Ungulates refer to animals with hooves and include 257 species across the world. These generally large-bodied mammals move diaspores (any part of a plant that plays a role in plant dispersal e.g. spores, seeds, fruits) of nearly half of the plant species available within their home range.
Uncertainty is part and parcel of any scientific field. The point of scientific research is to acquire knowledge and to deal with different types of uncertainty to improve our understanding of natural phenomena and help us make projections about the future.
The leaf nitrogen dynamics of invading Black wattle (Acacia mearnsii) under conditions of varying water availability in fynbos riparian zones have not yet been examined. C·I·B student Casparus Crous (South African Environmental Observation Network), C·I·B Core Member Karen Esler and colleagues had a closer look at the nitrogen dynamics across fynbos riparian zones in the south-western Cape.
In a paper recently published in the American Journal of Botany, C·I·B postdoctoral fellow Heidi Hirsch and co-workers highlighted the very complex introduction history of the invasive tree Silver wattle (Acacia dealbata) in South Africa.
Improving our understanding of the role researchers play in forming collaborative networks, can allow for more effective administration of the network to maximise research benefits. This includes the increased integration of knowledge across disciplinary boundaries, increased research productivity and innovation.
