Limpets are harvested by people in South Africa, but are selected in terms of species and size. The effects of marine reserves on the biology of commonly exploited (Helcion concolor and Scutellastra longicosta) and rarely exploited species (Cellana capensis and Scutellastra granularis) were investigated on the southeast coast of South Africa at two reserve and two non-reserve sites. For each species, a 4-way nested ANOVA was used to test the effects of month, reserve, site (nested within reserve) and area (nested within site and reserve) on population density, size structure and recruitment of these limpets. The data were collected monthly over 20 months. The overall results indicated a gradient of exploitation among species, S. longicosta was the most heavily exploited species and S. granularis the least exploited species. However, there was also a gradient of exploitation between reserves and non-reserves. Xhora was the most heavily exploited site while Nqabara was less heavily exploited. Of the two reserve sites, Cwebe had more poachers than Dwesa. In most analyses, the month x area (reserve (site)) interaction was significant. However, this was largely an artifact due to comparisons of areas in different sites and significant differences between areas within sites occurred in relatively few months. Densities were greater inside reserves for all species except C. capensis. For S. longicosta and H. concolor this was expected but not for S. granularis and the result possibly reflects its opportunistic exploitation in the absence of the preferred species or indirect effects of reserves. Commonly exploited species and the rarely exploited C. capensis clearly showed greater mean and maximum sizes in reserves but there were month/site (reserve) interactions. Months with significant differences between reserves and nonreserves in both mean and maximum sizes generally occurred more often for commonly exploited than rarely exploited species, but C. capensis showed the strongest reserve effect on maximum size. Interview surveys showed that, although not normally exploited, C. capensis is sometimes mistaken for H. concolor and this suggests that large individuals are unintentionally harvested outside reserves. There were no significant reserve effects on recruitment for any species. Although Xhora had the lowest densities and limpet sizes, it showed the highest recruitment especially for S. longicosta, suggesting that larvae can be transported far from where they are released and settle in non-reserve sites regardless of adult densities. Reserve as a main factor was not significant for the rarely exploited species, but there was a significant month x reserve interaction, with non-reserves having greater GSI values than reserves in most months. Growth rates were examined using individual tagging and cohort analysis. The two techniques gave different results, with individual tagging giving higher growth estimates than cohort analysis. Except for the territorial species S. longicosta, growth was higher in non-reserves and inversely correlated with population density. Mortality estimates using the Cormack-Jolly-Seber model indicated that the rarely exploited species had significantly greater capture probabilities in reserves while no significant reserve effects were observed for the commonly exploited species. Reserve effects on survival probability were significant only for S. longicosta, with reserves being greater than nonreserves and no significant effects for any other species. Enhanced survival in reserves was attributed to the effects of human exploitation. In theory, marine protected areas show increases in densities, sizes and reproductive output of exploited species, but the present results revealed that the efficacy of reserves depends on the status of the species, not only whether it is exploited or non-exploited, but also whether it is territorial.

This research was a case study that investigated predictors of users’ preferences for digital information at the Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI) Library in Durban, South Africa. The objectives of the study were to determine the predictors of users’ preferences for digital information, examine user attitude towards use of digital information, evaluate user competencies in the use of digital information, examine available ICT infrastructure to facilitate access to digital information and assess usage patterns of electronic resources. Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was used to underpin the study, using the mixed method paradigm consisting of qualitative and quantitative methods. A census of the study population, consisting of 26 respondents, was taken. Data was collected using focus group discussions, semi-structured interviews, participant observations, document reviews and survey questionnaires. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data was analysed thematically. The findings of the study indicated that there was increasing preference of digital information to print by scholars. Moreover, usage of digital information was high by virtue of being easy to use and useful for scholarly work. The findings revealed that scholars had developed a positive attitude towards digital information. In addition, user experience with computers and the availability of infrastructure within the organisation were found to be facilitating conditions for digital information usage behaviour. The findings showed that respondents lacked relevant skills for the effective use of digital information and the ORI Library lacked adequate computers and electronic resources to satisfy user needs. The study recommended the development of a digital repository, user training to improve use of digital information resources. Suggested areas for research included examining the use of electronic resources in marine and aquatic institutions in Africa to establish grounds for collaborations and resource sharing. A study to assess the quality of research output by scholars was also recommended, as a way of exposing the critical or non-critical use of digital sources. / Thesis (M.I.S.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.