...3.1 Flora South Africa has a wide range of climatic conditions and many variations in topography. In combination, climate and topography give rise to broad vegetation zones. Therefore South Africa owns a huge diversity of plants and animals, whereas other countries can just dream about. The flora is one of the species-richest on earth. 10 percent of the existent plants can be found just in this country, speaking of 24.000 species. Those are more that you can find in whole Europe. Specially famous among botanists is the Cape Floral Kingdom as one of the only six floral kingdoms in the world .9,600 recorded plant species are just found there and 70 percent of them are found nowhere else on the planet. Typical plants that you can find all over South Africa are the sclerophyllous plants and the Protea , Nationalflower of South Africa. While South Africa has a great wealth of flowering plants, only 1 % of its country is forest. Unfortunately this immense natural wealth is under extreme pressure resulting from economic development, agriculture and urbanization. 3.2 Fauna Although since the beginning of the 20 century a lot of species were highly decimated South Africa still owns an extraordinary richness of animals with 299 species of mammals and 858 species of birds. Specially the big five is a must see when you plan to make a trip to the land of good hope. The big five include elefant, buffalo, lion, leopard and rhino It also domiciles the biggest (elephants), fastest ( gepard)...
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...Inquiry Research Paper Every plant is different. There are no two plants that are the same, nor are there two that grow the same way. Some plants grow in hot, dry environments while others grow in cold, damp environments. Some plants grow in the tropical rain forests while others grow in prairies. Even plants that are in the same family can grow in different climates and environments. Plants can be as similar as they are different. Plants need certain factors to be able to thrive in an environment. They need certain levels of water and sunlight. They need a certain type of soil and certain amount of shade. Plants are very picky on how, when and where they grow. The Beavertail Cactus, African Lilly, and Boston fern are three plants that are very different in many ways. They all grow in different regions and require different levels of abiotic factors. They are each unique in their own way and are ever different then the species in their families. The Beavertail Cactus is a part of the cactaceae, cactus family. It has a scientific name of Opuntia basilaris. The cactus is the state cactus of Texas. The lifespan of it is over twenty years. Another name that the Beavertail Cactus is referred to is “Prickly Pear.” It is referred by that name because of the fruit that grows on it. Spanish-American culture influenced a nickname for the fruit, “tuna.” The Beavertail Cactus is flat and pancake like with no leafs. It is a dull green color. The cactus can reach up to seven feet...
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...Neonatal Tetanus. In the most common of Tetanus, spasms continue for 3-4 weeks and recovery may take months. Tetanus is not passed person to person, rather, transmitted by spores into the injured skin and underlying tissue. These spores are found throughout the environment. They are most commonly found in soil, dust and manure (but exist virtually anywhere else). Tetanus spores multiply in open wounds and toxins enter the body. The spores don’t cause tetanus, the toxins do, when released they affect the brain and nervous system. the incubation period for this disease is between 3-21 days. The earliest descriptions of disease found in ancient Egypt. The disease is resistant to a number of disinfecting agents and to autoclaving. severe effects include suffocation, respiratory failure, pneumonia, hypertension (high blood pressure), hypotension (low blood pressure) and heart attacks. Early symptoms include lockjaw,...
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...An ethical code related to human remains was built because of this conflict and was later was reviewed by Koreans to help develop their ethical codes. The stories of The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and the Kennewick Man further emphasize three points for biological anthropologists and other professionals working with human remains: First, to be thoughtful about potential ethical issues related to their research, second to be inclusive and encourage the involvement of the community villagers, and last to be respectful of different worldviews of death between (sub)cultures. NAGPRA, and the Kennewick man both demonstrate the difficulty in anticipating ethical issues and unintended misconduct in the course of research. “NAGPRA is an organization that represents a culmination of ethical efforts of U.S. biological anthropologists, archaeologists, museum professionals, Native Americans and the federal legislative body to protect, preserve and return human remains and funerary objects that are affiliated to Native Americans” (Kim et al., 2014). The organization was first founded as a means to help subdue the battle between who can claim the human remains found in American soil, the westerners or the native people. Thus shifting the matter from being an “ethical imperative to a legal mandate” (Kim et al., 2014). Shortly after guidelines were set in 1996 the Kennewick Man appears. The Kennewick Man serves an importance...
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...Level of crop protection could be increased by the following methods: promote the ideas of resistance against plant diseases which caused by pests or viruses, and increase the tolerance of plants towards herbicides. By doing so, the use of pesticides could be greatly reduced and hence, reduce water pollution. These are achieved by incorporating into the plants the relevant genes. For instance, gene which responsible for toxin production, herbicides or virus resistance. As a result, there would be higher crop productions and greater food security. (Phillips, 2008) Another objective for GM foods is to enhance the nutrient composition. For example, the golden rice. The golden rice have been modified by a gene which makes it self-produce beta carotene. Beta carotene is essential for humans to make Vitamin A which helps prevent...
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...News Network URL of News Article http://www.enn.com/wildlife/article/44771 | NEWS ARTICLE AUTHOR(S) | Author 1 none listedAuthor 2 Author 3 | SCHOLARLY JOURNAL INFORMATION | *Name of Scholarly Journal Ecology Letters*Journal Article Title Landscape-scale effects of herbivores on treefall in African savannasURL of Journal Article http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2012.01842.x/abstract*Date of Journal Article Publication August 5, 2012Funding Source/Support (if available) This research was funded by the Andrew Mellon Foundation. The Carnegie Airborne Observatory is supported by the W.M. Keck Foundation, the Gordon and Betty Moore foundation, the Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, and William Hearst III. | RESEARCHER(S) – AFLLIATION(S) | Researcher/Journal Article Author Gregory P. Asner University/Agency Affiliation Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institution, Stanford, CA, USAResearcher/Journal Article Author Shaun R. Levick University/Agency Affiliation Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institution, Stanford, CA, USA, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany Researcher/Journal Article Author University/Agency Affiliation Researcher/Journal Article Author University/Agency Affiliation Researcher/Journal Article Author University/Agency Affiliation Researcher/Journal Article Author...
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...ICOSAMP – The Information Core for Southern African Migrant Pests Margaret Powell1 1ICOSAMP Co-ordinator, Agricultural Research Council – Plant Protection Research Institute, P/Bag X134, Pretoria 0001, South Africa (Contact: icosamp@ecoport.org). Abstract Migrant pests such as locusts, armyworm, and Quelea birds, annually plague the southern African region, and in some years have been known to cause devastating damage to food crops within member countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). As these pests are highly mobile and often cross political boundaries, communication and collaboration between neighbouring countries is vital with respect to forecasting, monitoring, and controlling these outbreaks. ICOSAMP, endorsed by SADC and funded by the UK Department for International Development, has established a regional network of information officers who submit monthly reports on the status of migrant pests in their country to the ICOSAMP co-ordinator. This close interaction between national Ministries of Agriculture, Plant Protection Institutes, and NGO’s, not only highlights potential areas at risk from migrant pests, but also provides a platform for technical co-operation and sharing of research information. The provision of early warning of impending cross-border invasions prevents the uncontrolled spread of migratory pests, thus reducing the impact of these pests on the food security of the region. ICOSAMP utilises modern technology...
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...Zimbabwe: Water Quality Supplies Fast Deteriorating The Herald (Harare) By Sifelani Tsiko Harare THE pollution of rivers, lakes and aquifers from domestic and industrial wastewater discharges, mining runoff, agro-chemicals and other sources is now a growing threat to water resources in most countries in southern Africa. According to a new report titled "Water Quality Management and Pollution Control" in Southern Africa compiled by Prof Ngonidzashe Moyo, a freshwater biologist at the University of Limpopo in South Africa, and Sibekhile Mtetwa and other water resources development experts, the quality of water supplies in the Sadc region, once taken for granted, is becoming the focus of increasing concern. The water experts say the solid, liquid and particulate waste by-products of urbanisation and economic activities are contaminating air, soil and water quality. Water pollution has affected water quality and impacted negatively on public health and functioning of ecosystems including the rising cost of water treatment. The report suggests that the main sources of water pollution are untreated or partially treated effluents from municipal, industrial and mining wastewater discharges. Runoff from small-scale mining operations, urban stormwater and runoff from agricultural, livestock and poultry operations have also impaired the quality of water in the Sadc region. In Zimbabwe, the discharge of industrial and municipal effluent has heavily polluted Lake Chivero, Harare's principal...
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...siris, siristree, woman's-tongue-tree, Propagation * It is best established using potted seedlings, although bare-rooted seedlings, direct seeding and stump cuttings have all been used successfully. * Seed pretreatment involves scarification and immersion in boiling hot water then cooling and soaking for 24 hours, or acid treatment to break seed-coat dormancy. * Germination improves after storage for 2-4 years, but satisfactory germination (50-60%) has been obtained from fresh seeds. * Freshly collected seed has about 70% germination capacity after 1-2 months. * About 880 pods weigh 1 kg and will yield about 300 g of seed. Genetic Reservoir * Albizia lebbeck is indigenous to the Indian subcontinent and those areas of south East Asia with a marked dry season (e.g. northeast Thailand, the eastern islands of Indonesia) and the monsoon areas of Australia. * It has been identified widely...
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...industrial revolution has increased the rate of expansion of cities, roads and manufacturing facilities. I agree that we need to preserve biodiversity as it makes up the structure of the ecosystem and habitats that support essential living resources, including wildlife, fisheries and forests. It also helps provide for basic human needs such as food, shelter and medicine. 3. Biome is a very large area on the earth’s surface with animals and plants adapting to their environment. Biomes are often defined by abiotic factors such as climate, geology, soils and vegetation. The nine Biomes are described in the Hall are Tropical Forests, Tropical Grassland and Savannas, Deserts, Island, Tundra, Temperate and Boreal Forests, Oceans, Freashwater Wetland, Rivers and Lakes, and Coral Reefs and Coastal Wetlands. 4. My favorite Biome is the Tropical Forests- Location- Near the equator in central and south America, parts of Africa and Asia. Characteristics: Hot, humid with equatorial climate and...
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...2010). The park has around 200 meters of flat regions with lines of hills, where the remainder of the park is full of low plateaus. There are many languages that are spoken within the park. They are: Spanish, French, Russian, English, and Arabic. The Niokolo-Koba National Park was put on the World Heritage Danger List in 2007. The park is located in the western region of Africa near the Guinea-Bissau border in South Eastern Senegal (Absolute Astronomy 2010). It best known for its wildlife and it contains the most important natural habitat for biological diversity, including threatened species. Senegal is home to “2,500 different types of species and the Niokolo-Koba contain 1,500 of them” (Giant Eland Conservation, 2010). Currently 120 different species families occupy the park as well. The park is home to “80 different species of mammals, 330 birds, 38 reptiles, 20 amphibians, 60 different types of fish” (Giant Eland Conservation, 2010). The vegetation plays a strong role in this park as well. There are four types of soils that are found in the park in various locations. The soils include “tropical red soil, ferrolateritic crusts, alluvial, and hydromorphic” (Giant Eland Conservation, 2010). The vegetation in the park comes in many forms. The park includes grass, woody savannas, bushes, and many trees. A long list of animals and vegetation appear to be on the edge of endangerment. The diversity of life forms within this park is enormous, but the main attractions are the fauna...
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...ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES IN NORTHERN NIGERIA: THE WAY FORWARD A position paper submitted to Northern Delegates at the National Conference Abuja By Yusuf Abdullahi Rigasa (PhD) yusuf.rigasa@gmail.com An Associate Chief Lecturer at the Department of Environmental Science Kaduna Polytechnic, currently on secondment to National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, Federal Ministry of Environment Abuja. 2014 Introduction Northern Nigeria was a British protectorate which lasted from 1900 until 1914 and covered the northern part of what is now Nigeria. The protectorate spanned 255,000 miles (410,000 km) and included the states of the Sokoto Caliphate and the Kano emirate and parts of the former Bornu Empire, conquered in 1902. The protectorate was ended in 1914, when it was unified with Southern Nigerian Protectorate and Lagos Colony, to become Northern Province of the colony and protectorate of Nigeria or the Northern region. The Northern Region was one of Nigeria's federating units. It was created before independence in 1960, with its capital at Kaduna. In 1962, it acquired the territory of the British Northern Cameroons, who voted to become part of Nigeria. In 1967 the region was split into states - Benue-Plateau State, Kano State, Kwara State, North-Central State, North-Eastern State and North-Western State. Currently, the region comprises of 19 states and Federal Capital Territory Abuja. The climatic conditions in the northern part of Nigeria exhibit...
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...Symbiosis- living together, a special relationship between two species necessary for the survival of at least one of the two organisms. It is not mutual or unilateral physiologic dependency but living together without any reference to benefit or damage to symbionts. There are four types: commensalism, phoresis, mutualism and parasitism. Symbiont- an organism that spends a portion of or all of its life intimately associated with another living organism of a different species. Commensalism- One organism lives at the expense of another but cause no harm (pilotfish and shark) (+,0) Phoresis- No physiological dependency is involved. Mechanically carried (0,0) EX: Sexton beetle-phoretic Mutualism- Mutually beneficial relation (termites and intestinal flagellate) (+,+) Mutually beneficial relation (Clown fish and sea anemone) (+,+) Parasitism- A guest who uses ones resources to live. An organism that lives on (infest) or in (infect) the host. An organism that nourishes itself at the expense of the host without destroying it as rapidly as predator does. An organism that inflicts some degree of damage to host. (+,-) Facultative parasite- Opportunistic. They are free living until they are placed in a situation conducive to becoming a parasite. EX: Amoeba Naegleria eats microbes but when opportunity comes infects humans. Obligatory parasite- Completely dependent on host for all or part of its life cycle. Two types: Permanent and Temporary. Permanent EX: tapeworms in the intestine...
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...Agroforestry in the drylands of eastern Africa: a call to action Bashir Jama and Abdi Zeila Agroforestry in the drylands of eastern Africa: a call to action Bashir Jama and Abdi Zeila World Agroforestry Centre LIMITED CIRCULATION Titles in the Working Paper Series aim to disseminate information on agroforestry research and practices and stimulate feedback from the scientific community. Other series from the World Agroforestry Centre are: Agroforestry Perspectives, Technical Manuals, and Occasional Papers. Correct Citation: Jama B and Zeila A. 2005. Agroforestry in the drylands of eastern Africa: a call to action. ICRAF Working Paper – no. 1. Nairobi: World Agroforestry Centre. Published by the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) Eastern and Central Africa Regional Programme United Nations Avenue PO Box 30677 – 00100, Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254 20 7224 000, via USA +1 650 833 6645 Fax: +254 20 7224 001, via USA +1 650 833 6646 Email: b.jama@cgiar.org Internet: www.worldagroforestry.org © World Agroforestry Centre 2005 ICRAF Working Paper no. 1 Photos: World Agroforestry Centre Staff Articles appearing in this publication may be quoted or reproduced without charge, provided the source is acknowledged. No use of this publication may be made for resale or other commercial purposes. All images remain the sole property of their source and may not be used for any purpose without written permission of the source. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and...
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...through out the banana producing areas of the world (Ploetz, 2005). The disease is ranked as one of the top 6 important plant diseases in the world (Ploetz & Pegg, 1997). In terms of crop destruction, it ranks with the few most devastating diseases such as wheat rust and potato blight (Carefoot andsprott, 1969). The disease almost destroyed the banana export industry, built on the Gros Michel variety, in Central America during the 1950’s (Stover, 1962). In addition, the widely grown clones in the ABB ‘Bluggoe’ and AAA ‘Gros Michel and Cavendish’ sub groups are also highly susceptible to this disease worldwide. Presently, Fusarium wilt has been reported in all banana growing regions of the world (Asia, Africa, Australia and the tropical Americas) except some islands in the South Pacific, the Mediterranean, Melanesia,and Somalia (Stover, 1962; Anonymous, 1977; Ploetz and Pegg, 2000). The fungus Focis the soilborne hyphomycete and is one of more than 100 formae specialesof F. oxysporumthat causes vascular wilts of flowering plants (Domsch et al. 1980; Nelson et al. 1983). Although Fusarium wilt probably originated in Southeast Asia, (Ploetz and Pegg,1997), the disease was first discovered at Eagle Farm, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia in1876 in banana plants var. Sugar (Silk AAB) (Bancroft, 1876). The fungus infects the roots of banana plants,...
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