Propagation and stress physiology of selected Subtropical Thicket species : towards increasing biodiversity at rehabilitation sites
- Authors: Louw, Merika
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Biodiversity conservation , Plant physiology , Stress (Physiology) , Plant propagation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10758 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021115
- Description: Sundays Thicket and Spekboomveld vegetation in the Eastern Cape have experienced intensive and extensive degradation due to over-browsing by domestic stock. The Subtropical Thicket Restoration Project aims to take advantage of the high carbon sequestration potential of Portulacaria afra (Spekboom) and other Thicket species, to rehabilitate degraded Thicket by restoring biodiversity and ecosystem services, create job opportunities and socio-economic upliftment in local communities, and promote the trade of carbon credits generated by planting and „farming‟ with Spekboom truncheons, rather than domestic stock. Plant material (seeds and length of stem) was sourced from the farm Krompoort, outside Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape. The effectiveness of four different rooting media i.e. plain pool filter sand and 1:1 mixtures of pool filter sand with perlite, potting soil and Thicket soil, on the rooting of ten Thicket species, were tested. Species with the greatest percentage strike and mean root length on stem cuttings were succulent species, Crassula ovata (84 percent strike) and Portulacaria afra (97 percent), as was expected. The application of rooting hormone Seradix© No. 3 did not significantly promote cutting strike or increase mean root length in C. ovata and P. afra. Woody canopy shrub species with the greatest cutting strike and mean root length, overall, were Rhigozum obovatum (24 percent), Lycium cinereum and L. oxycarpum (21 percent), and Searsia longispina (19 percent). These species, as well as Grewia robusta (4 percent), are considered „easy-to-root‟ species, or of sufficient functional value in terms of their spinescence, flower and fruit production, and soil-binding capabilities. Very low percentage strike (<1 percent) and mean root length were achieved in Azima tetracantha, Carissa bispinosa and Gymnosporia polyacantha subsp. polyacantha. These species are considered unsuitable for propagation for rehabilitation purposes. Crassula ovata, L. cinereum, L. oxycarpum, P. afra and S. longispina cuttings produced longer roots when planted in Thicket soil, the same having been found in R. obovatum cuttings planted in perlite. Thicket soil was, therefore, best at promoting cutting strike and root growth in „easy-to-root‟ species. Plain pool filter sand was the only medium in which A. tetracantha, C. bispinosa and G. robusta, cuttings rooted, and perlite the only medium in which G. polyacantha subsp. polyacantha cuttings rooted. Potting soil did not promote significant cutting strike or root growth in any of the species tested. Physiological variables i.e. photosynthetic efficiency (chlorophyll a fluorescence, Fv/Fm) and stomatal conductance (mmol H2O m-2 s-1) were measured for ten Thicket species, including Portulacaria afra. Control plants were watered well once a week, and treatment plants were dried out for 30 days, rewatered on the 30th day and their recovery from drought stress monitored for a further 17 days. Species that responded poorly to drought stress were Gymnosporia buxifolia and Putterlickia pyracantha. In addition to Portulacaria afra, species that showed the fastest recovery and resprout after rewatering, were: Crassula ovata, Ehretia rigida, Grewia robusta, Lycium ferocissimum, Rhigozum obovatum and Searsia longispina. These species produced the smallest decline in volumetric moisture content of soil, and had the lowest decline in photosynthetic efficiency and stomatal conductance during simulated drought. Unlike C. ovata and P. afra, which are CAM or C3-CAM switching species, mortality of transplants will most likely be high, if not total, during transplantation, as this study was done at lower light and temperature, and higher humidity levels than experienced at rehabilitation sites. This study has shown that the reintroduction of propagated woody canopy shrubs and trees into degraded Thicket sites does not appear to be a practical or economical method of actively restoring biodiversity to rehabilitation sites. As woody climax species have been shown to return to sites planted with Spekboom truncheons through „natural regeneration‟ within approximately 50 years, future research efforts should focus on optimising restoration site selection and planting techniques in order to maximize carbon sequestration potential of planted truncheons, which will, in the long term, result in an environment that can support regeneration of the biodiversity to something resembling intact Thicket.
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- Date Issued: 2012
The effect of restricted environments on selected postural, physiological and perceptual responses
- Authors: Wolfe, Amy
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Human engineering , Posture , Human mechanics , Work environment , Human beings -- Effect of environment on , Musculoskeletal system -- Wounds and injuries , Industrial safety , Work -- Physiological aspects , Stress (Physiology)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5115 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005193 , Human engineering , Posture , Human mechanics , Work environment , Human beings -- Effect of environment on , Musculoskeletal system -- Wounds and injuries , Industrial safety , Work -- Physiological aspects , Stress (Physiology)
- Description: Manual lifting tasks are the predominant means of transporting materials in industry with many of these tasks being performed in confined spaces. Research has tended to focus on the biomechanical implications of working in small spaces with a decided lack of information about the physiological and perceptual responses in these environments. This holistic study therefore investigated the manner in which the human operator responded to conditions where the ceiling height was lowered and reach demands increased. Thirty-two young physically active male subjects (age: 21.55yr; stature: 1810mm) were recruited to complete a 2-way repeated measures experiment during which four lifting protocols where different combinations of ceiling height (‘normal’ or reduced to 1460mm in height) and reach demands (400mm or 800mm) were tested. A crude postural analysis was conducted while physiological responses were detailed and continuously monitored. Perceptual responses were also assessed. The tasks with a ‘normal’ ceiling height (mean compression forces: 2615N; mean shearing forces: 388N) and the greatest reach distance (mean compression forces: 3655N; mean shearing forces: 386N) placed individuals under the highest strain. Mean heart rate (HR) responses were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the URN condition when compared to the RF condition. Furthermore, HR responses were statistically significantly affected by the height of the ceiling and the reach depth. Statistically significant differences (p< 0.05) in mean tidal volume (VT) occurred in the least (URN) and most (RF) restrictive conditions. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in mean VE were evident between URN and URF, between URN and RF and between RN and RF. Ceiling height and reach demands had a statistically significant effect on all respiratory responses. There was a statistically significant difference in mean oxygen consumption (VO2) between the URN and all other conditions, and between the most restricted task (RF) and all other conditions. Both the effect of ceiling height and reach demands had a statistically statistically significant impact on VO2. Respiratory quotient (RQ) was significantly higher when loads were moved over 800mm compared to 400mm yet ceiling height did not have a statistically significant effect on RQ. Mean energy expenditure was significantly higher in the RF condition compared to the two least restrictive conditions (URN and RN). Statistically significant differences in EE were also evident between URN and RN, and between URN and URF. EE was significantly affected by reductions in ceiling height and increases in reach demands. Perceptually, the RF task (mean ‘Central’ RPE of 11) was perceived to place significantly greater cardiorespiratory demands on the operator compared to the URN (CRPE: 10) and RN (CRPE: 10) conditions. Statistically significant differences in perceived musculoskeletal strain only occurred between URN and RF. The effect of reach was perceived to have a statistically significant effect on both cardiovascular and musculoskeletal demands whereas ceiling height only had a statistically significant effect on musculoskeletal demands. The greatest discomfort was experienced in the lower back with the most intense discomfort occurring in the RN condition.
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- Date Issued: 2008
The importance of personal and collective resources in coping with stressors related to industrial action at the Coldstream sawmill
- Authors: Besseling, Elizabeth Anne
- Date: 1999
- Subjects: Stress (Psychology) , Stress (Physiology) , Industrial relations -- South Africa -- Case studies , Coldstream (South africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2932 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002441 , Stress (Psychology) , Stress (Physiology) , Industrial relations -- South Africa -- Case studies , Coldstream (South africa)
- Description: The main purpose of the study is to investigate whether the stress response moderators served as effective variables in reducing the stress of the strike. For instance, if individuals differ in' their ability to actualise resources, does someone with a high SOC utilise friendships or supportive relationships more than someone with a low SOC? Does someone who has a high score for religious practice become less depressed when faced with a significant stressor than someone less involved in church activities?
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- Date Issued: 1999