Browsing by Author "Roberts, Anthony Paul"

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    Biological control of alien species (Prosopis) in South Africa : the role of introduced seed-feeding bruchids
    (2006) Roberts, Anthony Paul; Hoffmann, John
    The use of bruchid beetles for biologicval control of mesquite, Prosopsis species, in South Africa is deemed to have failed because the beetles are supposed to be unable to compete with livestock which utilise the seed pods of mesquite extensively as forage. These assumptions have been made without any evidence as to how the beetles and livestock interact or as to whether mesquite is site or seed limited in South Africa. This study was initiated to test the hypothesis that the beetles are not coping with competition with livestock and that mesquite is site limited and not seed limited in South Africa.