Genetic relationships between Australian fireweed and South African and Madagascan populations of Senecio madagascariensis Poir. and closely related Senecio species

2000 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 409 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. J. Radford ◽  
P. Muller ◽  
S. Fiffer ◽  
P. W. Michael

An isozyme and morphological study of Senecio madagascariensis Poir. and closely related species in Australia, South Africa and Madagascar was used to investigate the most likely region of origin for Australian plants known as fireweed. Collections of seed and voucher specimens were made in New South Wales, KwaZulu-Natal, East and West Cape Provinces and southern Madagascar and specimens classified according to recognised taxa or descriptive variants. Plants were characterised by using isozyme analyses and morphological observations of both voucher specimens and achenes. Australian fireweed populations were found to be most closely related to populations of S. madagascariensis from KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, and to be more distantly related to populations from East and West Cape Provinces in South Africa and from Madagascar. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to efforts to locate host-specific biological control agents for fireweed.

Zootaxa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 1990 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
ARTEM YU SINEV

Study of South African populations of chydorid cladocerans in the Alona affinis-group (Anomopoda: Chydoridae) revealed two closely related species, Alona affinis (Leydig, 1860) and a second, previously unknown, species A. martensi sp. n. No significant differences were seen between South African and Eurasian populations of A. affinis sensu stricto. A. martensi sp. n. differs from other species of the affinis-group by a shorter spine on the basal segment of antennal exopodite, and can be distinguished from A. affinis by a number of additional morphological characters. A. affinis is distributed mainly in the East and South regions of the Republic of South Africa, and is less frequented in this region. Confined mainly to artificial water bodies its presence may be human-mediated. A. martensi sp. n. sems to be endemic to the Drakensberg mountains within the borders of the KwaZulu-Natal Province and Lesotho.


2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 359-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiffany L Green ◽  
Amos C Peters

Much of the existing evidence for the healthy immigrant advantage comes from developed countries. We investigate whether an immigrant health advantage exists in South Africa, an important emerging economy.  Using the 2001 South African Census, this study examines differences in child mortality between native-born South African and immigrant blacks.  We find that accounting for region of origin is critical: immigrants from southern Africa are more likely to experience higher lifetime child mortality compared to the native-born population.  Further, immigrants from outside of southern Africa are less likely than both groups to experience child deaths.  Finally, in contrast to patterns observed in developed countries, we detect a strong relationship between schooling and child mortality among black immigrants.


2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nirmala Dorasamy ◽  
Olayemi Bakre

The majority of the South African rural populace is directly or indirectly engaged in agricultural practices to earn a livelihood. However, impediments such as climate change, water shortages, and inadequacy of institutional support have undermined these once thriving subsistence farming communities. Furthermore, poor leadership in hydrology, coupled with a lack of depth in skills at all government levels to facilitate the understanding of the importance of groundwater, has made it near impossible for subsistence farmers to benefit optimally from groundwater. The 2012 drought experienced in South Africa paralysed several subsistence farming communities in KwaZulu-Natal. To revamp subsistence farming and assist these farmers across South Africa, the Department of Water and Sanitation launched interventions, but despite the enormous resources expended, indicators (e.g. unsustainable farming practices, poor crop yield, pitiable living conditions, and poor standards of living) provide evidence that these interventions have not yielded the desired results. This paper seeks to suggest practicable interventions aimed at reducing the vulnerability of subsistence farmers in KwaZulu-Natal. The study pursued a qualitative approach in that it solicited the views of experts on groundwater and in related fields to gain an in-depth perspective. Some of the core challenges undermining the sustainability and growth of subsistence farming in the study area were found to be the inadequacy of experts on groundwater, water shortages, institutional deficiencies, lack of political will, and lack of coordination among stakeholders. Pragmatic recommendations are made to address these challenges, among other things to encourage a South African-Chinese partnership in the hydrology sector.


Author(s):  
James R. Barnacle ◽  
Oliver Johnson ◽  
Ian Couper

Background: Many European-trained doctors (ETDs) recruited to work in rural district hospitals in South Africa have insufficient generalist competencies for the range of practice required. Africa Health Placements recruits ETDs to work in rural hospitals in Africa. Many of these doctors feel inadequately prepared. The Stellenbosch University Ukwanda Centre for Rural Health is launching a Postgraduate Diploma in Rural Medicine to help prepare doctors for such work.Aim: To determine the competencies gap for ETDs working in rural district hospitals in South Africa to inform the curriculum of the PG Dip (Rural Medicine).Setting: Rural district hospitals in South Africa.Methods: Nine hospitals in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga were purposefully selected by Africa Health Placements as receiving ETDs. An online survey was developed asking about the most important competencies and weaknesses for ETDs when working rurally. The clinical manager and any ETDs currently working in each hospital were invited to complete the survey.Results: Surveys were completed by 19 ETDs and five clinical managers. The top clinical competencies in relation to 10 specific domains were identified. The results also indicate broader competencies required, specific skills gaps, the strengths that ETDs bring to South Africa and how ETDs prepare themselves for working in this context.Conclusion: This study identifies the important competency gaps among ETDs and provides useful direction for the diploma and other future training initiatives. The diploma faculty must reflect on these findings and ensure the curriculum is aligned with these gaps.


2008 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 450-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Dlamini ◽  
M. Taylor ◽  
N. Mkhize ◽  
R. Huver ◽  
R. Sathiparsad ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 94 (10) ◽  
pp. 2338-2351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristy Offerman ◽  
Olivia Carulei ◽  
Tertius A. Gous ◽  
Nicola Douglass ◽  
Anna-Lise Williamson

Thirteen novel avipoxviruses were isolated from birds from different regions of South Africa. These viruses could be divided into six groups, according to gross pathology and pock appearance on chick chorioallantoic membranes (CAMs). Histopathology revealed distinct differences in epidermal and mesodermal cell proliferation, as well as immune cell infiltration, caused by the different avipoxviruses, even within groups of viruses causing similar CAM gross pathology. In order to determine the genetic relationships among the viruses, several conserved poxvirus genetic regions, corresponding to vaccinia virus (VACV) A3L (fpv167 locus, VACV P4b), G8R (fpv126 locus, VLTF-1), H3L (fpv140 locus, VACV H3L) and A11R–A12L (fpv175–176 locus) were analysed phylogenetically. The South African avipoxvirus isolates in this study all grouped in clade A, in either subclade A2 or A3 of the genus Avipoxvirus and differ from the commercial fowlpox vaccines (subclade A1) in use in the South African poultry industry. Analysis of different loci resulted in different branching patterns. There was no correlation between gross morphology, histopathology, pock morphology and phylogenetic grouping. There was also no correlation between geographical distribution and virus phenotype or genotype.


Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4577 (2) ◽  
pp. 361
Author(s):  
JIŘÍ JANÁK

A revision of the south African genus Neopimus Özdikmen, Demir & Türkeş, 2008 is presented. Based on revision of the type and additional material, three species are recognised. The genus Neopimus is redescribed and all species are described or redescribed and illustrated, two of them for the first time: Neopimus capensis Janák, sp. nov., from Eastern Cape Province, South Africa and N. zulu Janák, sp. nov., from KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. The distribution of the genus is mapped and a key of species is presented. 


Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4885 (4) ◽  
pp. 579-590
Author(s):  
ALLEN F. SANBORN ◽  
MARTIN H. VILLET

Ingcainyenzane irhiniensis n. gen., n. sp. and Ingcainyenzane nolukhanyoensis n. gen., n. sp. are described from Eastern Cape and Ingcainyenzane umgeniensis n. gen., n. sp. is described from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Notes on its biology of the species and a key to species of the genus are also provided. 


Nematology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 961-976 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther van den Berg ◽  
Louwrens R. Tiedt ◽  
Sergei A. Subbotin

During recent collections in South Africa, two species of Criconemoides were found. Criconemoides brevistylus is described and illustrated from a golf course in KwaZulu-Natal Province. It is compared with several closely related species, and three previously described species (C. helicus, C. onostris and C. paronostris) are regarded as junior synonyms of C. brevistylus. Criconemoides obtusicaudatus is described and illustrated from a maize field in Limpopo Province. The male of the species is described for the first time. Molecular characterisation of C. brevistylus and C. obtusicaudatus using the D2-D3 expansions segments of 28S rRNA and ITS rRNA gene sequences are provided. Phylogenetic relationships of these species with other Criconemoides are discussed.


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