Population replenishment through recruitment is an essential process for the long term viability of corals and their associated communities, particularly under increasing stresses that threaten their vitality. Although many researchers have identified specific factors that influence individual processes in the early life cycle of corals, few studies to date have attempted to determine the cumulative success of a cohort's progression through these stages in natural reef settings. Specifically, there is a paucity of knowledge regarding appropriate and realistic techniques to forecast the success of recruitment in natural settings, while taking into account both the individual and environmental factors that regulate these recruitment dynamics at local scales. Because of this need, the overall goals of this dissertation research were to (1) assess key life stage processes leading to recruitment - specifically, settlement and early post-settlement processes - for which previous knowledge was limited or absent; and (2) using this knowledge, develop a local-scale recruitment model that assessed the cumulative success of a cohort's progression through all the early life stages and identified those processes that had a strong relative influence on regulating recruitment dynamics. Focusing on the common western Atlantic brooding coral, Porites astreoides, this dissertation research was divided into three main sections to address the overall objectives: (1) identification and quantification of recruitment patterns in natural reef settings, in order to guide the development and testing of the recruitment model (Chapter 2); (2) assessment of the focal species' behaviors, survivorship rates, and factors affecting those rates during its progression through the primary early life stage processes (i.e., basic habitat preferences during the settlement stage, Chapter 3; early post-settlement survivorship, Chapters 4 and 5); and (3) development of a local recruitment model that accounted for the full complement of early life stage processes in a spatially-explicit simulation framework (Chapter 6). While unique study-specific insights were gained from each of the individual chapters, a few general insights emerged with respect to the overarching study objectives from this dissertation research. First, larval supply is a key driver for recruitment, where a high degree of larval loss, either through direct larval mortality or export from the reef, occurs prior to settlement on the substrate. Rates of loss were 96-99% in the model analyses, and as such represent the first major population bottleneck for this species and others with similar life histories. Compounding this larval loss is a second population bottleneck during the early post-settlement stage, where mortality was typically greater than 75% within the first week after settlement. Such high rates of loss have important implications for future population dynamics, as relatively minor changes to these rates of loss can have relatively strong influences on future dynamics. Second, habitat influences on recruitment were found to be relatively minimal when compared to high rates of mortality in both the larval supply and early post-settlement stages. Although the relative influence of habitat may be strong under unique situations where substantial space preemption limits settlement (e.g., high macroalgal cover, sedimentation, or adult coral cover), these effects may not be reflective of average systems. However, the influence of habitat may still be crucial for ensuring that the few individuals who survive the larval supply and the early post-settlement bottlenecks recruit into the future adult population, and these influences may interact with other density-dependent processes as adult cover increases. Overall, this research presents valuable and novel insights on a number of the under-studied early life stage processes. By identifying the key processes which regulate recruitment, this work highlights those stages whose responses to environmental change will have strong impacts on recruitment and subsequent population dynamics. In addition to the process-based insights gained on these dynamics, this work provides informative criteria for managers on the stages most responsive to conservation efforts aimed at promoting resilience and recovery.

The factors influencing habitat selection by juveniles of species within the family Unionidae (i.e., unionids), between post-larval detachment from a fish host and burrowing into the substratum, are largely unknown. Bed shear stress (τw) has been proposed as a critical factor. A laboratory wall jet apparatus generated τw to assess the response of juvenile Epioblasma triquetra, Villosa iris, Lampsilis fasciola, and Ligumia nasuta. The relationships between juvenile unionids, τw, and chemical and physical parameters were also examined in the field. There was a significant relationship between unionid resuspension and τw in the laboratory (resuspension when τw > 0.26 Pa), and adhesion behaviour required greater critical τw. Near-bed velocity and D50 grain size predicted sphaeriid clam density (a proxy for juvenile unionids) in the field. Laboratory experiments confirmed predictions that juvenile unionids cannot establish beyond a critical τw, demonstrating the importance of hydrodynamics in dispersal and for developing unionid conservation measures. / NSERC and Species At Risk Research Fund Ontario (MNR) to J.D.A.

No description available.

Magister Administrationis - Madmin / Since the dawn of South African democracy in 1994, extensive laws and policies have been introduced to facilitate transformation in the political, social and economic spheres. While South Africa has been lauded world-wide for its detailed and sophisticated constitution, many cases attest to the challenges of implementing the stipulations of the constitution, laws and policies. Arguably, constitutional rights and entitlements do not automatically result in a better life for ordinary citizens post-apartheid. Moreover, restitution processes towards addressing the atrocities of apartheid are fraught with challenges. The process of land restitution is an example that illustrates the numerous challenges in implementing laws and public policies in South Africa. Restitution is one of the three pillars of land reform - the other two are land redistribution and land tenure reform - that were introduced by the African National Congress (ANC) -led government to secure land rights to black people in South Africa. Land reform is essential to bring about political and economic development and the South African government has committed itself to transforming land ownership to reflect the democratic realities and to redressing the history of dispossession and exclusion suffered by the black majority of South Africans. While the transfer of land and settlement of claims have been processed gradually, growing evidence shows that this does not simply translate into development, poverty reduction or reconciliation.

As a national key priority programme, land reform acts as a driving force for rural development and building the economy of the country. In order for land reform to contribute to sustainable livelihoods for land reform beneficiaries, it must be supported by diversified programmes of pre- and post-settlement support of agrarian reform in a non-centralised and non-bureaucratic manner. Post-settlement support in the context of South African land reform refers to post-transfer support or settlement support given to land reform beneficiaries after they have received land. Support services, or complementary development support, as specified in the White Paper of the South African Land Policy of 1996, include assistance with productive and sustainable land use, agricultural extension services support, infrastructural support, access to markets and credit facilities, and agricultural production inputs. Government’s mandate is, however, not only restricted to the redistribution of land or making land more accessible. It is also responsible for empowering beneficiaries and for creating an effective support foundation to ensure that sustainable development takes place, specifically in the rural areas of the country. In practice, sustainable development entails that, for land reform to be successful, the quality of life of beneficiaries must improve substantially and the acquired land must be utilised to its full commercial potential, after resettlement on claimed land has occurred. Therefore, an effective post-settlement support strategy and model must be set in place. The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) and the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Administration (DARDLA) are the key departments that have been mandated to implement the Land Reform Programme (LRP). DRDLR is responsible for facilitation of the land acquisition (pre-settlement support) and DARDLA for post-settlement support, ensuring that the land or farms that have been delivered or acquired by land beneficiaries are economically viable. Without post-settlement support, land reform will not yield to sustainable development and nor improve the quality of life of rural people. There is, however, little or no evidence to suggest that land reform has led to improved efficiency, improvement of livelihoods, job creation or economic growth. Against this background, the study investigated and unlocked the key challenges related to the post-settlement support of the LRP, with emphasis on the agricultural support programmes rendered by the DARDLA in Mpumalanga Province to land reform beneficiaries. It further examined how such support impacts on the sustainability of the LRP, and made recommendations to the management of the Department on what could be done to further improve post-settlement support to land reform projects towards achieving the objective of sustainable development. / M Public Administration, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

As a national key priority programme, land reform acts as a driving force for rural development and building the economy of the country. In order for land reform to contribute to sustainable livelihoods for land reform beneficiaries, it must be supported by diversified programmes of pre- and post-settlement support of agrarian reform in a non-centralised and non-bureaucratic manner. Post-settlement support in the context of South African land reform refers to post-transfer support or settlement support given to land reform beneficiaries after they have received land. Support services, or complementary development support, as specified in the White Paper of the South African Land Policy of 1996, include assistance with productive and sustainable land use, agricultural extension services support, infrastructural support, access to markets and credit facilities, and agricultural production inputs. Government’s mandate is, however, not only restricted to the redistribution of land or making land more accessible. It is also responsible for empowering beneficiaries and for creating an effective support foundation to ensure that sustainable development takes place, specifically in the rural areas of the country. In practice, sustainable development entails that, for land reform to be successful, the quality of life of beneficiaries must improve substantially and the acquired land must be utilised to its full commercial potential, after resettlement on claimed land has occurred. Therefore, an effective post-settlement support strategy and model must be set in place. The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) and the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Administration (DARDLA) are the key departments that have been mandated to implement the Land Reform Programme (LRP). DRDLR is responsible for facilitation of the land acquisition (pre-settlement support) and DARDLA for post-settlement support, ensuring that the land or farms that have been delivered or acquired by land beneficiaries are economically viable. Without post-settlement support, land reform will not yield to sustainable development and nor improve the quality of life of rural people. There is, however, little or no evidence to suggest that land reform has led to improved efficiency, improvement of livelihoods, job creation or economic growth. Against this background, the study investigated and unlocked the key challenges related to the post-settlement support of the LRP, with emphasis on the agricultural support programmes rendered by the DARDLA in Mpumalanga Province to land reform beneficiaries. It further examined how such support impacts on the sustainability of the LRP, and made recommendations to the management of the Department on what could be done to further improve post-settlement support to land reform projects towards achieving the objective of sustainable development. / M Public Administration, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

South Africa, emerging from the yoke of colonialism and imperialism embarked on an ambitious land reform programme during the 1990’s. It was anticipated that land reform would take place effectively and sustainably. However, evidence to date revealed that land reform has been a failure and the cause thereof can be attributed to the lack of post settlement support. The focus of the research was to find out whether post-settlement support is the reason behind successful projects and if so to highlight the necessity of post-settlement support in land reform projects. The methodology used was through review of literature, legislations and policies on land reform and analysis of case studies. Outcome of the research indicates an intricate relationship between land reform and post-settlement support. The transfer of land to land reform beneficiaries must go hand in hand with the effective provision of post-settlement support for projects to be success and sustainable. / College of Law / LL.M

South Africa, emerging from the yoke of colonialism and imperialism embarked on an ambitious land reform programme during the 1990’s. It was anticipated that land reform would take place effectively and sustainably. However, evidence to date revealed that land reform has been a failure and the cause thereof can be attributed to the lack of post settlement support. The focus of the research was to find out whether post-settlement support is the reason behind successful projects and if so to highlight the necessity of post-settlement support in land reform projects. The methodology used was through review of literature, legislations and policies on land reform and analysis of case studies. Outcome of the research indicates an intricate relationship between land reform and post-settlement support. The transfer of land to land reform beneficiaries must go hand in hand with the effective provision of post-settlement support for projects to be success and sustainable. / College of Law / LL.M

Institute for Rural Development / MRDV

Institute for Rural Development / MRDV