News

Read more about the article Bumblebees, stay out!
The large earth bumblebee Bombus terretris pollinating the nodding thistle Cardus nutans in Argentina where it is invasive (Photo credit: Anton Pauw)
2013 / News

Bumblebees, stay out!

An article in Farmers weekly on the use of bumblebees for applying pesticide to flowers stimulated a response from several South African scientists, including C·I·B researchers Dave Richardson, Steven Johnson and C·I·B PhD graduate James Rodger. Although the pesticide has not been approved for use in South Africa, the article said, quite incorrectly, that nothing stops South African farmers from using bumblebees for pollination in the meantime.

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18 June 2013
Read more about the article Ecological Footprint and biocapacity: the misconception of unsustainable development
2013 / News

Ecological Footprint and biocapacity: the misconception of unsustainable development

Since the concept of sustainable development was put forward by the World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987, it has become an ideal development approach and policy goal. Among the indicators of sustainable development is the ecological footprint methodology.

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4 June 2013
Read more about the article Invasion patterns of an invasive agricultural weed
Flowers of wild radish, Raphanus raphanistrum
2013 / News

Invasion patterns of an invasive agricultural weed

The process of biological invasion involves the movement of propagules, be they individuals, seeds or pollen, from one area to another area. The success and rate of introduced species establishment and reproduction in the new area rest, among other factors, on existing landscape features and anthropogenic disturbance, for example, agricultural activities.

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21 May 2013
Read more about the article C·I·B researchers make waves at European aquatic invasions conference
SAIAB/CIB Postdoctoral fellow Dr Darragh Woodford (left) is presented the EIFAAC award for best poster at the FINS conference by EIFAAC chairperson Dr Cathal Gallagher (right). C·I·B core team member Dr Olaf Weyl (centre) was an invited keynote speaker at the conference.
2013 / News

C·I·B researchers make waves at European aquatic invasions conference

The European Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Advisory Commission (EIFAAC) and Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) recently hosted a conference for scientists, managers and policy makers across the European Union. Entitled Freshwater Invasives: Networking for Strategy (FINS), the conference took place in Galway, Ireland from 8-12 April 2013.

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16 May 2013
Read more about the article Indicators for invasive species’ impact
The highest impact invasive bird species in Europe is the Canada goose (Branta canadensis)
2013 / News

Indicators for invasive species’ impact

A central goal of invasion biology is to prevent or reduce the impacts of invaders on the environment, economy and society. One highly effective way to reduce invasive species impacts in a country is to prevent the introduction of harmful species in the first place.

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6 May 2013