Read more about the article Preying on alien species
The alien invasive Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus Galloprovincialis) was first recorded in the late 1970s and has now invaded more than 2000 km of the South African coastline. (Photo credit: Sophia Turner)

Preying on alien species

When we consider how invasive alien species affect native species, we mainly think of alien predators preying on native species. However, there are examples of native species that prey on alien species - which leads ecologists to the question “what are the effects of alien prey on predatory-prey relationships?”

Comments Off on Preying on alien species
Read more about the article Impact of floods on fish in headwater streams
Eastern Cape redfin minnows (Pseudobarbus afer) (Photo credits: Bruce Ellender)

Impact of floods on fish in headwater streams

Human impacts such as pollution, habitat degradation and invasive alien species threaten freshwater fishes, and as a result of these impacts, fishes in headwater streams are often cut off from larger populations in the river.

Comments Off on Impact of floods on fish in headwater streams

No time to waste in dealing with a biodiversity-debt crisis

Recently there have been a series of debt crises in economies around the world, from Greece to Argentina to the U.S.A.  Unfortunately we also have a global biodiversity-debt crisis. These debt crises share one important feature in common—managers need to respond to the emergency.

Comments Off on No time to waste in dealing with a biodiversity-debt crisis
Read more about the article Climate change detected in our National Parks
Flood damage to the Skukuza golf course following an extreme period of rainfall in 2012. Events like this one are predicted to increase in future with more variable and extreme rainfall. (Photo credit: Nicola van Wilgen)

Climate change detected in our National Parks

Most of us have heard that climate change is likely to impact our lives in the next few decades, but in many instances the reality of climate change has not been made apparent. One of the key questions is what will happen to our national parks and the biodiversity that they conserve?

Comments Off on Climate change detected in our National Parks
Read more about the article Movement mysteries of largemouth bass
Surgical insertion of acoustic transmitters into largemouth bass (Photo credit: Olaf Weyl)

Movement mysteries of largemouth bass

Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) are a popular and valuable sport-fish for anglers. They were introduced into South Africa in 1928, and have since been widely distributed across southern Africa.

Comments Off on Movement mysteries of largemouth bass