Showing papers in "Transactions of The Royal Society of South Africa in 2002"
TL;DR: In this paper, the use of plants for psychoactive purposes in southern African healing traditions was investigated by screening the ethnobotanical literature and interviewing 15 traditional healers on their use and prescription of plants in South Africa.
Abstract: This paper investigates the use of plants for psychoactive purposes in southern African healing traditions. Information on psychoactive plant use was gathered by screening the ethnobotanical literature and interviewing 15 traditional healers on their use and prescription of plants for psychoactive purposes in South Africa. This information was subsequently compiled into an inventory. The inventory lists 306 plants, representing 94 families, with psychoactive uses in southern Africa. The plants listed in the inventory were arranged alphabetically by family, followed by the botanical species name, ethnic names and corresponding ethnic groups utilising the plants for psychoactive purposes, and literature reports on psychoactive use. Where available, information on plant part used, preparation, dosage, route of administration, known and potentially active psychoactive ingredients and personal fieldwork notes were included. Particular families contain high numbers of species used for psychoactive purposes. The...
79 citations
TL;DR: In this study, records of births in the National Zoological Gardens, Pretoria, from 1917 to 2001 for two species of zebras, 20 species of bovids, seven species of carnivores, the white rhinoceros and the hippopotamus are analysed.
Abstract: Breeding records from zoos provide a virtually untapped source of information for determining reproductive patterns of species unconstrained by nutritional variables and may be important in planning conservation strategies for rare species for which little “wild” data exist. In this study, we have analysed records of births in the National Zoological Gardens, Pretoria, from 1917 to 2001 for two species of zebras, 20 species of bovids, seven species of carnivores, the white rhinoceros and the hippopotamus. The zebras and pachyderms are aseasonal breeders, whilst the bovids show some variation. The African buffalo breeds throughout the year as do sable antelope in captivity, mountain reedbuck and all the arid-adapted species. The grazers tend to be seasonal, while browsers, with the exception of the kudu, tend to be aseasonal. Four species of felids and the spotted hyaena have an aseasonal breeding pattern but the African wild cat and wild dog are more seasonal. Possible reasons for the different patterns a...
23 citations
TL;DR: Leach's storm petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa have been breeding at Dyer Island since at least 1995; a review of earlier records in the light of this discovery indicates that breeding has almost occurred since until at least the 1970s as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Leach's storm petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa have bred at Dyer Island since at least 1995; a review of earlier records in the light of this discovery indicates that breeding has almost occurred since at least the 1970s. The South African offshore islands on which Leach's storm petrel almost certainly breeds are Jutten, Dassen, Dyer and St Croix. The South African population is probably of the order of 25 pairs. The migrant component of the Leach's storm petrel population visiting southern Africa is mainly confined to deep ocean waters (generally 2000–5000 m deep) and occurs in particularly high densities around Agulhas Rings where ring-edges apparently provided excellent foraging opportunities. Leach's storm petrels are comparatively scarce over the shelf areas (defined as coastal water of less than 2000 m depth) of Namibia and western South Africa. Given their abundance at sea, their distance offshore, the seasonality of their occurrence and their moult status, these birds cannot be part of the South Afric...
8 citations
TL;DR: The Zoological Survey was undertaken ± 70 years ago by scientists at the Veterinary Research Institute, Onderstepoort, primarily to investigate the epidemiology of diseases which occurred at the wildlife/domestic livestock interface such as rabies, African swine fever, tuberculosis, African animal trypanosomosis and rinderpest.
Abstract: For the first time an attempt is made to place an important epidemiological project in perspective. The Zoological Survey was undertaken ± 70 years ago by scientists at the Veterinary Research Institute, Onderstepoort, primarily to investigate the epidemiology of diseases which occurred at the wildlife/domestic livestock interface such as rabies, African swine fever, tuberculosis, African animal trypanosomosis and rinderpest. Attention was also paid to some species of problem wild animals, such as hyraxes, reputedly causing damage in agriculture, or that were involved in disease transmission to man, for example gerbils with reference to plague. Thousands of mammals, hundreds of birds and a few reptiles and amphibia were collected. In pursuit of controlling tsetse flies (the vectors of African animal trypanosomosis), the Harris fly trap was evaluated. The most important results obtained during the Survey and the progress made have been briefly outlined. Reasons for the demise of the Survey are given and re...
4 citations
TL;DR: The Council feels that the competition is a very worthwhile project for encouraging interest in science amongst the youth and has taken steps to ensure the success of the 2003 competition.
Abstract: As a result of the problems experienced with the 2001 Essay Competition, the competition was not held in 2002. Essentially, the competition was a victim of its own success. The nominated marker was overwhelmed with the large number of entries, but eventually managed to get through them all and then the past President graded the winning entries. The Society is most grateful for the immense effort put in by John Crawford and the late Professor Friedel Sellschop FRSSAf in this regard. The results are shown below and the winning scholars were able to partake of their prizes (mostly consisting of visits to National Facilities) during 2002. The Council feels that the competition is a very worthwhile project for encouraging interest in science amongst the youth and has taken steps to ensure the success of the 2003 competition. The current President has organised a large team of markers, prizes have been sought and new titles set and forwarded to the Department of Education and over 450 schools nationwide.
1 citations