Determining regions of higher extinction risk occurrences in South African cycads

Extinction crisis in South African cycads has been very high in recent times. This study used comprehensive distribution records of cycads that occurred in South Africa.  The records obtained from the South African national herbarium named South African National Biodiversity Institute (sanbi) through the herbarium sheets were used to determine the regions of higher extinction crisis in South Africa. The threat status of the herbarium taxa was obtained from iucn 2019 version and was analysed. Threats to these taxa were extracted from iucn and the numbers of taxa facing each threat were determined to unravel the prominent threats. The herbarium records were used to construct a species distribution map for all the cycads in South Africa and another map for Critically Endangered and Extinct South African cycads. This study revealed that regions of high species richness for South African cycads are not the same as regions with highly threatened and extinct South African cycads. Prominent threats found in this plant group are also the major threats causing extinction crisis in the highly threatened and extinct cycads that occurs in few provinces in South Africa. This study therefore recommends that conservation efforts for South African cycads should be intensified in the hotspots of highly threatened and extinct South African cycads identified in this study to further mitigate extinction crisis of South African cycads

Evidence of constant diversification punctuated by a mass extinction in the African cycads

The recent evidence that extant cycads are not living fossils triggered a renewed search for a better understanding of their evolutionary history. In this study, we investigated the evolutionary diversification history of the genus Encephalartos, a monophyletic cycad endemic to Africa. We found an antisigmoidal pattern with a plateau and punctual explosive radiation. This pattern is typical of a constant radiation with mass extinction. The rate shift that we found may therefore be a result of a rapid recolonization of niches that have been emptied owing to mass extinction. Because the explosive radiation occurred during the transition Pliocene–Pleistocene, we argued that the processes might have been climatically mediated

Detecting threats to Encephalartos transvenosus (Limpopo cycad0 in Limpopo province, South Africa through indigenous knowledge

Department of BotanyIndigenous knowledge contains valuable information which is often essential to biodiversity and species conservation. The traditional knowledge of people in local communities can enhance conservation policies and planning and also reveal local perspectives in relation to endangered species. Cycads as a vascular plant group contain the highest percentage of threatened plant species, at global, regional, national and community levels. In this study we focused on Encephalartos transvenosus Stapf & Burtt Davy, a cycad species endemic to Limpopo province in South Africa. Despite every effort to conserve this highly endangered species the threats keep increasing and the population keep decreasing. Through indigenous knowledge, we discovered a location of this species not yet conserved within Vhembe district on the Soutpansberg mountain range in Limpopo province, South Africa. Practices such as bark harvesting, and uprooting of young seedlings were discovered at this population. All these practices noticed at this location are detrimental to in situ conservation of the cycads. This study hereby revealed that indigenous knowledge has a great role in cycads’ conservation. Through the local communities, factors that are threatening cycads existence can be determined and the local community can also be integrated in effective conservation plan that discourage illegal harvesting of cycads.Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the National Research Foundation through the South African Research Chair Initiative (SARCHI) for Biodiversity Value and Change at University of Venda, South Afric

Detecting threats to <i>Encephalartos transvenosus</i> (Limpopo cycad) in Limpopo province, South Africa through indigenous knowledge

251-255Indigenous knowledge contains valuable information which is often essential to biodiversity and species conservation. The traditional knowledge of people in local communities can enhance conservation policies and planning and also reveal local perspectives in relation to endangered species. Cycads as a vascular plant group contain the highest percentage of threatened plant species, at global, regional, national and community levels. In this study we focused on Encephalartos transvenosus Stapf &amp; Burtt Davy, a cycad species endemic to Limpopo province in South Africa. Despite every effort to conserve this highly endangered species the threats keep increasing and the population keep decreasing. Through indigenous knowledge, we discovered a location of this species not yet conserved within Vhembe district on the Soutpansberg mountain range in Limpopo province, South Africa. Practices such as bark harvesting, and uprooting of young seedlings were discovered at this population. All these practices noticed at this location are detrimental to in situ conservation of the cycads. This study hereby revealed that indigenous knowledge has a great role in cycads’ conservation. Through the local communities, factors that are threatening cycads existence can be determined and the local community can also be integrated in effective conservation plan that discourage illegal harvesting of cycads

Effects Of Skip-A-Day Feeding Programme On The Performance And Carcass Characteristics Of Broiler Chickens In A Humid Tropical Environment

The effect of Skip-a-day feeding programme for broilers chicken, as a form of feed restriction, was investigated. Two experiments were conducted from 3-6 weeks of age (Experiment 1) and 6-9 weeks of age (Experiment 2). There were 5 treatments with 2 replicates in each of the two experiments. In each experiment, treatment 1 was fed ad libitum and served as the control. Treatment 2 was fed every other day while in treatment 3 feed was skipped after every two days. In treatments 4 and 5 feed was skipped after every 3 and 4 days respectively. Results showed that in both experiments, although efficiency of feed utilization were not significantly affected, live weight, weight gain and feed consumption were significantly affected (p0.05) by the treatments. Key words: Skip-a-day feeding, body weights, carcass parts, organ weights. (Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences: 2002 8(2): 181-186