Vulnerability assessment of wetland ecosystems to water demand, climate variability and land-use/cover change: The case of Die Vlei wetland, Eastern Cape province, South Africa
- Authors: Gwena, Kudzanai Rosebud https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1032-8937
- Date: 2021-09
- Subjects: Water-supply , Climate change mitigation
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/22688 , vital:52656
- Description: Water scarcity is a major challenge in many different countries, particularly arid and or semi-arid like South Africa. Wetlands are one of the freshwater ecosystems that may assist in alleviating water scarcity because they are valuable not only as a water source for humans but also as an ecosystem of animals and plant species. However, wetlands have been experiencing rapid rates of vulnerability/risk due to alterations by population growth leading to enhanced water demand, climate variability, and human activities leading to land cover/land-use changes. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) are less financially taxing methods useful in studying water scarcity, as shown in this study. The study begins with a literature review presentation based on a desk study from predominantly academic publications and additional municipal and consultancy reports on the wetland ecosystem’s vulnerability/risk and focuses on applying GIS & RS in related studies. After that, the study conducts a vulnerability assessment using the Ramsar Convention’s wetland vulnerability assessment using the theoretical framework stages using GIS and RS technologies. The study hypothesizes that water demand, climate variability, and land-use/cover changes (LULC) are the tri-factor responsible for wetland vulnerability. It begins the assessment by first quantifying wetland water demand using the wetland water budget, ecosystem services and the Penman-Montheith-FAO (ETo) evapotranspiration index. Secondly, objectively representing climate variability on wetland vulnerability using trend analysis to measure rainfall and temperature variability. Thirdly, reconstructing LULC changes from multi-date remotely sensed SPOT imagery over ten years from 2007 to 2017 to identify and monitor impacts of trends. The vulnerability was assessed through a Principle Component Analysis (PCA) that identified relevant variables and Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE) to evaluate the wetland’s exposure. The study concludes that there is evidence of a possible increase in water demand whilst climate variability, which is estimated to have a 39% contribution to the wetland dynamics, is characterised by a decrease in precipitation and an increase in temperatures. Lastly, LULC trends showed a marked increase in domestic and commercial farming, and farming has been identified as a wetland stressor of note. , Thesis (MPhil) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-09
The Management of grey literature in academic libraries in the Eastern Cape: a case study of the theses and dissertations at Howard Pim library at the University of Fort Hare
- Authors: Mavuso, Mzwandile Lawrence https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7898-3965
- Date: 2015-09
- Subjects: Grey literature
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/25327 , vital:64145
- Description: The aim of this study was to investigate the management of grey literature in academic libraries in the Eastern Cape with special reference to the Howard Pim Library of Africana. The study intended to achieve the following objectives: describing to what extent is GL being acquired at UFH’s Howard Pim library; describing how the processing of GL is being done; explaining how access to GL is facilitated; assessing the preservation of the GL; explaining the importance of GL in research; determining how GL is shared among academic libraries within SEALS; and establishing challenges faced by the integration of GL in the SEALS consortium, all of which spring from a premise of how GL could be managed in academic libraries in the Eastern Cape. This investigation used a case study approach. The methodology used was a qualitative research approach which according to Leedy (1985: 101) and Merriam (2002) is used to answer questions about the complex nature of the phenomenon being studied. He further states that its purpose is to describe and understand the phenomenon from the point of view of the participants. The researcher used questionnaires, interviews, and observation processes to collect data in order to analyze it, and discuss the findings. The study revealed that the theses & dissertations collection are the only GL materials that were actively acquired and processed at the HPL and these were accessed by consulting the OPAC. However, other than T&D there is a bulk of unprocessed GL that remains inaccessible. Despite being invaluable research resource the GL is under threat of deterioration because of lack of preservation mechanisms. As a result of inaccessibility it cannot be shared or integrated within the SEALS consortium. Given the above, it is recommended that the library should lobby the university management for funding to establish the necessary infrastructure, training staff and users on management of GL and hire competent professionally qualified staff; to further research in this area as well as formulate and implement policies relevant to the efficient and effective management of GL. , Thesis (MLIS) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2015
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- Date Issued: 2015-09
Perceptions of social media as a tool for research: a study of postgraduate students, University of Fort Hare, Alice campus
- Authors: Abolanle, Ogunnubi Adeyemi
- Date: 2014-10
- Subjects: University of Fort Hare , Media literacy , Internet research
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26381 , vital:65299
- Description: The study aimed at examining the perceptions of social media as a tool for research among postgraduate students at the University of Fort Hare, Alice campus. Data were collected using a quantitative research approach by administering structured questionnaires to 310 postgraduate students under the cluster sampling across different faculties and departments, and analysed by SPSS Statistical software and Chi-square test. 264 questionnaires were returned for analysis and these respondents maintained that they utilized social media platforms for their academic research. The findings further revealed that social media has to a large extent improved students‟ research activities as they frequently seek practical knowledge for demonstration and tutorship. Furthermore, the respondents regard social media as a good platform for research topics in audio and video formats, scholarly articles, journals and books. This study concluded that since students explore the social media platforms and search engines for various reasons, academic research inclusive, it therefore becomes imperative to create more links within the social media for students to explore books, scholarly journals and articles necessary for research and academic purposes. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2014
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- Date Issued: 2014-10