Read more about the article Experiments on early life-history traits can shed light on invasion success of alien trees
The Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila) (Photo credit: Heidi Hirsch)

Experiments on early life-history traits can shed light on invasion success of alien trees

A recent study by C·I·B Post-doctoral fellow, Heidi Hirsch, and colleagues found evidence that experiments on life-history traits, such as seed germination and seedling growth, can help explain why some invasive tree species are so successful.

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Read more about the article A new direction for acoustic monitoring
An acoustic array at the study site in Table Mountain National Park. (Photo Credit: John Measey).

A new direction for acoustic monitoring

A new paper, recently published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, provides a method for acoustic monitoring that calculates the area listened to, by an array of microphones. C·I·B senior researcher, John Measey, and colleagues from the University of Cape Town and the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, used microphones to monitor the Cape peninsula moss frog (Arthroleptella lightfooti) in Table Mountain National Park, South Africa.

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Read more about the article Water hyacinth as a potential agent for phytoremediation
Solomon measuring the removal of metal salts from water by the invasive weed, water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) (Photo credit: Solomon Newete)

Water hyacinth as a potential agent for phytoremediation

C·I·B researchers at the University of the Witwatersrand recently demonstrated that the invasive aquatic weed, water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), can be used to remove metal pollutants from water.

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Read more about the article C·I·B study explores the role of heat treatment in active restoration of Fynbos
C·I·B student Stuart Hall monitoring the germination performance of seeds at research sites at Blaauwberg Nature Reserve (Photo credit: Dale Slabbert)

C·I·B study explores the role of heat treatment in active restoration of Fynbos

A recent paper by C·I·B student, Stuart Hall, found that heat pre-treatment of seeds can improve restoration efforts in fynbos ecosystems that were cleared of invasive alien tree species.

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Read more about the article Ant colour and body size respond strongly to the environment
Tom Bishop and senior author Catherine Parr looking for ants in the Maloti-Drakensberg (Photo credit: Catherine Parr)

Ant colour and body size respond strongly to the environment

A recent study by C·I·B post-doctoral fellow, Tom Bishop and colleagues has shown that the relative abundances of ants is strongly related to their thermoregulatory traits.

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