scholarly journals The conservation imperative and setting plant taxonomic research priorities in South Africa

2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
pp. 1501-1505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janine E. Victor ◽  
Gideon F. Smith
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Taxonomic Research

scholarly journals A method for establishing taxonomic research priorities in a megadiverse country

Phytotaxa ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 203 (1) ◽  
pp. 55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janine Victor ◽  
Gideon F. Smith ◽  
ABRAHAM E. VAN WYK
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Research And Development ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
End Users ◽  
Research Strategy ◽  
Taxonomic Information ◽  
Taxonomic Research ◽  
Types Of Information ◽  
Associated Data

A coordinated strategy for biosystematics research that addresses the needs of end-users can improve the relevance and impact of research products. The basic types of information that taxonomists provide, common to all organisms, are the names, descriptions, and a mechanism for identifying components of biodiversity, and associated data such as distribution information. This information is provided through taxonomic research.      A biosystematics research strategy has been developed in South Africa to focus on the main gaps in taxonomic knowledge. A prioritisation process has been developed and applied to plants, but can potentially be used for all organisms. The methodology for development of the taxonomic priorities to formulate a research strategy is described. Determining priorities for taxonomic research and development of the strategy will facilitate bridging the gaps among compilers, users and implementers of taxonomic information, and streamline the taxonomy-conservation impediment.

scholarly journals Plant taxonomic capacity in South Africa

Phytotaxa ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 238 (2) ◽  
pp. 149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janine Victor ◽  
Gideon Smith ◽  
Abraham Van Wyk ◽  
Shanelle Ribeiro
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Research Trends ◽  
Employment Equity ◽  
Taxonomic Information ◽  
Utilisation Management ◽  
Taxonomic Research ◽  
Training Institutions ◽  
Human Capacity ◽  
Management And Conservation

South Africa’s exceptionally rich and diverse flora faces challenges in terms of utilisation, management and conservation; these actions are underpinned by taxonomic research. The principal purpose of this review is to determine whether South Africa has the human capacity and resources to conduct taxonomic research that is required to support end-users of plant taxonomic information, and to identify shortages of capacity or resources that might prove to be an obstacle for plant taxonomic research. From an analysis of the existing gaps in taxonomic information, current research trends, and resources, it is apparent that there is a critical shortage of human capacity in South Africa to conduct plant taxonomic research for the benefit of biodiversity and society. Training institutions need to ensure the supply of suitably trained graduates including concentrating on those who meet Employment Equity targets. The need for more taxonomists is clearly justified, but may not be a priority in a country that already has such shortages of capacity in education and social services. Aside from lobbying for more jobs to be created, there is an urgent need to utilise available resources (human and other) effectively, and to implement a strategy for taxonomic research to ensure that priority activities are conducted.

scholarly journals Taxonomic research priorities for the conservation of the South African flora

2013 ◽  
Vol 109 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lize von Staden ◽  
Domitilla Raimondo ◽  
Anisha Dayaram
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
The South ◽  
African Flora ◽  
Taxonomic Research

scholarly journals Impacts of invasive plants on animal diversity in South Africa: A synthesis

Bothalia ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Susana Clusella-Trullas ◽  
Raquel A. Garcia
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Alien Plant ◽  
Invasive Alien Plant ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Spatial Coverage ◽  
Animal Diversity

Background: Increasing numbers of invasive alien plant (IAP) species are establishing around the globe and can have negative effects on resident animal species function and diversity. These impacts depend on a variety of factors, including the extent of invasion, the region and the taxonomic group affected. These context dependencies make extrapolations of IAP impacts on resident biota from region to region a substantial challenge. Objectives: Here, we synthesised data from studies that have examined the effects of IAPs on animal diversity in South Africa. Our focus is on ectothermic organisms (reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates). Method: We sourced relevant articles using keywords relating to (1) the effects of IAPs on species diversity (abundance, richness and composition), (2) the IAP and (3) the native ectotherm. We extracted the taxonomic and spatial coverage of IAPs and affected native species and assessed the extent of information given on potential mechanisms driving IAP impacts. Results: Across the 42 studies, IAPs had a decreasing or neutral effect on native animal abundance and richness and significantly changed species composition. This review highlighted the paucity of studies and the research deficits in taxonomic and geographic coverage and in the mechanisms underlying IAP impacts on ectotherms. Conclusion: By assessing the status of knowledge regarding the impacts of IAPs on resident animal species in South Africa, this study identifies information gaps and research priorities at the country level with a view to informing monitoring and conservation efforts, such as alien plant removal and control programmes, and ensuring that endemic terrestrial animal diversity is maintained.

scholarly journals Science in the service of society: Is marine and coastal science addressing South Africa’s needs?

2019 ◽  
Vol 115 (1/2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevern L. Cochrane ◽  
Warwick H.H Sauer ◽  
Shankar Aswani
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Environmental Science ◽  
National Development ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Ecological Resilience ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Human Sciences ◽  
Societal Needs ◽  
Science Symposium

The modern world is confronted with many and diverse social and environmental challenges of high complexity. In South Africa, rapid and sustainable development is needed to address high levels of poverty and unemployment but this development has to take place in the context of an environment that is already severely impacted by human activities. Sound and relevant scientific input and advice, covering the full scope of each challenge, is essential for effective decisions and actions to address the needs. South Africa has the benefit of strong scientific capacity but the country’s National Development Plan reported that national research priorities were not always consistent with South Africa’s needs. We investigate the validity of that conclusion in the coastal and marine sciences by examining presentations made at the 2017 South African Marine Science Symposium on the theme of ‘Unlocking the ocean’s economic potential whilst maintaining social and ecological resilience’. Despite the theme, only 21% of the presentations were judged to be actionable and directly relevant to societal needs, as defined by the criteria used. Less than 7% were evaluated as being interdisciplinary within the natural sciences and approximately 10% were found to include both natural and human sciences. Poor representation by the human sciences was also noteworthy. This preliminary assessment highlights the need for an urgent review of the disciplinary representation and approaches in marine and coastal science in South Africa in the context of the priority practical needs of the country now and into the future. Significance: • Despite the urgent need for integrated scientific input and advice to guide responsible and sustainable national development, a preliminary snapshot of marine and coastal science in South Africa demonstrated a low regard for direct relevance and inter- and multidisciplinarity. • If these general results are verified by a more comprehensive review, urgent realignment of funding and incentives for marine and coastal science, and probably environmental science in general, is likely to be required to ensure science provides a greater service to society, which is the source of much of the country’s research funding.

scholarly journals History and drivers of plant taxonomy in South Africa

Phytotaxa ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 269 (3) ◽  
pp. 193 ◽  
Author(s):  
JANINE E. VICTOR ◽  
GIDEON F. SMITH ◽  
ABRAHAM E. VAN WYK
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Research Direction ◽  
Scientific Development ◽  
Plant Taxonomy ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Biodiversity Science ◽  
Electronic Dissemination ◽  
Taxonomic Research ◽  
Botanical Research

The development of plant taxonomy in South Africa from about 1600 to 2015 is reviewed, with emphasis on the main driving factors that have influenced the research direction, techniques used, and choice of taxonomic research topic. In addition, key personalities and important historical events are highlighted. The early scientific interest in the flora of South Africa and, by implication, its taxonomy was initially driven by curiosity. Exploration of plants for economic purposes especially for medicinal use and later, agriculture, drove the scientific development of botany and formed the foundation of formal botany in the country. Establishment of botanical gardens and herbaria influenced botanical research, in particular the field of taxonomy. Technological advances lead to increased modernisation of taxonomy as new sources of information derived from other fields of botany were incorporated into taxonomic research. Funding priorities and availability of financial resources influence the taxonomic research that is conducted, and international initiatives that impact on priorities in biodiversity science have further impact on taxonomy. At present the predominant culture of taxonomy is directed towards electronic dissemination of taxonomic information, leading to increased accessibility and connectivity. Strategic planning of plant taxonomy in South Africa has become more formal as relevance and impact of research products increasingly need to be justified with respect to the financial costs of conducting taxonomic research.

scholarly journals Research priorities for control of zoonoses in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Greg Simpson ◽  
Fabiola Quesada ◽  
Pranab Chatterjee ◽  
Manish Kakkar ◽  
Matthew F Chersich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Complex Disease ◽  
Reference Group ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Valley Fever ◽  
Research Priority ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Wilderness Areas

Abstract Background Zoonoses pose major threats to the health of humans, domestic animals and wildlife, as seen in the COVID-19 pandemic. Zoonoses are the commonest source of emerging human infections and inter-species transmission is facilitated by anthropogenic factors such as encroachment and destruction of wilderness areas, wildlife trafficking and climate change. South Africa was selected for a ‘One Health’ study to identify research priorities for control of zoonoses due to its complex disease burden and an overstretched health system. Methods A multidisciplinary group of 18 experts identified priority zoonotic diseases, knowledge gaps and proposed research priorities for the next 5 y. Each priority was scored using predefined criteria by another group of five experts and then weighted by a reference group (n=28) and the 18 experts. Results Seventeen diseases were mentioned with the top five being rabies (14/18), TB (13/18), brucellosis (11/18), Rift Valley fever (9/11) and cysticercosis (6/18). In total, 97 specific research priorities were listed, with the majority on basic epidemiological research (n=57), such as measuring the burden of various zoonoses (n=24), followed by 20 on development of new interventions. The highest research priority score was for improving existing interventions (0.77/1.0), followed by health policy and systems research (0.72/1.0). Conclusion Future zoonotic research should improve understanding of zoonotic burden and risk factors and new interventions in public health. People with limited rural services, immunocompromised, in informal settlements and high-risk occupations, should be the highest research priority.

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