A critical exploration of the attitudes towards and knowledge of natural resource management amongst first-year Natural Resource Management students
- Authors: Jooste, Eileen
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53666 , vital:45688
- Description: Available literature suggests that there is a need to gain more understanding of what students’ environmental attitudes and knowledge are and how they are developed by education systems. Education, in general, plays an important role in students’ attitudes and their knowledge of the world around them. It can shape students’ awareness of their natural environment and contribute to their understanding of environmental issues. Education can also strengthen students’ critical thinking, build awareness, stimulate problem solving, and promote sustainable practices. It has the potential to empower students to address global challenges from their own diverse perspectives and prepare them to uphold the economy. Education can improve and maintain societal wellbeing and can help students to maintain the natural environment, along with achieving sustainable development. Environmental education, specifically, can play a big role in how students deal with the natural environment. The primary aim of this qualitative research study was to examine first-year students’ environmental attitudes and knowledge in the School of Natural Resource Management at the Nelson Mandela University George Campus, South Africa. First-year students’ environmental attitudes and knowledge were examined as they entered the university, and then again at the end of the first semester once they had completed a module in ecology. More specifically, at the outset of the research the objectives were (1) to establish an understanding of the baseline environmental attitudes and knowledge of first-year students who were undertaking three ecological modules being offered by the School of Natural Resource Management; (2) to assess the changes in the first-year students’ environmental attitudes and knowledge, using a post-intervention strategy; (3) to understand what type of teaching approaches were used by the lecturers teaching the ecological modules; and (4) to evaluate how the teaching approaches of the lecturers influenced the baseline environmental attitudes and knowledge of the student group. This research took place in the midst of the Corona Virus pandemic, which had significantly influenced the teaching and learning environment. Multiple education systems, including those of the Nelson Mandela University George Campus, had to rapidly transition to online teaching and learning. So, although unplanned for, this research could not ignore the rapid transition to online teaching and learning and the role it played in shaping the first-year School of Natural Resource Management students’ environmental attitudes and knowledge. It also impacted the teaching approaches of the environmental lecturers. An additional objective in response to the rapid transition to online teaching and learning was, therefore, added: (5) to understand the experiences of the first-year School of Natural Resource Management students and the three environmental lecturers who had to rapidly transition to online teaching and learning. Data was collected via questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with students and staff in the School of Natural Resource Management at Nelson Mandela University George Campus within three different natural resource management programs, namely Agriculture, Nature Conservation, and Forestry. Baseline questionnaires were conducted with 107 students for a baseline assessment as the students entered the university. An online post-intervention questionnaire was conducted with 33 of the initial group of students at the end of the semester for a post-intervention assessment. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with three environmental lectures before they taught their three ecology modules in each of the programs. Additional online semi-structured interviews were also done with the same three environmental lectures after the rapid transition to online teaching and learning took place. The significant findings from this research were analyzed and discussed. This included the baseline environmental attitudes and knowledge of the student body upon arrival at the university and the changes in their environmental attitudes and knowledge after they were exposed to the ecology modules taught in each of the programs. The discussion also included the teaching approaches adopted by the environmental lecturers and the influence their teaching approaches had on the students’ environmental attitudes and knowledge. In addition, the results shed light on the experiences of students and lecturers during the rapid transition to online teaching and learning. The main conclusions reached were that the first-year School of Natural Resource Management students did not have a deep understanding of ecological concepts prior to arriving at university, but they did show a concern for the natural environment. Their lack of understanding was reduced as the students progressed with the ecology module. A greater understanding resulted in a change in students’ perspectives on the ecological module, their program, and the industry they were preparing to enter after being exposed to the ecology module. The environmental lecturers’ teaching approaches contributed to improving the students’ environmental attitudes and knowledge. When it came to the rapid transition to online teaching and learning, both the first-year School of Natural Resource Management students and environmental lecturers experienced benefits and challenges. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Natural Resource Management, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-12
Enhancing the effectiveness of the Thaumatotibia Leucotreta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) sterile insect technique release programme
- Authors: Githae, Michael Mathenge
- Date: 2025-04-03
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/479897 , vital:78377 , DOI 10.21504/10962/479897
- Description: The false codling moth, Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is a key phytosanitary pest in the South African citrus industry. Due to its cryptic nature and its endemic presence in sub-Saharan Africa with a wide array of host plants, and eradication is not possible. However, the sterile insect technique (SIT) has been incorporated into an Area-Wide Integrated Pest Management (AW-IPM) programme to induce widespread population suppression. The successful implementation of the SIT programme required a series of well-researched phases, with one key phase being the determination of an effective overflooding ratio, previously established at 10:1. Despite this, various studies of T. leucotreta SIT programmes have reported higher release ratios than 10:1 in orchards, necessitating an investigation into their efficacy. This thesis aimed to understand the effects of higher release ratios, different combinations of sterile and fertile T. leucotreta of both sexes, compatibility of SIT and the egg parasitoid Trichogrammatoidea cryptophlebiae, and the pre-release mating levels during production and release stages to improve the effectiveness of the T. leucotreta SIT programme. This study initially investigated the impact of different ratios of sterile and fertile adults on fruit damage, sterile male competitiveness, and population growth in laboratory cages using Washington Navel oranges. Sterilised to fertile T. leucotreta adults at ratios of 0:1 (control), 10:1, 20:1, 40:1, and 60:1 were placed inside insect-rearing cages and allowed to mate, oviposit and infest the fruit. Treatment cages receiving sterile T. leucotreta produced significantly fewer damaged fruit, larval entries, and F1 adults compared to the control. The number of damaged fruit, larval entries, and F1 adults negatively correlated with the increase in the overflooding ratio of sterile to fertile T. leucotreta. Control cages had significantly higher fecundity and fertility compared to treatment cages. The 60:1 ratio exhibited the lowest per generation rate of increase (<1× from the parental [P1] to the F1 generation) compared to the 10:1 ratio (current release ratio). The effects of different combinations of both treated (T) and untreated (U) male (M) and female (F) adult T. leucotreta: UM×UF (control), TM×UF, UM×TF, TM×TF, and UM×UF×TM×TF on fruit damage, mating competitiveness, and per-generation rate of increase were tested. The treatments were housed in insect-rearing cages containing Navel oranges and allowed to mate, oviposit, and infest the fruit. Treatment cages with both treated male and female T. leucotreta had significantly fewer damaged fruit, larval entries, and emerged F1 adults compared to the control cages, except for the UM×UF×TM×TF combination. Similarly, control cages and UM×UF×TM×TF treatments had significantly Higher fecundity and fertility compared to other treatments. The TM×UF combination exhibited the lowest rate of increase per generation (<0.57× from the parental [P1] to F1 generation). A field cage study was conducted to evaluate the effects of various overflooding ratios and different combinations of sterile and fertile male and female T. leucotreta. However, the results were limited, and inconclusive due to collection of insufficient data, as the fruit infestation level was low. This could be attributed to the low quality of the moths released or effects of environmental variables on the moths. A laboratory study explored the susceptibility of T. leucotreta eggs resulting from various pairings of sterile and fertile moths to parasitism by Trichogrammatoidea cryptophlebiae. The ratios of sterile to fertile T. leucotreta used were: 0:1, 10:1, 20:1, 40:1, and 60:1. The resulting eggs were then exposed to T. cryptophlebiae for parasitism, and the parasitism rates of newly laid (24 h), 48 h and 72 h old eggs were evaluated. Overall, eggs from all ratios were suitable for T. cryptophlebiae development and acceptable for oviposition. Significantly higher number of parasitised eggs were recorded between the control (0:1) and ratios 40:1 and 60:1 at 48 h old eggs. Additionally, a higher proportion of flying T. cryptophlebiae emerged across the ratios, with a higher proportion of female-to-male sex ratio. Pre-release mating levels were studied during the production and release stages, divided into three stages: moth eclosion, irradiation, and release. A significantly higher number of spermatophores and percentages of mated female T. leucotreta were recorded at the eclosion and irradiation stages in January. Similarly, in May, a significantly higher number of spermatophores and percentages of mated female T. leucotreta were recoded post-irradiation and release stages in the Sundays River Valley region (SRV). Overall results indicated more spermatophores and percentages of mated female T. leucotreta at the irradiation and release stages in the SRV region. In conclusion, the study demonstrated that a release ratio exceeding 40:1 and different combinations of sterile and fertile T. leucotreta, especially the TM×UF combination, has a suppressive effect against T. leucotreta and integrating SIT with T. cryptophlebiae, shows potential for enhancing the effectiveness of the T. leucotreta SIT programme. Additionally, the mating competitiveness of sterile insects in dual-sex releases can be improved by controlling the level of pre-release matings. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Zoology and Entomology, 2025
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- Date Issued: 2025-04-03
Factors affecting the well-being of the science faculty academic employees at a public university in the Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Maqungo, Akhona
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Employees -- Psychological aspects , Universities and colleges -- Employee , Well-being
- Language: English
- Type: Master'stheses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51852 , vital:43378
- Description: Academia is faced with several challenges apart from attracting and retaining a high calibre of academics. As the main driving force in universities, academic employees are confronted with challenges such as increased workloads, emotional and physical exhaustion, bullying, job insecurity, violent and disruptive protest actions, uncompetitive salary scales, and poor working conditions. These aspects threaten the attractiveness of the academic profession as well as the well-being of academic employees. The ever-changing academic work environment requires universities to comprehend the impact of workplace aspects on employee’s well-being. Understanding the work aspects that affect the well-being of academics could help universities create a conducive working environment that enables employees to flourish, be resilient, manage everyday life stresses, and subsequently improve the well-being of its most valuable resource. An empirical study consisting of an online survey was conducted to gather and analyse data among 113 science faculty academic employees at the public university. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between work aspects such as employee recognition, job insecurity, working conditions, protest actions, workplace health and safety and well-being. Furthermore, this study determined the well-being needs and challenges experienced by the academic employees. The key findings indicated a significant relationship between the selected workplace aspects and well-being. The need for workplace conflict resolution strategies, financial management skills, improved employment relations, handling abuse of authority and bullying were found to be significant in improving the employees’ well-being. Workplace safety, lack of employee recognition, work overload, lack of management support, sexual misconduct, work-life balance, racial tensions, and a disregard for employee well-being were identified as some of the challenges experienced by the academic employees at the public university. Recommendations were made to enhance the well-being of the academics and pro-actively address the well-being needs and challenges of the science faculty academic employees. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business Administration, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-04
Genetic relationships between migmatites and the Swartoup Pluton in the Swartoup Hills (central Namaqua Belt)
- Authors: Schmeldt, Graeme Alvin
- Date: 2021-10-29
- Subjects: Migmatite South Africa Northern Cape , Intrusions (Geology) South Africa , Metamorphic rocks South Africa Northern Cape , Metamorphism (Geology) South Africa Northern Cape , Onseepkans (South Africa) , Namaqualand (South Africa) , Anatexis , Swartoup , Koenap
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/192162 , vital:45201
- Description: The central Namaqua Metamorphic Complex can be characterised by long-standing high-temperature (up to granulite/amphibolite facies) conditions between _ 1300 and 1100Ma, inevitably resulting in widespread metamorphism and plutonism. Hosted within a NW–SE striking antiformal structure about 40 km east of Onseepkans, Northen Cape, South Africa, in the Swartoup Hills, lies the Swartoup Pluton. The Swartoup Pluton was sampled and described in hand specimen and thin section. The study area was photographed, with all data presented in this study. The various rock types are readily discerned in the field due to their characteristic weathering colours and overall fabrics. The Swartoup granodioritic body is hosted within metasediments of the Bysteek and Koenap Formations, of the Arribees Group. The package was later intruded by another later granitoid, the Polisiehoek Granite-gneiss. The Bysteek Formation, a wall rock to the S-type Swartoup Pluton, reacted at the contact with the igneous body resulting in localised feldspathic granites and granodiorites with prominent, often euhedral, garnet, pryoxene and titanite. The Swartoup Pluton is divided into two subgroups. The first is characterised by higher P2O5 contents, _ 0.3 – 0.4 wt.%, shown with a narrower constraint on its Rb contents, _ 80 – 160 ppm, than the second, with _ 0.14 – 0.4 wt.% P2O5 and 20 – 310 ppm Rb. Meanwhile the Polisiehoek Granite-gneiss shows _ 50 – 420 ppm Rb and _ 0.04 – 0:1 wt% P2O5. As a whole, the Swartoup Pluton is characterised by somewhat elevated CaO concentrations (_ 1.5 – 6.0 wt.%), relative to calculated averages of granites (1.8 wt.% CaO, Le Maitre, 1976) and granodiorites (3.9 wt.% CaO, Le Maitre, 1976). Whilst most of the Swartoup specimens were classified as granodiorites, some orthopyroxene-bearing monzodiorite and orthopyroxenebearing monzonite were locally found and sampled. However, much of the body appears to be granodioritic to granitic in composition. The Polisiehoek Granite-gneiss is characterised by its orange-brown weathering colour in the field, sheared texture, lower P2O5 and higher total alkali content than the Swartoup Pluton. The Polisiehoek Granite-gneiss is a highly fractionated S-type granite, as shown by plots of (a) (Na2O + K2O)/CaO and (b) FeOT/MgO versus Zr + Nb + Ce + Y (Whalen et al., 1987; Zhang et al., 2019) and also of (c) (Al2O3 + CaO)/(FeOT + Na2O + K2O) versus 100 × (MgO + FeOT + TiO2)/SiO2 (after Sylvester, 1989). Classification schemes identify the Polisiehoek Granite-gneiss as either a granite (TAS diagram, after Middlemost, 1994) or alkali granite (R1R2 diagram, after De la Roche et al., 1980). , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Geology, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-10-29
Rites of passage: Substance dependence and the negotiation of development tasks - a case study
- Authors: Roux, Catharina
- Date: 1991
- Subjects: Drug addiction , Object relations (Psychoanalysis) , Psycholinguistics , Oedipus complex , Developmental tasks
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/193242 , vital:45313
- Description: This thesis is an attempt to provide an understanding of drug addiction in its relation to the tasks and arrests which take place during the developmental process. Current theories of drug addiction are situated within the parameters of developmental theory; Object Relations Theory, Lacanian Structuralism and Freud’s concept of the Oedipus Complex are drawn on. The dual regressive and progressive function of drugs as it relates to developmental tasks and arrests is illustrated, the argument being that a very specific relationship exists between the compulsive use of drugs and the developmental tasks which need to be avoided as well as those which need to be negotiated. The case study research method is made use of in the attempt to illustrate the links between drug addiction and specific developmental tasks. I present an in-depth analysis of the developmental history of Rafiq Jaffer, an inpatient at the drug unit at Lentegeur Psychiatric Hospital, drawing on the material which was collected during nine months of individual therapy. As Borderline Personality Disorder is the primary diagnosis in the case of Rafiq Jaffer, the emphasis is by necessity put on borderline pathology. The primary aim of the thesis is, however, to highlight the need to understand the compulsive use of drugs within the context of the developmental process, thereby developing a conceptualisation against which further cases may be tested. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 1991
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- Date Issued: 1991
Synthesis of two tartaric acid-derived host compounds and their behaviour in mixed pyridines and mixed heterocyclic guest compounds
- Authors: Recchia, Daniella Loridana
- Date: 2024-12
- Subjects: Complex compounds -- Synthesis , Chemistry , Chemistry, Organic
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/69445 , vital:77255
- Description: The host compounds (4R,5R)-bis(diphenylhydroxymethyl)-2-spiro-1’-cyclopentane-1,3-dioxolane (TADDOL5) and (4R,5R)-bis(diphenylhydroxymethyl)-2-spiro-1’-cyclohexane-1,3-dioxolane (TADDOL6) were successfully synthesized after initially reacting diethyl tartrate with either 1,1-dimethoxycyclopentane or 1,1-dimethoxycyclohexane to afford the intermediates diethyl 2-spiro-1’-cyclopentane-1,3-dioxolan-4,5-dicarboxylate or diethyl 2-spiro-1’-cyclohexane-1,3-dioxolan-4,5-dicarboxylate. These were then each subjected to a Grignard addition reaction with PhMgBr to furnish TADDOL5 and TADDOL6 in reasonably high yields (77 and 80%, respectively). Computational calculations were performed on TADDOL5 and TADDOL6 using the software programs Avogadro and ORCA. The optimised geometries of these host molecules were obtained using the MMFF94 force field in Avogadro, while ORCA was used to perform the computational modelling at the BLYP level using the 6-31G*, 6-31G**, 6-311G* and 6-311G** basis sets and, also, the B3LYP functional (with the same basis sets) to obtain the three lowest energy conformers. The final geometries of each conformer for both TADDOL5 and TADDOL6 at the B3LYP 6-311G* level were overlaid with the molecules obtained from their crystal structures. Significantly different geometries were thus noted for the calculated conformers compared with the guest-free TADDOL5 and TADDOL6 structures obtained from the SCXRD experiments. When TADDOL5 was crystallized independently from each of PYR, 2MP, 3MP and 4MP, 1:1 H:G inclusion complexes formed in each instance. This host compound was then investigated for its host separation ability of mixed pyridines through supramolecular chemistry protocols. These mixed guest experiments revealed that TADDOL5 possessed a notable selectivity towards 3MP and PYR (in the absence of 3MP) followed by 4MP and 2MP, and it was shown that TADDOL5 is a suitable host candidate for the separation of many of the mixed pyridines employed here. The results of the SCXRD analyses indicated that the only significant (host)π···π(guest) stacking interaction present was between TADDOL5 and the most favoured guest species PYR and 3MP. Furthermore, significantly shorter (host)O‒H···N(guest) iv hydrogen bonds were also observed in the complexes formed between this host compound and 3MP and PYR compared with these bonds involving disfavoured 4MP and 2MP. Hirshfeld surface considerations provided an explanation for the affinity of TADDOL5 for PYR (but not 3MP), while thermal analyses successfully explained this affinity: the 3MP-containing complex with the most preferred guest species was the most thermally stable one, followed by TADDOL5·PYR, as obtained through a consideration of the Ton values (the temperature at which the guest release event initiated) of the four complexes. As with TADDOL5, TADDOL6 formed 1:1 H:G inclusion compounds with each of the four pyridines. TADDOL6 was, furthermore, also assessed for its separation ability for mixed pyridines, and these guest competition experiments showed that the selectivity of TADDOL6 was for PYR and 3MP (in the absence of PYR), followed by 4MP and 2MP. (Interestingly, TADDOL5 preferred 3MP and then PYR, while both host compounds disfavoured 4MP and 2MP.) The results obtained in this work indicated that TADDOL6 may also serve as an efficient host candidate for the separation of many of these pyridyl solutions. SCXRD experiments demonstrated that the only significant (host)π···π(guest) stacking interactions were those between TADDOL6 and preferred PYR and 3MP, as was the case for TADDOL5. These experiments also revealed that the strongest (host)O‒H···N(guest) hydrogen bonds were between TADDOL6 and these favoured guest species. A consideration of Hirshfeld surfaces and quantification of the (guest)N···H(host) intermolecular interactions correlated with the host selectivity order, as did thermal analyses, where the Ton values confirmed that the thermal stabilities of these complexes decreased in the guest order PYR > 3MP > 4MP > 2MP. The behaviour of TADDOL5 was further investigated in guest compounds DIO, PYR, PIP and MOR. Each guest solvent formed 1:1 H:G inclusion complexes with the host species, with the exception of DIO, which formed a 2:1 H:G complex. Mixed guest experiments revealed a clear preference for PIP and MOR, while PYR and DIO were less favoured. The host selectivity was demonstrated to be in the order PIP > MOR > PYR > DIO. SCXRD experiments showed that TADDOL5 formed a much shorter (and more linear) (host)O‒H···N(guest) hydrogen bond with the most favoured guest, PIP, compared to those involving MOR and PYR. A (host)O‒H···O(guest) hydrogen bond v was also observed in the DIO-containing inclusion complex. A consideration of the Hirshfeld surface interactions was not useful in explaining the host selectivity order for these heterocyclic guests, but thermal analyses confirmed that the most stable complex was the one with favoured PIP, followed by those with PYR, MOR and DIO. TADDOL6, on the other hand, formed 1:1 H:G inclusion compounds with all four of the heterocyclic guest solvents. Experiments in mixed guests showed that the selectivity of this host compound for these guests was in the order PYR > PIP > MOR > DIO, which differed from the TADDOL5 (which favoured PIP and then MOR). Interestingly, the strongest classical hydrogen bond was not formed with the most favoured guest PYR, but with PIP instead (this bond with TADDOL5 was also strongest with PIP, but PIP was favoured in that work). Hirshfeld surface investigations again were not useful in understanding the host selectivity behaviour. However, thermal analyses agreed with the observations made in the mixed guest experiments: the most stable complex was with PYR (favoured) and the least stable one was with DIO (least preferred). , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences, 2024
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- Date Issued: 2024-12