Browsing by Author "Anderson, Pippin"

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    Accessing green space in Cape Town : a case study of public perceptions of green space and barriers of access in eight nature reserves and conservation areas within Cape Town
    (2015) Milliken, Julia; Anderson, Pippin
    In an increasingly urbanised world, addressing the need for access to urban green space has become a pertinent topic of interest. In Cape Town, South Africa, a city of immense biodiversity and unique spatial development, the issue of accessing urban green spaces is particularly important. Environmental and ecological advocates call for conservation of green space, to preserve the rare biodiversity of the region, while pressures for continued development to accommodate the City's growing population override land conservation policy aspirations. The legacy of post-apartheid development is still strongly entrenched in Cape Town, resulting in an inequitable and in efficient city form. Access to quality green space remains problematic in Cape Town. This research seeks to discover how accessible urban green spaces are in Cape Town, and, if barriers exist, whether they are physical, economic, or socially driven. The author has undertaken a case study method approach to conduct this research, focusing on eight nature reserves or conservation areas managed by the City of Cape Town in the southern and eastern suburbs of the City. Key informant interviews (n= 6) were conducted, as well as qualitative and quantitative surveys of park users and the general public. Park users (n= 672) were surveyed on site, at one of the eight green spaces, while the public (n= 317) were surveyed at the nearest commercial shopping area adjacent to the green space. Outcome measures included demographic information, suburb of residence, mode of transport, reasons for choosing mode of transport, frequency of green space visits, and reasons for visiting. Results show the majority of park users accessed the green space by personal vehicle, and very few park users took public transport (n= 3). The majority of users resided in suburbs within two kilometre s of the green space. Park users varied in age, yet young adults aged 16-19 and elderly over the age of 80 accounted for only 2.8% and 1.8% of those surveyed, respectively. The ethnic breakdown of those surveyed was not indicative of Cape Town's ethnic breakdown, according to the 2011 Census, with white South Africans and coloured South Africans accounting for 50% and 39%, respectively. Over a quarter of the public surveyed identified 'lack of information' or 'unaware of what park offers' as the reason for not visiting the green space. Safety and security was a common concern among both park users and the public; many expressed concern about visiting the green space alone, or traveling alone due to issues of security in the adjacent neighbourhoods. From the data gathered in this research, the author concludes that barriers exist in the access of quality green spaces within Cape Town, and include, but are not limited to, issues of proximity, public transport, safety and security, spatial development of the City, varied green space interests, and information barriers. These issues vastly alter how users engage in these eight different green spaces. Further research may be conducted in a more expansive study on Cape Town's green spaces, including small local green spaces in neighbourhoods throughout the City, which may yield interesting results on the access and barriers to access of urban green spaces.
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    A biogeographic analysis of the seaweed flora of the west coast of southern Africa, from Lüderitz to Cape Agulhas
    (1996) Anderson, Pippin; Bolton, John J
    A biogeographic analysis of the seaweed flora of the area from Lüderitz to Cape Agulhas was undertaken. Biogeographic patterns were reviewed across 15 geographic regions. A TWINSPAN analysis showed a clear division of the area into two separate species communities. These two communities are the Benguela province, and the western overlap region between the Benguela and Agulhas provinces. The western overlap region was found to be the most diverse. Diversity was shown to decrease with a decrease in latitude. Patterns in endemism among the brown seaweeds follow this trend. In contrast to this, red and green endemics increase with a decrease in latitude. Shore distribution patterns were reviewed, and demonstrated an increase in diversity with a progression down the shore. Among the red seaweeds, this increase, with greater depth was considerable. Species distribution patterns in both shore and shore pool zones were found to follow the same pattern, except for a drop in species in the subtidal fringe pools, which this study concluded was a meaningless concept. These results have been reviewed in relation to present conservation areas along this shore, and future recommendations were made for location of sites for the conservation of seaweed. These were the formation of reserves between Lüderitz and Port Nolloth, between Yzerfontein and Melkbosstrand, and from Scarborough to Cape Hangklip. In some of these areas existing reserves need to make policy adjustments while in others reserves need to be established for the conservation of both diversity and uniqueness of seaweed species.
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    The changing face of the Constantia Valley a temporal study of land use change in a heritage landscape
    (2012) Gaffney, Benjamin; Anderson, Pippin; Meadows, Michael E
    The study of land use change and urban morphology requires a multi-layered approach. Case studies are needed to gain an understanding of the local factors that are driving land use change and forming urban landscapes. This study will provide a temporal perspective on land use change in the Constantia Valley, a high income suburb on the outskirts of Cape Town. It will contextualise the efforts to conserve its heritage and, furthermore, attempt to explain the factors underlying the observed changes in the urban form. This study, through the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping and a series of interviews, examines how and why the urban form of the Constantia Valley has changed. Finally, based on the findings the possible future urban form of Constantia will be considered.
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    The competitive dynamics of two Protea shrubs growing in a mixed fynbos stand
    (1996) Anderson, Pippin; Bond, William J
    Patterns of segregation among Protea species were investigated. Interspecific competition was studied as a cause of these patterns. Two different methods were used for measuring competition in a mixed stand of P. lepidocarpodendron and P. corona/a growing on the Cape Peninsula. These were the plot-based averaging method, which considers stand density, and the nearest neighbour approach, which considers competitive impacts as a function of the immediate neighbouring plant. Both methods demonstrated negligible interspecific, and strong intraspecific competitive effects on fecundity. However strong interspecific competition appears to be occurring at earlier stages of the life cycle and may account for habitat segregation of P. coronata and P. lepidocarpodendron. P. lepidocarpodendron juveniles appear to outgrow and suppress P. coronata plants. Survivors of this interaction grow to full maturity, giving an apparent lack of species interactions when measured in terms of fecundity. The same results were demonstrated in a mixed stand of P. lepidocarpodendron and H. suaveolens, where H. suaveolens suppresses P. lepidocarpodendron. The study indicates the importance of shrub architecture in reducing species interactions, and juvenile phase properties in determining competitive displacement. Soil preferences and variable fire responses between the species were studied in an attempt to explain the restricted distribution of the stronger competitor, P. lepidocarpodendron at the study site. No conclusions were reached, but the restriction of this species from certain sites appears to be a fire response.
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    Conserving living landscapes: investigating the impacts of livestock grazing and assessing rangeland restoration potential in Overberg Renosterveld, South Africa
    (2021) Poulsen, Zoë Chapman; Chimphango, Samson; Hoffman, Michael Timm; Anderson, Pippin; Muasya, A Muthama
    Biodiversity is declining faster than at any other time in the Earth's history, driven mostly by land use change and degradation. Overberg Renosterveld, some of the most species diverse mediterranean type shrublands, are no exception with about 95% of their original extent lost to agriculture. Historically, large herds of indigenous grazing mammals roamed these landscapes. Today the Overberg's agricultural lands are fragmented by land cover change and divided by fences. In the contemporary landscape animals, largely domestic livestock, and plant resources are closely coupled, and overgrazing of remaining renosterveld fragments a significant threat, with potential to cause irreversible damage. The Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (CARA) (Act 43 of 1983) states that farmers must not exceed the grazing capacity of the veld unless it is protected against deterioration and destruction, and that any land that is degraded or denuded must be effectively restored or reclaimed. Despite this legislation, there is little empirical research on the impacts of livestock grazing on renosterveld, as well as on restoration of overgrazed areas. It was the aim of this thesis to contribute to this gap in understanding. The thesis assessed the role of grazing by different livestock types, namely cattle and sheep, on biodiversity, the soil seed bank, and the restoration potential of renosterveld vegetation from resting the veld. The effect of livestock grazing by sheep and cattle on plant species richness and diversity and growth form diversity was assessed using Modified Whittaker plots and presented in Chapter 3. It was hypothesised that livestock grazing by cattle would have less effect on species richness and diversity and growth form diversity than sheep grazing and that both cattle and sheep grazing would lead to a reduction in species richness and diversity in comparison to renosterveld sites with a treatment of no grazing. Thirty sites where either no grazing has taken place or that have been grazed by cattle or sheep were selected with sites being evenly distributed between Eastern, Central and Western Rûens Shale Renosterveld. At each of the thirty sites, vegetation data were collected from a series of nested subplots of ten 1 m2 , two 10 m2 and one 100 m2 subplots nested within a 1 000 m2 plot. One soil sample was also collected from each 1 000 m2 plot to a depth of 10 cm for nutrient analysis. Findings revealed that sites grazed by sheep had significantly lower plant species richness (median richness = 29 species, mean Shannon-Weiner = 3.39) and diversity when compared to sites with a treatment of no grazing (median richness = 49 species, mean Shannon Weiner = 3.83). Sites with a treatment of no grazing had significantly higher richness of geophyte species (mean = 14.7) than sites grazed by cattle (mean = 7.0) and sheep (mean = 7.1) during the study. The results obtained were in line with the hypothesis that livestock grazing by sheep resulted in a reduction in species richness and diversity and vegetation cover in Overberg Renosterveld in comparison to sites where no grazing has taken place. Sites with a treatment of no grazing showed higher species richness and vegetation cover of non-succulent shrubs, annual forbs and perennial forbs than sites grazed by sheep. It was concluded that livestock grazing of Overberg Renosterveld by sheep needs to be done with care. This can be done by adopting a passive adaptive management approach. Here one set of management protocols can be developed and implemented and through science-based monitoring to inform management, these can be adapted as needed based on the key findings. Chapter 4 investigated ecosystem resilience and the restoration potential of Overberg Renosterveld through an exploration of its soil seed bank as a source for potential recovery. A glasshouse germination experiment investigated the effect of livestock grazing by cattle and by sheep in comparison with a grazing treatment of no grazing on the soil seed bank in Overberg Renosterveld, as well as the similarity between the standing vegetation and the soil seed bank. It was hypothesised that cattle and sheep grazing would reduce species richness, species diversity and growth form diversity in the soil seed bank in comparison with sites with a treatment of no grazing. Soil samples were collected from 30 sites that were also used in Chapter 3. The soil was then spread on top of a 6 cm layer of compost in seed trays, and smoke treated to enhance germination. Seedlings were assigned to growth form categories including forbs, geophytes, annuals, graminoids, succulent shrubs and nonsucculent shrubs and then identified to family, genus or species level. The results of the soil seed bank study were correlated with the vegetation results from Chapter 3 to examine the relationship between the standing vegetation and the soil seed bank. A total of 48% of taxa in the standing vegetation had seed present in the germinable seed bank. However, there were no differences in species richness, species diversity or number of individuals between grazing treatments. The results indicated that livestock grazing has a far less significant impact on the composition, species diversity and growth form diversity of the soil seed bank in Overberg Renosterveld than hypothesised. Instead, the results showed that there was a well-developed seed bank comprising mainly indigenous species with a variety of different growth forms including palatable grasses and shrubs. This indicates that Overberg Renosterveld vegetation has high restoration potential. Chapter 5 showed results on the effects of livestock grazing by cattle and sheep over time on plant species richness, diversity and growth form diversity in comparison with sites protected from grazing. Following collection of a baseline dataset, four years of follow up data were collected. A total of 22 fenced plots across Western, Central and Eastern Rûens Shale Renosterveld had a baseline dataset collected prior to being monitored on an annual basis over four years in grazed/ungrazed paired plots. Results on vegetation recovery from the fenced exclosures showed a significant increase in plant cover over time at sites that were not grazed. Mean species richness increased from 20.6 species to 25.4 species at sites with no grazing. Mean vegetation cover increased from 71% at T0 (the baseline time step) to 120% at T4 (the final time step) at the end of the study. Sites grazed by sheep had a decrease in vegetation cover over time each year from T0 to T4 from 75% to 50%. Results from a linear mixed model revealed that species richness between grazing treatments was significantly different at all time steps in the study. However, the significant differences were primarily due to comparisons between grazed sites and sites with a treatment of no grazing. Therefore, livestock grazing by sheep has a significant effect on renosterveld vegetation over time. Findings from this component of the study indicates that Overberg Renosterveld degraded by continuous heavy grazing has significant passive restoration potential by fencing renosterveld patches to facilitate more effective grazing management. Most of the renosterveld of the Overberg has been lost through habitat transformation for agriculture, and the future of that which remains is uncertain. This thesis affirms concerns around the impact of livestock grazing and shows the importance of improved ecological understanding around grazing management. Grazing by sheep was shown to cause greater impacts on renosterveld than other domestic livestock studied and is therefore a threat to renosterveld. These findings warrant closer attention to management practices around sheep grazing. However, the state of renosterveld soil seed banks offer considerable hope. Findings revealed a diverse indigenous seed bank, showing that renosterveld degraded by overgrazing has high restoration potential. Furthermore, fencing renosterveld to exclude livestock improves species richness and diversity over time. These findings highlight the need for caution when grazing renosterveld. However, where the damage has been done, the potential for recovery is high. Harnessing the soil seed bank in combination with excluding livestock grazing by fencing are effective tools in this critically endangered vegetation for achieving restoration and conservation goals.
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    Could catchment conservation be funded through urban water tariffs? A case study of three South African cities
    (2022) du Plessis, Nicola; Turpie, Jane; Visser, Martine; Anderson, Pippin
    Water scarcity is a global issue that has traditionally been addressed by over-abstracting surface water and constructing more dams. However, these solutions are environmentally destructive and, in some cases, insufficient to meet future water demands. To secure future water supply, it is necessary to invest in the protection and restoration of catchment areas which have become degraded due to human activities. In many developing countries, catchment management is financed solely by public funding, which is often insufficient to cover the costs of catchment conservation. Supplementary funding sources thus need to be investigated to ensure the future success of these interventions. This study aimed to address whether household water tariff pricing could be used as a mechanism for securing funds for catchment restoration. The objectives of the study were to (i) elicit households' willingness to pay (WTP) for water, (ii) determine factors influencing WTP, and (iii) investigate whether aggregate revenue generated from households' WTP at the municipal scale could cover the costs needed for catchment conservation in that water service provider region. Household surveys were conducted on 1244 households in three coastal metropolitan municipalities in South Africa: the City of Cape Town, Nelson Mandela Bay, and eThekwini. Contingent valuation revealed that average WTP for water across all three municipalities was R540 per household per month, 4.6% more than what households currently pay for water. Factors that significantly influenced WTP included income, age, household size, municipality, and satisfaction with municipal service delivery. Based on the WTP for 11 income categories, aggregate WTP for water amounted to R5.94 billion per year for the City of Cape Town, R5.83 billion per year for eThekwini, and R1.26 billion per year for Nelson Mandela Bay municipality. This translated to a positive consumer surplus of R1.2 billion for the City of Cape Town and R826 million for eThekwini, which is approximately three times greater than the estimated budgets required to cover the costs to restore both of the catchment areas supplying water to these municipalities. Since WTP for water was lower than the amount that residents currently pay in Nelson Mandela Bay, water pricing cannot be considered a mechanism to finance catchment conservation for this municipality. Choice models further revealed that households were willing to pay 34% more than their current water bill to avoid water restrictions, and 22% more to secure water supply through more environmentally sustainable options. These results demonstrate the importance of context and scale when making water investment and pricing decisions over the longer term.
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    Cultural ecosystem services of the Diep River corridor: community perceptions
    (2018) Kgantsi, Boitshekwane; Anderson, Pippin; Avlonitis, Georgina; Kavonic, Jessica
    The purpose of the study was to examine the cultural ecosystem service and the community perceptions of the Diep River Corridor that connects the Table Mountain National Park, Little Princess Vlei, Zandvlei Estuary, and finally feeds to the sea of the Atlantic Ocean. Constructed interview questions were used to assess the cultural ecosystem activities occurring along the Diep River corridor. The intention of assessing the cultural ecosystem services was to examine the importance of the corridor for the local communities. The corridor was historically important for various activities such as water for human and livestock drinking purposes, agricultural activities, and irrigation of gardens and to a power water mill. The increased number of people relocating and using the Diep River corridor resulted in degradation and transformation of the river. The study thereof acknowledges people as the major cause of transformation of the Diep River corridor. Literature revealed a lot of studies that have been about water quality, vegetation cover and positions people as the cause of environmental crisis such as pollution. This study thereof saw the need to assess the perceptions of people towards their natural environment and see if this could be used to argue for the importance of this green amenity. Overall, the assessment of community members' perceptions regarding the importance of the river corridor as an available green space was a challenge as individuals had a number of different views. Cultural ecosystem services associated with the Diep River corridor are numerous and variably experienced and enjoyed by the different communities along the river corridor. The outcome of the study revealed different levels of importance and various uses of the corridor by individual and group participants. Important community activities included walking, relaxing, enjoying the peaceful environment, experiencing the beauty of nature, spending time alone or with loved ones, having picnics, sports and kayaking/ boating. The study recognizes that improved management of Diep River corridor for these recreational activities is important and efforts must be made to meet the diverse interest of local community members and residents. The findings will hopefully result in community needs being taken into increased consideration for future recreational management around the Diep River corridor.
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    The effects of invasive alien plants on cultural ecosystem services : tourism and recreation
    (2011) Davey, Jared; Anderson, Pippin; O'Farrell, Patrick
    With the continued spread of invasive alien vegetation in South Africa, there is a growing need and recognition in protecting ecosystem service delivery. While most literature on ecosystem services has focussed on provisioning and supporting services, this study looks at the less addressed cultural ecosystem services, specifically focussing on tourism and recreation. This research explores the relationship between tourism and invasive alien vegetation. This was carried out at firstly a national level, utilising primarily quantitative methods to identify, and map alien vegetation overlaps with key tourist sites in South Africa. This was followed by a more in-depth qualitative analysis, at a case study level, focussed on the Stellenbosch municipality, to determine the understanding and perceptions, tourists, landowners, and tourism operators have regarding invasive alien plants. Moderate to high levels of infestation were found overlapping various key tourism destinations across the country. The most heavily impacted provinces include the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal. In certain areas, invasion levels at key tourist destinations raise concerns regarding the management of these sites. The findings of this research signify a close link and definite relationship between tourism, and invasive alien vegetation. Looking specifically at tourism as a cultural ecosystem service, and the relationship this service has with invasive alien vegetation, future studies need to recognise the significance of this association, while the broader tourism industry needs to recognise the potential threats invasive alien vegetation poses to their operations. Furthermore, this research identifies the value in combining qualitative, human dimensions, with quantitative data and mapping approaches in ecosystem services research.
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    Environmental governance: urban community-driven conservation endeavors in the Cape
    (2024) Horn, Inca; Anderson, Pippin
    Conservation of ecosystems on all scales is important, especially in light of the Anthropocene. The Cape is an important site for biodiversity and is home to many people and ecosystems. The ecosystems in urban environments influence the well-being of communities and provide essential services. Conservation in the urban is part of a complex socio-ecological system, and governance is an important factor in ensuring effective decisions are made and appropriate management actions taken. Although there are clear guidelines for conservation on a national and provincial level, it is less clear for civic and urban efforts. This research aims to establish how local conservation endeavors are governed in the urban Cape and how this governance aligns to policies in South Africa. The purpose is to provide insights into gaps in information and policy. Three cases of community driven conservation endeavors were identified for exploration in the urban areas of the Cape Floristic Region. This research uses the framework for environmental governance by Bennett and Satterfield (2018) to uncover the rich material of urban green space conservation, which is presented against the backdrop of relevant policies. It is important to determine how these spaces are governed on the ground, and if this framework is a useful tool to extract and use information on this scale. Based on the framework for effective conservation governance, data was collected through semi-structured interviews with eight people involved in the identified endeavors. The interviewees included members of the municipalities, endeavor managers and civilian volunteers. A policy analysis of environmental governance in South Africa was done to determine the guidelines in which these endeavors should operate, and to identify the objectives that the cases are meeting. Data from interviews was used to uncover the governance modes, common themes, and effectiveness of local environmental conservation. Urban conservation fulfills many social and environmental goals when governed effectively. These conservation endeavors create outputs which align with important national goals, and the Sustainable Development Goals for life on land and sustainable cities and communities. Community support and good relationships in local government proved to be the most critical to effective governance. These cases do not operate within clear policy guidelines, and their governance modes differ depending on the local socio ecological context. These findings support the need for bottom-up governance, community led conservation and strong relationships between civic society and government to meet social and environmental goals in the urban.
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    “Exploring the contribution of alternative food systems towards food security: a case study of the siyazenzela food garden project”
    (2019) Mikosi, Khathutshelo; King, Brian; Anderson, Pippin
    In South African urban centres the development of Alternative Food Systems (AFS) have been partially attributed with seeking to overcome the exclusion enforced through the apartheid regime’s racial planning policies. It was during this period that poor African households were forcibly relocated to the periphery of urban areas, creating even greater distances between themselves and everyday amenities, such as food retailers, which were typically found in more affluent zones. As a result, AFS emerged through informal activities to reduce the lack of access to necessary resources that these underserved communities experienced. Even at the end of the apartheid regime and the subsequent increased expansion of formal food retailers in many of these low-income communities, access to food continues to be major challenge. Consequently, AFS fulfil an essential role by providing low income neighbourhoods with alternative and affordable sources of food. This research examines the extent to which AFS, such as the Siyazenzela food garden project, contribute to food security for the Phiri community in Soweto and if it is feasible for the project to meet these needs single-handedly. The results indicate that the project plays an important role by providing locals with accessible, fresh, diverse, affordable and culturally acceptable foods. However, one of the considerable challenges for the initiative is its inability to maintain a constant supply of produce throughout the year. This leaves many of its patrons having to seek food from other sources, which may not necessarily offer the same quality and affordable goods, or they resort to consuming less fresh produce. Therefore, the study brings to the surface the need to question how such systems function and if their methods always result in safe, healthier and environmentally friendly grown produce as the literature assert.
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    Exploring the ecological and social benefits of the Khayelitsha Wetlands Park
    (2017) Mathenjwa, Fezile; Anderson, Pippin; O'Farrell, Patrick
    In a world confronted by rapid urbanization linked with dramatic population growth rates, there is a general consensus that quality urban green spaces are important components of urban landscapes. Urban green spaces are defined as open spaces in urban areas primarily covered with vegetation, which are available to users within the community. They have the ability to shape the image of cities and provide various important socioecological benefits, which can contribute to improving the quality of life within these urban communities. In Cape Town, the provision of readily accessible quality urban green spaces is often overridden by other conflicting demands, such as biodiversity conservation and infrastructure development demands. The literature suggests that Cape Town has ample available green spaces. However, the accessibility of this green space is linked to issues of poor management and maintenance, and as a result poor urban spaces are often associated with criminal activities, and are therefore unavailable to benefit urban communities. This is particularly evident in areas which have a low socioeconomic status. This study explores the ecosystem services offered by the Khayelitsha Wetlands Park in the Khayelitsha Township on the Cape Flats. A variety of methods were used to establish the condition of the Wetlands Park and assess the impacts of various uses (e.g. recreation, agriculture etc.) on the vegetation structure and water quality. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were also conducted to assess the local community's uses and perceptions of this green space. A Complex Adaptive Landscape (CAL) approach was adopted to derive the positive and negative social-ecological impacts of the Khayelitsha Wetlands Park. The vegetation structure assessment results showed a dominance of emergent and invasive vegetation, such as Typha capensis and Acacia cyclops, and indicates a high level of degradation and a lack of indigenous vegetation species. The water quality analysis reveals high concentrations of physiochemical and microbial pollutants, where a majority exceeded the Targeted Water Quality Ranges (TWQR) recommended by the Department of Water Affairs for livestock watering, irrigation and human use. Findings from the semi-structured interviews, revealed that a majority of users v visit the Park for multiple activities offered by the Park. These include relaxation, creating and maintaining social relations, sports and recreation and agricultural use. The CAL framework revealed negative and positive feedback mechanisms at play in this urban green space. The negative feedback effects are illustrated and confirmed by poor water quality and a predominantly alien infested vegetation structure. The poor ecological condition of the Wetland is linked to a number of anthropogenic influences, including the discharge of treated waste and untreated waste from both agricultural and urban waste sources, indicating the complexity of managing the Khayelitsha Wetlands Park. Since a number of users and management institutions are connected to the Khayelitsha Wetlands Park, their involvement in the management thereof is crucial for effectively solving the issues identified.
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    Exploring the interplay of ecological and social factors in human-induced disturbance of the African Oystercatcher (Haematopus moquini): insights and management recommendations for conservation
    (2023) Keet, Taylor; Anderson, Pippin; Altwegg Andreas
    It is well-established that nature-based recreation can pose a significant threat to wildlife. However, certain activities may have greater impacts than others, such as dog walking. Estuarine and coastal ecosystems are frequented by dog walkers, and they are also home to shorebird populations that are facing mounting pressure due to human disturbance. African Oystercatchers (Haematopus moquini) are vulnerable to human disturbance because they are a ground-nesting species that breeds during the height of the South African holiday and tourist season (October-March). Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) are heavily implicated in the lower breeding success rates evident in mainland African Oystercatcher populations. Therefore, this research focussed on both the ecological (flight initiation distances) and social dimensions (beach user surveys) of human disturbance of African Oystercatchers. The results of the ecological dimension showed that treatment type (dog vs. no dog treatment), location, incubation status, and the interaction between location and incubation status had a significant effect on African Oystercatcher flight initiation distances. Most importantly, African Oystercatchers had longer flight initiation distances on average in response to the dog treatment (a walker approaching with a leashed dog) compared to the no dog treatment. The results of the social dimension revealed ‘ambivalence' and ‘contradiction' themes. The ambivalence theme centred around the recreationists being uncertain about or disliking the majority of the hypothetical regulations aimed at protecting shorebirds, despite strongly agreeing that shorebird protection and regulations are important. The contradiction theme centred around two sub-themes. Firstly, the species literacy gap that emerged when the recreationists agreed that they were familiar with local shorebirds, while being unable to substantiate this belief by naming the species. Secondly, the cognitive dissonance displayed by the recreationists when they showed good awareness of the threats that human activities pose to shorebirds, while also strongly agreeing that their dogs pose no threat, and many also indicating that larger buffer zones are required to protect shorebirds from dog walkers. Three evidence-based management recommendations were provided, namely implementing buffer zones during the breeding season, tackling the poor leashing compliance rate, and installing signage to educate recreationists and persuade them to adopt pro-social behaviours.
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    Exploring the past and the present in order to predict the future: herbarium specimens, field data and extinction probability for conservation managers
    (2018) Cowell, Carly; Anderson, Pippin; Annecke, Wendy
    Loss of biodiversity is a global conservation crisis. Environmental change is rapid and biodiversity loss is happening at rates never experienced before. Conservationists must deal with an ever growing responsibility to conserve biodiversity and in addition to this they must also meet recently recognized conservation heritage mandates. In the face of mounting environmental pressure protected areas have been identified as the primary means for saving biodiversity and heritage sites. Protected area managers are constrained by limited time to act and less available resources than in the past. Negative impacts caused by threats such as climate change or land transformation within biodiversity hotspots require research, monitoring and conservation actions to mitigate these threats and save species from extinction. Monitoring species for a trend in population reduction is particularly difficult when protected area management is faced with a large list of species under its custodianship. Exacerbating this problem is the current format of existing data and its accessibility to managers. Conservationists and protected area management now require new and innovative tools for informed decision making and a multidisciplinary approach is required to achieve their expanded mandate. This research sought specifically to expand our knowledge on global plant species loss from both a social heritage and biodiversity perspective. The study was carried out in the context of science as a discipline and the recently recognised mandate of heritage and biodiversity conservation of protected areas. The thesis deals with the epistemology of science, biocultural heritage, extinction probability and species detection in protected areas. This thesis explores herbarium data from a number of points of view, and looks at the value of herbarium collections to plant species survival at a fine scale within protected areas. Work was carried out in national parks in the Fynbos Biome, a biodiversity hotspot in the Cape Province of South Africa, using herbarium and botanical survey data. I draw on historical views to understand the contribution of herbarium specimens to botany. I explore herbarium specimens as objects of information and show that they make numerous contributions through the field of botany to science, in serving as the longest standing record and providing a window to the nature of the physical world at the time when collected. Early botanical collectors may have at times contributed to what are now known as common practices in science such as the practice of repeat sampling and collecting. This thesis highlights the significant value of the vast amount of work undertaken by early botanical collectors and the tremendous value of information gathered at a certain point in history, it emphasises the urgent need for an increased effort by modern explorers and naturalists to once again embark on fieldwork and collections to advance our understanding of the natural world. I then look at the individual narratives of early botanists in relation to extant populations and the heritage contribution of these to individual national parks. Herbarium specimens are well recognised as historic scientific objects. Herbarium specimens become part of the narrative of the collectors which are directly connected with nature and should be recognised as part of the heritage and natural conservation landscape. The localities of extant plant populations connect biodiversity, current protected areas, and the people who visited and lived there. Working in the Agulhas National Park, I located numerous localities still extant within the Park more than 100 years after collection of the herbarium specimen. I illustrate that plant populations, where historic specimens were collected, are historical scientific places with significant biocultural heritage value, they are areas that show the footprint of people on the landscape, and are spaces where society and science came together to generate knowledge. My research reveals that botany (through herbarium specimens) is consistent in its contributions to science, both social and biological, from the role of herbarium specimens in the development of scientific epistemology and practices, to the recognition of historic herbarium specimens and the sites of in situ extant plant populations as biocultural heritage. I recommend that these sites be included in biocultural heritage monitoring activities of protected areas, regardless of the Red List status of the locality species, and in recognition of their heritage contribution. Tackling the loss of diversity requires an understanding of extinction risk in protected areas. I once again interrogate the value of herbarium data. I undertook a desktop quantitative assessment of herbarium data, survey data and a combined dataset. Using the Solow (1993) extinction probability equation I generated mean survival probabilities for species of four of the main fynbos families (Ericaceae, Fabaceae, Proteaceae and Restionaceae) in the Cape Floristic Region. I then interrogate this against the International Union for Conservation Red List status categories. I present results that show how the inaccessibility of the underlying data results in sparse data available to run the extinction probability model, which alters the accuracy of extinction probability results. Whilst accurately inferring the extinction status of a species is important for species conservation, arguably it is more important to determine whether species in protected areas are still there and if they are stable or declining. Through much of this thesis I demonstrate the value of the capturing of detailed information associated with field collection and how this has been extremely useful through the ages. The modern approach to seek swift insights in light of time and budget constraints does not lend itself to the accumulation of usable, reliable data. Modelling may work in data rich situations, but that is not the case here as I show in testing the extinction probability on the flora of Table Mountain National Park. It is currently not feasible to monitor all IUCN Red List species within a protected area given the economic climate most protected areas find themselves in. Pressure on protected areas to monitor all species with a Red List threat status can be reduced by targeting high-priority species for monitoring and those which have the greatest return on investment for the conservation of the species. To achieve this, an increase in financial support for botanical monitoring based on sound fieldwork practices is needed. The work done in this thesis by exploiting current resources for data such as herbarium and survey records found that an indication of extinction risk could not be determined using the data in its current form. The survey data in particular had significant shortcomings in its curation and management, which in turn restricts its use to conservation science. What appears to be needed is better synergy between herbarium and survey data to determine extinction probabilities. The next step is to investigate new practical methods of data collection, collation and storage such as remote sensing, citizen science, and making use of new technologies as they become mainstreamed. The results of my work contribute to our understanding of the current state of data and floral species in case study national parks in South Africa, and provide a basis for using quantitative approaches to inform conservation decision-making. Lastly, I adapt and develop methods for in-field detection of threatened plant species for the finer scale landscapes of protected areas to inform conservation management decisions. The combination of herbarium and survey data did provide for a clear in-field status to be obtained and it was possible to verify a species as extant at its known subpopulation localities, but more importantly whether a reduction in species subpopulations had occurred. I found no correlation between the Red List status of a species at a broad scale and the actual status of that species in the Table Mountain National Park. I demonstrate that although a species may occur in a protected area it is not necessarily secure if its subpopulations are being lost. Therefore, species that are declining in a protected area should be monitored and action taken to prevent loss irrespective of their Red List status. This thesis articulates the degree to which the IUCN Red List does not align with extinction predictions or in-field survival of species within a protected area. I suggest that the next stage of the Red List development is in setting small scale limits on how to prioritise actions and monitoring in small geographically defined areas. This work highlights the importance of selecting an in-field detection method that is suitable to meet the multiple needs of conservation management (resources and capacity) and to help prioritise which Red Listed species may not necessarily be under immediate threat and can survive with less regular and intense monitoring whereas others with lower Red List rankings may require immediate attention. Herbarium data clearly speak to the wider conservation mandates that have recently emerged. My work shows the multi-layered contribution of herbarium data from global scientific practices and epistemologies, to local heritage contributions in national parks, to informing and guiding species detection and in-field work. Broadly the work shows that this is a highly valuable source of data, which should be fostered and grown. There is a need to revive the role of the field-biologist, to reinitiate a period of collection, data gathering and knowledge generation. Current herbarium and survey data provide a present temporal scale, by employing both of these data, species declines can be found and possibly future extinction can be forecast, enabling conservation actions to be put in place. My work highlights the current situation protected areas find themselves in, with recognition of the biodiversity crisis, fiscal constraints, and data limitations imposed on them. One of the biggest benefits in using herbarium data is the long-term history of the records, coupled with accurate vegetation survey data, this combined dataset could hold unknown potential for use in conservation planning and assessments. By combining in-field survey data, long-term and historic data accurate predictions may be obtained and result in conservation efforts maximised and implementation by protected area management where it counts.
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    Fun and fear in False Bay Nature Reserve: green space affordances in the post-apartheid city
    (2015) Baigrie, Bruce; Anderson, Pippin; Daya, Shari; Wright, Dale
    The phenomenon and increasing rate of urbanisation is causing many researchers to look deeper at life in cities. Increasingly recognised are the benefits of urban green space and their associated recreational parks and nature reserves. While there is a growing literature on the environmental services provided by these areas; so too is there a growing literature on the numerous social benefits that recreational green spaces in particular afford their users. Although imagined and generally designed as salubrious public spaces, many parks often fall short of this. In fact research has shown that a park's design, its surroundings, and its management can all combine to exclude certain types of people. In this study I conducted ethnographic research to participate in and observe the activities of visitors to False Bay Nature Reserve in Cape Town. False Bay Nature Reserve includes a series of nature reserves and the Cape Flats Waste Water Treatment Works, and is situated in the area of Cape Town known as the Cape Flats. Much of the Cape Flats is beset by poverty, unemployment, and violent drug - related crime carried out by notorious gangs. Despite the challenges of the surrounding areas, my study reveals that False Bay Nature Reserve provides relative safety to its users as well a range of enjoyable re creational activities. Some of the key recreational activities are separated distinctively between two key sites in the reserve. Furthermore the visitors of these sites differ markedly in race, ethnicity and income. The legacy of apartheid almost certainly accounts for much of this separation; however, the study indicates that the barriers of this legacy are eroding and can potentially be further dismantled with engaged and informed management strategies. Due to its surroundings, the reserve is vulnerable and recently experienced a period where crime was prevalent, vegetation was overgrown, and it was feared by many of its users, particularly women. The reserve had in many ways become what researchers call a landscape of fear, a not so uncommon description of parks around the world. However, management and the majority of visitors feel the reserve has recovered from this period. This is in large part due to upgrades that improved recreational facilities and security in the reserve. Accounts from visitors high light how important a sense of safety is for people frequenting this reserve, most of who live in nearby neighbourhoods. The reserve still faces some challenges today, but is a significant asset to the City of Cape Town and many of its more marginalised residents. This study challenges much of the literature on the benefits of urban green space and associated parks. It shows that particularly in cities of the Global South such as Cape Town, parks require specific management strategies that prioritise safety and in doing so promote and ensure inclusivity for all.
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    Gated nature and its role in creating place attachment and place identity in post-apartheid South Africa: an analysis of Grotto Bay private residential estate
    (2017) Ramsawmy, Sharon; Rink, Bradley; Anderson, Pippin
    This dissertation focuses on a private residential estate, known as Grotto Bay, situated on the West Coast of the Western Cape province of South Africa. It examines the motivations of its participants to move to a non-metropolitan gated community and focuses on the participants' experiences of life in gated nature. In analysing the participants' subjective experiences, this work aims to understand how such experiences contribute to the development of place attachment, against the backdrop of the understanding of whiteness in the post-apartheid landscape. This qualitative, ethnographic research uses semi-structured interviews and participant observation to collect data. To analyse the data collected, this research uses thematic content analysis of texts and observations to identify motivations and link them to the body of literature on gated communities and lifestyle migration in South Africa. Drawing on the Person, Place and Process Framework, this work further probes into an understanding of the processes of place attachment to Grotto Bay, by speaking back to insights from the literature on place attachment, landscape and identity, within the post-apartheid South African context. The findings show that through gating and a migration back to the rural land, the participants of this research have enlisted the natural landscape to root themselves to place and to find a sense of continuity in self and in their identity, by linking the reconstruction of their past with the present and future. The results further indicate that discourses of withdrawal and attachment to place, read through a lens of white privilege, drive the making and re-making of boundaries in the post-apartheid context of South Africa. This work shows that through the privatisation of the rural landscape, Grotto Bay facilitates notions of power and control through the respondents' romantic and nostalgic idealisation of their new social imaginary. The respondents' subjective experiences exemplify the ways in which estates such as Grotto Bay may stand to perpetuate white hegemony and environmental injustice in the post-colonial and post-apartheid contexts.
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    Guarding dogs as a mitigation tool in human-wildlife conflict - case study: the Anatolian Shepherd Dog breeding project in Namaqua National Park
    (2017) Binge, Elizabeth Naudé; Anderson, Pippin; Annecke, Wendy
    This study conducted an evaluation of farmer and shepherd perceptions on Anatolian Shepherd dogs, used as livestock guarding dogs to mitigate farmer–wildlife conflict and meet conservation ends. The case study involved Anatolian Shepherd dogs bred at the Anatolian Shepherd Dog Breeding Project in the Namaqua National Park, and placed mostly on farms and at stock posts near the Namaqua National Park in the Northern Cape. The data were collected during structured and semi-structured interviews with livestock farmers and shepherds that received Anatolian Shepherd dogs from the Breeding Project. Anatolian Shepherd dogs were evaluated in terms of their contribution to reduce livestock losses and conservation of wildlife species. In terms of effectiveness in preventing or reducing livestock losses, 84% of the dogs eliminated or reduced livestock losses. Respondent satisfaction with the dogs was high, with 95% of respondents willing to recommend the Breeding Project and the use of Anatolian Shepherd dogs. Of the respondents, 95% perceived their dogs to be economically beneficial. Another 48% of respondents reported some form of behavioural problems at least once during the placement of the dogs. The most common reported problem was resting in the shade rather than accompanying the livestock. However, corrective training was effective in all cases where training was undertaken immediately. In terms of conservation, fewer respondents used lethal predator control methods in the years after placement of the dogs than before their placement. The overall perception regarding the use of lethal control methods (e.g. gin traps, shooting and poison) was that such control is cruel and that it is better to use non-lethal control methods only. However, a few respondents reported that lethal control measures were occasionally necessary to make a living when no other control measures were available, especially when the herd was relatively large. The effects of Anatolian Shepherd dogs on non-predator species in this study were minimal. The presence of the dogs therefore aided predator conservation and improved farmer tolerance of predators, especially by effectively reducing livestock losses.
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    Improving integrated wildfire management in the Fynbos Biome of South Africa using information on synoptic-scale atmospheric features that promote wildfires
    (2015) Harrison, Dean Charles; Abiodun, Babatunde Joseph; Anderson, Pippin
    Wildfire, an essential element for the Fynbos Biome of South Africa, can be a threat to property and human life if it is not well managed. Despite many studies on the dynamics and management of wildfire, the role of the atmosphere in inducing regional circulations that promote widespread wildfire is not well known. This dissertation studies the characteristics of wildfire in the Fynbos Biome, identifies synoptic-scale atmospheric features that produce favourable conditions for the wildfire, and examines possibility of using the features as indicators for wildfire occurrence. Ten years (2003 - 2012) of fire data from the MODIS "active-fires" datasets were analysed over the study domain. Daily Fire Danger Index (FDI) was calculated over Southern Africa for this period using maximum temperature (Tmax), minimum relative humidity (RHmin), and maximum wind speed (Wmax) data from the Climate Forecasting System Reanalysis datasets (CFSR) at a 0.5°x0.5° horizontal resolution. The Self Organising Maps (SOMs) technique was used to classify the FDI (anomaly) patterns on the fire days, and the atmospheric dynamics associated with each pattern were studied.
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    The Peninsula Shale Renosterveld of Devil's Peak: phytosociology, system drivers and restoration potential
    (2014-08-15) Cowan,Oliver Silver; Anderson, Pippin
    Peninsula Shale Renosterveld is a poorly understood and critically threatened vegetation type with 87% of its original extent transformed and the remaining fragments restricted to the area surrounding the Cape Town city bowl. A substantial portion of Peninsula Shale Renosterveld is situated in the Groote Schuur Estate, currently conserved within the Table Mountain National Park. Due to a history of diverse land-use impacts, what remains today is a complex mosaic of alien invasive species and indigenous vegetation in various states of degradation. As a result of the substantial transformation, it is evident that to improve the conservation value of this highly threatened vegetation type, restoration is required. However, as many restoration projects fail as a result of a poor understanding of the ecosystem dynamics in which they are operating in, it is imperative that prior to initiation data is collected from the site. To enhance the understanding of the ecosystem drivers of Peninsula Shale Renosterveld with a view to evaluate restoration potential and inform future restoration initiatives a short-term, detailed analysis of four typical vegetation states found within the study area was undertaken. This was accomplished through a detailed land-use history analysis focusing on the practices which have brought the system to its current position; a phytosociological survey investigating the contemporary state of the study area; and an examination of the health of the seedbank through a greenhouse experiment to ascertain whether it could prove a useful asset in future restoration initiatives. The results show how historical drivers have created a novel ecosystem with vegetation states ranging from relatively healthy Renosterveld vegetation, indigenous vegetation requiring intervention to maintain its integrity, and regions of the study area where only active restoration efforts can return the degraded vegetation to functional Peninsula Shale Renosterveld. Despite this novel ecosystem, each vegetation state broadly fits into hypothetical Renosterveld ecosystem driver models, thus providing data for future restoration requirements. The seedbank diversity was found to be poor, dominated by alien ephemeral species and unlikely to assist in restoration efforts. The results also suggest the soilstored seedbank in Renosterveld may not be of great importance for succession post-disturbance. In addition to providing valuable baseline data and enhancing the knowledge on drivers within Peninsula Shale Renosterveld, the project recommends and provides motivation for future management actions that will enable the restoration of this critically endangered vegetation type.
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    Testing the water: How communities value, use, impact and manage water-related ecosystem services originating in an urban protected area
    (2017) Brill, Gregg; Anderson, Pippin; O'Farrell, Patrick
    Freshwater ecosystems and their associated landscape features found in developing cities and urban protected areas are essential components of urban social-ecological systems providing city residents with cultural, provisioning and regulating services, all of which hold value. Understanding these values requires overcoming conceptual and methodological challenges so that the multi-dimensional nature, relating to the varying values, benefits, and trade-offs are understood. Understanding values, benefits and trade-offs is essential for ensuring informed and effective management of these services and the landscapes that provide them. This requires the development of tools and methods to predict how changes in land-use and management practices might affect the provision of such services. This study contributes to both the methodological and empirical literature by developing integrated and multidisciplinary approaches to assessing the beneficiaries of freshwater ecosystem services in an urban context and recognising the ecological, social and economic values assigned to ecosystem services over multiple spatial and temporal scales. The aim of this thesis was to assess how beneficiaries, stakeholders and managers within a developing city context, recognise, value and manage the multiple diverse ecosystems services associated with freshwater ecosystems as provided by different landscape features originating in an urban protected area. This aim was achieved by establishing who the beneficiaries of freshwater ecosystem services are, uncovering the spatial and temporal relationships these beneficiaries have with landscape features, determining the nature of ecosystem service values, benefits, impacts and trade-offs as experienced by the different users, as well as analysing the management policies and practices associated with urban ES. Drawing on accumulated as well as existing data sets, newly developed methods and approaches were implemented in this study. This work was primarily undertaken in Table Mountain National Park and in Cape Town, South Africa. A comparative analysis of the perceptions of park managers toward ecosystem service governance and management was undertaken in Table Mountain National Park and in Tijuca National Park, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Natural freshwater ecosystems (e.g. rivers), particularly when combined with built infrastructure (e.g. dams), provide highly valued features in landscapes, delivering multiple cultural services to city residents. Recreation, aesthetic and existence services were valued highest by respondents. People who live closer to the park use, and benefit from, the park's freshwater ecosystems more frequently than those living further away. Park visitors want ease of access in terms of distance to specific freshwater ecosystems, and then once there they want a diversity of activity options, such as recreation opportunities as well as places to reflect and meditate. The outcomes of the cultural-service study in this thesis have important management implications where insights gained can guide management to ensure equitable and sustainable ecosystem service provision to all city residents. To enhance the management of ecosystem services in urban protected areas, it is important to understand the level of inclusion of the ecosystem-service concept in park policy and daily practice. Although management perceptions correspond well with park policy, the concept of ecosystem services is still narrowly developed and needs to be better integrated into the management structures and activities of Table Mountain National Park and Tijuca National Park. Outcomes from this study show that management attention relating to fresh water is still primarily focussed on biodiversity conservation and maintaining system processes and functions. Implementing and enacting the ecosystem services concept largely still needs to happen within parks and urban interfaces. The lack of communication between managers and stakeholders of protected areas makes identifying the beneficiaries of fresh water and valuing ecosystem services difficult, especially when water and associated services flow outside of the park boundaries. An important component of this study was to determine the changes to ecosystem service provision as fresh water flows from a protected area into and across an urban landscape. A scoring system was developed to determine whether changes in land use along three case-study rivers in Cape Town, all of which originate in Table Mountain National Park, positively or negatively impact the provision of water-related ecosystem services. Changes in service provision, over time, were compared to changes in long-term water quality data to verify results from the scoring system. Generally, service levels increased over time along the upper river reaches, whereas the middle and lower reaches of the rivers showed overall declines. The changes to service provision influence the value that urban residents assign to rivers. Findings in this study suggest that the provision of cultural ecosystem services as well as the protection of biological diversity were the key factors considered by those living along the case study rivers as reasons for being willing to pay to protect rivers. Provisioning services were shown to be of less value, as were the economic contribution to property values based on river frontage. This study supports the call for more innovative research to be undertaken in developing countries to break new ground and provide more comprehensive analyses to further our understanding of the values of urban ES. The challenge for environmental researchers in this context is to intensify efforts to understand the relationships between specific landscape elements and freshwater ecosystems and human perceptions, feelings and interpretations, and to express these relationships in ways that are useful for environmental policy and management.
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    The functional ecology of Eastern Rûens Shale Renosterveld
    (2019) Cowan, Oliver; Anderson, Pippin
    Globally, ecosystems are under mounting pressure as biodiversity is lost at an ever increasing rate due to drivers such as habitat destruction and climate change. The systematic degradation of natural habitats witnessed today is often accompanied by a loss of ecosystem functioning and services which not only endangers the future of humankind but has consequences for all life on earth. To manage the ecological challenges facing us there is an urgent need to increase our understanding of how ecosystems function, the relation/ship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, and the effect habitat degradation can have on this relationship. Eastern Rûens Shale Renosterveld, located in the Overberg region of South Africa, is a vegetation type both critically endangered and poorly understood. Centuries of agricultural activity in the region has resulted in a landscape typified by fragments of pristine vegetation, in addition to communities in various states of degradation, embedded in an agricultural matrix. The current quantities of pristine vegetation are inadequate to meet conservation goals and conservation efforts are further challenged by the fact that little is known of the functional ecology of not only pristine fragments of Renosterveld, but the degraded communities in various stages of secondary succession. The overarching aim of this thesis is to better understand the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning across a degradation gradient in critically endangered Renosterveld vegetation within an agricultural landscape in South Africa. To achieve this, a variety of methods were employed using different lenses of analysis. In Chapter 2, I studied the components of biodiversity to assess the relationship between taxonomic and functional diversity indices and investigate the effect of habitat degradation. In Chapters 3 and 4, I used litter traps to investigate the effect of plant litter type, season and habitat degradation on litter decomposition rates and Springtail (Collembola) community dynamics, respectively. Finally, in Chapter 5, I constructed three high-resolution plant-pollinator networks from sites with distinct land-use histories and with different above-ground vegetation communities. The results revealed a complex association between different taxonomic and functional diversity indices, influenced by habitat degradation, with potential ecological and conservation implications. Particularly, the loss of functional redundancy in degraded sites is likely to reduce resilience to future environmental perturbations which may reduce ecosystem functions. Conversely, the similarities in both taxonomic and functional diversity indices between pristine and moderately degraded sites may be cautiously interpreted as the occurrence of successful passive restoration. Litter decomposition rates were shown to be variable with litter type and season revealed as important controlling factors. Although degradation did not appear to significantly affect iv decomposition rates, the initial nutrient content of litter appears to correlate with decomposition rate and it can be expected this ecosystem function will be accelerated where habitat degradation results in shifts in above-ground vegetation and subsequent litter input, specifically where the cover of non-native, nitrogen-rich annual species is increased. There was found to be a significant impact of litter type on community composition, and of sampling day on species richness, abundance and community composition, in Springtail communities. Despite the overall lack of effect of degradation on Springtail community dynamics, the abundance of the non-native Entomobrya multifasciata in degraded sites, and its absence from pristine sites, raises the intriguing possibility of its suitability as a bioindicator for habitat degradation. Comparisons to similar global studies revealed the Renosterveld networks to be highly functionally specialized. Assessing network dynamics across a degradation gradient showed the impact of above-ground vegetation structure on network properties with the more open and diverse vegetation structure and floral resources provided by the highly degraded site resulting in network indices more similar to that of the pristine site when compared to the relatively structurally uniform moderately degraded site. Although this thesis has enhanced our understanding of the functional ecology of Renosterveld, it has also highlighted knowledge gaps which still exist. Creating and collating a database of functional trait data can provide the building blocks for future ecological work. Furthermore, to truly gain a mechanistic understanding of the biodiversity-ecosystem function relationship one needs to utilise an integrated analysis which considers different facets of biodiversity, particularly functional diversity, across multiple trophic levels while simultaneously acknowledging the legacy effects that distinct land-use histories can impose at the community level.