Exploring grade 11 learners’ mathematical problem-solving skills using Polka’s model during the learning of Euclidean geometry
- Authors: Hlupeni, Ratham
- Date: 2024-04-05
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/436465 , vital:73274
- Description: The skill of Problem-solving in Mathematics is very imperative. Poor performance by most South African learners in schools and international tests such as the Trends in International Mathematics and Science, calls for emphasis to be placed on problem-solving in the teaching and learning of Mathematics. Euclidean Geometry is perceived, especially by learners, to be one of the difficult components of Mathematics. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore and develop the mathematical problem-solving and geometric skills of Grade 11 learners in Euclidean Geometry. Polya’s model of problem-solving was employed in geometric skills development as a tool for intervention. The concepts Geometry and problem-solving formed the conceptual framework of the study, while the social cognitive theory constituted the theoretical framework. A case study was used as the main research method following a mixed method approach within an interpretivist paradigm. Purposive and convenience sampling methods were used in the selection of both the Mathematics class and the six learners whose work was further observed and analysed. Data about the geometric skills displayed by the learners was gathered using a moderated pre-intervention test; observations; document analysis; a moderated post-intervention test; and focus group interviews. Data was analysed quantitatively using descriptive statistics and qualitatively using thematic analysis. In the pre-intervention test, learners did not bring with them expected geometric skills to the classroom before they were introduced to grade11 Geometry content and when doing problem-solving during intervention, the four stages of model used were not necessarily following each other in a linear sequence with most of the learners not applying the fourth stage “look back”. In the post intervention test, the frequency of use and application of most geometric skills improved in comparison to the pre-intervention test; the frequency of correct and inappropriate application of the skills increased at the expense of incorrect application. Learners appreciated the four stages model and gave their views related to the challenged faced during the use of the four stages model and the challenges revealed include: practice related challenges, challenges specific to certain learners, concept related challenges, curriculum-related challenges, model application challenge, and context related challenges. The study concludes that the effective use of Polyas’ four stages model can yield great results in developing learners’ geometric and problem-solving skills. The study recommends that teachers give more attention to prior geometric knowledge, teaching of geometric theorems, teaching of geometric problem-solving, and the learning environment. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Secondary and Post School Education, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-04-05
- Authors: Hlupeni, Ratham
- Date: 2024-04-05
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/436465 , vital:73274
- Description: The skill of Problem-solving in Mathematics is very imperative. Poor performance by most South African learners in schools and international tests such as the Trends in International Mathematics and Science, calls for emphasis to be placed on problem-solving in the teaching and learning of Mathematics. Euclidean Geometry is perceived, especially by learners, to be one of the difficult components of Mathematics. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore and develop the mathematical problem-solving and geometric skills of Grade 11 learners in Euclidean Geometry. Polya’s model of problem-solving was employed in geometric skills development as a tool for intervention. The concepts Geometry and problem-solving formed the conceptual framework of the study, while the social cognitive theory constituted the theoretical framework. A case study was used as the main research method following a mixed method approach within an interpretivist paradigm. Purposive and convenience sampling methods were used in the selection of both the Mathematics class and the six learners whose work was further observed and analysed. Data about the geometric skills displayed by the learners was gathered using a moderated pre-intervention test; observations; document analysis; a moderated post-intervention test; and focus group interviews. Data was analysed quantitatively using descriptive statistics and qualitatively using thematic analysis. In the pre-intervention test, learners did not bring with them expected geometric skills to the classroom before they were introduced to grade11 Geometry content and when doing problem-solving during intervention, the four stages of model used were not necessarily following each other in a linear sequence with most of the learners not applying the fourth stage “look back”. In the post intervention test, the frequency of use and application of most geometric skills improved in comparison to the pre-intervention test; the frequency of correct and inappropriate application of the skills increased at the expense of incorrect application. Learners appreciated the four stages model and gave their views related to the challenged faced during the use of the four stages model and the challenges revealed include: practice related challenges, challenges specific to certain learners, concept related challenges, curriculum-related challenges, model application challenge, and context related challenges. The study concludes that the effective use of Polyas’ four stages model can yield great results in developing learners’ geometric and problem-solving skills. The study recommends that teachers give more attention to prior geometric knowledge, teaching of geometric theorems, teaching of geometric problem-solving, and the learning environment. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Secondary and Post School Education, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-04-05
Paul and the soul: an analysis of the Apostle’s anthropology
- Authors: Pluke, Dylan Hay
- Date: 2024-04-04
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/435506 , vital:73164
- Description: It may be no exaggeration to say that every aspect of the Apostle Paul’s thought is debated. This is certainly the case for his anthropology, which is to say his beliefs regarding the nature of the human person. There is intense debate concerning what Paul believed about the human person. This is especially so when arguing about whether or not Paul believed in a human soul. In the thesis that follows, I use a linguistic analysis of Paul’s writings as well as those of two of his putative backgrounds, to determine what he believed regarding the nature of the human soul. The results of this analysis are that, of the potential backgrounds that may have influenced the Apostle, the Jewish background into which he was born is the most pertinent, and that neither of the two words that Paul uses mean soul, in the sense of something which is immaterial and survives death. Rather, the psyche refers to one’s life, and the pneuma to the part of the person that connects one with God and which will replace the psyche and animate the person in the new age to come. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Languages and Literatures, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-04-04
- Authors: Pluke, Dylan Hay
- Date: 2024-04-04
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/435506 , vital:73164
- Description: It may be no exaggeration to say that every aspect of the Apostle Paul’s thought is debated. This is certainly the case for his anthropology, which is to say his beliefs regarding the nature of the human person. There is intense debate concerning what Paul believed about the human person. This is especially so when arguing about whether or not Paul believed in a human soul. In the thesis that follows, I use a linguistic analysis of Paul’s writings as well as those of two of his putative backgrounds, to determine what he believed regarding the nature of the human soul. The results of this analysis are that, of the potential backgrounds that may have influenced the Apostle, the Jewish background into which he was born is the most pertinent, and that neither of the two words that Paul uses mean soul, in the sense of something which is immaterial and survives death. Rather, the psyche refers to one’s life, and the pneuma to the part of the person that connects one with God and which will replace the psyche and animate the person in the new age to come. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Languages and Literatures, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-04-04
Kenyan comedy: transmogrifying stereotypes and fashioning a ‘Kenyanness’ of aesthetic escapism
- Authors: Lumasia, Patrick Chesi
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Comedy in popular culture Kenya , Stereotypes (Social psychology) , Kenyans Attitudes , Kenyans Humor , Escapism , Aesthetics in popular culture
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/432477 , vital:72874 , DOI 10.21504/10962/432477
- Description: Despite the proliferation of stereotypes in Kenyan comedy, little research exists to show the two intersect to shape a peculiar notion of ‘Kenyanness’. Indeed, Kenyan comedy, besides reproducing and playing on the quotidian and the historical, is heavily invested with ethnic and gender stereotypes that reflect the Kenyan milieu as it intersects with the global. This comedy is oftentimes seen by some critics as detrimental to Kenyan society because it supposedly shapes and reinforces ethnic and/or gender relations in the country. However, this study contends that Kenyan comedy is open to multiple interpretations and meaning contestations that are not necessarily clear to the comedians and audiences due to the asymmetry that abounds between the production and consumption ends of the comedy’s spectrum. The comedy is therefore ambivalent. This research seeks to demonstrate that Kenyan comedy—as a form of entertainment and critique of society—does not seek to fix and reify Kenyan identities. Instead, the comedy frees these identities from the presumed vice-hold, constricting world of stereotypes by disrupting the linearity of the stereotypes, thereby unsettling the hierarchical structure of hegemonic ideology embedded in them through postmodern humour: a form of humour amenable to postmodern sensibilities. To this end, the comedy offers Kenyans momentary escape into a comedic utopia, through which, they address pertinent issues affecting their nationhood, even as they endeavor to fashion a ‘Kenyanness’ of aesthetic escapism that is celebratory of the country’s rich socio-cultural diversity. The study employs Jörg Schweinitz’s (2011) stereotype theory and the postpositivist realist theory of identity in its study of stand-up, scripted episodic and topical comedy as transposed on to YouTube. Specifically, the thesis considers: the Churchill Show (2012 – 2022) that aired on NTV; 2012–2022; The Real Househelps of Kawangware (2014–2021) on KTN/NTV; Auntie Boss (2016–2021) on NTV; The Wicked Edition and The Trending Trend Talkers (2014–). , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, Literary Studies in English, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
- Authors: Lumasia, Patrick Chesi
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Comedy in popular culture Kenya , Stereotypes (Social psychology) , Kenyans Attitudes , Kenyans Humor , Escapism , Aesthetics in popular culture
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/432477 , vital:72874 , DOI 10.21504/10962/432477
- Description: Despite the proliferation of stereotypes in Kenyan comedy, little research exists to show the two intersect to shape a peculiar notion of ‘Kenyanness’. Indeed, Kenyan comedy, besides reproducing and playing on the quotidian and the historical, is heavily invested with ethnic and gender stereotypes that reflect the Kenyan milieu as it intersects with the global. This comedy is oftentimes seen by some critics as detrimental to Kenyan society because it supposedly shapes and reinforces ethnic and/or gender relations in the country. However, this study contends that Kenyan comedy is open to multiple interpretations and meaning contestations that are not necessarily clear to the comedians and audiences due to the asymmetry that abounds between the production and consumption ends of the comedy’s spectrum. The comedy is therefore ambivalent. This research seeks to demonstrate that Kenyan comedy—as a form of entertainment and critique of society—does not seek to fix and reify Kenyan identities. Instead, the comedy frees these identities from the presumed vice-hold, constricting world of stereotypes by disrupting the linearity of the stereotypes, thereby unsettling the hierarchical structure of hegemonic ideology embedded in them through postmodern humour: a form of humour amenable to postmodern sensibilities. To this end, the comedy offers Kenyans momentary escape into a comedic utopia, through which, they address pertinent issues affecting their nationhood, even as they endeavor to fashion a ‘Kenyanness’ of aesthetic escapism that is celebratory of the country’s rich socio-cultural diversity. The study employs Jörg Schweinitz’s (2011) stereotype theory and the postpositivist realist theory of identity in its study of stand-up, scripted episodic and topical comedy as transposed on to YouTube. Specifically, the thesis considers: the Churchill Show (2012 – 2022) that aired on NTV; 2012–2022; The Real Househelps of Kawangware (2014–2021) on KTN/NTV; Auntie Boss (2016–2021) on NTV; The Wicked Edition and The Trending Trend Talkers (2014–). , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, Literary Studies in English, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
Guidelines for designing personal health dashboards
- Authors: Chabana, Chabana Ernst
- Date: 2022-11
- Subjects: Dashboards (Management information systems) , Information visualization , Medical informatics , Digital health , Design manual
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/419137 , vital:71619
- Description: The healthcare industry is realising the value of providing ordinary individuals with their personal health data for self-care and self-management purposes, however, these individuals are faced with the challenge of going through, understanding and extracting insights from large volumes of complex personal health data. A dashboard (coupled with data visualization) is regarded as a suitable way to present personal health data effectively, to inform self-care and self- management-based decisions. However, there is no homogeneous (i.e. “one-size-fits-all”) approach to designing dashboards; therefore, this research aimed at creating a set of design guidelines that can be used as a foundation for tailoring dashboards that support the presentation of personal health data. The Design Science Research methodology was used to systematically develop and evaluate the set of dashboard design guidelines. Within this methodology, literature was reviewed and focus groups with participants were conducted to extract insights and inform the development of the initial set (proposed) design guidelines. The proposed design guidelines were then used to develop a medium-fidelity personal health dashboard prototype. Usability testing with the dashboard prototype was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and utility of these design guidelines. The evaluation provided insights that strengthened the quality of the design guidelines. The evaluation indicated that the proposed set of guidelines are suitable for designing a dashboard that presents personal health data effectively. These design guidelines can be adapted in order to inform the process of tailoring dashboards for accommodating different personal health data presentation needs. , Thesis (MCOM) -- Faculty of Commerce, Information Systems, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-11
- Authors: Chabana, Chabana Ernst
- Date: 2022-11
- Subjects: Dashboards (Management information systems) , Information visualization , Medical informatics , Digital health , Design manual
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/419137 , vital:71619
- Description: The healthcare industry is realising the value of providing ordinary individuals with their personal health data for self-care and self-management purposes, however, these individuals are faced with the challenge of going through, understanding and extracting insights from large volumes of complex personal health data. A dashboard (coupled with data visualization) is regarded as a suitable way to present personal health data effectively, to inform self-care and self- management-based decisions. However, there is no homogeneous (i.e. “one-size-fits-all”) approach to designing dashboards; therefore, this research aimed at creating a set of design guidelines that can be used as a foundation for tailoring dashboards that support the presentation of personal health data. The Design Science Research methodology was used to systematically develop and evaluate the set of dashboard design guidelines. Within this methodology, literature was reviewed and focus groups with participants were conducted to extract insights and inform the development of the initial set (proposed) design guidelines. The proposed design guidelines were then used to develop a medium-fidelity personal health dashboard prototype. Usability testing with the dashboard prototype was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and utility of these design guidelines. The evaluation provided insights that strengthened the quality of the design guidelines. The evaluation indicated that the proposed set of guidelines are suitable for designing a dashboard that presents personal health data effectively. These design guidelines can be adapted in order to inform the process of tailoring dashboards for accommodating different personal health data presentation needs. , Thesis (MCOM) -- Faculty of Commerce, Information Systems, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-11
An African language in the public sphere – the use of isiZulu on Yilungelo Lakho online platforms
- Authors: Bramdeo, Aasra
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Zulu language , News Web sites South Africa , South African Broadcasting Corporation , Facebook (Firm) , Social media and journalism South Africa , Public sphere South Africa , Mass media and language South Africa , Yilungelo Lakho
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405919 , vital:70219
- Description: The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is mandated as the public broadcaster to provide news content in all South Africa’s official languages. While this has been a challenge on traditional broadcast platforms, online resources, such as social media pages, present an opportunity for the SABC to support the creation and sharing of content in African languages. With relatively little national news and current affairs content available online in indigenous languages, this study investigates the way that SABC News online offerings in the isiZulu language have the potential to contribute to public debates in terms of Habermas’ concept of a public sphere and its adaptation to the online domain, taking into consideration scholarly critiques of its suitability in the African context. The SABC News Current Affairs programme Yilungelo Lakho serves as a case study to examine the potential for the SABC to share African-language news content online. The programme is broadcast primarily in the Nguni languages, and the online audience on Facebook often choose to respond in isiZulu or other African languages. Semi-structured indepth interviews were conducted with three members of the production team and three contributors to the Facebook page. A textual analysis of Facebook posts across 13 episodes, with a total of 497 comments from 306 online contributors highlights the manner in which online interaction promotes or hampers the inclusion of isiZulu speakers in SABC News and Current Affairs discussions, rational deliberation on the SABC Current Affairs programme, and fragmentation and overlap across different online platforms. While multilingual interactions on the Yilungelo Lakho Facebook page make for complex curation, the findings suggest the need for African language content to support public discussions and point to an opportunity for the public broadcaster to fulfil its mandate. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Journalism and Media Studies, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
- Authors: Bramdeo, Aasra
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Zulu language , News Web sites South Africa , South African Broadcasting Corporation , Facebook (Firm) , Social media and journalism South Africa , Public sphere South Africa , Mass media and language South Africa , Yilungelo Lakho
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405919 , vital:70219
- Description: The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is mandated as the public broadcaster to provide news content in all South Africa’s official languages. While this has been a challenge on traditional broadcast platforms, online resources, such as social media pages, present an opportunity for the SABC to support the creation and sharing of content in African languages. With relatively little national news and current affairs content available online in indigenous languages, this study investigates the way that SABC News online offerings in the isiZulu language have the potential to contribute to public debates in terms of Habermas’ concept of a public sphere and its adaptation to the online domain, taking into consideration scholarly critiques of its suitability in the African context. The SABC News Current Affairs programme Yilungelo Lakho serves as a case study to examine the potential for the SABC to share African-language news content online. The programme is broadcast primarily in the Nguni languages, and the online audience on Facebook often choose to respond in isiZulu or other African languages. Semi-structured indepth interviews were conducted with three members of the production team and three contributors to the Facebook page. A textual analysis of Facebook posts across 13 episodes, with a total of 497 comments from 306 online contributors highlights the manner in which online interaction promotes or hampers the inclusion of isiZulu speakers in SABC News and Current Affairs discussions, rational deliberation on the SABC Current Affairs programme, and fragmentation and overlap across different online platforms. While multilingual interactions on the Yilungelo Lakho Facebook page make for complex curation, the findings suggest the need for African language content to support public discussions and point to an opportunity for the public broadcaster to fulfil its mandate. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Journalism and Media Studies, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Demersal fish distribution in the shallow marine nearshore and estuarine seascape of Algoa Bay: Nursery areas and the effect of environmental drivers
- Authors: Nodo, Phakama
- Date: 2022-04-08
- Subjects: Groundfishes South Africa Algoa Bay , Estuarine fishes South Africa Algoa Bay , Marine nurseries South Africa Algoa Bay , Estuarine fishes Habitat South Africa Algoa Bay , Estuarine fishes Physiology South Africa Algoa Bay , Estuarine fishes Effect of pollution on South Africa Algoa Bay , Estuarine fishes Larvae South Africa Algoa Bay , Estuarine fishes Effect of human beings on South Africa Algoa Bay
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral thesis , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/232399 , vital:49988 , DOI 10.21504/10962/232399
- Description: Estuaries and shallow marine nearshore areas are highly productive and valuable ecosystems, which provide numerous habitats for fish and support fundamental ecological links with other environments. Assessing fish distribution across estuarine and marine nearshore habitats is important to identify ecologically important habitats and develop effective management strategies for coastal fishes, many of which are important fishery species. Despite this, only a few studies have focussed on fish community patterns across an estuary and marine nearshore gradient concurrently, particularly including early life history stages, to determine the nursery value of both environments, and to examine whether these two coastal environments have distinct fish assemblages in relation to physical factors. The main aim of this study was to assess the environmental drivers of demersal fish communities in soft-bottom benthic habitats in two permanently open estuaries and adjacent marine nearshore areas (5 – 10 m) of Algoa Bay, South Africa, as well as to assess the relative roles of these two habitats as settlement and nursery areas for demersal fish species. A 1.5 m, conical shoeless beam trawl net was used to sample the demersal fish community concurrently in each habitat between July 2017 and September 2019. Sampling was conducted in July 2017, February, March, May, July, August, October and November 2019 and February, April and September 2019. DNA barcoding was used to verify identification of the early life history stages of fish caught in the estuarine and marine nearshore areas of Algoa Bay. In addition, since the two estuaries (Swartkops and Sundays) are heavily polluted, the effect of low dissolved oxygen and hypoxia and associated shifts in spatial distribution of demersal species was investigated. The two sampled estuaries had a higher abundance of demersal fishes, with a total of 6437 fishes (28 species) caught (3752 and 2685 individuals with 24 and 20 species recorded in the Sundays and Swartkops estuaries, respectively). Species richness was higher in the marine nearshore of Algoa Bay, with 29 species (797 individuals) caught. Of the 7234 individuals caught, the identification of 100 specimens, in either a larval or early juvenile phase, were uncertain and therefore DNA barcoding was used to verify their identification. Of these 100 individuals, 86 were positively identified to species level using COI sequences. Fourteen failed to amplify by PCR and could only be identified morphologically. The marine nearshore sites were dominated by species which spawn in the marine environment and are not dependent on estuaries (marine species and marine estuary-opportunists), whilst the estuaries were dominated by estuarine spawners or marine spawners dependent on estuaries to some degree. Two discrete demersal fish assemblages were identified representing the marine nearshore and the estuary, with no significant differences observed between the two estuaries (Sundays and Swartkops). The differences observed between the marine nearshore and estuary were mostly driven by salinity, turbidity, silt and organic content of the sediment. These distinct fish assemblages might be considered as indicators for the respective environments they inhabit. Both habitats were dominated by early life history stages (larvae to juveniles), indicating the nursery function of both habitats. Early life stages collectively comprised 97% of the catch in the marine nearshore and 68% in the estuary. Young-of-the-year (YOY) juveniles (< 1-year-old juveniles) and transformation stages (when changes in body shape and pigment pattern occur) dominated the total catch in the marine nearshore, while YOY juveniles dominated the estuarine fish assemblages. Ariidae Galeichthys feliceps, Haemulidae Pomadasys olivaceus, Sciaenidae Argyrosomus inodorus and Cynoglossidae Cynoglossus zanzibarensis, comprised the largest proportion of YOY juveniles in the marine nearshore. The transformation stage in the marine nearshore was numerically dominated by P. olivaceus and G. feliceps. In the estuarine environment, YOY juveniles were mostly dominated by Sparidae Rhabdosargus holubi, Soleidae Heteromycteris capensis and Gobiidae Caffrogobius gilchristi. The greatest abundance of early life stage fishes was observed in the lower reaches of the Sundays Estuary and the upper reaches of the Swartkops Estuary, as well as nearshore sites located in close proximity to the estuary mouths, particularly during spring and summer. Despite the fact that these coastal ecosystems are important nursery areas, they are threatened by a number of factors, including habitat loss and modification due to urban development, intensification of agriculture and subsequent eutrophication, climate change, and overfishing, all of which reduce ecosystem functioning and reduce the ecological and economic value of these habitats around the world. Hypoxia is one of the major threats to the functioning of coastal ecosystems, particularly estuaries. The Sundays and Swartkops estuaries both experience persistent eutrophic conditions, with frequent phytoplankton blooms (> 20 μg Chl-a l-1) that result in instances of bottom water oxygen depletion (< 4 mg/l). During the present study in the Sundays Estuary, low oxygen waters were recorded in the middle reaches (Site S5) mostly during summer (four months of low DO conditions). In the Swartkops Estuary, low dissolved oxygen was recorded in the upper reaches during spring. The lowest dissolved oxygen concentration recorded was 0.5 mg/l and 2.4 mg/l in the bottom waters of the Sundays and Swartkops estuaries, respectively. Selected dominant species were only absent from areas where dissolved oxygen was < 1 mg/l and present in the adjacent sites (for example Site S4, and S3) where DO was higher mostly during January 2019. As such, the low dissolved oxygen concentrations recorded in the Swartkops Estuary did not have a noticeable impact on fish distribution, although the total abundance of species did show a slight decline when dissolved oxygen was < 3 mg/l. This study demonstrates the importance of concurrently examining estuarine and nearshore marine habitats in order to identify ecologically important habitats, which has important implications for the development of effective management strategies for coastal fish populations, particularly in the light of anthropogenic change. In addition, in order to identify nursery hotspots it is crucial to correctly identify all the species occupying these areas. As such, this study confirms the importance of also using DNA barcoding for fish identification, particularly for the early life history stages of cryptic species (e.g. Argyrosomus inodorus and Argyrosomus japonicus). , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Ichthyology & Fisheries Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04-08
- Authors: Nodo, Phakama
- Date: 2022-04-08
- Subjects: Groundfishes South Africa Algoa Bay , Estuarine fishes South Africa Algoa Bay , Marine nurseries South Africa Algoa Bay , Estuarine fishes Habitat South Africa Algoa Bay , Estuarine fishes Physiology South Africa Algoa Bay , Estuarine fishes Effect of pollution on South Africa Algoa Bay , Estuarine fishes Larvae South Africa Algoa Bay , Estuarine fishes Effect of human beings on South Africa Algoa Bay
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral thesis , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/232399 , vital:49988 , DOI 10.21504/10962/232399
- Description: Estuaries and shallow marine nearshore areas are highly productive and valuable ecosystems, which provide numerous habitats for fish and support fundamental ecological links with other environments. Assessing fish distribution across estuarine and marine nearshore habitats is important to identify ecologically important habitats and develop effective management strategies for coastal fishes, many of which are important fishery species. Despite this, only a few studies have focussed on fish community patterns across an estuary and marine nearshore gradient concurrently, particularly including early life history stages, to determine the nursery value of both environments, and to examine whether these two coastal environments have distinct fish assemblages in relation to physical factors. The main aim of this study was to assess the environmental drivers of demersal fish communities in soft-bottom benthic habitats in two permanently open estuaries and adjacent marine nearshore areas (5 – 10 m) of Algoa Bay, South Africa, as well as to assess the relative roles of these two habitats as settlement and nursery areas for demersal fish species. A 1.5 m, conical shoeless beam trawl net was used to sample the demersal fish community concurrently in each habitat between July 2017 and September 2019. Sampling was conducted in July 2017, February, March, May, July, August, October and November 2019 and February, April and September 2019. DNA barcoding was used to verify identification of the early life history stages of fish caught in the estuarine and marine nearshore areas of Algoa Bay. In addition, since the two estuaries (Swartkops and Sundays) are heavily polluted, the effect of low dissolved oxygen and hypoxia and associated shifts in spatial distribution of demersal species was investigated. The two sampled estuaries had a higher abundance of demersal fishes, with a total of 6437 fishes (28 species) caught (3752 and 2685 individuals with 24 and 20 species recorded in the Sundays and Swartkops estuaries, respectively). Species richness was higher in the marine nearshore of Algoa Bay, with 29 species (797 individuals) caught. Of the 7234 individuals caught, the identification of 100 specimens, in either a larval or early juvenile phase, were uncertain and therefore DNA barcoding was used to verify their identification. Of these 100 individuals, 86 were positively identified to species level using COI sequences. Fourteen failed to amplify by PCR and could only be identified morphologically. The marine nearshore sites were dominated by species which spawn in the marine environment and are not dependent on estuaries (marine species and marine estuary-opportunists), whilst the estuaries were dominated by estuarine spawners or marine spawners dependent on estuaries to some degree. Two discrete demersal fish assemblages were identified representing the marine nearshore and the estuary, with no significant differences observed between the two estuaries (Sundays and Swartkops). The differences observed between the marine nearshore and estuary were mostly driven by salinity, turbidity, silt and organic content of the sediment. These distinct fish assemblages might be considered as indicators for the respective environments they inhabit. Both habitats were dominated by early life history stages (larvae to juveniles), indicating the nursery function of both habitats. Early life stages collectively comprised 97% of the catch in the marine nearshore and 68% in the estuary. Young-of-the-year (YOY) juveniles (< 1-year-old juveniles) and transformation stages (when changes in body shape and pigment pattern occur) dominated the total catch in the marine nearshore, while YOY juveniles dominated the estuarine fish assemblages. Ariidae Galeichthys feliceps, Haemulidae Pomadasys olivaceus, Sciaenidae Argyrosomus inodorus and Cynoglossidae Cynoglossus zanzibarensis, comprised the largest proportion of YOY juveniles in the marine nearshore. The transformation stage in the marine nearshore was numerically dominated by P. olivaceus and G. feliceps. In the estuarine environment, YOY juveniles were mostly dominated by Sparidae Rhabdosargus holubi, Soleidae Heteromycteris capensis and Gobiidae Caffrogobius gilchristi. The greatest abundance of early life stage fishes was observed in the lower reaches of the Sundays Estuary and the upper reaches of the Swartkops Estuary, as well as nearshore sites located in close proximity to the estuary mouths, particularly during spring and summer. Despite the fact that these coastal ecosystems are important nursery areas, they are threatened by a number of factors, including habitat loss and modification due to urban development, intensification of agriculture and subsequent eutrophication, climate change, and overfishing, all of which reduce ecosystem functioning and reduce the ecological and economic value of these habitats around the world. Hypoxia is one of the major threats to the functioning of coastal ecosystems, particularly estuaries. The Sundays and Swartkops estuaries both experience persistent eutrophic conditions, with frequent phytoplankton blooms (> 20 μg Chl-a l-1) that result in instances of bottom water oxygen depletion (< 4 mg/l). During the present study in the Sundays Estuary, low oxygen waters were recorded in the middle reaches (Site S5) mostly during summer (four months of low DO conditions). In the Swartkops Estuary, low dissolved oxygen was recorded in the upper reaches during spring. The lowest dissolved oxygen concentration recorded was 0.5 mg/l and 2.4 mg/l in the bottom waters of the Sundays and Swartkops estuaries, respectively. Selected dominant species were only absent from areas where dissolved oxygen was < 1 mg/l and present in the adjacent sites (for example Site S4, and S3) where DO was higher mostly during January 2019. As such, the low dissolved oxygen concentrations recorded in the Swartkops Estuary did not have a noticeable impact on fish distribution, although the total abundance of species did show a slight decline when dissolved oxygen was < 3 mg/l. This study demonstrates the importance of concurrently examining estuarine and nearshore marine habitats in order to identify ecologically important habitats, which has important implications for the development of effective management strategies for coastal fish populations, particularly in the light of anthropogenic change. In addition, in order to identify nursery hotspots it is crucial to correctly identify all the species occupying these areas. As such, this study confirms the importance of also using DNA barcoding for fish identification, particularly for the early life history stages of cryptic species (e.g. Argyrosomus inodorus and Argyrosomus japonicus). , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Ichthyology & Fisheries Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04-08
An investigation into the extent to which grade 12 Mechanical Technology (MT) curriculum practices relate to the Green Economy: A case study of two Eastern Cape technical high schools
- Authors: Mkaza, Mcebisi W
- Date: 2021-10-29
- Subjects: Technology Study and teaching South Africa Eastern Cape , Environmental education South Africa Eastern Cape , Curriculum evaluation South Africa Eastern Cape , Teachers In-service training South Africa Eastern Cape , Mechanical Technology , Green Economy , Practice Architecture Theory
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/191997 , vital:45186
- Description: South Africa’s transition towards a green economy presents opportunities to create resourceful jobs that promote sustainable living in the long term. The country’s educational sector is mandated to integrate a green economy component in curricula from primary schools to tertiary levels. However, green jobs within such an economy require green skills which are not necessarily being developed effectively through the school curriculum. This interpretive study investigated how curriculum practices in the Grade 12 Mechanical Technology (MT) stream offered by technical high schools prepare learners to participate in green economy opportunities in the Eastern Cape. Guided by Practice Architecture theory, the study analysed curriculum documents relevant to the Grade 12 MT stream. Teachers and past learners were interviewed to investigate the Cultural-Discursive, Material-Economic and Socio-Political arrangements that enable or constrain teachers in their intentions to prepare learners to participate in the green economy. Teachers’ material-economic arrangements constrained teaching and learning within the school premises. Learners did not have exposure to real-life fieldwork or job shadowing. Inflexible and restrictive socio-political arrangements in most subjects of the MT stream also constrained green economy learning opportunities. This hindered diversified learning in some subjects. The research further revealed that there is a need for updated pedagogical practices that are aligned with current educational practices. The research found that teachers had very little understanding of the green economy and broader environmental content in their subjects. Consequently, successful implementation of environmental content could not be achieved. The research highlights the importance of advocating for the inclusion of green economy content in the curriculum practices of subjects in the Mechanical Technology stream. This could begin during teacher in-service training as this could enhance teachers’ limited knowledge of environmental content. For practising teachers, workshops, seminars and possibly conferences are necessary to augment knowledge they have, including their awareness of local green economy opportunities in the Eastern Cape. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-10-29
- Authors: Mkaza, Mcebisi W
- Date: 2021-10-29
- Subjects: Technology Study and teaching South Africa Eastern Cape , Environmental education South Africa Eastern Cape , Curriculum evaluation South Africa Eastern Cape , Teachers In-service training South Africa Eastern Cape , Mechanical Technology , Green Economy , Practice Architecture Theory
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/191997 , vital:45186
- Description: South Africa’s transition towards a green economy presents opportunities to create resourceful jobs that promote sustainable living in the long term. The country’s educational sector is mandated to integrate a green economy component in curricula from primary schools to tertiary levels. However, green jobs within such an economy require green skills which are not necessarily being developed effectively through the school curriculum. This interpretive study investigated how curriculum practices in the Grade 12 Mechanical Technology (MT) stream offered by technical high schools prepare learners to participate in green economy opportunities in the Eastern Cape. Guided by Practice Architecture theory, the study analysed curriculum documents relevant to the Grade 12 MT stream. Teachers and past learners were interviewed to investigate the Cultural-Discursive, Material-Economic and Socio-Political arrangements that enable or constrain teachers in their intentions to prepare learners to participate in the green economy. Teachers’ material-economic arrangements constrained teaching and learning within the school premises. Learners did not have exposure to real-life fieldwork or job shadowing. Inflexible and restrictive socio-political arrangements in most subjects of the MT stream also constrained green economy learning opportunities. This hindered diversified learning in some subjects. The research further revealed that there is a need for updated pedagogical practices that are aligned with current educational practices. The research found that teachers had very little understanding of the green economy and broader environmental content in their subjects. Consequently, successful implementation of environmental content could not be achieved. The research highlights the importance of advocating for the inclusion of green economy content in the curriculum practices of subjects in the Mechanical Technology stream. This could begin during teacher in-service training as this could enhance teachers’ limited knowledge of environmental content. For practising teachers, workshops, seminars and possibly conferences are necessary to augment knowledge they have, including their awareness of local green economy opportunities in the Eastern Cape. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-10-29
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