https://commons.ru.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Index ${session.getAttribute("locale")} 5 https://commons.ru.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:44959 Wed 02 Mar 2022 15:26:29 SAST ]]> https://commons.ru.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:46470 50%) of each EI category is stable, but there are areas showing signs of degradation, including 43% of grasslands degraded and 39% of wetlands, cultivated lands, and riparian zones also degraded. Degradation is dominant in the upper (T35B and T3C) and lower (T35K, T35L and T35M) parts of the catchments. The three criteria used by the stakeholders in the prioritisation process of the key EI were assigned 12 spatial attributes (the catchment characteristics about the study area in relation to the criteria) to indicate relevant information needed for selecting suitable restoration areas to enhance flow regulation. The AHP analysis results identified approximately 63% (17,703 ha) of wetlands, 88% (235,829 ha) of grasslands, 78% (13,608 ha) of abandoned cultivated fields and 93% (3,791 ha) of the riparian zones as suitable areas for restoration to mitigate drought impact through flow regulation. Also, the suitability results showed 63% (17,703 ha) of wetlands, 58% (2,203 ha) of riparian zones, 68% (11,745 ha) of abandoned cultivated fields and 46% (122,285 ha) of grasslands as suitable restoration areas for improving ecosystem services for community livelihoods. The AHP analysis identified more than 39-43% (of the degraded EI indicated by the Trends.Earth analysis) areas that are suitable for restoration, because key EI plays a significant role in flow regulation and people’s livelihoods, especially when they are managed, maintained, and restored to good health conditions. Therefore, the prioritized EI areas should be either maintained, managed, rehabilitated or restored. The major distinct causes of land degradation are woody encroachment in grasslands, invasion of alien plants on abandoned cultivated fields and soil erosion in the catchment. The most suitable EI areas recommended for restoration are those natural resources near local communities, which provide essential ecosystem services to sustain their livelihood. Therefore, degraded EI in the T35 catchments should be restored and maintained to improve livelihood and mitigate drought impacts. The study pointed out how the key selected ecological infrastructure can help mitigate the impacts of droughts and improve human livelihood. The study contributes towards the important concept of investing in ecological infrastructure to improve the social, environmental, and economic benefits.]]> Thu 22 Sep 2022 12:27:12 SAST ]]> https://commons.ru.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:45070 Thu 07 Jul 2022 15:33:25 SAST ]]> https://commons.ru.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:72132 Sat 20 Apr 2024 11:51:34 SAST ]]> https://commons.ru.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:72131 Sat 20 Apr 2024 11:44:29 SAST ]]> https://commons.ru.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:72130 Sat 20 Apr 2024 11:37:08 SAST ]]> https://commons.ru.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:72129 Sat 20 Apr 2024 11:30:12 SAST ]]> https://commons.ru.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:72128 10 – 20 mm) and large (20 > 40) body size, flat body, collector-gatherers, free-living, and predators. The late colonisers, collected mainly on day 150 and 180 were dominated by taxa with a preference for high flow velocity (0.3 - 0.6 m/s), permanent attachment, and filter-feeding mode. Traits such as oval and flat body shape, medium body size (>10 - 20 mm), skating and clinging/climbing mobility, temporal attachment, shredders, predators, prey, and plastron and spiracle respiration showed positive correlation with the 100% macroplastic substrates. Filter feeding, crawling, permanent attachment, a preference for fast velocity (0.3-0.6 m/s), and coarse particle organic matter were positively correlated with the 50% macroplastic substrates. Overall, the results provided critical insights on the impact of macroplastics on the assemblage structure of biological communities by acting as suitable habitats in stream ecosystems. The study elucidated the role of traits of aquatic organisms in mediating the colonisation of plastics substrates, providing insights into the impact of plastics proliferation on riverine ecosystem functioning. Furthermore, the finding provides a baseline insight into the influence of hydraulic biotopes on the colonisation and establishment of macroinvertebrates on macroplastic acting as artificial riverine habitat.]]> Sat 20 Apr 2024 11:29:54 SAST ]]>