimates
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5644 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005326 , Felis -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Felis -- Effect of human beings on -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Predatory animals -- Control -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Wildlife depredation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Human-animal relationships , Felis -- Conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Felis -- Monitoring -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Animal populations -- Estimates
- Description: Human-wildlife conflict frequently involves carnivores, mainly because of their large home ranges and dietary requirements. As such, carnivores tend to be the first animals to be lost in human-dominated ecosystems. This is significant because the removal of carnivores can alter the functionality of ecosystems. However, the conservation of carnivores depends as much on the socio-political and socio-economic landscapes as it does on the ecological one. The consolidation of vast, un-fragmented conservation areas in Africa and the world is unlikely. Thus, unravelling the factors (both biological and sociological) responsible for and influencing human-predator conflict is critical for carnivore conservation. The Winterberg district in the Eastern Cape, South Africa has been a sheep (Ovis aries) farming stronghold for nearly 200 years. Consequently, conflict between farmers and predators is commonplace and depredation of livestock by caracals (Caracai caracal) remains a perennial problem. However, the extent of this human-predator conflict (including a reliable assessment of caracal density) has not been quantified. This study used camera trapping to estimate the density of caracals (a nonindividually recognisable species) in the Winterberg and a structured questionnaire to gauge the general attitudes of the farmers of the region. Caracal density was estimated to be 0.20 caracals/km². This estimate equates to a population of approximately 54 caracals across the entire district. Therefore, caracals do not appear to occur at high densities in the Winterberg. However, the survey of the residents of the Winterberg Conservancy revealed that predators were rated as the greatest problem faced by farmers in the area. Although not significant, it also showed that the size of a respondent's property and sheep mortality due to caracals had the greatest probability of affecting attitudes towards predators. The farmers lost less than 10% of their stock to caracal depredation on an annual basis. Therefore, the general perception that predators were the most important factor in stock loss in the area does not appear to be fully supported by my data. The Winterberg is a male-dominated, multigenerational society and it is likely this propagates certain perceptions towards predators which are a reflection of long-held family traditions and beliefs. Such situations can result in reactions which are disproportionate to the actual scale of the problem. However, my study was limited to a sub-set of the landowners in the Winterberg. Thus, more intensive assessments of caracal space use and community attitudes towards predators are recommended.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Molecular and biochemical analysis of the diet of the black rhinoceros
- Authors: Kgopa, Ananias Hodi
- Date: 2009 , 2013-07-15
- Subjects: Black rhinoceros -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Browse (Animal food) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Analysis , Black rhinoceros -- Manure -- Analysis , Phenols , Antioxidants , Plant ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4064 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004721 , Black rhinoceros -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Browse (Animal food) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Analysis , Black rhinoceros -- Manure -- Analysis , Phenols , Antioxidants , Plant ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The black rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis, is listed as critically endangered. The black rhinoceros population in the Great Fish River Reserve (GFRR) has increased steadily to a current estimate of one hundred animals since the re-introduction of four animals in 1986. In an effort to contribute to the effective conservation and management of this species, dietary composition was studied in the medium Portulcaria thicket vegetation of the GFRR. This study used a molecular approach to determine the diet of the black rhinoceros of the GFRR by sequencing the ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase large subunit (rbcL) gene in plants and dung. Twenty-three plant species were collected from the reserve, and 802 bp of the rbcL gene were sequenced. These plant sequences were used as a reference database for the identification of plant sequences generated from black rhinoceros dung. Initial studies investigated the amplification, cloning and sequencing of DNA extracted from the dung samples which indicated the viability of the molecular approach. Thereafter, dung generated rbcL DNA was analyzed by GS FLX sequencing. Of the plant sequences identified by comparison to the GenBank database, Carissa bispinosa was the most prevalent. The study further characterized the antioxidant activities and phenolic content of plants eaten by the black rhinoceros using four different assays. Phyllanthus verrucosus, Putterlickia pyracantha, Maytenus capitata, Euclea undulata and Ozoroa mucrunata consistently had high antioxidant activities when assayed against 2,2-azinobis (3-ethyl benzothiazolium-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTSʹ⁺), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPHʹ), and ferric reducing antioxidant potentials (FRAP) and phenolic content when evaluated using the Folin-Ciocalteu assay. The majority of plants investigated showed low antioxidant potentials and low phenolic content. The extent to which antioxidants influenced the browse selection by the black rhinoceros remains inconclusive.
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- Date Issued: 2009
The refining of calcium using a sulfate reducing bacterial system
- Authors: Horne, Kerry Allison
- Date: 2001
- Subjects: Calcium carbonate -- Synthesis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3915 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003974 , Calcium carbonate -- Synthesis
- Description: White lime is used in many industries in South Africa but is not produced locally and must be imported. Many technologies have been suggested for the large-scale manufacture of calcium carbonate but these are not necessarily suitable for application in South Africa. This study investigated a chemical preparation of calcium carbonate combined with biological purification Calcium containing materials from the Pretoria Portland Cement, Lime Division factory at Lime Acres in the Northern Cape were studied as the starting materials for the manufacture. Investigation showed that they contained various impurities, including iron and manganese compounds which were largely responsible for the brown-grey colour of the lime products. Complete dissolution of calcium hydroxide, the purest of the potential starting materials, and subsequent hydroxide precipitation was not successful in removing all iron and manganese. Precipitation with sulfide ions was successfill, decreasing levels of metals to below the detection limit of atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Studies of all potential starting materials revealed that the levels of impurities in the starting material did not have a large effect on levels of impurities in the calcium carbonate produced. It was therefore possible to convert the residual calcium oxide or hydroxide in waste lime dusts to white calcium carbonate, a marketable prciduct Recycling of the water and starting material used in the process served to increase, rather than decrease, the purity of the calcium carbonate product. This allows for water conservation as water is not consumed in the process but merely utilised. When waste lime dust was used as the starting material, sulfate was found in the product. While still a white lime, the calcium carbonate was not chemically pure. Sulfate removal was therefore investigated and the use of sulfate-reducing bacteria was studied as a novel application. A mixed sulfate-reducing bacterial population was isolated and found to be hIghly active at sulfate concentrations between 0.2 and 2 ~~~. They were capable of autotrophic growth and could reduce sulfate in solutions with elevated pH and in calcium carbonate suspensions, although they did not grow readily in these media. A process was designed for the production of bulk quantities of calcium carbonate making use of the facilities and materials available at Lime Acres. This was tested using a small scale bench-top reactor series, with favourable results. The process would allow automatic, continuous production of large quantities of white lime using waste lime dust. Provision was also made for manufacture of smaller quantities of pure calcium carbonate using sulfate-reducing bacteria to remove the sulfate impurity.
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- Date Issued: 2001
Pollution caused by mine dumps and its control
- Authors: Chikusa, Chimwemwe Mainsfield
- Date: 1994
- Subjects: Pollution , Pollution -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Mineral industries -- Waste disposal , Slimes (Mining)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4991 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005603 , Pollution , Pollution -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Mineral industries -- Waste disposal , Slimes (Mining)
- Description: All mine dumps are a point source of either physical, chemical or both forms of pollution. Physical pollution includes the physical site coverage of the dump, slumping of parts of the dams and dust that may originate from it (air pollution). Chemical pollution from, or related to the mine dumps include the dominant acid drainage (which contains heavy metals), radioactivity, electromagnetic radiation, noise and chemicals released from the mineral processing stage. In one way or the other, exposure to these pollution forms is detrimental to the human health and his environment. It is this fact that urges the public, government and the responsible mining companies to find ways of monitoring the pollution and stopping it, preferably at the source. Where it can not be stopped, techniques of reducing it, or containing it have been, and are still being developed. Personal protection is the priority. Pollution exposure to the general public is minimised as much as possible. Pollution control techniques that employ less expensive, natural, self-sustaining elements suitable for the environment such as wetlands and vegetation are recommended. The artificial short term and often expensive alternatives are of secondary priority. However, choice of which technique to use is based on the merit of each problem, knowing that chemicals act faster but are effective for a short period as compared to the natural systems. Pollution management is the critical part of the whole process. This involves decision making on courses of action and financial allocation on the part of both the polluter and the monitoring department/agent. The ability to effectively manage pollution programmes is achieved these days with the aid of computers. It is emphasised that pollution control should be handled in an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach manner. This is because pollution is a question of life and death, hence every individual remains accountable to it. Keeping the public and the concerned parties educated, informed and welcoming their concerns on the environmental issues related to the mine dumps generated in a mining venture is essential in the modern days of environmental public awareness, or otherwise face the public lath.
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- Date Issued: 1994