2014

Read more about the article Lack of coherence in the warming responses of marine crustaceans
Examples of intertidal crustaceans examined in this study: the amphipod Hyale hirtipalma
2014 / News

Lack of coherence in the warming responses of marine crustaceans

Determining the extent to which organisms are able to tolerate and respond to climate change is important for assessing species vulnerability and informing strategies for biodiversity management. Recent work has demonstrated that responses to warming may be less variable and more predictable in marine than in terrestrial organisms.

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18 March 2014
Read more about the article High impact invasive species characterised by higher functional responses
Sampling the native fish Sandelia capensis from Blindekloof stream, Eastern Cape.
2014 / News

High impact invasive species characterised by higher functional responses

Biological invasions are taking place at an increasing rate, causing environmental and economic problems worldwide. It is therefore important to be able to predict and identify those species that may have damaging ecological impacts.

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11 March 2014
Read more about the article Unlocking the potential of Google Earth as a tool in invasion science
Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) invasion in Chile at one of the sites described in the paper. The pine plantation is to the lower right corner of the image and the invaded area is directly above the diagonal line marking the original plantation boundary, although the invasion is now so dense that the two are almost indistinguishable. Photo credit: Google Earth.
2014 / News

Unlocking the potential of Google Earth as a tool in invasion science

The use and popularity of Google Earth has grown tremendously since its launch, and it has a range of uses from mapping and viewing mountain bike routes to monitoring chimpanzee forest habitat. However, Google Earth had no formal recognition or guidelines for its use in the field of invasion science, despite the fact that many scientists and managers use it on a regular basis.

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4 March 2014
Read more about the article The need for holistic approaches in alien tree management
The camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora), which in South Africa is both a declared invader and a National Monument, is a good example of a conflict species. (Photo credit Brian van Wilgen)
2014 / News

The need for holistic approaches in alien tree management

Alien trees offer several benefits to the people of South Africa, often as welcoming features of gardens, parks and streets, and as sources of food and timber. Despite the benefits gained from alien trees, a small number of these trees can become invasive and can cause harm to the ecosystems they invade.

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24 February 2014
Read more about the article Agriculture landscape change crucial for bio-control programme development
An adult ladybird Hippodamia variegata and its larva feeding on aphids [Image by M. Quresh at http://pk-photography.blogspot.com]
2014 / News

Agriculture landscape change crucial for bio-control programme development

The expansion of agricultural activities and the habitat changes that occur in agro-ecosystems cause rapid compositional changes in agricultural landscapes as crops are planted, harvested and rotated from year to year. This shifting mosaic pattern of crop fields can affect the dynamics of important insect pests, such as cereal aphids, and their natural enemies.

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17 February 2014