scholarly journals Assessing introgressive hybridization in roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus): Lessons from South Africa

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna M van Wyk ◽  
Desiré L Dalton ◽  
Antoinette Kotzé ◽  
J. Paul Grobler ◽  
Prudent S. Mokgokong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Introgressive Hybridization ◽  
West African ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
African Region ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Roan Antelope

Biological diversity is being lost at unprecedented rates, with admixture and introgression presenting major threats to species’ conservation. To this end, our ability to accurately identify introgression is critical to manage species, obtain insights into evolutionary processes, and ultimately contribute to the Aichi Targets developed under the Convention on Biological Diversity. A case in hand concerns roan antelope, one of Africa’s most iconic large mammal species. Despite their large size, these antelope are sensitive to habitat disturbance and interspecific competition, leading to the species being listed as Least Concern but with decreasing population trends, and as extinct over parts of its range. Molecular research identified the presence of two evolutionary significant units across their sub-Saharan range, corresponding to a West African lineage and a second larger group which includes animals from East, Central and Southern Africa. Within South Africa, one of the remaining bastions with increasing population sizes, there are a number of West African roan antelope populations on private farms, and concerns are that these animals hybridize with roan that naturally occur in the southern African region. We used a suite of 27 microsatellite markers to conduct admixture analysis. Our results unequivocally indicate evidence of hybridization, with our developed tests able to accurately identify F1, F2 and non-admixed individuals at threshold values of qi = 0.20 and qi = 0.15, although further backcrosses were not always detectable. Our study is the first to confirm ongoing hybridization in this iconic African antelope, and we provide recommendations for the future conservation and management of this species.

In situ conservation of plant species – an unattainable goal?

2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 211-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vernon H. Heywood
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
In Situ Conservation ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Threatened Plant Species

The conservation of plant species in situ is a complex and multifaceted procedure which involves both the maintenance and management of protected areas and actions targeted at the species and population level. Most effort has been aimed so far at the occurrence and persistence of species in protected areas as a measure of conservation. However, species-level actions such as conservation or recovery plans have been undertaken for only a small percentage of threatened plant species, mostly by a few countries. The reasons for this are complex and involve scientific, social and political considerations. The planning of targets for biodiversity conservation in situ by the Convention on Biological Diversity suffers from a failure to coordinate area-based and species-based actions leading to overlap and confusion. A set of recommendations is given to help remedy the neglect of targeted species conservation.

scholarly journals Evaluating invasion risk for freshwater fishes in South Africa

Bothalia ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean M. Marr ◽  
Bruce R. Ellender ◽  
Darragh J. Woodford ◽  
Mhairi E. Alexander ◽  
Ryan J. Wasserman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Rapid Screening ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Invasion Risk ◽  
Introduction Pathways

Background: South Africa, as a signatory of the Convention on Biological Diversity, has an obligation to identify, prioritise and manage invasive species and their introduction pathways. However, this requires knowledge of the introduction pathways, factors influencing establishment success, invasive potential, current distributions and ecological impacts. Objectives: To evaluate the Fish Invasiveness Screening Kit (FISK) to predict the invasion risk posed by fish species proposed for introduction into South Africa. Method: FISK assessments were compiled for species whose invasion status in South Africa was known. A Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was conducted to calibrate the FISK for South Africa. The calibrated FISK was used to evaluate the risk that three species recently proposed for importation for aquaculture could become invasive in South Africa. Results: A FISK score of 14 was identified as the threshold to delineate between species that could become invasive in South Africa and those that are unlikely to become invasive. Of the three species evaluated, Silurus glanis had a high risk of becoming invasive in South Africa, Lates calcarifer was likely to be invasive and Oncorhynchus tshawytscha was unlikely to be invasive in South Africa. Conclusion: FISK was demonstrated to be a useful risk assessment tool to evaluate the invasion risk posed by species proposed for use in aquaculture. For the large number of fish imported for the pet trade, a rapid screening assessment to flag potentially high risk species was recommended prior to a full FISK assessment for flagged species.

scholarly journals How many bird and mammal extinctions has recent conservation action prevented?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Friederike C. Bolam ◽  
Louise Mair ◽  
Marco Angelico ◽  
Thomas M. Brooks ◽  
Mark Burgman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Threatened Species ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Expert Elicitation ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Elicitation Method ◽  
Conservation Action ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Extinction Rates ◽  
Near Future

AbstractAichi Target 12 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) aims to ‘prevent extinctions of known threatened species’. To measure its success, we used a Delphi expert elicitation method to estimate the number of bird and mammal species whose extinctions were prevented by conservation action in 1993 - 2020 (the lifetime of the CBD) and 2010 - 2020 (the timing of Aichi Target 12). We found that conservation prevented 21–32 bird and 7–16 mammal extinctions since 1993, and 9–18 bird and 2–7 mammal extinctions since 2010. Many remain highly threatened, and may still become extinct in the near future. Nonetheless, given that ten bird and five mammal species did go extinct (or are strongly suspected to) since 1993, extinction rates would have been 2.9–4.2 times greater without conservation action. While policy commitments have fostered significant conservation achievements, future biodiversity action needs to be scaled up to avert additional extinctions.

scholarly journals Assessing introgressive hybridization in roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus): Lessons from South Africa

PLoS ONE ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. e0213961 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna M. van Wyk ◽  
Desiré L. Dalton ◽  
Antoinette Kotzé ◽  
J. Paul Grobler ◽  
Prudent S. Mokgokong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Introgressive Hybridization ◽  
Roan Antelope ◽  
Hippotragus Equinus

scholarly journals Clearing a Path Towards Effective Alien Invasive Control: the Legal Conundrum

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 151
Author(s):  
AR Paterson
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Invasive Plants ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Fire Risk ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Control Approach ◽  
Agricultural Potential ◽  
Legislative Framework ◽  
Alien Invasive Plants

Alien invasive plants pose significant ecological, social and economic challenges for South Africa. These species threaten South Africa’s rich biodiversity, deplete our scarce water resources, reduce the agricultural potential of land, cause soil erosion and intensify flooding and fires. According to recent estimations, over eight percent of land in South Africa has been invaded by these species and at current rates of expansion their impact could double in the next fifteen years.   In an attempt to curb the impending crises, the South African government has promulgated eleven national and various provincial laws which contain mechanisms for regulating the different threats posed by alien invasive plants.  Certain of these laws are framework in nature while the majority are sectoral and aimed at regulating these species for one of the following four main purposes: biodiversity conservation; water conservation; agricultural management; and fire risk management. The responsibility for administering these laws spans four national departments, nine provincial environmental authorities, provincial conservation authorities, numerous local and statutory authorities. This fragmented regime, coupled with the adoption of a command and control approach to regulation, has proven inept in effectively regulating the spread of alien invasive plants in South Africa. This reality led the previous Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Mr Valli Moosa, to call for the development of a “coherent legislative framework … streamlined along the lines of the principles endorsed by the Convention on Biological Diversity”. This article critically analyses the government’s attempts to develop such a “coherent legislative framework” to regulate alien invasive plants in light of recent legislative reform. It is divided into two parts. Part one critically considers South Africa’s current laws of relevance to alien invasive plants with specific emphasis on their fragmented approach to planning and implementation. Part two provides suggestions on how the current legislative framework can be rationalised to entrench a more integrated, and hopefully successful, approach to the future regulation of alien invasive plants in South Africa.  

E-GOVERNANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: A CASE OF NIGERIA

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-100
Author(s):  
Nwoke Ude ◽  
◽  
Kingsley Ude ◽  
Ugonma Ugbor ◽  
Chukwuemeka Igwe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Region ◽  
Leading Role ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Ict Infrastructure ◽  
Two Stages

The study examined e-governance and economic development in sub-Saharan Africa: the case of Nigeria. Secondary data were used for the study. The result indicated high internet use in South Africa (43% to 59%) followed by Senegal (34% to 46%) and then Nigeria (33% to 42%); it showed a positive impact on education, economy, personal relationships, politics and morality in the year 2017. The Internet’s contribution to GDP in Africa varies, ranging from a high of 59% in South Africa to a low of 25% in Tanzania. The West African region had the lowest regional index in the 2020 Survey scoring 0.2209 in 2020 as compared with the world average of 0.4939. Cape Verde (0.4221) continues to lead the region, with Nigeria (0.3491) and Ghana (0.3201) taking the top three spots. With respect to service delivery by stages (percent utilization index), Nigeria scored 9.7 and 0.5 in the implementation of stage 4 and stage 5 of the e-government indicator in 2020, while the ranking for the previous years at this two stages were not better. Nigeria’s infrastructure Index moved up from 0.0492 in 2010 to 0.0792 in 2020. Nigeria’s Human Capital Index also showed an increase from 0.59 in 2010, 0.61 in 2015 and 0.63 in 2020 with her Web Measure Index moving from 0.1303 in 2010 to 0.2241 in 2020. Currently, Nigeria’s e-government readiness index is placed at 0.5053 which shows improvement but strictly in an African context. The study recommended that government play a leading role in developing the ICT infrastructure, this is important for successful e-government implementation in a developing economy.

scholarly journals Heat Pump Drying of Fruits and Vegetables: Principles and Potentials for Sub-Saharan Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Folasayo Fayose ◽  
Zhongjie Huan
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Heat Pump ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Region ◽  
Industrial Sectors ◽  
Heat Pump Drying ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Drying Technology

Heat pump technology has been used for heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning in domestic and industrial sectors in most developed countries of the world including South Africa. However, heat pump drying (HPD) of fruits and vegetables has been largely unexploited in South Africa and by extension to the sub-Saharan African region. Although studies on heat pump drying started in South Africa several years ago, not much progress has been recorded to date. Many potential users view heat pump drying technology as fragile, slow, and high capital intensive when compared with conventional dryer. This paper tried to divulge the principles and potentials of heat pump drying technology and the conditions for its optimum use. Also, various methods of quantifying performances during heat pump drying as well as the quality of the dried products are highlighted. Necessary factors for maximizing the capacity and efficiency of a heat pump dryer were identified. Finally, the erroneous view that heat pump drying is not feasible economically in sub-Saharan Africa was clarified.

scholarly journals Opinion and uptake of chloroquine for treatment of COVID-19 during the mandatory lockdown in the sub-Saharan African region

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Uchechukwu L. Osuagwu ◽  
Obinna Nwaeze ◽  
Godwin Ovenseri-Ogbomo ◽  
Richard Oloruntoba ◽  
Bernadine Ekpenyong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Multivariate Analyses ◽  
West African ◽  
East African ◽  
African Region ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Advice ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Ssa Countries ◽  
Potential Use

Background: As the search for effective treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection continues, the public opinion around the potential use of chloroquine (CQ) in treating COVID-19 remains mixed.Aim: To examine opinion and uptake of CQ for treating COVID-19 in the sub-Saharan African (SSA) region.Setting: This study was conducted through an online survey software titled SurveyMonkey.Methods: Anonymous online survey of 1829 SSA countries was conducted during the lockdown period using Facebook, WhatsApp and authors’ networks. Opinion and uptake of CQ for COVID-19 treatment were assessed using multivariate analyses.Results: About 14% of respondents believed that CQ could treat COVID-19 and of which, 3.2% took CQ for COVID-19 treatment. Multivariate analyses revealed that respondents from Central (adjusted odds ratios [aOR]: 2.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.43, 4.43) and West Africa (aOR: 1.79, 95% CI 1.15, 2.88) had higher odds of believing that CQ could treat COVID-19. Respondents from East Africa reported higher odds for uptake of CQ for COVID-19 than Central, Western and Southern Africans. Knowledge of the disease and compliance with the public health advice were associated with both belief and uptake of CQ for COVID-19 treatment.Conclusion: Central and West African respondents were more likely to believe in CQ as a treatment for COVID-19 whilst the uptake of the medication during the pandemic was higher amongst East Africans. Future intervention discouraging the unsupervised use of CQ should target respondents from Central, West and East African regions.

scholarly journals The status of Nepal’s mammals

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 11361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajan Amin ◽  
Hem Sagar Baral ◽  
Babu Ram Lamichhane ◽  
Laxman Prasad Poudyal ◽  
Samantha Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Land Use Planning ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Illegal Hunting ◽  
Critically Endangered Species ◽  
The Status ◽  
Data Deficient

The main objectives of the Nepal National Mammal Red Data Book (RDB) were to provide comprehensive and up-to-date accounts of 212 mammal species recorded in Nepal, assess their status applying the IUCN Guidelines at Regional Levels, identify threats and recommend the most practical measures for their conservation.  It is hoped that the Mammal RDB will help Nepal achieve the Convention on Biological Diversity target of preventing the extinction of known threatened species and improving their conservation status.  Of the 212 mammal species assessed, 49 species (23%) were listed as nationally threatened.  These comprise nine (18%) Critically Endangered species, 26 (53%) Endangered species and 14 (29%) Vulnerable species.  One species was considered regionally Extinct.  A total of seven species (3%) were considered Near Threatened and 83 species (39%) were Data Deficient.  Over sixty percent of Nepal’s ungulates are threatened and almost half of Nepal’s carnivores face extinction (45% threatened).  Bats and small mammals are the least known groups with 60 species being Data Deficient.  Habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation are the most significant threats.  Other significant threats include illegal hunting, small and fragmented populations, reduction of prey base, human wildlife conflict and persecution, climate change, invasive species, disease and inadequate knowledge and research.  Adequate measures to address these threats are described.  It was also concluded that re-assessments of the status of certain mammal groups be carried out every five years and the setting up of a national online species database and mapping system would also greatly help in land-use planning and policies.

scholarly journals South Africa’s Red List of Terrestrial Ecosystems (RLEs)

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1048
Author(s):  
Andrew Skowno ◽  
Maphale Monyeki
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Red List ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Threat Status ◽  
Statutory Protection ◽  
Ecosystem Level

Ecosystem level indicators are emerging as important pillars of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity; at the same time, the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems (RLEs) is experiencing rapid global uptake. We applied a systematic RLE assessment to 456 terrestrial ecosystems in South Africa between 2017 and 2021. What sets South Africa apart in this endeavour is that an independently formulated ecosystem threat status indicator was developed between 2004 and 2008 and the list of threatened ecosystems (effectively a proto RLE) was integrated into the national environmental regulatory framework in 2011. Through this, Critically Endangered and Endangered types were afforded a form of statutory protection through increased regulation of land-use change activities. We describe the transition to the IUCN RLE framework and focus on both the technical steps of incorporating the best available data into a credible assessment, and the unique social and legal processes to ensure that the biodiversity conservation sector in South Africa understood and supported the proposed replacement of the existing list of threatened ecosystems (2011) with the RLE (2021). We discuss the policy development steps required in South Africa, and the pros and cons of maintaining a legislative link for RLE implementation.

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