Research Articles (Zoology and Entomology)
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Item Open Access And they just keep coming: four new genera of dark sac spiders from southern Africa (Araneae, Trachelidae)(Pensoft Publishers, 2025) Haddad, Charles R.As part of ongoing revisions of the Afrotropical 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘦, four new genera are described from southern Africa: 𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘢 𝗴𝗲𝗻. 𝗻𝗼𝘃., with 𝘍. 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘵𝘢 𝘀𝗽. 𝗻𝗼𝘃. from South Africa (Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape) as the type species, 𝘍. 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘱𝘰𝘥𝘢 𝘀𝗽. 𝗻𝗼𝘃. from the Free State, 𝘍. 𝘬𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘢 𝘀𝗽. 𝗻𝗼𝘃. from the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, and a fourth undescribed species from Zimbabwe; the monotypic 𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝗴𝗲𝗻. 𝗻𝗼𝘃., with 𝘔. 𝘵𝘴𝘸𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘪 𝘀𝗽. 𝗻𝗼𝘃. from KwaZulu-Natal as the type species; 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝗴𝗲𝗻. 𝗻𝗼𝘃., with 𝘕. 𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘢 𝘀𝗽. 𝗻𝗼𝘃. from the Northern Cape as the type species and 𝘕. 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘦 𝘀𝗽. 𝗻𝗼𝘃. from the Western Cape; and 𝘙𝘶𝘬𝘶𝘭𝘶𝘬 𝗴𝗲𝗻. 𝗻𝗼𝘃. from South Africa, with 𝘙. 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘶𝘴 𝘀𝗽. 𝗻𝗼𝘃. from the Northern Cape as the type species and a second undescribed species from KwaZulu-Natal known only from juveniles.Item Open Access On some new and poorly-known Chrysillini from arid western South Africa (Araneae, Salticidae)(Pensoft Publishers, 2024) Haddad, Charles Richard; Wesołowska, WandaFollowing a rapid biodiversity assessment of spiders in the arid western interior of South Africa, we report on the occurrence of some poorly known and new species of chrysilline jumping spiders. 𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘴 (Simon, 1901), 𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 (Wesołowska, 1986), 𝘏. 𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘴 (Wesołowska, 1986) and 𝘔𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪 Lawrence, 1927 are recorded from the Northern Cape Province for the first time, and 𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪 (Wesołowska & Haddad, 2014) (Lesotho) and 𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘴 Wesołowska, 1986 (Angola) are recorded from South Africa for the first time, both also from the Northern Cape. The hitherto unknown females of 𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘴 (Wesołowska, 1986) and 𝘐𝘤𝘪𝘶𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴 Haddad & Wesołowska, 2011 and the male of 𝘔. 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪 are described for the first time. Three new species are described: 𝘐𝘤𝘪𝘶𝘴 𝘫𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘪 𝘀𝗽. 𝗻𝗼𝘃. (♂), 𝘔𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪 𝘀𝗽. 𝗻𝗼𝘃. (♂) and 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘢 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘢 𝘀𝗽. 𝗻𝗼𝘃. (♂♀). One new combination, 𝘈𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 (Wesołowska, 2011), 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗯. 𝗻𝗼𝘃. (ex 𝘗𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘶𝘴 Simon, 1885), is proposed. We present the first comprehensive molecular analysis of South Africa 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘪 jumping spiders, based on the cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene, which supports the monophyly of all but two genera (𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘴 Wesołowska, 1986 and 𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘴 C.L. Koch, 1833), which we briefly discuss.Item Open Access Small-scale variations in spider and springtail assemblages between termite mounds and the surrounding grassland matrix(Pensoft Publishers, 2024) Badenhorst, Hannelene; Haddad, Charles Richard; Janion-Scheepers, CharleneThe snouted harvester termite (𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 (Sjöstedt, 1911)) is a widespread grass-eating termite species that constructs thermoregulated dome-shaped mounds. However, little is known about the influence of these mounds on the arthropod assemblage structure in the surrounding grassland matrix, and whether the mounds represent ecological islands. Spiders and springtails are two ecologically important arthropod groups often associated with termites or their mounds. We investigated their assemblage composition inside and around active and abandoned T. trinervoides mounds in a central South African grassland. In total, 838 spiders (59 spp., 22 families) and 217 857 springtails (24 spp., 9 families) were collected from 96 pitfall traps, placed at four microhabitats in and around each of 12 active and 12 abandoned mounds during March 2019. The most abundant and species-rich spider families include the 𝘎𝘯𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘦 (n = 270, 10 spp.), 𝘡𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘦 (n = 86, 7 spp.), 𝘓𝘺𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘦 (n = 86, 6 spp.) and 𝘚𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘦 (n = 77, 5 spp.), whereas the springtail fauna was dominated by 𝘉𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘦 (n = 56 521, 1 species), 𝘉𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘦 (n = 49 573, 7 species), 𝘚𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘦 (n = 44 491, 3 species), 𝘐𝘴𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘦 (n = 32 288, 1 species) and 𝘌𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘣𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘦 (n = 26 216, 7 species). Indicator analysis showed that the spiders 𝘡𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪 Tucker, 1923, 𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘨𝘶𝘴 (Wesołowska & Haddad, 2002) and 𝘚𝘤𝘺𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘦 Purcell, 1904 are associated with abandoned mounds, but no springtails showed an association based on the IndVal analysis of the eight microhabitats (lumped data), even though the undescribed 𝘊𝘺𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘴 sp. were mostly collected inside active mounds. The mounds thus had a negligible influence on the spatial distribution of springtails in the surrounding grassland. The different spider and springtail assemblages sampled indicate that both active and abandoned mounds function as ecological islands in grasslands, but that mound size does not affect their abundance or species richness in the different microhabitats sampled.Item Open Access Completing the web: identifying sampling bias and knowledge gaps within South African spider surveys (Arachnida, Araneae)(Pensoft Publishers, 2024) van der Mescht, Aileen C.; Haddad, Charles R.; Foord, Stefan H.; Dippenaar-Schoeman, Ansie S.Species distribution datasets are fundamental for macroecological studies, although there is an overarching need to ensure that these datasets are representative of the entire community. Shortfalls, or knowledge gaps, within biodiversity datasets originate for a range of reasons, and can lead to incorrect conclusions or recommendations being drawn. Spatial scale influences the interpretations of diversity patterns and thus is an important aspect to consider. South Africa has a rich history of spider sampling and as such, it is possible to investigate the influence that scale, both spatial and taxonomic, has on the overall interpretations of how complete the spider knowledge base is in the country. To do this, we draw on curated natural history spider collections and determine how complete the spider assemblages are across twelve unique combinations of taxonomic and spatial scales. Overall, we received 121 605 usable records from seven collections, with spider records and diversity, being concentrated along the eastern and coastal regions of South Africa. We show that assemblage completeness increases with both increasing taxonomic and spatial scales, and as such, knowledge of the distribution of spider families at the biome level is largely complete. Moreover, we show that our fine-scale knowledge of spider assemblages in South Africa is relatively poor, yet we do identify, even at fine scales, assemblages in South Africa that can be considered complete. We identify under-sampled regions of the country, which in turn are congruent with the distribution of under-sampled regions found in other South African invertebrate groups. We show that the scaling of completeness can only be interpreted in one direction: as scale increases so does completeness. These findings will have important implications for spider research and conservation in South Africa, given that regions where completeness is highest correspond strongly to areas in South Africa with the highest threats to biodiversity.Item Open Access A new species and new records of Chumma (Araneae, Macrobunidae) from South Africa(Pensoft Publishers, 2024) Marusik, Yuri M.; Haddad, Charles R.A new species of the genus 𝘊𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢 Jocqué, 2001, C. 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪 𝐬𝐩. 𝐧𝐨𝐯., is described from the Western Cape, South Africa. New distribution records for 𝘊. 𝘣𝘪𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳 Jocqué & Alderweireldt, 2018, 𝘊. 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘢 Jocqué & Alderweireldt, 2018 and 𝘊. 𝘨𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘢 Jocqué, 2001 are presented. The genus is recorded from the Northern Cape Province for the first time, extending its range extensively to the northwest by approximately 450 km. The distribution of all 𝘊𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢 species is mapped.Item Open Access Climate-influenced vector-borne diseases in Africa: a call to empower the next generation of African researchers for sustainable solutions(BMC, 2024) Obame-Nkoghe, Judicaël; Agossou, Adjoavi Esse; Mboowa, Gerald; Kamgang, Basile; Caminade, Cyril; Duke, Dawn C.; Githeko, Andrew Karanja; Ogega, Obed M.; Engone Elloué, Nestor; Sarr, Fatou Bintou; Nkoghe, Dieudonné; Kengne, Pierre; Ndam, Nicaise T.; Paupy, Christophe; Bockarie, Moses; Voua Otomo, PatricksWe look at the link between climate change and vector-borne diseases in low- and middle-income countries in Africa. The large endemicity and escalating threat of diseases such as malaria and arboviral diseases, intensified by climate change, disproportionately affects vulnerable communities globally. We highlight the urgency of prioritizing research and development, advocating for robust scientific inquiry to promote adaptation strategies, and the vital role that the next generation of African research leaders will play in addressing these challenges. Despite significant challenges such as funding shortages within countries, various pan-African-oriented funding bodies such as the African Academy of Sciences, the Africa Research Excellence Fund, the Wellcome Trust, the U.S. National Institutes of Health, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as well as initiatives such as the African Research Initiative for Scientific Excellence and the Pan-African Mosquito Control Association, have empowered (or are empowering) these researchers by supporting capacity building activities, including continental and global networking, skill development, mentoring, and African-led research. This article underscores the urgency of increased national investment in research, proposing the establishment of research government agencies to drive evidence-based interventions. Collaboration between governments and scientific communities, sustained by pan-African funding bodies, is crucial. Through these efforts, African nations are likely to enhance the resilience and adaptive capacity of their systems and communities by navigating these challenges effectively, fostering scientific excellence and implementing transformative solutions against climate-sensitive vector-borne diseases.Item Open Access Three new genera of arboreal dark sac spiders from southern Africa (Araneae: Trachelidae).(Magnolia Press, 2024) Haddad, Charles R.; Lyle, RobinAs part of a revision of the Afrotropical species of Trachelas L. Koch, 1872 (Araneae: Trachelidae), we distinguished three new genera of primarily arboreal spiders from southern Africa that are described here: Coronarachne 𝗴𝗲𝗻. 𝗻𝗼𝘃., represented by four new species known from both sexes, C. denticulata 𝘀𝗽. 𝗻𝗼𝘃. (type species), C. penicillus 𝘀𝗽. 𝗻𝗼𝘃., C. setosa 𝘀𝗽. 𝗻𝗼𝘃. and C. unigena 𝘀𝗽. 𝗻𝗼𝘃., and C. neethlingi 𝘀𝗽. 𝗻𝗼𝘃., known only from the male; Falcaranea 𝗴𝗲𝗻. 𝗻𝗼𝘃., represented by three new species known from both sexes, F. amatola 𝘀𝗽. 𝗻𝗼𝘃., F. gladius 𝘀𝗽. 𝗻𝗼𝘃. (type species) and F. maputensis 𝘀𝗽. 𝗻𝗼𝘃.; and Trachecymbius 𝗴𝗲𝗻. 𝗻𝗼𝘃., represented by five new species, T. bosselaersi 𝘀𝗽. 𝗻𝗼𝘃. (♀), T. felis 𝘀𝗽. 𝗻𝗼𝘃. (♂♀), T. peterwebbi 𝘀𝗽. 𝗻𝗼𝘃. (♂), T. tyume 𝘀𝗽. 𝗻𝗼𝘃. (type species, ♂♀), and T. umbella 𝘀𝗽. 𝗻𝗼𝘃. (♀). These three genera share the presence of strongly protruding setal bases on the ventral surfaces of the anterior legs, which are more strongly developed in males and can be mistaken for small ventral cusps that are found in several trachelid genera. Identification keys are provided for each of the three genera and their phylogenetic affinities to other Afrotropical Trachelidae are evaluated based on the cytochrome oxidase c subunit I (COI) gene. Most of the species described here were common in canopy fogging samples, and to a lesser extent beating, but are clearly a prominent component of the arboreal trachelid fauna in savanna and forest habitats in southern Africa.Item Open Access In vivo efficacy of curcumin and curcumin nanoparticle in trypanosoma congolense, broden 1904 (kinetoplastea: trypanosomatidae)-infected mice(MDPI, 2023) Molefe-Nyembe, Nthatisi Innocentia; Adeyemi, Oluyomi Stephen; Kondoh, Daisuke; Kato, Kentaro; Inoue, NoboruCurcumin (CUR) is known for its wide folkloric effects on various infections; however, its solubility status has remained a hindrance to its bioavailability in the host. This study evaluated the comparative effects of CUR and CUR-nanoparticle in vitro on T. congolense, T. b. brucei, and T. evansi. Additionally, CUR and CUR-nanoparticle anti-Trypanosoma efficacy were assessed in vivo against T. congolense. All the CUR-nanoparticles were two folds more effective on the T. congolense as compared to CUR in vitro, with recorded efficacy of 3.67 ± 0.31; 7.61 ± 1.22; and 6.40 ± 3.07 μM, while the CUR-nanoparticles efficacy was 1.56 ± 0.50; 28.16 ± 9.43 and 13.12 ± 0.13 μM on T. congolense, T. b. brucei, and T. evansi, respectively. Both CUR and CUR-nanoparticles displayed moderate efficacy orally. The efficacy of CUR and CUR-nanoparticles in vivo was influenced by solubility, presence of food, and treatment period. CUR-treated mice were not cured of the infection; however, the survival rate of the orally treated mice was significantly prolonged as compared with intraperitoneal-treated mice. CUR-nanoparticles resulted in significant suppression of parasitemia even though relapsed was observed. In conclusion, CUR and CUR-nanoparticles possess moderate efficacy orally on the trypanosomes as compared to the intraperitoneal treatment.Item Open Access Counter‑gradient variation and the expensive tissue hypothesis explain parallel brain size reductions at high elevation in cricetid and murid rodents(Springer Nature, 2023) Nengovhela, Aluwani; Ivy, Catherine M.; Scott, Graham R.; Denys, Christiane; Taylor, Peter J.To better understand functional morphological adaptations to high elevation (> 3000 m above sea level) life in both North American and African mountain-associated rodents, we used microCT scanning to acquire 3D images and a 3D morphometric approach to calculate endocranial volumes and skull lengths. This was done on 113 crania of low-elevation and high-elevation populations in species of North American cricetid mice (two Peromyscus species, n = 53), and African murid rodents of two tribes, Otomyini (five species, n = 49) and Praomyini (four species, n = 11). We tested two distinct hypotheses for how endocranial volume might vary in high-elevation populations: the expensive tissue hypothesis, which predicts that brain and endocranial volumes will be reduced to lessen the costs of growing and maintaining a large brain; and the brain-swelling hypothesis, which predicts that endocranial volumes will be increased either as a direct phenotypic effect or as an adaptation to accommodate brain swelling and thus minimize pathological symptoms of altitude sickness. After correcting for general allometric variation in cranial size, we found that in both North American Peromyscus mice and African laminate-toothed (Otomys) rats, highland rodents had smaller endocranial volumes than lower-elevation rodents, consistent with the expensive tissue hypothesis. In the former group, Peromyscus mice, crania were obtained not just from wild-caught mice from high and low elevations but also from those bred in common-garden laboratory conditions from parents caught from either high or low elevations. Our results in these mice showed that brain size responses to elevation might have a strong genetic basis, which counters an opposite but weaker environmental effect on brain volume. These results potentially suggest that selection may act to reduce brain volume across small mammals at high elevations but further experiments are needed to assess the generality of this conclusion and the nature of underlying mechanisms.Item Open Access The ground spider genera Leptodrassex Murphy, 2007 and Leptopilos Levy, 2009 (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) in southern Africa, including the description of a new genus and seven new species(Magnolia Press, 2022) Haddad, Charles R.; Booysen, RuanThe ground spider genera Leptodrassex Murphy, 2007 and Leptopilos Levy, 2009 are recorded from southern Africa for the first time, with the description of five new species: Leptodrassex murphyi sp. nov. (♂ ♀) from Mozambique and South Africa, and L. capensis sp. nov. (♀) from South Africa; Leptopilos butleri sp. nov. (♂ ♀) and L. vasivulva sp. nov. (♂ ♀) from Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe, and L. digitus sp. nov. (♂ ♀) from South Africa. Further, the new genus Afrodrassex gen. nov. is described, with the type species A. balrog sp. nov. (♂ ♀) from South Africa and Angola, and A. catharinae sp. nov. (♂ ♀) from South Africa described therein. Details of the somatic and genitalic morphology of all three genera are examined by scanning electron microscopy, and revised descriptions of Leptodrassex and Leptopilos are presented.Item Open Access High rates of biochar soil amendment cause increased incidences of neurotoxic and oxidative stress in Eisenia fetid (oligochaeta) exposed to glyphosate(MDPI, 2022) Dlamini, Nomasonto Portia; Otomo, Patricks VouaDespite several known beneficial attributes, biochar is suspected to cause harm to soil organisms when present in relatively high quantities in the soil. To determine the potential detrimental effects of biochar, for 96 h, we exposed the earthworm Eisenia fetida to 0, 2, 4 and 8 mg glyphosate (GLY) per kg in non-amended and biochar-amended soil at rates of 5, 10 and 15%. The results indicated that in non-amended soil, survival was significantly decreased in the highest GLY concentration. Although no median lethal concentration (LC50) could be computed due to the lack of sufficient mortality, in the absence of biochar, a lethal concentration 10% (LC10) of 5.540 mg/kg and a lethal concentration 20% (LC20) of 7.067 mg/kg were calculated. In the biochar-amended soil, no mortality occurred in the control and GLY treatments for all three biochar amendment rates. Biomass results showed significant biomass loss in the highest GLY treatment in the absence of biochar, with an effective concentration of 10% (EC10) of 5.23 mg/kg and an effective concentration of 20% (EC20) of 6.848 mg/kg. In the amended soil, overall, slight non-significant increases in biomass were recorded and no effective concentrations could be calculated due to the lack of significant biomass loss. The assessment of neurotoxicity via the activity of acetylcholine esterase (AChE) showed no change in AchE due to GLY in all the non-amended treatments. However, in the biochar-amended treatments, statistically high levels of AchE occurred (p < 0.05) even in the control (in the absence of GLY). The assessment of oxidative stress through catalase (CAT) activity, showed similar results with no significant effects of GLY alone on CAT activity, but rather dramatic increases in activity in the control and GLY treatments in the biochar-amended soil, with one significant increase in the 10% amended in 8 mg GLY/Kg (p < 0.05). Such significant increases in both AChE and CAT were only observed in soil amended with 10 and 15% biochar. Our findings show that although seemingly beneficial for whole body endpoints, biomarker responses indicate that a biochar amendment higher than 5% adds considerable additional stress to earthworms and should be avoided.Item Open Access Soil fertilization synergistically enhances the impact of pollination services in increasing seed yield of sunflower under dryland conditions(Cambridge University Press, 2021) Adelabu, Dollop Bola; Bredenhand, Emile; Van der Merwe, Sean; Franke, Angelinus CorneliusTo exploit the potential of ecological intensification during sunflower cropping, it is crucial to understand the potential synergies between crop management and ecosystem services. We therefore examined the effect of pollination intensification on sunflower yield and productivity under various levels of soil fertilization over two seasons in the eastern Free State, South Africa. We manipulated soil fertility with fertilizer applications and pollination with exclusion bags. We found a synergetic effect between pollination and soil fertilization whereby increasing pollination intensity led to a far higher impact on sunflower yield when the soil had been fertilized. Specifically, the intensification of insect pollination increased seed yield by approximately 0.4 ton/ha on nutrient poor soil and by approximately 1.7 ton/ha on moderately fertilized soil. Our findings suggest that sunflower crops on adequate balanced soil fertility will receive abundant insect pollination and may gain more from both synergies than crops grown in areas with degraded soil fertility.Item Open Access Zulu Poems of (and for) nature: Bhekinkosi Ntuli’s environmental imagination in Imvunge Yemvelo (1972)(Cambridge University Press, 2021) Nyambi, Oliver; Otomo, Patricks VouaNature, climate crisis, and the Anthropocene have carved space in recent inter-, cross-, and multi-disciplinary humanities studies. In South Africa, such studies have barely touched literature in African languages. Nyambi and Otomo focus on the tropes of “lady nature,” nostalgia, and dystopia in Zulu writer Bhekinkosi Ntuli’s Imvunge Yemvelo to explore the complex ways in which these tropes test the normative epistemes of ecological crises. Beyond rejecting imperial distortions of indigenous environmentalism, Ntuli’s poems re-center local knowledge of nature in understanding its relationship with humans. That knowledge subverts epistemic structures of colonial conservation, revising and re-visioning racially geo-politicized knowledge hierarchies.Item Open Access Anthropogenic light, noise, and vegetation cover differentially impact different foraging guilds of bat on an opencast mine in South Africa(Frontiers, 2022) Cory-Toussaint, Dawn; Taylor, Peter J.Bats are known to be sensitive to changes in their environment. The impact of natural vegetation cover, artificial light intensity and noise (dBA) were investigated on the bat community on the opencast Venetia diamond mine using mixed-effects models. Clutter-feeding bats were virtually absent compared to surrounding natural habitats, suggesting the negative impact of vegetation removal and/or light and/or noise pollution. Mixed-effect models revealed that natural vegetation was the most important factor impacting species richness and overall bat activity. In general, bat activity of both open-air and clutter-edge foragers was negatively impacted over areas close to mining operations that were devoid of vegetation cover. Artificial light only significantly affected feeding activity with less feeding activity in the lit areas. Anthropogenic noise had no significant impact on bat activity and species richness. Our study highlights the importance of vegetation cover and the complexity of the interaction between bats and the environment incorporating anthropogenic factors (artificial lighting, continuous noise, and habitat degradation) and natural factors such as minimum temperature, moon phase, and season that confound trends in bat species richness and responses in relation to opencast mining.