Predation and abiotic processes rather than competition should influence the community structure of rodents and shrews with life histories characterised by high fecundity, short longevity and unstable populations. I investigated the influence of abiotic processes, predation and competition on three parameters of community structure (species composition, phenotypic and phylogenetic niches) of rodents and shrews at Mkhuze and Kube Yini, two game reserves in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, using null models and multivariate analyses. Rodents and shrews were sampled between 2007 and 2009. Sample-based rarefaction curves indicated that rodent species richness was higher at Mkhuze than at Kube Yini, while shrew species richness was identical at both reserves. Species richness estimators indicated that estimates of species richness were fairly accurate, hence strengthening the results from my null model analyses. I found evidence that immigration and extinction operating at a regional scale influenced rodent species composition. Moreover, habitat filtering operating at a local scale influenced rodent and shrew species composition. These processes produced nested assemblages: species present at species-poor sites were subsets of species present at species-rich sites. Habitat filtering also influenced the phenotypic niche of rodents and shrews: sympatric species showed similar phenotypic adaptations (phenotypic niches were underdispersed), probably in response to similar food requirements. Furthermore, shrew phenotypic traits showed a convergent evolution, and local assemblages comprised distantly related species (phylogenetic evenness), suggesting the influence of habitat filtering on the phylogenetic niche structure of shrews. Predation influenced shrew phenotypes. Bullae and ears were underdispersed and larger than expected by chance, probably to reduce predation risk through increased hearing sensitivity. In contrast, I found no evidence that predation influenced the rodent phenotypic niche. Competition influenced the phenotypic niches of rodents and shrews in species-rich assemblages (phenotypic niches were overdispersed). In these assemblages, the coexistence of species was facilitated by dietary and microhabitat partitioning. Competition also influenced the phylogenetic niche of rodents: phenotypic traits showed a convergent evolution, and local assemblages comprised closely related species (phylogenetic clustering). In conclusion, both abiotic and biotic processes influenced different parameters of the community structure of rodents and shrews. However, despite similar life-history traits, the community structure of local assemblages differed between rodents and shrews. Comparing patterns and processes of community structure across taxa would help find general trends of community organisation. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2012.

This study explores principals’ experiences of school leadership. Through synthesis of varying definitions of leadership, the conceptualisation of the three foci of leadership namely, “person, practice and context” offers an initial organisational framework for this study. The democratic South Africa provides the context of change which is operationalised around issues of the pass rate, desegregation and democratic school governance. The existing landscape of leadership theory is then grafted with the South African context of change to set up the theoretical framing of this study. This study is positioned differently from dominant leadership studies in that the leader (principal) is fore-grounded rather than the “practice” of leadership. An interpretive paradigm is invoked to facilitate the acknowledgement, activation and inter-woveness of the researcher’s dual positioning as researcher and as school principal. This ambivalent positioning creates a methodological paradox that simultaneously privileges and imprisons the production of knowledge. Coherent with the methodological choice of narrative methodologies, an award winning literary play “Copenhagen” is used as a creative representational device. This play highlights issues of “personal, political, moral and scientific” challenges which become key pivotal points with which to connect all the chapters of this study. Six principals of previously disadvantaged schools, facing similar challenges of leadership participate in this study. Narrative methodologies guides both the data production and data analysis strategies. It also intentionally focuses on “personal, political and moral” challenges. Lengthy interviews produce richly detailed co-constructed mindscapes of leadership. The voices of principals and their stories are represented as individualised “reconstructed career narratives”. These provide complex, themed and descriptive understandings of leadership at the first level. At the second level, the researcher’s voice becomes dominant while meshing together data, theory and first level analysis to provide cross-case analysis providing deeper insights into experiences of school leadership. These insights challenge the dominant theoretical landscape of leadership. The main finding of this study suggests that principals “personal” experiences re-define relationships between key components of the context of change and in this way determine understandings of leadership. Principals consider the pass rate to be most important at a systemic level. However, their “personal/biographic” experiences with regard to “validation” and “professional experience” mediate that consideration and influence particular understandings of leadership. Similarly, principals’ “personal” experiences together with institutional histories play a significant role in understanding leadership in relation to issues of desegregation (geography). Principals’ “personal” experiences also determine how democratic school governance is understood with regard to accountability, consultation and agenda constructions. Finally, leadership is understood to be intricately linked to the concept of reward. The “scientific” construct of a Trefoil knot is used to develop an explanatory model and posit the basis of a “Relational Reward Theory” of understanding leadership. The thesis concludes with a discussion of the implications of pushing back contextual, methodological and theoretical boundaries in understanding school leadership. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

The University of KwaZulu-Natal introduced a part-time Post-Graduate Certificate in Education programme in 2008, to enable graduate teachers to study part-time in order to become professionally qualified. To date, there has been very little academic research on how these professionally unqualified student teachers acquire professional knowledge informally on the job and from the formal Post-Graduate Certificate in Education programme. This study addresses such a gap in the academic literature by exploring the acquisition of professional knowledge through informal learning from their schools where they are teaching and formal learning from the Post-Graduate Certificate in Education. Given that the Post- Graduate Certificate in Education programme may continue to play a pivotal role in the training of teachers, this study has gone some way towards enhancing our understanding of how part-time teachers acquire professional knowledge through formal and informal learning. This study, which is located in the interpretative paradigm, used 10 in-depth interviews with Post-Graduate Certificate in Education students (aged 25 to 42), who were purposively sampled to solicit their views on the acquisition of professional teaching knowledge. Grossman’s model of teacher professional knowledge domains proved to be the appropriate lens and heuristic tool for this study, as it offers insights into the acquisition of general pedagogical knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge, content knowledge and knowledge of the context by these student teachers. The findings from the study suggest that teacher learning occurs in both formal and informal places. Drawing from a teacher knowledge model, it can be argued that propositional knowledge is acquired through academic institutions of learning and practical knowledge is obtained in different school situations of learning. Professionally unqualified teachers can learn general pedagogic knowledge and knowledge of context on the job, with the help of dedicated mentors. These findings could possibly be valuable for lecturers who are involved in teaching and preparing learning materials for Post-Graduate Certificate in Education programmes at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and other universities. In brief, the findings of the study could perhaps inform the curriculum and delivery of the part-time PGCE programme. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

The research focuses on the contemporary pollen rain-vegetation relationship for vegetation communities within the Natal Drakensberg, a region which is recognized as having the potential for extensive palynological investigations. The objective was to investigate the fundamental assumption underlying palynology, viz: that the pollen rain of a particular region is indicative or representative of the existing vegetation of that region. If the modern pollen rain is indicative of and/or distinctive for a particular vegetation community then the principle of methodological uniformitarianism can be applied, which states that the present day patterns and relationships can provide a factual basis for the reconstruction of the past through the extrapolation of modern analogues backwards in time. A vegetation survey was conducted in thirteen communities identified as pertinent to the research and a two-year modern pollen rain sampling programme was carried out, using both surface soil and pollen trap samples as a means of recording and quantifying the pollen rain. Once the necessary sample preparation and pollen counts had been performed, descriptive and numerical/statistical methods were employed to determine and describe the existing pollen-vegetation relationship. Descriptive analysis of the data sets was carried out with the aid of spectra depicted as rotated bar graphs and representing the relative percentage frequencies of the collected/counted taxa. Annual and seasonal pollen influx values were calculated and presented. Analysis of variance was applied to test various hypotheses related to sampling strategy and pollen influx variation. Statistical methods employed were two-way indicator species analysis (a classification analysis technique), detrended correspondence analysis and principal components analysis (ordination techniques), canonical correlation analysis (for data set association) and multiple discriminant analysis (for determination of vegetation zonal indices). The latter technique allowed for the probability of modern analogues to be assessed which are necessary for accurate interpretation of fossil pollen assemblages if the assumption under investigation is correct. The findings of the study were that the modern pollen rain-vegetation assumption holds true. Recommendations are put forward regarding future contemporary pollen studies with regards to the number of soil and pollen trap samples required, the magnitude of the pollen count and the numerical/statistical techniques most appropriate to clearly interpret the results. The conclusions are that future fossil pollen spectra can be expected to provide a good indication of former regional vegetation patterns for the study region. The study has extended the limited understanding of the contemporary pollen rain-vegetation relationship in South Africa and enables the interpretation of fossil pollen spectra to be carried out with greater confidence. This in turn lends greater credibility to possible Quaternary environmental change models required to help understand present and possible future environmental change.

Orientador: Leoncio Martins Rodrigues / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Filosofia e Ciencias Humanas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-13T22:45:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Costa_HomerodeOliveira_M.pdf: 7693280 bytes, checksum: d706471ddd5e6265a2e4f8a1a1f4148f (MD5) Previous issue date: 1991 / Resumo: O objetivo principal da pesquisa que realizamos foi o estudo sobre o levante do 21º Batalhão de Caçadores (unidade do Exército) em Natal, no dia 23 de novembro de 1935 e dos 4 dias em que os revoltosos tomaram o poder, tanto na capital, quanto em um expressivo número de municípios do interior do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte. Os resultados do nosso estudo foram que este levante foi articulado, organizados e dirigido pelo Partido Comunista e, mais especificamente, pela célula militar e sua direção em Natal. Isso significa dizer que o levante não teve nada a ver com a ANL (Aliança Nacional libertadora), o que contraria as versões correntes sobre esse acontecimento, nem com possíveis infiltrações policiais e telegramas falsos. Para compreender esse levante, tornou-se necessário levantar o marco cronológico, fazendo uma reconstituição histórica do Rio Grande do Norte pelo menos desde 1930 e particularmente 1933, quando se inicia uma renhida luta pelo poder político local. Ao mesmo tempo tornou-se imprescindível compreender a trajetória dos seus principais protagonistas: o Partido Comunista do Brasil e este por ser uma sessão da III Internacional Comunista, às inflexões desta nas determinações de suas políticas internas e do 21º BC, de uma conturbada trajetória na década de 1930. Para isto, foi usado um método histórico tendo como fontes de pesquisas jornais da época, entrevistas e memórias contemporâneas, uma revisão crítica da bibliografia publicada e os autos dos Processos do Tribunal de Segurança Nacional / Abstract: Not informed. / Mestrado / Mestre em Ciência Política

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This paper reviews the status of world aquaculture with a primary focus on Sub-Saharan and Chinese freshwater aquaculture, and proposes a commercial integrated farming model for implementation in rural areas in KwaZulu-Natal. The model combines the paradigms of age-old Chinese integrated pond farming principles with a commercial approach in the socio-economic context of Sub-Saharan Africa. The project's objective is to contribute to the alleviation of poverty through economic development in rural areas using environmentally and economically sustainable farming practices. The project's medium-term goal is to achieve the critical production volume to warrant vertical integration into a hatchery, feed mill and processing facility. Integration would reduce operating costs and afford better standards of basic services. The project's long-term goal is to grow and expand the model to make a contribution to global food security through distributing a fish-based, nutritionally balanced meal to famine relieve efforts in low-income food deficiency countries (LIFDC). The model proposes the development of individual farms each with a production capacity of 40 to 60 tons of fish per annum. The species available include tilapia, catfish, carp, mullet, bass and eels. The farms will each consist of eight grow-out fishponds totalling 4 hectares of water surface area, a basic homestead and 6 hectares for crops and livestock rearing. The farms are designed to utilize the nutrient rich effluent from the fishponds to flood-irrigate crops planted in the fields below. Through application of the principles of the integrated approach to fish-crops-livestock farming as applied by the Chinese over the last 2,000 years, the farms are designed in a way that nothing is wasted. The waste product from one system becomes input for the next system. The integrated approach is extremely cost effective and lends itself to total organic farming adhering to environmentally responsible and sustainable farming principles. Two hundred such farming units would produce a total of 8,000 to 12,000 ton per year that equates to double the current combined freshwater aquaculture production from all the SADC member countries. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die werkstuk bied 'n oorsig van akwakultuur in die wêreld, met 'n primêre fokus op die stand van varswater akwakultuur in Sub-Sahara en China. 'n Ontwikkelingsmodel vir geïntegreerde kommersiële boerdery word voorgestel, in die plattelandse dele van KwaZulu-Natal word woorhou. Die model koppel die konsepte van eeue-oue Chinese beginsels van geïntegreerde visboerdery met kommersiële winsgewendheid, binne die sosio-ekonomiese konsep van sub- Sahara Afrika. Die doel van die model is om 'n beduidende rol te speel in die verligting van armoede deur die ontwikkeling van ekonomiese aktiwiteit in plattelandse gebiede d.m.v. omgewings- en ekonomies volhoubare boerderypraktyke. Die projek se mediumtermyndoelwit is om die kritiese produksievolume te bereik wat vertikale integrasie met 'n visbroeiery, 'n voermeule en 'n prosesseringsfasiliteit sal regverdig. Dit saloperasionele kostes verminder en beter beheer verseker oor hierdie basiese insette. Die langtermyndoelwit is om die model uit te brei ten einde 'n bydrae te maak tot globale voedselvoorsiening deur die verspreiding van 'n voedsame, gebalanseerde maaltyd met vis as basis, as hongersnoodverligting in lae inkomste lande met 'n voedseltekort. Die model stel 'n reeks individuele plase voor, elk met 'n produksiekapasiteit van 40 tot 60 ton vis per jaar. Die beskikbare spesies sluit in tilapia, baber, harder, swartbaars en paling. Elke plaas sal bestaan uit agt uitgroeidamme van 'n halwe hektaar elk, 'n totaal van vier hektaar wateroppervlakte, 'n woonhuis en ses hektaar vir gewasse en veë. Die plase is ontwerp ten eide die voedingsryke uitvloeisel van die visdamme te gebruik vir besproeiing van die laerliggende landerye. Deur gebruik te maak van die beginsel van integrasie van 'n vis-, gewas- en vee-boerdery, aan die hand van die Chinese ontwikkelingsmodel oor die afgelope 2,000 jaar, word gepoog om niks te vermors nie. Die afvalproduk van een stelsel word 'n inset in die volgende. Hierdie benadering is uiters koste-effektief en leen homself tot organiese boerdery praktyke wat voldoen aan bewaringsbewuste en volhoubare boerderymetodes. Tweehonderd plaaseenhede sal 'n gesamentlike bydrae van 8,000 tot 12,000 ton per jaar lewer, wat gelykstaande is aan dubbeld die huidige gekombineerde varswater akwakultuurproduksie van al die SADC-Iedelande.

No description available.

The vegetation of the Mgeni Estuary, Mhlanga Estuary and Mdloti Estuary was analysed according to the Braun-Blanquet phytosociological method using quadrats of 4m2 and 25m2 in area placed subjectively and the Point-Centred Quarter method with points chosen whilst traversing. A classification of plant communities is given. These are described floristically and related to habitat variables. Indicator species of the climatic climax of coast forest occur within the study area. The absence of coast forest is ascribed to low altitude, tidal inundation and the consequent effect of salinity, basal inundation resulting in a high water-table and the influence of man. The floodplain of the Mgeni Estuary is dominated by mangrove vegetation comprising mainly Bruguiera gymnorrhiza and Avicennia marina whereas vegetation established on Athlone Island is dominated by mesophytic thicket comprising mainly Schinus terebinthifolius, Lantana camara, Chromolaena odorata and Cardiospermum grandiflorum. The floodplain of the Mhlanga Estuary is dominated by Phragmites australis. The shores of the Mdloti Estuary are dominated by Barringtonia racemosa, Phragmites australis and Echinochloa pyramidalis. Major differences in vegetation patterns of the three systems are related primarily to the differences in the open nature of the river mouths. This is controlled mainly by river flow and longshore drift. Differences in vegetation patterns within an estuary are dependent on differences in tolerances to salinity, basal inundation and shade, together with variations in altitude and edaphic factors and competition between species. Generally soils of Mgeni Estuary had higher contents of small sized fractions, bulk densities, reserve acidities, organic matter, salts and exchangeable bases and lower pH than soils at Mhlanga Estuary and Mdloti Estuary. Differences exist between mangrove and non-mangrove soils at Mgeni Estuary and differences between the non- mangrove soils at the three study sites. Major differences in soil characteristics are as a result of differences in tidal inundation, geogenetic parameters and biotic factors. Information on topography, hydrology, geology, climatic factors, biotic factors and historical background of the area is given. A check-list of vascular plants is included. The work is illustrated by 44 figures. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Durban-Westville, 1986.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

Questions have been raised regarding factors influencing fertility in South Africa, particularly within the different population groups. Various studies have focused on fertility in South Africa and other developing countries, based on racial differences, socio-economic statuses and geographical or environmental factors. It is clear that the major omission in the existing studies is the much-needed investigation of cultural influences on fertility outcomes. Therefore, this study is an investigation of the role of culture in influencing fertility behaviour among young women at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban. The central question of this paper is therefore: how does culture influence fertility behaviour among young university women? To respond to this question, the study used John Bongaarts' theory on proximate determinants of fertility as lenses for this investigation. A qualitative research design was used to collect data through 14 individual in-depth interviews with multiracial and multicultural women between the ages of 22 and 31. A thematic analysis revealed that culture still plays a significant role in determining fertility outcomes. Although the participants are aware of the conservative stand of their cultures and religions, the results indicate that their personal choices for fertility behaviour are influenced by education and desire for success in their careers. In addition, the findings showed that the extent to which culture influences fertility behaviour is different across the various racial groups in South Africa. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.