On certain islands in the Seychelles archipelago a large and abundant animal is the Seychelles giant millipede, Seychelleptus seychellamm (Desjardins, 1834). This study quantifies the ecological role of this species in litter breakdown on Cousine Island, Seychelles. Observations on various ecological aspects and surface behaviour of this millipede were also made. The population of the Seychelles giant millipede on Cousine Island consists mostly of mature females, with few mature males and immatures. Apparent millipede density was higher at night (i.e. 4.44 ind.m⁻²) than during the day (i.e. 0.19 ind.m⁻²). Millipede biomass was 1.95 tons.ha¯¹. Millipedes were observed feeding on eight food types, with the most common food types being leaf litter and fallen fruit. Predation and scavenging on the Seychelles giant millipede was rarely seen, with only a total of 18 observations being made. The giant ghost crab was the only predator observed killing a millipede. The most common scavenger on dead millipedes was the Seychelles magpie robin. Mean litter ingested by the Seychelles giant millipede was 157 ± 28.1 mg.day¯¹ (n = 45) and mean faecal production was 111 ± 12.8 mg.day¯¹ (n = 45). On Cousine Island, the Seychelles giant millipede consumed daily, approximately 4.6 % of the total litter standing crop and approximately 17.2 % of the daily litter fall. Daily faecal production by the Seychelles giant millipede on Cousine Island was equivalent to approximately 2.9 % of the litter standing crop and to approximately 11.0 % of the daily litter fall. The implications of these results for nutrient dynamics and soil fertility on Cousine Island are discussed. Seven types of surface behaviour were observed being performed by the millipede. More behavioural types were observed at night than during the day, with burrowing and grooming being exclusively nocturnal behaviours. The most commonly observed behaviours were walking and feeding. Movement was more evident in the males and immatures, whilst feeding was more apparent in the females. Less behavioural types were observed in areas of low vegetational heterogeneity and complexity. Vegetation disturbance also had an inhibitory effect on millipede behaviour. Possible explanations for these differences in behaviour are discussed. The implications of these results for the conservation of the Seychelles giant millipede and Cousine Island are also discussed. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1999.

Cousine Island, Seychelles, is of major conservation significance as it is relatively pristine, and apparently the only tropical island over 20 ha with no alien invasive mammals. Such mammals, especially rodents, can impact substantially on arthropod faunas. This study focuses on the arthropods of the island that live in fallen logs and litter. The dominant log species are Pisonia grandis (Summerhayes, 1932), Ficus spp. and Cocos nucifera (Linnaeus, 1952). Stage of decomposition and forest type in which the logs occurred significantly influenced the composition and structure of the assemblages. Young logs were significantly richer in species than older logs, possibly due to the greater resources and more varied microhabitats in the younger logs. Log type was also important for arthropod species richness and abundance. Although P. grandis and Ficus spp. logs did not differ significantly, these two log types did differ greatly from C. nucifera which had a higher arthropod species richness, composition and abundance. However, these differences were only significant for recently fallen logs. As the logs decayed, their arthropod assemblages converged. Nevertheless, each log type had some arthropod species not present in another log type. This is important in terms of conservation, especially in the case of C. nucifera, which, according to one school of thought, should be removed from some Seychelles islands as it is considered an alien invasive. Arthropod assemblages in woody litter differed in composition depending on forest type in which they occurred. These woody litter assemblages were generally dissimilar to those in logs in the same forest type. Leaf litter was extremely poor in arthropod species. Species richness, both in logs and litter, was comparable to figures from temperate lands, possibly because the rich, topical fauna was ameliorated by small island size. As the logs are home to several Seychelles endemic species, their conservation is essential. Furthermore, as they are also the food base of certain threatened Seychelles vertebrates, their conservation is about conservation of a food chain on this unique tropical island. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2001.

The aim of this study was to investigate stakeholder participation and learning in the Seychelles Eco-School programme within a primary school context and a secondary school context. Findings from each Eco-School have been presented in two case studies with the goal to explore and describe how teachers, students, parents and organizations are participating and learning in the Eco-School programme. Six elements of school community were used to deepen understanding of the participatory and learning processes in each Eco-School, namely, leadership, management and administration, curriculum planning, teaching and learning, resource use and management, management of physical surrounds of the school and networks and partnerships. Some of the contextual variables in each Eco-School that were constraining and enabling stakeholder participation and learning in the programme have also been explored within this study. Data in this study was generated from historical documents analysed, semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and field notes. Data was also generated from questionnaires completed by organizations involved in the programme at each Eco- School. Data was analysed in two phases, the first phase involved reading across data generated from the methods mentioned above to organize the data under broad themes in relation to the elements of school community. The second phase of analysis involved the use of the conceptual framework of situating learning in a community of practice to interpret and discuss the participatory and learning processes across the two cases. The study showed that in each Eco-School there is a community of practice with the active involvement of teachers and students and the occasional involvement of parents and organizations. Students and adults are learning as they engage together in classroom and field-work interactions, environmental projects, environmental activities to commemorate environmental theme days, environmental campaigns and co-curricular activities through the practices of each Eco-School community. It was also discovered that students and adults are making different contributions in the Eco-School community based on their level of participation in the programme. It is hoped that the findings in this research contribute information regarding community participation in environmental education programmes like the Seychelles Eco-School programme. In addition, findings will inform the Seychelles Government and its partners to consider the possibility of enhancing school and community partnerships to respond to some of the challenges of participation and learning in the Eco-School programme.

A major aim of many international organizations is to support development in member countries but despite the importance of this objective in international relations and international cooperation, there are surprisingly few evaluations regarding the effectiveness of development assistance as perceived by recipients. This study, which was conducted using qualitative research methods, addresses the issue as it applies to Seychelles and the Commonwealth. The focus of the Modern Commonwealth, an association of 54 countries, is to fulfil the agenda of member countries as stated in periodic declarations of heads of states. The association has been particularly active, and vocal, in supporting small, least developed, and vulnerable states, including small island developing states. The Republic of Seychelles, a member of the Commonwealth since 1976, is a microstate with limited resources to support national development. Relying heavily on overseas development aid, then on commercial loans, the country attained remarkable levels of socio-economic development despite reaching the verge of bankruptcy in 2008 – when help was sought from the IMF. The continued existence of deep political dissensions has also earned it the label of „unquiet islands‟. Despite considerable support received from the Commonwealth, few individuals in positions of responsibility in Seychelles think that this assistance has had an impact on the country‟s development. Commonwealth support in areas which could potentially change the future of the islands, such as maritime boundaries and petroleum prospecting, are generally invisible to most. It is clear that some Commonwealth assistance is visionary and sustained but according to recipients in Seychelles, the bulk of it falls short of expectations. This perception is due mostly to the inability of people in-country to connect with the Commonwealth or to understand how the Commonwealth functions. Commonwealth officials also seem unaware of the effects of their assistance programmes on intended recipients in Seychelles. The study reveals that communication systems that are inclusive rather than exclusive, approaches that show sensitivity to national context, and a focus on relationship-building, could improve both the content and relevance of the assistance provided by an international organization as well as recipients‟ perception of the value of this assistance. / Development Studies / D. Litt et Phil. (Development Studies)

A major aim of many international organizations is to support development in member countries but despite the importance of this objective in international relations and international cooperation, there are surprisingly few evaluations regarding the effectiveness of development assistance as perceived by recipients. This study, which was conducted using qualitative research methods, addresses the issue as it applies to Seychelles and the Commonwealth. The focus of the Modern Commonwealth, an association of 54 countries, is to fulfil the agenda of member countries as stated in periodic declarations of heads of states. The association has been particularly active, and vocal, in supporting small, least developed, and vulnerable states, including small island developing states. The Republic of Seychelles, a member of the Commonwealth since 1976, is a microstate with limited resources to support national development. Relying heavily on overseas development aid, then on commercial loans, the country attained remarkable levels of socio-economic development despite reaching the verge of bankruptcy in 2008 – when help was sought from the IMF. The continued existence of deep political dissensions has also earned it the label of „unquiet islands‟. Despite considerable support received from the Commonwealth, few individuals in positions of responsibility in Seychelles think that this assistance has had an impact on the country‟s development. Commonwealth support in areas which could potentially change the future of the islands, such as maritime boundaries and petroleum prospecting, are generally invisible to most. It is clear that some Commonwealth assistance is visionary and sustained but according to recipients in Seychelles, the bulk of it falls short of expectations. This perception is due mostly to the inability of people in-country to connect with the Commonwealth or to understand how the Commonwealth functions. Commonwealth officials also seem unaware of the effects of their assistance programmes on intended recipients in Seychelles. The study reveals that communication systems that are inclusive rather than exclusive, approaches that show sensitivity to national context, and a focus on relationship-building, could improve both the content and relevance of the assistance provided by an international organization as well as recipients‟ perception of the value of this assistance. / Development Studies / D. Litt et Phil. (Development Studies)

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. 5 June 2017 in Johannesburg / Global climate change and its related actual and potential impacts to society has called for studies that look to the past to better understand historical climate trends and how they may inform future climate trends. Specific in this area of research is environmental histories, wherein information on historical climate events and disasters are retrieved from historical documentary sources, i.e. archives, in order to study the potential causes and effects of these occurrences, as well as levels of vulnerability and resilience through the analysis of coping and adaptation strategies of societies. / MT 2017

The control of feral goats (Capra hircus) and relevant aspects of their biology were studied on Aldabra Atoll, Republic of Seychelles, from October 1993 - May 1994 and November 1994 - May 1995. A total of 832 goats were killed on Aldabra using both the Judas goat technique and traditional hunting methods; a total of 28 Judas goats were used during the entire campaign. The remnant goat populations on Ile Picard (N=13) and Ile Malabar (N=19) were eradicated during the first season. On Grande Terre, a total of 798 (374 M: 424 F) goats were killed. The overall kill rate on Grande Terre was 0.37 goats killed/hour with 1.66 shots fired/goat. A total of 1,042 goats were encountered of which 26.1% escaped. Mean group size was 3.2 with a range of 1 to 20. Judas goat hunting became increasingly important over time with 18.0% (n=85) of goats killed in the first season being in the presence of Judas goats; 42.3% (n=126) of goats killed during the second season were in the presence of Judas goats. The overall kill rate for the project was almost 2 times greater for Judas goat hunting (0.61 goats killed/hr) than traditional hunting (0.32 goats killed/hr); Judas goat hunting was approximately 70% more effective than traditional hunting when compared using multiple linear regression. There was a significant relationship between Judas goat home range size and the number of conspecifics killed. Feral goats on Aldabra may be unique among feral goat populations by apparently not responding to population reductions in a density-dependent manner. For the first season, the intrinsic rate of increase (r) was 0.45; r=0.39 for the second season. Twinning rates were 30.7% and 37.5% in the first and second seasons, respectively. I subjectively estimated approximately 60-120 goats remaining on all of Grande Terre at the end of the project; 84 goats were estimated using the Leslie-Davis removal method of population estimation. / Graduation date: 1998

The aim of the study was to discover, describe and analyze factors related to the perceived acceptance of male nurses in the practice of midwifery in the Seychelles as perceived by nurses, pregnant women and their partners. A descriptive study using the qualitative approach was used. Theoretical sampling was employed and thirty-four participants comprising nurses, pregnant women and their partners were interviewed using an interview guide. Probing was done throughout. The nurses, the pregnant women and their partners were interviewed both in focus groups and individually. Participants taking part in individual interview were different from those taking part in focus group interview. The focus groups were homogeneous comprising professional nurses and consumers of service (pregnant women and their husbands) respectively. The findings revealed multitude of factors associated with the perceived acceptance of males in the practice of midwifery. These were classified as positive, negative and ambivalent. The major positive themes were unconditional acceptance, conditional acceptance, and equitable treatment, by all three groups of informants while traditional belief was the major negative theme. Other positive themes by the nurses were change of attitudes over time, and males as caring professionals, while for pregnant women; it was viewed as prior acceptance of male obstetrician. Both the nurses and partners saw the intimate nature of midwifery as a negative factor while only the nurses identified fear of competition and religious belief. Lack of trust was another negative factor identified by the partners/husbands. Professionals and the husbands identified societal versus individual readiness as an ambivalent factor while the pregnant women and professionals saw conditional acceptance as an ambivalent factor. Recommendations made from this study have implications for nursing research, nursing practice, and nursing education. The study could also be helpful for decision makers at different levels in the health care system. / Thesis (M.Cur.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.

Durant de nombreuses décennies, la faune phlébotomienne (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) Malgaches est demeurée très peu explorée. Deux Grassomyia avaient été signalés puis une espèce décrite sous le nom de Sergentomyia berentiensis. A partir des années 2000, la faune de Madagascar a révélé une richesse et une diversité non soupçonnées jusqu'alors avec la description de plusieurs espèces nouvelles et d'un sous-genre nouveau : Vattieromyia. Cette thèse est une contribution à la connaissance des Phlébotomes de Madagascar et des îles voisines des Seychelles et des Comores.Notre approche a été qualitative et non quantitative. Les phlébotomes collectés à Madagascar, aux Comores et aux Seychelles ont été étudiés morphologiquement puis, pour certains d'entre eux, par biologie moléculaire à diverses fins : associations mâles-femelles et systématique évolutive. Dans ce dernier cas, différents marqueurs ribosomiques, mitochondriaux et nucléaires ont été séquencés selon les problématiques.A Madagascar, les Phlebotomus forment un groupe monophylétique. Nous suggérons, sur des arguments morphologiques et moléculaires, de les individualiser dans un sous-genre nouveau étant donnée la mise en évidence de la paraphylie du sous-genre Anaphlebotomus dans lequel ont été classées les espèces malgaches.Nos travaux révèlent que P. fertei possède une aire de distribution qui couvre la presque totalité du pays. Les séquences de cytochrome b individualisent de nombreuses populations selon leurs origines géographiques mais nous n'avons pas pu individualiser ces populations sur le plan morphologique et morphométrique. Les séquences de l'ITS2 n'individualisent pas ces populations et nous critiquons l'utilisation du cytochrome b, et plus largement des marqueurs mitochondriaux, pour la systématique des Phlébotomes.En ce qui concerne les autres espèces de Phlebotomus, elles possèdent toutes une distribution étroite, réduite à leur lieu de capture. Nous avons décrit deux espèces nouvelles durant cette thèse : P. vaomalalae et P. vincenti. Les études moléculaires et morphologiques révèlent l'existence d'au moins trois espèces nouvelles : deux sympatriques à Andranoilovy (dont une espèce commune avec Berenty) et une à Ankililaoka.Enfin, nous proposons le rattachement de P. huberti au genre Sergentomyia. Cette espèce ne possède pas de soies mésanepisternales et le mâle que nous décrivons dans ce travail possède les caractères génitaux des Sergentomyia. De plus, nous décrivons sur une la seule femelle, une espèce nouvelle proche de S. huberti. Une étude moléculaire menée avec d'autres espèces supposées proches (appartenant au sous-genre Sintonius) nous conduit à proposer la création d'un nouveau sous-genre pour classer ces espèces malgaches.Nous analysons la paléobiogéographie des Phlébotomes de Madagascar et envisageons au moins deux épisodes de peuplement : l'un très ancien (environ 120 millions d'années), « africain » datant de la fragmentation du Gondwana et le second, plus récent (65 millions d'années), provenant d'Asie via un pont formé par le plateau des Seychelles.D'un point de vue épidémiologique, la recherche d'ADN leishmanien s'est révélée négative sur tous les phlébotomes testés.Dans l'archipel des Comores, aucun phlébotome n'avait été rapporté. Au cours de trois campagnes de piégeage menées en 2003, 2007 et 2011, nous rapportons la première mention de phlébotomes dans ces îles et décrivons deux taxons nouveaux S. pessoni et S. goodmani comorensis.Aux Seychelles, nous avons identifié S. clydei à Aldabra. Cette population possède des séquences mitochondriales très différentes des nombreuses populations continentales étudiées. L'origine du peuplement de cette île volcanique demeure mystérieuse, sans adéquation avec les données relatives à l'horloge moléculaire du cytochrome b dont nous doutons de la fiabilité. / During the last century, the Phlebotomine sand fly fauna (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) of Madagascar remained largely unexplored. Two Grassomyia were recorded and a species has been described as Sergentomyia berentiensis. From the 2000s, this fauna revealed a richness hitherto unsuspected: it included the description of several new species for Science and of a new subgenus (Vattieromyia). The present study is a contribution to the knowledge of Phlebotomine sand flies from Madagascar and the neighboring archipelagos of the Seychelles and the Comoros.The sand flies collected in Madagascar, the Comoros and the Seychelles were studied morphologically and, for some of them, by molecular biology in order to associate males with females and also to perform molecular systematics. Several molecular ribosomal, nuclear, and mitochondrial markers have been combined.In Madagascar, the Phlebotomus are grouped in a clade. Based on morphological characters and molecular studies, we suggest their individualization in a new subgenus because we show subgenus Anaphlebotomus where the Malagasy Phlebotomus were classified, is paraphyletic.P. fertei exhibits a wide distribution all over country. Sequences of cytochrome b individualize many populations linked to their geographical origins. However, it is not possible to individualize these populations based on morphological and morphometric characters. The sequences of ITS2 do not individualize these populations and we criticize the use of cytochrome b and other mitochondrial markers for the systematics of Phlebotomine sand flies.Regarding the other Malgaches Phlebotomus, all of them have a narrow distribution, reduced to their place of capture. We described two new species for Science: P. vaomalalae and P. vincenti. Moreover, molecular and morphological studies support the existence of at least three new species: two in sympatry in Andranoilovy (probably also recorded in Berenty) and one in Ankililaoka.Finally, we propose that P. huberti belongs to the genus Sergentomyia and not to the genus Phlebotomus. It does not have mesanepisternal setae and the male that we describe here exhibits Sergentomyia's genital characters. Moreover, we described on a female belonging to a new species close to S. huberti. We carried out a molecular study including continental species supposed closely related (belonging to the subgenus Sintonius). It individualizes the Malagasy specimens and consequently, considering their typical pharyngeal armature, we propose the creation of a new subgenus to classify them.We analyze the paleobiogeography of Malagasy sand flies. In agreement with generalized tracks, the settlement of Madagascar followed two routes at different times: one very old (about 120 million years ago), from "Africa" dating from the Gondwana fragmentation and the second, more recent (65 million years), from Asia using a bridge formed by the Seychelles plateau.From an epidemiological point of view, the search of Leishmania DNA was negative in all sandflies processed.In the Comoros Archipelago, no sand fly had been reported in the past. During three field works carried out in 2003, 2007 and 2011, we report the first record of sandflies in these islands and we describe two new taxa: S. pessoni and S. goodmani comorensis.In the Seychelles, we identified S. clydei in Aldabra. This population has mitochondrial sequences highly differing from those of many continental populations processed. The settlement of this volcanic island remains mysterious. They are not in agreement with molecular clock of cytochrome b sequences which seems of doubtful use.

Territoires français à la fin du XVIIIe siècle, les archipels des Mascareignes, Seychelles et Chagos ont connu un destin politique différent. L’ensemble de ce vaste espace insulaire, La Réunion exceptée, est devenu anglophone. On fait pourtant un constat essentiel, paradoxal en apparence : ces îles ont aujourd’hui encore une toponymie majoritairement francophone. Cette constatation est à l’origine de cette recherche, appuyée sur la constitution d’une base de données thématique et géo-référencée d’environ 6600 toponymes. À l’aide de cet outil, ce corpus toponymique est analysé suivant plusieurs critères, tels que les langues, les valeurs sémantiques, les natures et importances des éléments désignés et de la répartition spatiale. La question de l’appropriation et l’évolution des toponymes est également abordée et analysée. Ce travail constitue une base, évolutive et ouverte, pour des travaux complémentaires ultérieurs. / French territories in the late eighteenth century, the archipelagos of Mascarene, Seychelles and Chagos experienced a different political destiny. All of these islands except Reunion became English-speaking. Yet today, we make an essential observation, paradoxical in appearance: these islands still have a mostly French-speaking toponymy. This ascertainment is at the origin of this research supported by a thematic and georeferenced database of about 6600 place names. Thanks to this tool, an analyse has been carried according to several criteria such as the languages, the semantic values, the natures and importance of designated elements and the spatial distribution. The question about appropriation and evolution of place names is also examined and analysed. This work constitutes a base, open and evolutive, for further works.