National Global Change

National Global Change Conference features ARU in top-three oral presentations


 
Group
 

Among the delegates in attendance were academics and students affiliated with the UFS Afromontane Research Unit (ARU) and the Research and Vulnerability Science Centre (RVSC).

Monday
 

Monday Veli Mdluli delivering his oral presentation: Quantifying the effects of climate change and anthropogenic disturbance on bat communities in a montane grassland ecosystem.


 


SEOs: Department of Science and Innovation, National Research Foundation (NRF), Fifth National Global Change Conference (GCC5), Afromontane Research Unit (ARU), Monday Veli Mdluli, Alex Howard, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Research and Vulnerability Science Centre (RVSC)

The University of the Free State (UFS), together with the Department of Science and Innovation and the National Research Foundation (NRF), co-hosted the Fifth National Global Change Conference (GCC5), which took place from 30 January to 2 February 2023 on the Bloemfontein Campus.

Conference topics included climate change and biodiversity, alternative energy, ocean monitoring, resilient cities and communities, and technologies for global change.

Among the delegates in attendance were academics and students affiliated with the UFS Afromontane Research Unit (ARU) and the Research and Vulnerability Science Centre (RVSC).

Monday Veli Mdluli and Alex Howard, both PhD students in the Department of Zoology and Entomology – supported by the ARU – delivered oral presentations at the conference.

Mdululi’s PhD is supervised by Prof Peter Taylor (UFS), Prof Ara Monadjem (Professor at the University of Eswatini), Dr Emile Bredenhand (UFS), and Dr Adrinajoro Rakotoarivelo (University of Venda). Howard is also supervised by Profs Taylor and Monadjem, as well as Prof Wanda Markotter (University of Pretoria).

Effects of climate change on bat communities

Mdluli, announced as one of the top-three oral presenters, talked about Quantifying the effects of climate change and anthropogenic disturbance on bat communities in a montane grassland ecosystem.

Presenting his PhD project, he says the aim is to ascertain the influence of climate change on bat activity, community structure, species richness, and distribution along an elevational gradient. Furthermore, he also investigates the implications of anthropogenic factors such as human settlements, wetland and rangeland degradation on bat communities and their diet in the Drakensberg Afromontane Grasslands.

 

“We also assess the impact of environmental education on enhancing awareness and positive perceptions towards bats and their natural ecosystem services by school learners in Qwaqwa in the Eastern Free State, while addressing negative stereotypes about bats through informed, interactive, scientific, and public communication in schools,” he states.

Acoustic activity of insectivorous bats on apple farms

Howard, who also featured in the top-three oral presentations, talked about the Acoustic activity of insectivorous bats on apple farms in the Eastern Free State Province of South Africa.

Her research aims to assess and demonstrate the benefits of bat pest control services in agricultural landscapes in the Eastern Free State.

According to her, natural pest control services provided by bats have been demonstrated in selected crops in other regions; however, the trophic link between bats and deciduous fruit crop pests remains largely unknown in South Africa.

She says, “Using bat diet and activity patterns as well as indices of pest damage and agricultural yield, the main aim of my research is to quantify the economic and ecological roles of bats in apple orchards and surrounding natural landscapes in the Eastern Free State.”

Her project aims to incentivise local, relevant stakeholders to consider bats in their integrated pest management approach.

“Both Mdluli and Howard represented the university well, shining a light on the Qwaqwa Campus and confirming the purpose of the ARU and the RVSC,” says Noxolo Phungula from the ARU-RVSC.



February 2023 
Story: Leonie Bolleurs
Photos: Supplied 
Monday
 

Attending the Fifth National Global Change Conference where he presented one of the top-three oral presentations, was Monday Veli Mdluli (centre), together with Kgomotso Motlhakoana from the UFS Organising Team (left), and Prof Paulina Bopape-Mabapa from the University of Limpopo, who also serves on the National Global Change Science Committee.


top three
 

Delivering the top-three oral presentations by students at the Fifth National Global Change Conference, were from the left, Thabo Moabi from the Department of Zoology and Entomology on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus, Alex Howard, and Monday Veli Mdluli.

Alex 

Receiving a certificate for delivering one of the best oral presentations at the conference, was Alex Howard (centre), together with Kgomotso Motlhakoana from the UFS Organising Team (left), and Prof Paulina Bopape-Mabapa from the University of Limpopo, who also serves on the National Global Change Science Committee.

 






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