Many of us are now familiar with urban commensal species - those that have adapted to life in towns and cities and can be seen to adapt their behaviour to exploit their new surroundings. Some of these urbanised species are then introduced to novel systems, and go on to become invasive.
Factors related to human safety and security are most important when prioritising areas for invasive alien plant (IAP) management across the Cape Town metro.
A recent study by C·I·B masters student, Kerushka Pillay, at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, revealed that home range, habitat use and movement of urban feral cats, Felis catus, were generally centred around supplemental resources such as food, in the town of Pietermaritzburg, also referred to as the “City of Choice”.
Invasive alien plants (IAPs) and their management are perceived both negatively and positively by urban residents, but these perceptions are shaped by individuals’ socio-demographic characteristics.
A collaboration between C·I·B researchers and managers from the City of Cape Town’s (CoCTs) Green Jobs Unit resulted in the development of a framework specifically to help managers manage invasive species in cities.
