Departments

Department of Ecology and Resource Management

Departmental Publications

Dr Eduart M. Stam [M.Sc.(Armsterdam); PhD (Free University, Armsterdam)]

Research Interests

I am interested in patterns of biodiversity and the underlying processes that cause the observed patterns to be as they are. Through improvement of our understanding of the processes behind biodiversity patterns I hope to contribute to the development of more effective management strategies. To give a concrete example: I am currently working on a project which aims to examine the effect of elephant damage on biodiversity in order to determine what would be the optimum density of elephants in a given landscape in the Kruger National Park. I am also interested in the question how to measure and compare biodiversity between areas, given that it is impossible to determine an area's total biodiversity. With regard to this I will attempt to develop surrogate measures, such as the diversity of particular taxa that are relatively easy to sample and identify. Furthermore, I am interested in the effect that the predicted climate change will have on the species conserved in our parks.

• Dawood, A. & Stam, E.M. 2005 The taxonomic status of the monotypic frog genus Anhydrophryne Hewitt from South Africa: a molecular perspective. Submitted to South African Journal of Science
  
  
• Smit, C. Els, Stam, Ed M ., Baas, Nicolette, Hollander, Ronald & Van Gestel, Cornelis A.M. 2004 Effects of dietary zinc exposure on the life history of the parthenogenetic springtail Folsomia candida (Collembola: Isotomidae). Env. Tox. Chem. 23, pp. 1719–1724
  
  
• Stam, E. 2002 Does imbalance in phylogenies reflect only bias? Evolution 56: 1292 - 1295
  
  
• Stam, E. , Isaaks, A. & Ernsting, G. 2002 Distant lovers. Indirect sperm transfer and maximisation of reproductive success by male springtails. J. Insect Behav. 15: 253-268
  
  
• Stam, E. & Hoogendoorn, G. 1999 Indirect sperm transfer and male mating strategies in soil invertebrates. J.Invertebr. Repr. Dev. , 36: 187-189
  
  
• Stam, E. , Isaaks, A. & Ernsting, G. 1998 Negative maternal effect revisited: a test on two populations of Orchesella cincta L. (Collembola: Entomobryidae). Evolution , 52: 1839-1843
  
  
• Stam E. 1996 Temperature responses and physiological time: A comparison of three European populations of Orchesella cincta. Pedobiologia , 41: 88-93
  
  
• Stam E.M. , van de Leemkule, M.A. & Ernsting, G. 1996 Trade-offs in the life history and energy budget of the parthenogenetic collembolan Folsomia candida (Willem). Oecologia , 107: 283-292

Dr. Chris Munyati

Research Interests

Application of Remote Sensing in environmental change detection, particularly use of high spatial resolution satellite imagery in rangeland and wetland habitat change detection.

Selected Publications

• Munyati, C ., 2004, Use of principal component analysis (PCA) of remote sensing images in
  wetland change detection on the Kafue Flats, Zambia, Geocarto International ,
  19(3):11-22.
  
  
• Munyati, C ., 2000, Wetland change detection on the Kafue Flats, Zambia, by classification of a
  multitemporal remote sensing image dataset, International Journal of Remote Sensing , 21(9):1787–1806.
  
  
• Munyati, C ., Kapungwe, E.M. and Singh, R.Y., 1999, The role of remote sensing in wetland
  habitat carrying capacity change studies for endemic lechwe ( Kobus leche kafuensis ) on the Kafue Flats, Zambia, Annals Nat. Assoc. Geog., India , XIX(1&2):126–133.
  
  
• Munyati, C ., 1997, Extremes in climatic parameters as indicators of change on the Kafue basin,     Zambia, University of Zambia Journal of Science and Technology , 1(2):59–66.
  
  
• Munyati, C. , 1998, Evidence of environmental degradation on the Kafue Flats, Zambia, Kobus ,
  April – June 1998, pages 6 – 7.
  
  
• Munyati, C. , Effects of climate change on forests, montane systems, savannas, protected areas
  and coastal systems: an analysis for Zambia and Southern Africa, Report Extracts In: Markham, A., Dudley, N. and Stolton, S., 1993, Some Like it Hot: Climate Change, Biodiversity and the Survival of Species , WWF International, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland, pages 104-105 & 121 [ISBN 2-88085-130-0].

Mr. N I Sinthumule

Global environmental problems; system approaches in environmental management; wetland ecology and management; and the ecology and control of alien species. Currently has a team of honours students researching on various aspects of wetland ecology and management.

Mr. Jacobus (Koos) N. Steyn

Research Interest

Research interest in the fields of agroecology, rangeland ecology and management and wildlife management. Main interest is in the field of agroecology with the emphasis on improving long-term sustainability in agricultural systems. Topics of special interest involve cultivation practises like polyculture, cover cropping and mulching, crop rotations and agroforestry systems, ecological strategies to manage weeds, pests and crop diseases and practises for the restoration of soil health.

Ms. LF Lefawane

Research Interests

Pollution monitoring and control.
Handles all practicals related to pollution and waste management.