Tree toppling by elephants and its consequences in thicket mosaic vegetation of Addo Elephant National Park
- Authors: Mgqatsa, Nokubonga
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Elephants -- Behavior -- South Africa -- Addo Elephant National Park Woody plants -- South Africa -- Addo Elephant National Park
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19365 , vital:28859
- Description: This study explored the extent of elephant tree toppling and possible cascading effects in Karoo Thicket Mosaic habitat in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. While the notion that elephants topple trees is well recognised, little is known about their indirect effects and the possible influence on several trophic levels. Changes brought about by elephants have the potential to influence microclimatic conditions, soil litter processes, plant community composition and other animals. Therefore, this study determined the impacts of elephants on tree toppling, and hence the production of coarse woody debris and the Coarse Woody Debris Profile. Additionally, I explored the consequences of elephant tree toppling on the plant community, small mammals and seed removal. Furthermore, I explored the potential factors facilitating the coexistence of woody plants and elephants. I compared coarse woody debris production and the Coarse Woody Debris Profile between sites with and without elephants. Further, I assessed the consequences of tree toppling in the elephant present site at a patch scale to explore the possible cascading effects of elephants. Firstly, I showed that elephants impacted woody plants through branch/stem breakages and toppling of trees, but that effects vary for different categories of the Coarse Woody Debris Profile. This result confirms the most recent findings that woody plants are at risk from elephant herbivory in Karoo Thicket Mosaic habitat. The elephant toppling effect on these landscapes is largely influenced by plant growth form, with woody trees suffering high levels of elephant toppling than shrubs of comparable size. However, toppled Pappea capensis is able to persist from being toppled by elephants, either through coppicing or resprouting. Additionally, I showed that toppled trees form discrete patches on the landscape, with altered microclimate and browsing pressures. While I detected no significant effect of these changes on plant composition and abundance within these patches, these findings indicate the possible influence of elephants on facilitating plant recruitment and altering plant communities of thicket through toppling of trees. Moreover, I showed that elephant toppling of trees provide habitat patches for small mammals, thus affecting seed removal by vertebrates within patches. These changes had no discernable effect on soil seed banks. However, they highlight the need to better understand the temporal dynamics of these patches and implications for seed dynamics and plant communities on the landscape. The results show the patterns of elephant impacts on woody plants and possible cascading effects in the presence of elephants. Therefore, the study advances our understanding of top-down effects of elephants and shows the relevance of understanding these effects in order to effectively manage elephant impacts in different systems.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Mgqatsa, Nokubonga
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Elephants -- Behavior -- South Africa -- Addo Elephant National Park Woody plants -- South Africa -- Addo Elephant National Park
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19365 , vital:28859
- Description: This study explored the extent of elephant tree toppling and possible cascading effects in Karoo Thicket Mosaic habitat in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. While the notion that elephants topple trees is well recognised, little is known about their indirect effects and the possible influence on several trophic levels. Changes brought about by elephants have the potential to influence microclimatic conditions, soil litter processes, plant community composition and other animals. Therefore, this study determined the impacts of elephants on tree toppling, and hence the production of coarse woody debris and the Coarse Woody Debris Profile. Additionally, I explored the consequences of elephant tree toppling on the plant community, small mammals and seed removal. Furthermore, I explored the potential factors facilitating the coexistence of woody plants and elephants. I compared coarse woody debris production and the Coarse Woody Debris Profile between sites with and without elephants. Further, I assessed the consequences of tree toppling in the elephant present site at a patch scale to explore the possible cascading effects of elephants. Firstly, I showed that elephants impacted woody plants through branch/stem breakages and toppling of trees, but that effects vary for different categories of the Coarse Woody Debris Profile. This result confirms the most recent findings that woody plants are at risk from elephant herbivory in Karoo Thicket Mosaic habitat. The elephant toppling effect on these landscapes is largely influenced by plant growth form, with woody trees suffering high levels of elephant toppling than shrubs of comparable size. However, toppled Pappea capensis is able to persist from being toppled by elephants, either through coppicing or resprouting. Additionally, I showed that toppled trees form discrete patches on the landscape, with altered microclimate and browsing pressures. While I detected no significant effect of these changes on plant composition and abundance within these patches, these findings indicate the possible influence of elephants on facilitating plant recruitment and altering plant communities of thicket through toppling of trees. Moreover, I showed that elephant toppling of trees provide habitat patches for small mammals, thus affecting seed removal by vertebrates within patches. These changes had no discernable effect on soil seed banks. However, they highlight the need to better understand the temporal dynamics of these patches and implications for seed dynamics and plant communities on the landscape. The results show the patterns of elephant impacts on woody plants and possible cascading effects in the presence of elephants. Therefore, the study advances our understanding of top-down effects of elephants and shows the relevance of understanding these effects in order to effectively manage elephant impacts in different systems.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Physicians' perspectives on personal health records: a descriptive study
- Authors: Harmse, Magda Susanna
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Medical records -- Data processing , Medical records -- Management , Information storage and retrieval systems -- Hospitals , Personal information management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/6876 , vital:21156
- Description: A Personal Health Record (PHR) is an electronic record of a patient’s health-related information that is managed by the patient. The patient can give access to other parties, such as healthcare providers and family members, as they see fit. These parties can use the information in emergency situations, in order to help improve the patient’s healthcare. PHRs have an important role to play in ensuring that a patient’s complete health history is available to his healthcare providers at the point of care. This is especially true in South Africa, where the majority of healthcare organizations still rely on paper-based methods of record-keeping. Research indicates that physicians play an important role in encouraging the adoption of PHRs amongst patients. Whilst various studies have focused on the perceptions of South African citizens towards PHRs, to date no research has focused on the perceptions of South African physicians. Considering the importance of physicians in encouraging the adoption of PHRs, the problem being addressed by this research project thus relates to the lack of information relating to the perceptions of South African physicians of PHRs. Physicians with private practices at private hospitals in Port Elizabeth, South Africa were surveyed in order to determine their perceptions towards PHRs. Results indicate perceptions regarding benefits to the physician and the patient, as well as concerns to the physician and the patient. The levels of trust in various potential PHR providers and the potential uses of a PHR for the physician were also explored. The results of the survey were compared with the results of relevant international literature in order to describe the perceptions of physicians towards PHRs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Harmse, Magda Susanna
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Medical records -- Data processing , Medical records -- Management , Information storage and retrieval systems -- Hospitals , Personal information management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/6876 , vital:21156
- Description: A Personal Health Record (PHR) is an electronic record of a patient’s health-related information that is managed by the patient. The patient can give access to other parties, such as healthcare providers and family members, as they see fit. These parties can use the information in emergency situations, in order to help improve the patient’s healthcare. PHRs have an important role to play in ensuring that a patient’s complete health history is available to his healthcare providers at the point of care. This is especially true in South Africa, where the majority of healthcare organizations still rely on paper-based methods of record-keeping. Research indicates that physicians play an important role in encouraging the adoption of PHRs amongst patients. Whilst various studies have focused on the perceptions of South African citizens towards PHRs, to date no research has focused on the perceptions of South African physicians. Considering the importance of physicians in encouraging the adoption of PHRs, the problem being addressed by this research project thus relates to the lack of information relating to the perceptions of South African physicians of PHRs. Physicians with private practices at private hospitals in Port Elizabeth, South Africa were surveyed in order to determine their perceptions towards PHRs. Results indicate perceptions regarding benefits to the physician and the patient, as well as concerns to the physician and the patient. The levels of trust in various potential PHR providers and the potential uses of a PHR for the physician were also explored. The results of the survey were compared with the results of relevant international literature in order to describe the perceptions of physicians towards PHRs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Boundary demarcation and community identity concerns: an investigation of the Matatiele boundary dispute
- Authors: Tyabazayo, Phumlani
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Conflict management -- South Africa -- Matatiele , Identity politics -- South Africa -- Matatiele , Matatiele (South Africa) -- Boundaries
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: vital:8357 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021019
- Description: This treatise explores the Matatiele boundary demarcation dispute and, in particular, the role that unmet basic human needs play in this dispute. The subject of identity is also explored. In 2006, the government of South Africa decided that Matatiele should no longer be part of the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN) and instead should be incorporated into the province of the Eastern Cape. This decision divided the community of Matatiele into two groups; one was pro-KZN and the other, pro-Eastern Cape. In 2008, violence broke out between these two groups. The government’s decision and the resulting violence have created a situation of protracted conflict in the community of Matatiele with rivalries and antagonism being part of the fabric of the society. This treatise attempts to analyse this conflict and link it to the theory of basic human needs as advocated by conflict theorists such as John Burton and Johan Gultang. Human needs theorists hold the view that unmet psychological and physical needs are sources of social conflict and can lead to protracted conflict. This treatise also explores the efficacy of problem-solving workshops and referendums as conflict-resolution techniques for boundary demarcation disputes. The data were collected from unstructured, in-depth interviews with a sample of eleven respondents. The data indicate that there is a nexus between this conflict and the theory of basic human needs and that community-identity concerns are central to this dispute. The findings of this study suggest that the conflict is multi-faceted and that the underlying causes can be attributed to unmet human needs. The data was analysed using the grounded theory approach. This allowed the key causes of the conflict to be identified and subsequently informed the recommendations presented in the conclusion of this treatise.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Tyabazayo, Phumlani
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Conflict management -- South Africa -- Matatiele , Identity politics -- South Africa -- Matatiele , Matatiele (South Africa) -- Boundaries
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: vital:8357 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021019
- Description: This treatise explores the Matatiele boundary demarcation dispute and, in particular, the role that unmet basic human needs play in this dispute. The subject of identity is also explored. In 2006, the government of South Africa decided that Matatiele should no longer be part of the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN) and instead should be incorporated into the province of the Eastern Cape. This decision divided the community of Matatiele into two groups; one was pro-KZN and the other, pro-Eastern Cape. In 2008, violence broke out between these two groups. The government’s decision and the resulting violence have created a situation of protracted conflict in the community of Matatiele with rivalries and antagonism being part of the fabric of the society. This treatise attempts to analyse this conflict and link it to the theory of basic human needs as advocated by conflict theorists such as John Burton and Johan Gultang. Human needs theorists hold the view that unmet psychological and physical needs are sources of social conflict and can lead to protracted conflict. This treatise also explores the efficacy of problem-solving workshops and referendums as conflict-resolution techniques for boundary demarcation disputes. The data were collected from unstructured, in-depth interviews with a sample of eleven respondents. The data indicate that there is a nexus between this conflict and the theory of basic human needs and that community-identity concerns are central to this dispute. The findings of this study suggest that the conflict is multi-faceted and that the underlying causes can be attributed to unmet human needs. The data was analysed using the grounded theory approach. This allowed the key causes of the conflict to be identified and subsequently informed the recommendations presented in the conclusion of this treatise.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
GIS implementation as a decision support tool for planning and managing development interventions
- Authors: Jong, Yungong Theophilus
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Geographic information systems , Decision support systems , Enterprise resource planning , Spatial systems
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9257 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021227
- Description: The aim of this study is to examine key implementation and managerial issues surrounding the use of a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a Decisions Support Tool (DST) for planning and managing development interventions. Ever since the emergence of GIS as a powerful analytical tool in almost all spheres of human endeavour, many organisations involved in development work have adopted its use. But the challenges of conceiving and implementing a GIS in ways that are more responsive to the problems that trigger its purchase remains a daunting task to many development organisations; even those with a wealth of experience in GIS. This is one of the motivating factors for this study. In this research, some relevant themes in GIS implementation and GIS management as a Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) were examined in the literature review. A case study research strategy was used focusing on the experience of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Enterprise GIS (EGIS). The study examined how the system is been ran and what other development organisations can learn from this experience. Data was collected and analysed using a mixed research methods approach. The findings show a good level of GIS acceptance among municipality staff. However, running the system is not hitch free. A couple of problems and challenges were identified on the field. It is recommended that the municipality like most development organisations seeking GIS solutions should put the user at the centre of every technical innovation in GIS as a DST.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Jong, Yungong Theophilus
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Geographic information systems , Decision support systems , Enterprise resource planning , Spatial systems
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9257 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021227
- Description: The aim of this study is to examine key implementation and managerial issues surrounding the use of a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a Decisions Support Tool (DST) for planning and managing development interventions. Ever since the emergence of GIS as a powerful analytical tool in almost all spheres of human endeavour, many organisations involved in development work have adopted its use. But the challenges of conceiving and implementing a GIS in ways that are more responsive to the problems that trigger its purchase remains a daunting task to many development organisations; even those with a wealth of experience in GIS. This is one of the motivating factors for this study. In this research, some relevant themes in GIS implementation and GIS management as a Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) were examined in the literature review. A case study research strategy was used focusing on the experience of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Enterprise GIS (EGIS). The study examined how the system is been ran and what other development organisations can learn from this experience. Data was collected and analysed using a mixed research methods approach. The findings show a good level of GIS acceptance among municipality staff. However, running the system is not hitch free. A couple of problems and challenges were identified on the field. It is recommended that the municipality like most development organisations seeking GIS solutions should put the user at the centre of every technical innovation in GIS as a DST.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
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