Dietary overlap of two sympatric African mongoose species in an urban environment

Mammalia ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
pp. 428-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadine Cronk ◽  
Neville Pillay
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Urban Environment ◽  
Urban Spaces ◽  
Frequency Of Occurrence ◽  
Dietary Overlap ◽  
Urban Nature ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Yellow Mongoose ◽  
Sympatric Carnivores

Abstract Urbanisation creates challenges and opportunities for wildlife. Globally, small carnivores have colonised urban spaces, but we do not know whether or how sympatric carnivores partition resources in order to co-exist. We studied the diet and degree of dietary overlap of two sympatric herpestid mongooses – yellow, Cynictis penicillata, and slender, Galerella sanguinea mongoose – in a small urban nature area in South Africa. The composition of 2600 yellow and 2000 slender mongoose scats was sampled over a year in an Eco-Estate, where wildlife have contact with humans, and a Nature Estate, where contact is reduced. We analysed the frequency of occurrence of invertebrates, mammals, birds, plants and anthropogenic items in scats. Invertebrates and mammals were most abundant for both species in the Nature Estate and for slender mongoose in the Eco-Estate, while anthropogenic items were more prevalent in yellow mongoose scats in the Eco-Estate. Both species included anthropogenic items in their diet in the Eco-Estate only. Scat components varied seasonally. In summer, invertebrates were more abundant in scats of both species, yet during the colder months, invertebrates decreased and vertebrates (more so in the slender mongoose) and anthropogenic items (more so in the yellow mongoose) increased. Dietary overlap was greatest in summer and lowest in winter. Nonetheless, the specialised slender mongoose diet and a generalist yellow mongoose diet potentially facilitates their co-existence.

METHODS OF RENOVATION OF LOW-RISE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH LANDSCAPE RECULTIVATION (ON THE EXAMPLE OF ROSTOV REGION)

2019 ◽  
pp. 43-58
Author(s):  
Oksana Sadkovskaya
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Urban Planning ◽  
Water Balance ◽  
Urban Environment ◽  
Water Saving ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Urban Spaces ◽  
Urban Landscapes ◽  
Rostov Region ◽  
Planning Methods

One of major factors of deterioration in a microclimate of urban development in the conditions of the Rostov region, is degradation of landscapes owing to violation of water balance of the territory. In article the main reasons for violation of water balance which included natural features of the region, a consequence of anthropogenic influence, climatic changes, etc. are considered. Examples from the world practice of urban planning, which show the relevance and effectiveness of compensation for the effects of anthropogenic im-pacts and climate change using planning methods, are given. The experience of the United States, the Nether-lands, Canada and other countries that use water-saving technologies in planning is considered. The rela-tionship of urban planning and the formation of sustainable urban landscapes is shown. The integration of water-saving technologies into the urban environment can be a means of optimizing landscapes and a means of creating unique urban spaces. Reclamation of the urban landscape of low-rise buildings is a necessary step in creating a modern and comfortable urban environment in the conditions of the Rostov region. Meth-ods are proposed to compensate for negative changes in urban landscapes that can be applied at the stage of urban planning. As well as the proposed methods can be applied in the reconstruction of urban low-rise buildings. The considered methods concern not only urban landscapes, but also agricultural landscapes that surround small and medium-sized cities of the Rostov region. In article the author's concept of the organiza-tion of the low housing estate on a basis Urban- facies is submitted. Planning methods of regulation of water balance of the territory on the basis of models the ecological protective of landscapes are offered: an ecolog-ical core, an ecological corridor and an ecological barrier and also analogs from town-planning practice are considered. The reclamation of urban landscapes based on urban planning methods for regulating the water balance of the territory will allow creating unique urban spaces that are resistant to local climatic conditions and the possible consequences of climate change.

scholarly journals Semiotics of destruction: traces on the environment

2021 ◽  
pp. 147035722095737
Author(s):  
Anders Björkvall ◽  
Arlene Archer
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Urban Environment ◽  
Social Presence ◽  
Physical Environment ◽  
Complex Power

Research in fields such as multimodality and semiotics has focused on creation of value in different forms: aesthetic, economic and symbolic. However, the destruction of value has attracted much less attention. The aim of this article is to identify social, semiotic and ideological functions of acts of destruction based on an analysis of the traces these acts leave on the urban environment. Five overarching acts of destruction are discussed, but the authors’ main focus is on what they call transformation-driven and social presence-driven destruction, with two examples from Sweden and South Africa. The article discusses sanctioned destructive acts that are largely in compliance with dominating semiotic regimes at a certain time and place, as well as disruptive actions that challenge or even disobey those regimes. The analysis shows how a distinction between sanctioned and disruptive is in no way clear and often depends on complex power distributions between semiotic regimes at a given time and place. In fact, traces in the physical environment that may point to or index highly destructive acts can, in relation to other semiotic regimes, be regarded as creative and constructive. The authors argue that the semiotic processes of destruction and the traces they leave deserve more attention from research in the fields of multimodality and semiotics.

scholarly journals PECREATIVITY | PEOPLE ECONOMY CITY: THE CASE OF LONDON AS A PROACTIVE INVESTIGATION TOOL

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 142-151
Author(s):  
Giuliana Bonifati
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Social Class ◽  
Urban Environment ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
Radical Change ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
Urban Transformation ◽  
Urban Spaces ◽  
Social Fields

The current historical context is characterised by a significant change in the economic and social fields that have led to the development of the economy of creativity and knowledge. This condition has laid the basis for the rise of a new social class. This radical change in the productive paradigm has started a series of modifications to urban spaces, setting in place a rooted change in the fabric of the city.The objective of this paper is to understand and interpret the nature of the changes under way and to investigate how what occurred in economic and social fields influenced the processes of urban regeneration. Starting from a theoretical background it will examine the concept of creativity applied to economics and social sciences. Secondly, by identifying the urban environment of London as a case study, it will analyze single cases that will show the root of these practices within urban spaces. The purpose of it will be verified by the possibility of building urban transformation strategies that use creativity as the tool of change.

Customary Law and Communal Property in South Africa

2018 ◽  
pp. 127-151
Author(s):  
Juanita M. Pienaar
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Land Reform ◽  
Land Rights ◽  
Customary Law ◽  
Communal Property ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Constitutional Right ◽  
Communal Areas ◽  
Traditional Authorities ◽  
Recent Policy

In the geographical areas forming the focus of this contribution, the traditional communal areas in former Bantustan and homeland areas in South Africa, communal ownership flows from the application of customary law, linked to the constitutional right to culture. Living customary law, embedded in communities, entails a dynamic system of land rights which are negotiated in line with particular needs. Recent policy and legislative developments, however, seem to bolster rights of traditional authorities, thereby impacting on land rights and effectively negating spontaneous negotiation. Conceptual clarification in this contribution embodies the complexity linked to communal property, specifically land, in light of the aftermath of apartheid, the commencement of an all-encompassing land reform programme and the operation of a dual legal system comprising customary law and Western-style legal paradigms. The challenges and opportunities for law reform are explored in this context of inter-connectedness of customary law and communal property.

Richmond, California

Urban Health ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 325-331
Author(s):  
Jason Corburn ◽  
Joseph S. Griffin
Keyword(s):  
Urban Planning ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Community Participation ◽  
Health Inequalities ◽  
Urban Health ◽  
Urban Population ◽  
Urban Spaces ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Community Needs ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities

Richmond, California, has been a pioneer in developing neighborhood-based, built environment interventions that aim to improve multiple determinants of health and reduce health inequalities for its diverse urban population. Projects such as the renovation of Pogo Park and the development of the RYSE commons have involved community participation, with the ultimate aim of developing healthy urban spaces. In many ways, Richmond has led the way on healthy urban planning and policy that is responsive to community needs. This chapter discusses the work being conducted in Richmond, highlighting challenges and opportunities for lessons that can inform urban health efforts worldwide.

Healthy Places to Play, Learn, and Develop

Urban Health ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 102-111
Author(s):  
Renée Boynton-Jarrett
Keyword(s):  
Urban Environment ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Urban Spaces ◽  
Healthy Living ◽  
Urban Populations ◽  
The Past ◽  
Physical Environments ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
The World

The urban environment is characterized by human-made spaces, by environments that are created to allow large numbers of people to coexist. These spaces literally shape where and how we play and work, representing an enormous opportunity for urban spaces to influence all aspects of our daily life—including our health. Although abundant urban areas have emerged over the past decades that disincentivize healthy living, innovation around the world is providing examples of approaches to urban design that generates healthy and safe places to play and work. This chapter provides a framework for thinking about the creation of urban spaces, about how the physical environment influences health, and how, to that end, we can create healthy physical environments to improve the health of urban populations.

Envisioning more effective delivery of custom feeding programs using participatory approaches: Lessons from Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tawanda Marandure ◽  
James Bennett ◽  
Kennedy Dzama ◽  
Lovemore C Gwiriri ◽  
Noluvuyo Bangani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Knowledge Exchange ◽  
Eastern Cape Province ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Participatory Approaches ◽  
Feeding Programs ◽  
Feed Production ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Production Knowledge

In South Africa, livelihoods of smallholder cattle farmers are constrained by a lack of appropriate production knowledge, climate change, inadequate support services, societal inequity, irrelevant pro-poor policies and inappropriate delivery of improved livestock technologies. A transdisciplinary team of local and international researchers conducted a workshop to explore opportunities and constraints to the delivery of a beef cattle custom feeding programme in Eastern Cape Province using participatory approaches, including visioning exercises. The main challenges to the cattle custom feeding programme reported by producers included lack of cattle production skills, lack of technical knowledge on feed production, limited funding and inconsistent cattle feed delivery. Participants envisioned a portfolio of locally based solutions that included prioritization of local feed production, identification of sustainable support networks, establishment of a communal herd to cover feeding centre’s overhead costs and creation of a knowledge exchange platform for farmers. In addition, participants attempted to strengthen knowledge transfer among stakeholders through the development of an online site for knowledge exchange. Overall, the participatory approaches adopted empowered participants to freely express their opinions and openly share knowledge and experiences regarding common challenges and opportunities associated with delivery of a beef cattle custom feeding programme.

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