3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/handle/10539/45
Browse
5 results
Search Results
Item Behavioural adaptations in South African Galagos(2011-08-18) Harcourt, Caroline SusanItem Living with multiple, complex risks of commercial sugarcane farming in KwaZulu-Natal : the role of climate change?(2009-04-14T12:32:20Z) Massey, Ruth ThokozileThe aim of this research is to examine the contextual environment in which farmers operate so as to improve our understanding of the factors shaping vulnerability to climate risk. A key focus is on the livelihoods of sugarcane farmers, using a case study of small-, medium-scale (emerging) and large-scale sugarcane farmers in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands area of Eston and its surrounds. A social vulnerability assessment was undertaken under the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF) to test the hypothesis that climate risk is considered a major contributing factor to the vulnerability of commercial farmers in KwaZulu-Natal and needs to be effectively managed. This involved an investigation into the multiple stresses (both external and internal, on-farm and off-farm, climatic and non climatic) acting on the system. It is clear that climate change risk and variability is a major, but not the sole contributing factor to the vulnerability of commercial farmers in this part of KwaZulu-Natal. Climate change does need to be effectively managed but it will be best done in conjunction with the management of the other multiple and interacting threats and stresses identified in this study. Climate change and vulnerability, as well as the other multiple stresses, are acting on an already vulnerable system, exacerbating and compounding present risks. This research also explored a number of coping and response strategies that commercial farmers have adopted in response to the threats and stresses and investigated particularly, what elements enhance or restrict these strategies (both on-farm and off-farm). These strategies posses potential as possible future adaptation options. It was found that the issues of access to livelihood assets (social, financial, natural/environmental, physical, human, knowledge assets and capital under the SLF) are key to the adaptive capacity and the adaptation strategies that farmers employ. Institutions (both formal and informal) play a pivotal role in this access to livelihood assets both enabling and restricting access. In conclusion, this work determined that a focus on only one element, such as climate change, will not significantly reduce the vulnerability of commercial farmers. There is an interactive, dynamic and multifaceted network present with a number of factors acting within and from outside the system. Political, biophysical, social and economic factors interact and combine to compound vulnerability, requiring more integrative and multiple response strategies.Item 'Return-Migration in Contemporary South Africa’(2007-03-01T13:42:28Z) Lauckner-Rothschild, SandraAgainst the background of theories of culture, this research questions the motives and experiences of expatriates that return to South Africa, their country of origin. In re-telling their personal stories the research aims to shed light on the decisionmaking processes that repatriates go through and explores the experiences associated with such migration so as to better comprehend what social reintegration and re-adaptation means for the individual returnee. The research uses a range of interview-focused methodologies and concentrates on the interrelated topics of migration, home, identity and social experience as the primary thematic loci. In total, fourteen returnees were interviewed. The Life Histories of two of them are examined in greater detail and their fuller stories anchor the findings and research results. All interviewees stated that special emotional bonds with South Africa had brought them back “home”: they either wanted to ‘reconnect’ with their families or the country itself; they wanted to expose their children to it or they wanted to be part of the new South Africa and help bring about change. As a consequence of their migrant journeys the interviewees gained a much stronger awareness for the cultural (i.e., geographical and lifestyle) sources of their personal identities. By exposing themselves to different surroundings and cultures they developed hybrid identities, thereby layering international associations onto their established cultural traditions and senses of self. Existing models on repatriation do not adequately account for the importance culture plays in people’s experiences of repatriation; yet clearly social as well as cultural issues play an important role. The main factors relating to ease of re-integration and re-adaptation (identified by the literature as economic, logistical, financial and social support) seem to hold true - but again the current literature tends to overlook the role that culture plays in these processes. The majority of these repatriates have established strong residential ties to overseas, whether it be through multiple citizenship or a foreign spouse, and several would consider leaving again should circumstances deteriorate locally. The research was fundamentally qualitative and therefore narrowly focused in nature. A so-called ‘snow-ball’ system was used to identify possible interviewees. This resulted in findings that may have limited statistical validity in the strict sense. Nonetheless, the data generated valuable insights that might be considered applicable for later analytical incorporation and/or policy applications in regards to the continuing ‘brain drain’ out of South Africa and other countries of the Developing World.Item Response scenarios of households to drought-driven food shortage in a semi-arid area in South Africa(2007-02-26T10:12:57Z) Akpalu, Delali AdjoaThe goal of this research report was to profile the coping strategies of households in Thorndale to the effects and impacts of the 2002/2003 drought. Thorndale, the study site is prone to drought and thus experiences severe drought almost every year. The rationale behind the selection of Thorndale for the study was based on this fact, in addition to the fact that the study area is relatively unstudied. The study’s major findings included inadequate agricultural extension service delivery in the community, while the drought’s impacts were economic, social, nutritional and health, food shortage, environmental and wildlife. The most significant and largest impact was water shortage. These impacts led to increased household dependency on the natural capital component of livelihoods in addition to prostitution and the community’s institutional arrangements. The main constraints households encountered in response to the drought’s impacts included the lack of employment opportunities, financial and infrastructural problems among others. It is recommended that with respect to food security, efforts should be made to ensure the trickle down effect of national level assessment of vulnerability on annual basis to rural households in South Africa’s drought-prone areas including Thorndale, in order to improve timely and practical solutions to issues of food insecurity. Furthermore, it should be ensured that the national level benefits of early warning systems trickle down to the local and community levels including Thorndale. Additionally, agricultural extension service delivery in the community needs to be improved.Item The use of AFLP to determine if a slimes-tolerant indigenous species shows local adaptation to slimes dam soils(2006-11-15T09:05:05Z) Angus, Caroline JanePlant populations show an ability to survive and adapt under varying environmental conditions. Adaptation to heavy metal contaminated soils usually results in a decrease in genetic variation. Slimes dams consist of the pulverized rock slurry left after the extraction of gold or uranium. High toxicity levels mean that these wastes often remain uncolonised and are therefore easily eroded through wind or water. Plant populations that will be viable for long-term vegetation of slimes dams will prevent erosion, and stabilise and improve the quality of the soil. Indigenous, locally adapted species are the most likely to be successful candidates for vegetation. Indigenous, slimes-tolerant species Indigofera adenoides and Indigofera zeyheri were therefore studied. The aim was to determine if plant populations show local adaptation to the adverse substrate conditions emanating from slimes dams, by investigating genetic and morphological variation between adjacent populations growing at different distances in relation to slimes dams. The AFLP technique was used to analyse genetic variation as it produces rapid results, is inexpensive, reproducible, and capable of screening the entire genome. Lower genetic diversity was observed in those areas of the dams with higher levels of slimes-associated contamination. This difference was observed in both species, and for all measures of genetic diversity (Shannon’s information index, Nei’s gene diversity, percentage of loci polymorphic). This may be due to a founder effect following colonisation, natural selection, flowering time differences, or a combination of these factors. Reduced morphological variation was observed in those areas of the dams with higher levels of slimes-associated contamination. Significant morphological differences were observed between groups of plants from different areas, some of which appear to have the capability to assist the plants in a slimes-contaminated environment. Some degree of adaptation to slimes-contaminated soil therefore seems to have occurred, with this being more pronounced in Indigofera adenoides, although it cannot be determined whether this is purely phenotypic, or a combination of phenotypic and genetic. These species therefore seem suitable as candidates for vegetation of slimes dams, although further work must be done to fully understand the effect of slimes-associated toxicity.