The purpose of this study was to investigate if there is a seasonal difference in metal concentrations in marine gastropods. Metals that were studied were chromium, copper, nickel and zinc. Gastropods were collected at one contaminated site and one reference site. For the contaminated site Rönnskärsverken, Skellefteå, Sweden, was chosen because of its long history as location for a smelter. Kylören, Umeå, Sweden, was chosen as reference site.  The gastropods were collected on two occasions at each site, the first time in the beginning of June and the second time in the end of August. The gastropods were then removed from their shells and the tissue was analyzed spectrometrically for metal content after acid-digestion. The results from the analysis showed unsurprisingly that metal contamination was higher at the contaminated site than at the reference site. More interestingly, it was also found that there are seasonal differences in almost every metal included in the study. Nickel and chromium concentrations were significantly increased (P<0, 05) in the end of the summer and the zinc concentration had the highest value in June in Rönnskärsverken but the highest value in August for the reference site. As only exception, copper concentration did not show any seasonal variation in snail tissue. In conclusion this study shows that there are seasonal differences in metal concentrations in marine gastropods but the differences are not consistent and differs from metal to metal if the concentration is increased in the beginning or the end of summer.

Termites are considered to be major ecosystem engineers in tropical and sub-tropical environments, and fire in savanna systems is regarded as a major and necessary disturbance for the maintenance of biodiversity. However, most fire ecology studies have focused on vegetation dynamics with little attention given to other taxa, especially invertebrates. This thesis has addressed several aspects of savanna termite ecology. First, based on a review of studies examining the relationship between fire ecology and termites, I found that few broad conclusions can be made based on the published literature. Hence little is known on the interactions between termites and ecological processes such as fire. Leading on from this, several recommendations are provided in the thesis for future research to improve ecological understanding of savannas and the dynamics that structure these systems. Second, savanna termite responses to long-term burning regimes were investigated across four distinct savanna types along a rainfall gradient in South Africa using comprehensive sampling protocols. This was achieved using experimental burning plots which have been in place in the Kruger National Park (KNP) since 1954 as well as sites in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. Termite communities were found to differ significantly between these savannas with higher diversity at Pretoriuskop, a mesic savanna but not the wettest. Termite diversity was lowest at the most arid site (Mopani) but certain feeding groups peaked at Satara, a savanna with intermediate rainfall. Differences between these savannas are attributed to broad underlying changes in net primary productivity, temperature and soil type, with the role of mammalian herbivores also being considered. Seasonality was also examined and it was found that termite activity peaks in the wet and transitional seasons and is significantly lower in the dry season. Considering different fire regimes, termites, in general, were found to be highly resistant to burning, but assemblage composition was affected, this being more pronounced at the mesic savanna where fire has more effect on vegetation. These assemblage changes are linked to changes in vegetation structure caused by fire. Finally, termite ecology is often constrained by sampling difficulties and a lack of sampling protocols in savannas. A comparison of two often used sampling methods, baiting and active searching, was conducted across the savanna types studied. The efficiency of sampling method varied along the rainfall gradient and a single method was not the best for all savanna types. In mesic savannas, active searching (an often neglected sampling method in savannas) was most effective at sampling termite diversity while baiting was more effective in arid savannas, although this method is biased toward wood-feeding termites from feeding group II. Baiting also provides a better measure of termite activity than active searching. I demonstrate that termite communities differ significantly with savanna habitat and their responses to long-term burning regimes differ between these habitat types. Although termite communities were found to be quite resistant to burning, the degree of resistance differed with savanna type and management policies in protected areas and elsewhere need to take this into account when formulating conservation policies. Similarly, sampling methods differ in their efficiency at different sites which needs to be considered when designing sampling protocols in order to accurately reflect the biodiversity present. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Zoology and Entomology / unrestricted