Chacma baboons (papio ursinus) influence zoogeomorphic processes in the Karoo through rock movement
- Authors: Maré, Celesté
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Geomorphology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Biogeomorphology Geology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40966 , vital:36278
- Description: Animals sculpt landforms by physically altering the substrate. The field of zoogeomorphology has developed to explicitly consider the role of animals as geomorphic agents. Many digging and burrowing animals are then considered zoogeomorphic agents. While the significance of soil disturbing species is well established, geomorphic impacts are rarely quantified for rock transporting species. Chacma baboons (Papio ursinus, hereafter baboon), a widespread and abundant primate, have the potential to act as a zoogeomorphic agent through their purposeful rock displacement while foraging. With this study I assessed the role of baboons as rock rolling agents by demonstrating that baboons roll rocks to search for and feed on organisms beneath, quantifying the extent of this process, and establishing the preferences of baboons for rock features. Observations from a troop of wild baboons showed that rock rolling is an important component of the daily foraging routine of baboons, and confirmed that baboons roll rocks to feed on the organisms beneath. Baboon rock movement was extensive, with potentially tons of rock material moved across many hectares over one year in some habitats. The distance of this rock movement was influenced by a combination of rock mass, rock shape and the slope of the landscape. Baboons showed clear preferences for the rocks they rolled in terms of shape and size, with rock size being an important driver of baboon rock rolling. With this study I show that the chacma baboon is an important rock moving species, with the potential to impact a range of ecological and geological processes. As such, baboons may serve as a keystone species as they are the only species in this environment to intentionally move rocks in this way. However, because baboons are considered pests and are widely persecuted, their role in zoogeomorphic processes are vulnerable to being lost.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Maré, Celesté
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Geomorphology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Biogeomorphology Geology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40966 , vital:36278
- Description: Animals sculpt landforms by physically altering the substrate. The field of zoogeomorphology has developed to explicitly consider the role of animals as geomorphic agents. Many digging and burrowing animals are then considered zoogeomorphic agents. While the significance of soil disturbing species is well established, geomorphic impacts are rarely quantified for rock transporting species. Chacma baboons (Papio ursinus, hereafter baboon), a widespread and abundant primate, have the potential to act as a zoogeomorphic agent through their purposeful rock displacement while foraging. With this study I assessed the role of baboons as rock rolling agents by demonstrating that baboons roll rocks to search for and feed on organisms beneath, quantifying the extent of this process, and establishing the preferences of baboons for rock features. Observations from a troop of wild baboons showed that rock rolling is an important component of the daily foraging routine of baboons, and confirmed that baboons roll rocks to feed on the organisms beneath. Baboon rock movement was extensive, with potentially tons of rock material moved across many hectares over one year in some habitats. The distance of this rock movement was influenced by a combination of rock mass, rock shape and the slope of the landscape. Baboons showed clear preferences for the rocks they rolled in terms of shape and size, with rock size being an important driver of baboon rock rolling. With this study I show that the chacma baboon is an important rock moving species, with the potential to impact a range of ecological and geological processes. As such, baboons may serve as a keystone species as they are the only species in this environment to intentionally move rocks in this way. However, because baboons are considered pests and are widely persecuted, their role in zoogeomorphic processes are vulnerable to being lost.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
An assessment of alignment of the intergrated development plan of Amathole District Municipality with those of its selected local municipalities, province of the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Magwangqana, Ntsokolo Chris
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: City planning -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7782 , vital:24284
- Description: The problem investigated by the researcher is that of alignment of the Integrated Development Plan of Amathole District Municipality with those of the selected local municipalities under its area of jurisdiction. The aim of the study was to investigate the extent to which there is or there is no alignment amongst these. The study articulated the background of municipal planning in terms of the provisions of enabling pieces of legislation. It further provided a conceptual and theoretical framework for integrated development planning within the local government sphere. The literature raised critical issues revolving around the importance of the district municipality in achieving congruence of development plans of the district and those of its local municipalities. The data was collected using a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches, to realize the objectives of the research study. The methods used to collect data included, document study, interviews, observation, and questionnaires. The study findings showed that, there is a lot of planning efforts put into achieving alignment of the IDPs of the District and local municipalities under it. The study concluded that, with this good planning by the district municipality a correlating hands on support and monitoring by the municipal unit needs to be firmed up. The recommendations are an evidence that there are processes deliberately put in place by the District municipality to ensure alignment between the IDP of the District and those of its Local Municipalities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Magwangqana, Ntsokolo Chris
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: City planning -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7782 , vital:24284
- Description: The problem investigated by the researcher is that of alignment of the Integrated Development Plan of Amathole District Municipality with those of the selected local municipalities under its area of jurisdiction. The aim of the study was to investigate the extent to which there is or there is no alignment amongst these. The study articulated the background of municipal planning in terms of the provisions of enabling pieces of legislation. It further provided a conceptual and theoretical framework for integrated development planning within the local government sphere. The literature raised critical issues revolving around the importance of the district municipality in achieving congruence of development plans of the district and those of its local municipalities. The data was collected using a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches, to realize the objectives of the research study. The methods used to collect data included, document study, interviews, observation, and questionnaires. The study findings showed that, there is a lot of planning efforts put into achieving alignment of the IDPs of the District and local municipalities under it. The study concluded that, with this good planning by the district municipality a correlating hands on support and monitoring by the municipal unit needs to be firmed up. The recommendations are an evidence that there are processes deliberately put in place by the District municipality to ensure alignment between the IDP of the District and those of its Local Municipalities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Mindset change as a mechanism for enhancing the employability of low-skilled persons
- Authors: Warner, Tarryn-Lee
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Employability , Vocational guidance
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4332 , vital:20586
- Description: This research paper investigates whether a holistic approach to skills training which challenges cultural norms and perceptions regarding the relationship between work and self-reliance, as employed by Siya-Sebenza, results in a change of mindset and work ethic. This paper evaluates the strength of this holistic approach to skills training and assesses whether it has a marked effect on the mindset and attitudes of graduates regarding issues of self-reliance, motivation and understanding their role in their employment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Warner, Tarryn-Lee
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Employability , Vocational guidance
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4332 , vital:20586
- Description: This research paper investigates whether a holistic approach to skills training which challenges cultural norms and perceptions regarding the relationship between work and self-reliance, as employed by Siya-Sebenza, results in a change of mindset and work ethic. This paper evaluates the strength of this holistic approach to skills training and assesses whether it has a marked effect on the mindset and attitudes of graduates regarding issues of self-reliance, motivation and understanding their role in their employment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Poverty alleviation programmes in selected towns of the Thabo Mofutsanyane District Municipality
- Authors: Mponya, Mahlomaholo Fred
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Poverty -- South Africa , Economic assistance, Domestic -- South Africa , Economic development projects -- South Africa , Poor
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9173 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020112
- Description: The period 1994 to 1999 saw the implementation of fundamental social and political change in South Africa. Social science literature suggests that such fundamental change increases the probability of civil conflict and strife, as some sectors of the population expect significant improvements in their position following the removal of economic and political barriers that previously inhibited their upward mobility. Other sectors are concerned about a possible decrease in their living standards of the erosion of their privileged position. Still others experience increased uncertainty, which in itself is associated with significant social change. It is significant to state that poverty in South Africa is intertwined with a host of social and economic issues. The burden of poverty is exacerbated by limited access to basic services, poor housing, limited employment opportunities and inadequate infrastructure, which are an outcome of the terrible legacies of apartheid. The South African government has set certain targets to reduce poverty by half by 2014, in line with its vision for 2014 and in line with its commitment to the Millennium Development Goals. In an endeavour to realise this commitment, the government has prioritised the improvement of service delivery as one of the indicators of progress. However, although the government has made improvements and attained some of its goals, it still needs to do more. With apartheid no longer in place as the system to blame for every grievance, other rifts may have developed in society and become grounds for mobilisation, Klandermans, B. et al. 2001. Mantsopa Local Municipality is not an exception to these developments and it faces a series of challenges. Despite nineteen years of democracy, poverty is still common in Mantsopa. Unemployment levels are high and many people depend on government old age pensions, seasonal farm work, minor-scale self-employment and part-time jobs for the survival of the entire household. These developments have led to the study of poverty alleviation programmes in selected towns of Thabo Mofutsanyane District Municipality. The researcher investigates these programmes through the analysis of secondary data.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Mponya, Mahlomaholo Fred
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Poverty -- South Africa , Economic assistance, Domestic -- South Africa , Economic development projects -- South Africa , Poor
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9173 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020112
- Description: The period 1994 to 1999 saw the implementation of fundamental social and political change in South Africa. Social science literature suggests that such fundamental change increases the probability of civil conflict and strife, as some sectors of the population expect significant improvements in their position following the removal of economic and political barriers that previously inhibited their upward mobility. Other sectors are concerned about a possible decrease in their living standards of the erosion of their privileged position. Still others experience increased uncertainty, which in itself is associated with significant social change. It is significant to state that poverty in South Africa is intertwined with a host of social and economic issues. The burden of poverty is exacerbated by limited access to basic services, poor housing, limited employment opportunities and inadequate infrastructure, which are an outcome of the terrible legacies of apartheid. The South African government has set certain targets to reduce poverty by half by 2014, in line with its vision for 2014 and in line with its commitment to the Millennium Development Goals. In an endeavour to realise this commitment, the government has prioritised the improvement of service delivery as one of the indicators of progress. However, although the government has made improvements and attained some of its goals, it still needs to do more. With apartheid no longer in place as the system to blame for every grievance, other rifts may have developed in society and become grounds for mobilisation, Klandermans, B. et al. 2001. Mantsopa Local Municipality is not an exception to these developments and it faces a series of challenges. Despite nineteen years of democracy, poverty is still common in Mantsopa. Unemployment levels are high and many people depend on government old age pensions, seasonal farm work, minor-scale self-employment and part-time jobs for the survival of the entire household. These developments have led to the study of poverty alleviation programmes in selected towns of Thabo Mofutsanyane District Municipality. The researcher investigates these programmes through the analysis of secondary data.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
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