2014

2014 / News

Protected areas proven to conserve biodiversity

Protected areas conserve biodiversity and more action is needed to ensure safeguards are in place to protect these areas, were two of the main findings of a recent study by C·I·B researchers. Published in the scientific journal, PLOS ONE, researchers from the Centre for Invasion Biology, Monash University (Australia), and the University of Exeter (UK), used meta-analysis - combining results from different studies - to look at the past 30 years of research into protected areas, to determine whether they actually protect biodiversity.

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3 September 2014
Read more about the article Proactive land management can help reduce natural disasters
2014 / News

Proactive land management can help reduce natural disasters

Climate change is predicted to have serious consequences for people, who will be exposed to natural disasters such as floods, droughts, fires and coastal storm surges that are linked to climate change. It is further predicted that climate change will be inevitable, even under the most optimistic of scenarios, as the world continues its commitment to the use of fossil fuels.

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22 August 2014
Read more about the article C·I·B research predicts performance and survival of agricultural crop pests in the Western Cape
2014 / News

C·I·B research predicts performance and survival of agricultural crop pests in the Western Cape

Predicting the impacts of climate change on biological systems is a difficult, but necessary, challenge of ecological research. This challenge is particularly important for agricultural pests that can cause damage to a region’s economy and food security. In the case of invasive pest insects, land managers require information on not only the presence of a species, but also its relative performance at a given location (i.e. potential damage to crops). To make such predictions under novel climates, an understanding of the processes through which climate constrains, or enhances, an organism’s survival and performance is required.

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13 August 2014
Read more about the article Iimbovane a hit with young biodiversity enthusiasts
Learners attending the Big on Biodiversity workshops sharing what they have learnt during the week.
2014 / News

Iimbovane a hit with young biodiversity enthusiasts

In July this year, the Iimbovane Outreach Project introduced 30 Life Science learners to the wonders of biodiversity, during two workshops held at the Centre for Invasion Biology.

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21 July 2014
Read more about the article Endemic ants give alien ants a hard time
The Argentine ant (Linepithema humile). Photo credit: Melanie de Morney
2014 / News

Endemic ants give alien ants a hard time

C·I·B postdoctoral associate Dr. Natasha Mothapo used behavioural experiments to see if the African big-headed ant (Pheidole megacephala) can help to keep the spread of invasive Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) in check. Dr. Mothapo found that both species were very aggressive during fights. Their mortality rates were similar during one-on-one clashes, but Argentine ants suffered more deaths than did big-headed ants. When competing for food in the same environment, the African big-headed ant was able to keep Argentine ants from gaining access to the food.

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1 July 2014