Read more about the article Mountain roads as conduits for ongoing exotic species expansion
The study site – the Sani Pass Road, surveyed from 1500 m – 2874 m above sea level in 2007 and 2017. (Photo credit: Sophia Turner)

Mountain roads as conduits for ongoing exotic species expansion

A study by Jesse Kalwij, former C∙I∙B MSc student, Sophia Turner, and C∙I∙B Core Team member, Karen Esler, shows that human activities are the primary cause of exotic species introduction and expansion up the Sani Pass, as well as from the disturbed road verges into the adjacent natural area.

Comments Off on Mountain roads as conduits for ongoing exotic species expansion

Alien pest of wheat and maize could pose a threat to South Africa

Alien pests of agriculture cause billions of Rands’ worth of damage to South African crops every year. Knowledge on which pests could pose a threat in the future is vital to inform South Africa’s biosecurity.

Comments Off on Alien pest of wheat and maize could pose a threat to South Africa
Read more about the article Sour fig changes invertebrate diversity in the invasive range, C·I·B study shows
Carpobrotus edulis, native to South Africa, is invasive in the coastal areas of the Iberian Peninsula (Galicia, Spain). (Photo credit: Jonatan Rodríguez)

Sour fig changes invertebrate diversity in the invasive range, C·I·B study shows

The invasive plant sour fig (Carpobrotus edulis: also known as Hottentot-fig, ice plant, highway ice plant, or pigface) can have a clear impact reducing the abundance of native invertebrates, with substantial effects on herbivores.

Comments Off on Sour fig changes invertebrate diversity in the invasive range, C·I·B study shows
Read more about the article How to sample recreational vessels for marine alien fouling species
GoPro images of A) Koebraa Peters controlling the ROV from the surface; B) ROV collecting a visual sample from a niche area of a yacht; C) the diver recording alien species detected from diver visual samples and D) an ROV image of the diver collecting a scrape sample from a yacht hull. (Photo credits: Koebraa Peters)

How to sample recreational vessels for marine alien fouling species

The most effective method to sample recreational vessels for marine alien fouling species is to combine diver-based and lab-based methods, a study reported. Published in the Journal of Environmental Management, the study was conducted by C·I·B Post-doctoral associate, Koebraa Peters, C·I·B Core Team Member, Tammy Robinson and SANBI’s Marine Programme Manager, Kerry Sink.

Comments Off on How to sample recreational vessels for marine alien fouling species

A novel system for ranking and comparing the impacts of invasive species

As many invasive non-native (or alien) species pose a global threat to human well-being and livelihoods, an international team of researchers, including C·I·B researchers and associates, have recently developed a new transparent ranking system for plants and animals...

Comments Off on A novel system for ranking and comparing the impacts of invasive species