Cape South Africa Research Articles

Cape Rock Thrush Monticola rupestris kills and eats a snake

Cape Rock Thrush Monticola rupestris was observed to kill and eat a Spotted Skaapsteker Psammophylax rhombeatus at Rooi Els, Western Cape South Africa. This is the first record of the diet of this bird species including a snake.

The vegetation of Holocene coastal dunes of the Cape south coast, South Africa.

The vegetation of calcareous coastal dunes of Holocene age along the south coast of South Africa's Cape Floristic Region is poorly described. This vegetation comprises a mosaic of communities associated with two biomes, Fynbos and Subtropical Thicket. Previously, expert knowledge rather than quantitative floristic analysis has been used to identify and delimit vegetation units. In many areas, mapped units conflate vegetation on Holocene sand with that on unconsolidated sediments of late Pleistocene age, despite pronounced species turnover across this edaphic boundary. Despite dominance by Cape lineages and fynbos vegetation, dune vegetation in the eastern part of the region has been included in the Subtropical Thicket Biome rather than the Fynbos Biome. The high levels of local plant endemism associated with this dune vegetation and the small and fragmented configuration of these habitats, makes it an urgent conservation priority especially when placed in the context of rising sea levels, increasing development pressures and numerous other threats. Here we provide a quantitative analysis of 253 plots of the 620 km2 of Holocene dune vegetation of the study area using phytosociological and multivariate methods. We identified six fynbos and two thicket communities based on the occurrences of 500 species. Following a long tradition in Cape vegetation typology, we used the Strandveld (beach vegetation) concept as our first-order vegetation entity and identified six units based on the fynbos floras. These were, from east to west, Southeastern Strandveld, St Francis Strandveld, Goukamma Strandveld, Southwestern Strandveld and Grootbos Strandveld. Each unit was differentiated by a suite of differential species, most being Holocene dune endemics. The two thicket communities-Mesic and Xeric Dune Thicket-showed limited variation across the study area and were subsumed into the Strandveld units. We discussed our findings in terms of vegetation-sediment relationships, emphasizing the need for a greater geographical coverage of sediment ages to facilitate a better understanding of deposition history on vegetation composition. We also discussed the role of soil moisture and fire regime on structuring the relative abundance of fynbos and thicket across the Holocene dune landscape. Finally, we address the conservation implications of our study, arguing that all remaining Holocene dune habitat should be afforded the highest conservation priority in regional land-use planning processes.

Thyroid peroxidase antibody titers, thyroid function, and iodine nutrition status of pregnant normotensive and preeclamptic women in Eastern Cape South Africa

Autoimmune thyroid disease, one of the main risk factors for hypothyroidism, is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. The burden of autoimmune thyroid disease in pregnancy and its association with thyroid function among normotensive pregnant women and pregnant women with hypertension in South Africa are not known. This study aimed to establish the magnitude of thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies in pregnancy in the Eastern Cape of South Africa and its relationship with iodine nutrition status and preeclampsia. Overall, 60 randomly selected normotensive pregnant controls at term and 120 pregnant participants with preeclampsia in the third trimester of pregnancy going to the Mthatha Regional Hospital and the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in the Eastern Cape Province who had complete data on thyroid peroxidase antibody titers, urinary iodine concentrations, serum thyroid-stimulating hormones, and free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, and thyroglobulin levels were enrolled in this unmatched case-control study. The cases and controls had similar mean chronological age (23.8 vs 24.0 years), body mass index (29.4 vs 28.8 kg/m2), and median parity (both 1) (P>.05). The controls had a higher mean gestational age than participants with preeclampsia (38.5 vs 33.7 weeks, respectively; P<.001). Both participants with preeclampsia and normotensive participants had median thyroid peroxidase antibody levels consistent with a negative thyroid autoimmune status. Participants with preeclampsia had higher but nonstatistically significant median thyroid peroxidase antibody (2.14 vs 1.77 IU/L), thyroglobulin (25.9 vs 21.3 µg/L), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (2.4 vs 2.3 mIU/L) levels (P>.05) and significantly lower median urinary iodine concentration (123.4 vs 188.6 µg/L), free thyroxine (13.2 vs 14.1 pmol/L), and free triiodothyronine (4.3 vs 4.6 pmol/L) levels (P<.05) than normotensive controls. Thyroid peroxidase antibodies were positively correlated with thyroglobulin, urinary iodine concentration, and thyroid-stimulating hormone. In the rural Eastern Cape of South Africa, pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy have thyroid peroxidase antibody titers that show negative thyroid autoimmune status. Insufficient iodine intake, other than thyroid autoimmune disease, seems to be the underlying cause of the lower free triiodothyronine and free thyroxine levels observed among women with preeclampsia.

Working towards a conservation plan for fish parasites: Cyprinid parasites from the south African cape fold freshwater ecoregion as a case study.

The preservation of the world's biodiversity for future generations has been a global objective for many years, with the establishment of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species in 1964. However, the conservation of parasites is a more recent development and, due to the difficulty in obtaining data and studying some of the parasitic species, comes its own series of challenges. Using parasites of cyprinid hosts (one critically endangered, one endangered and three near threatened) collected from South Africa's Cape Fold freshwater ecoregion (CF) as a case study, this paper discusses the challenges and possible solutions for implementing a fish parasite conservation project. Novel data on the fish parasites (1819 metazoan parasite individuals, representing the Acanthocephala, Cestoda, Copepoda, Digenea, Monogenea and Nematoda) of the CF are provided from the five endemic hosts, Cheilobarbus serra (Peters, 1864), Labeobarbus seeberi (Gilchrist et Thompson, 1913), Pseudobarbus phlegethon (Barnard, 1938), Sedercypris calidus (Barnard, 1938), and Sedercypris erubescens (Skelton, 1974). Conservation statuses for selected parasite taxa are also proposed based on the conservation statuses of the fish hosts, according to the Conservation Assessment Methodology for Animal Parasites (CAMAP).

Burnout among Accident and Emergency Physicians in Eastern Cape South Africa

Burnout is common among professionals and not exclusively among doctors. This article should be considered as a cautionary reference for Accident and Emergency Doctors, Senior Managers and Heads of Department, not to overuse young medical professionals to an extent that they fall sick and even die.

The characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 positive Haematology patients at a Tertiary Hospital in Western Cape South Africa

The characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 positive Haematology patients at a Tertiary Hospital in Western Cape South Africa

Cover Picture and Issue Information

Methods in Ecology and EvolutionVolume 14, Issue 3 p. 725-727 COVER PICTURE AND ISSUE INFORMATIONOpen Access Cover Picture and Issue Information First published: 01 March 2023 https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.13884AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Graphical Abstract This month's cover image shows an unmanned weather station on the Anysberg Mountain in South Africa's Cape Floristic Region. Weather data from such stations can be combined with other environmental observations such as population surveys or satellite remote sensing to create ecological forecasts to help address conservation challenges and provide insights into the dynamics of ecosystems. In this issue, Slingsby, et. al. use the Cape Floristic Region, a global biodiversity hotspot, as a case study to promote the development of regionally focused ecological forecasting systems. Developing shared data pipelines that drive multiple forecast models helps reduce logistical challenges in under-resourced regions, while comparison or coupling of models across scales facilitates new fundamental insights. Developing data pipelines that deliver up-todate information to decision-makers are valuable even before highly accurate forecasts are available. Photo credit: ©Adam M. Wilson. Volume14, Issue3Special Feature: Methods in Ecological ForecastingMarch 2023Pages 725-727 RelatedInformation

Dispute resolution methods adopted by contractors during COVID-19 in Eastern Cape South Africa: A Case Study

Over the past months, the socioeconomic consequences of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic reverberated through and affected all segments of life. The construction industry is not left out. The severe impacts of COVID-19 have not only witnessed tragic human losses but have also caused colossal devastating implications for construction procurement and general contract condition. The study examined the dispute resolution methods adopted by contractors in Eastern Cape, South Africa, during the COVID-19 experience to determine their appropriateness and effectiveness. The study employed a snowballing, purposive, non-probability sampling technique with a mixed research design driven by respondents' participatory action. Twelve senior personnel were interviewed, while questionnaires were administered to 30 referred employees on the sites. XLSTAT statistical software and thematic analysis were used for the aggregated questionnaire and qualitative respondents' interviews in drawing inferences. The results revealed that an interest-based rather than a right-based approach are two sides of a coin that can make or mar the wheel of progress in arriving at an amicable agreement to contract terms in construction. The need for re-negotiation in billing, which is at variance with the various construction claim, cannot be over-emphasised. At the same time, the intuitive assertions of negotiation, mediation, and conciliation were used in resolving unforeseen delays, claims, and added costs due to disruptions of COVID-19. The study's main contribution lies in mastering and deploying appropriate dispute resolution methods in project execution. The study is of utmost importance in planning, restoring, and deriving optimal societal benefits from conflict management amidst the adverse effect of Covid -19 on any construction project. Keywords: Conciliation, Construction dispute, COVID-19; Mediation, Negotiation

Revisiting and Rethinking the Agency of Women in Sustainable Rural Development in the Eastern Cape South Africa

Revisiting and Rethinking the Agency of Women in Sustainable Rural Development in the Eastern Cape South Africa

Large Pleistocene tortoise tracks on the Cape south coast of South Africa

AbstractAlthough tortoises (Testudinidae) are a familiar clade of reptiles, with a body fossil record extending to at least the Eocene, hitherto no tortoise ichnosites have been described. Here, a number of sites attributed to tortoise trackmakers are identified within Pleistocene aeolianites on South Africa's Cape south coast. These date from late Marine Isotope Stage 6 to Marine Isotope Stage 4. The findings indicate large trackmakers, with evidence of a trackmaker length of more than a meter—substantially longer than the largest extant tortoises in southern Africa. This suggests either the presence of an extinct very large tortoise species, or that Pleistocene leopard tortoises in the region were larger than their descendants. Variations in substrate properties are responsible for a variety of track and trace forms. A mismatch exists between the reported ichnological evidence for large tortoises, and the regional archaeological and body fossil records, which almost exclusively comprise smaller tortoises. The findings illustrate the potential of ichnology to complement and augment the paleontological and archaeological records.

The impact of prenatal alcohol and/or tobacco exposure on brain structure in a large sample of children from a South African birth cohort.

Neuroimaging studies have emphasized the impact of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) on brain development, traditionally in heavily exposed participants. However, less is known about how naturally occurring community patterns of PAE (including light to moderate exposure) affect brain development, particularly in consideration of commonly occurring concurrent impacts of prenatal tobacco exposure (PTE). Three hundred thirty-two children (ages 8 to 12) living in South Africa's Cape Flats townships underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging. During pregnancy, their mothers reported alcohol and tobacco use, which was used to evaluate PAE and PTE effects on their children's brain structure. Analyses involved the main effects of PAE and PTE (and their interaction) and the effects of PAE and PTE quantity on cortical thickness, surface area, and volume. After false-discovery rate (FDR) correction, PAE was associated with thinner left parahippocampal cortices, while PTE was associated with smaller cortical surface area in the bilateral pericalcarine, left lateral orbitofrontal, right posterior cingulate, right rostral anterior cingulate, left caudal middle frontal, and right caudal anterior cingulate gyri. There were no PAE × PTE interactions nor any associations of PAE and PTE exposure on volumetrics that survived FDR correction. PAE was associated with reduction in the structure of the medial temporal lobe, a brain region critical for learning and memory. PTE had stronger and broader associations, including with regions associated with executive function, reward processing, and emotional regulation, potentially reflecting continued postnatal exposure to tobacco (i.e., second-hand smoke exposure). These differential effects are discussed with respect to reduced PAE quantity in our exposed group versus prior studies within this geographical location, the deep poverty in which participants live, and the consequences of apartheid and racially and economically driven payment practices that contributed to heavy drinking in the region. Longer-term follow-up is needed to determine potential environmental and other moderators of the brain findings here and assess the extent to which they endure over time.

Did it pay to be a pioneer? Wealth accumulation in a newly settled frontier society

AbstractEuropean settler colonies are often thought to have been characterised by a continued expansion of the landed frontier, which impacted the distribution of wealth across their settler populations. Hampered by a lack of data, few studies have been able to study this in depth. How does settlement timing affect wealth and wealth accumulation when frontier expansion is not a smooth, continuous process? Was it the case that pioneers reaped greater economic benefits from locating their farms on superior land, or would they be disadvantaged compared with later arrivals owing to limited infrastructure or greater risk of conflict with indigenous populations? In this paper, we use a unique dataset that allows us to analyse the link between time of arrival and wealth accumulation in a colonial agrarian frontier society: the Graaff‐Reinet district in South Africa's Cape Colony between 1786 and 1850. We find that those who arrived early located their farms in the more climatologically suitable areas of the district and utilised their superior lands to accumulate wealth more quickly than latecomers. However, owing to institutional changes that favoured later British arrivals, we also show that the existence of an early‐arrival premium did not mean persistence in land ownership.

Description of four new Marginella species, from the Eastern and Southern Cape South Africa

Four Marginella species from the Eastern and Southern Cape of South Africa are described. They include Marginella zigzag, Marginella violea, Marginella jeareyae and Marginella dyoseires.

Possible Pleistocene Pinniped Ichnofossils on South Africa's Cape South Coast

Helm, C.W.; Carr, A.S.; Cawthra, H.C.; De Vynck, J.C.; Dixon, M.; Stear, W.; Stuart, C.; Stuart, M., and Venter, J.A., 2022. Possible Pleistocene pinniped ichnofossils on South Africa's Cape south coast. Journal of Coastal Research, 38(4), 735–749. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Exposed surfaces of cemented foreshore deposits and aeolianites on the Cape south coast of South Africa have been demonstrated to contain numerous Pleistocene vertebrate tracksites. Two ichnosites have recently been identified that appear to demonstrate traces made by seals. These would be the first seal trace fossils thus far described in the global fossil record. The sites are situated 560 m apart in the Goukamma Nature Reserve. One site exhibits apparent flipper traces and a furrow, and the other site exhibits impressions consistent with moulds of juvenile seals. In conjunction with new luminescence dating of the associated sediments, these findings suggest a seal presence on Cape south coast beaches ∼75,000 years ago in the mild glacial period of Marine Isotope Stage 5a.

Fynbos vegetation recovery twelve years after removal of invasive Eucalyptus trees

Alien plant invasions are increasing in extent worldwide and diverse measures are being applied to reduce impacts. Besides removing the invasive plants, follow-up measures are often needed to restore diversity and functionality of invaded ecosystems. Effective restoration requires long-term commitment and monitoring to determine the success achieved through different measures.In 2019 we resurveyed a site in South Africa's Cape Floristic Region (CFR) which had been used as a Eucalyptus plantation, which consisted of a heterogenous mixture of Eucalyptus conferruminata, E. cladocalyx and E. gomphocephala interspersed with Acacia saligna and Paraserianthes lophantha. It was restored twelve years prior to our survey using “active” (clearing followed by sowing of native species and soil restoration treatments) and “passive” (clearing and burning, only) approaches in separate plots. The last survey that monitored recovery took place in 2010. The aim of our study was to determine how the restored fynbos vegetation had changed since 2010. In 2019 we conducted a vegetation survey on the restored sites and on a reference site with native fynbos vegetation. We tested whether invasive species had been successfully controlled and whether active and passive restoration approaches differed in effectiveness.Although diversity, evenness and species richness for native taxa had increased significantly since 2010, the decrease in alien species cover was insignificant. Compared to the restored site, the reference site had a significantly greater cover of native plants, and higher species richness, diversity and evenness. There were also significantly more alien species with a significantly greater cover on the restored site, implying that further attention is required to maintain the site free of invaders. The passively restored plots were more diverse than the actively restored plots, largely due to the dominance of one of the sown native species (Searsia laevigata) on the actively restored plots. The vegetation in passively restored plots was dominated by weedy native grasses.We conclude that the restoration was mostly successful in terms of re-establishing native species diversity, but that there is room for improving restoration techniques. The tenacious invader A. saligna still occurs on restored sites and ongoing efforts will be needed to eliminate this species.

Ground nesting Capped Wheatear Oenanthe pileata in the Western Cape South Africa

Capped Wheatear Oenanthe pileata is a medium sized passerine that readily inhabits agricultural landscapes. Several Oenanthe species occur worldwide, many of which are considered cavity nesters. Here I present what is to my knowledge the first recorded case of a nest built above ground versus in a rodent tunnel or sheltered under a structure. The wheatear nest was located on the ground in a sheep pasture on the 21st of October 2021 20 km south of Swellendam in the Western Cape, South Africa. No structure or foliage covered the nest. The nest was discovered during construction. The female laid a total of three eggs over the following five days. The eggs were a very pale blue with two having fine dark black ‘scribble’ marks on the shells. The nest failed six days after discovery, presumably trampled by grazing sheep. Despite having failed, this record does suggest a degree of flexibility in the nesting requirements of Capped Wheatears. The ability to exploit novel nesting habitats should be to the advantage of a species inhabiting rapidly changing landscapes.

Rapid population decline in one of the last recruiting populations of the endangered Clanwilliam sandfish (Labeo seeberi): The roles of climate change and non‐native fish

Abstract Freshwater fish are in decline worldwide as a result of introduced non‐native species, impoundment, water quality changes, over‐abstraction, and climate change. The Clanwilliam sandfish Labeo seeberi is an endangered migratory cyprinid endemic to a single river system in South Africa's Cape Fold Ecoregion. It has declined across its range and persists as fragmented populations in the Doring River system. One of the last recruiting populations occurs in the Oorlogskloof River, where three non‐native fish species are present: smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu, bluegill sunfish Lepomis macrochirus (both alien and invasive), and banded tilapia Tilapia sparrmanii (extralimital). Impacts of these non‐natives, together with climate change, may pose a serious threat to this important sandfish population and to other cohabiting native fish species. A 6 year data set, collected over 9 years and spanning 25 km of the Oorlogskloof River, was analysed to characterize spatio‐temporal variation in sandfish abundance and size structure and to evaluate the relative impacts of biotic and abiotic factors on population trends. Sandfish experienced a 92.6% decline in relative abundance from 2013 to 2018, driven by a 99.6% decline in young‐of‐the‐year individuals. A combination of extreme rainfall events and drought appear to have played a key role in the decline and subsequently prevented recovery. Small sandfish (≤200 mm) were almost entirely absent from the centrarchid‐invaded section of the Oorlogskloof but were relatively abundant where these centrarchids were absent, suggesting a strong adverse impact of these non‐native species. Banded tilapia co‐occurred with sandfish without any apparent adverse impacts on the relative abundance or size structure of sandfish. Improved water resource management and preventing the further spread of non‐natives must be conservation priorities. Localized eradication of non‐native species must also be considered to reclaim habitat and restore connectivity. Translocations may be required to prevent species extinctions.

Growth patterns of infants with in- utero HIV and ARV exposure in Cape Town, South Africa and Lusaka, Zambia

BackgroundInfants born HIV-exposed yet remain uninfected (HEU) are at increased risk of poorer growth and health compared to infants born HIV-unexposed (HU). Whether maternal antiretroviral treatment (ART) in pregnancy ameliorates this risk of poorer growth is not well understood. Furthermore, whether risks are similar across high burden HIV settings has not been extensively explored.MethodsWe harmonized data from two prospective observational studies conducted in Cape Town, South Africa, and Lusaka, Zambia, to compare weight-for-age (WAZ), length-for-age (LAZ) and weight-for-length (WLZ) Z-scores between infants who were HEU and HU, converting infant anthropometric measures using World Health Organisation Growth Standards adjusted for age and sex. Linear mixed effects models were fit to identify risk factors for differences in anthropometrics at 6–10 weeks and 6 months by infant HIV exposures status and by timing of exposure to maternal ART, either from conception or later in gestation.ResultsOverall 773 mother-infant pairs were included across two countries: women living with HIV (WLHIV), 51% (n = 395) with 65% on ART at conception and 35% initiating treatment in pregnancy. In linear mixed effects models, WAZ and WLZ at 6–10 weeks were lower among infants who were HEU vs HU [β = − 0.29 (95% CI: − 0.46, − 0.12) and [β = − 0.42 (95% CI: − 0.68, − 0.16)] respectively after adjusting for maternal characteristics and infant feeding with a random intercept for country. At 6 months, LAZ was lower [β = − 0.28 CI: − 0.50, − 0.06)] among infants who were HEU, adjusting for the same variables, with no differences in WAZ and WLZ. Within cohort evaluations identified different results with higher LAZ among infants who were HEU from Zambia at 6–10 weeks, [β = + 0.34 CI: + 0.01, + 0.68)] and lower LAZ among infants who were HEU from South Africa [β = − 0.30 CI: − 0.59, − 0.01)] at 6 months, without other anthropometric differences at either site.ConclusionInfant growth trajectories differed by country, highlighting the importance of studying contextual influences on outcomes of infants who were HEU.

Morphology of Pleistocene elephant tracks on South Africa's Cape south coast and probable elephant trunk-drag impressions

AbstractAeolianites and cemented foreshore deposits on South Africa's Cape south coast have the capacity to record and preserve events that transpired on them when they were composed of unconsolidated sand. Thirty-five Pleistocene elephant tracksites have been identified along this coastline. This abundance of sites along what was the margin of the vast Palaeo-Agulhas Plain allows for an appreciation of the forms that elephant tracks and traces can take in the context of the global proboscidean track record. They point to a significant regional elephant presence from Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 11 (~400 ka) through MIS 5 (~130–80 ka) to MIS 3 (~35 ka) and also indicate repeated use of certain dune areas. They buttress Holocene and historical evidence that elephants made use of open areas in the region, and that the remaining “Knysna elephants” retreated into dense afrotemperate forest for protection in recent centuries. Analogies can be drawn between Pleistocene elephant tracks and Mesozoic dinosaur tracks, and some of the Cape south coast elephant tracks are among the largest Cenozoic (and hence, Quaternary) tracks ever to be described. A newly identified tracksite in this area may provide the first reported evidence of elephant trunk-drag impressions.

Expat anxieties: Risk and safety in Cape Town, South Africa and Santiago de Chile

This article considers ‘expatriate’ discourses about security in Cape Town, South Africa and Santiago de Chile. The cities themselves have reputations as desirable, beautiful, civilised, modern and welcoming, in contrast to lurid ideas about poverty, crime, filth and corruption that often characterise northern imaginings of the developing world. Yet, their locations within sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, respectively, nonetheless mark them out as potential spaces of high risk for migrants from the north. In this article, I am interested in the way in which lifestyle migrants to these cities negotiate fears about risk and safety within their new homes. In order to consider this question, I discuss posts on the online messageboards dedicated to these two cities within the popular InterNations ‘expat forum,’ as well as a series of interviews with people who use the forum. I use these respondents’ discursive constructions of safety, threat, otherness, belonging and the unknowability of the global south city to consider some of the affective underpinnings of this form of privileged migration.