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21 April 2023 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied
Striving to make a difference in the field of biodiversity conservation, Dr Katlego Mashiane decided to pursue a PhD in Geography, focusing on the spatial modelling of grassland diversity and nutrients in subalpine environments. He received his PhD during the recent April graduation ceremonies on the Qwaqwa Campus.

In the small village of Ga-Mabotia about 25 km outside of Polokwane, Dr Katlego Mashiane grew up, surrounded by rocky mountains characterised by boulder outcrops, where he interacted with nature from an early age. 

He recently obtained his PhD, majoring in Geography, from the University of the Free State (UFS), which was conferred on him during the April graduation ceremonies that took place on the UFS Qwaqwa Campus. The title of his dissertation is Grass nutrients estimation as an Indicator of rangeland quality using satellite remote.

Predicting the presence of biodiversity and nutrients in an area

Based on the principle that diverse grasslands tend to perform better, environmental changes threaten the resilience and services these grassland ecosystems provide. The study examined how many different types of plants and animals can be found at a particular place to enhance our understanding of the ecosystem’s value to humans, and that biodiversity loss will reduce these ecosystem services. Focusing on spatial modelling of grassland diversity, Dr Mashiane specifically investigated the influence of topography and remotely sensed satellite data on species richness and diversity in subalpine environments, and how they are affected by the availability of grass species. To determine this, he used a random forest machine-learning algorithm to find the best information in the data that could be used to estimate the levels of species richness, diversity, and nitrogen in a protected national conservation park. 

His study discovered that some data types – such as the near-infrared variable and certain vegetation data (EVI and SAVI) – were especially useful for determining the number and variety of species in a certain area. With this information, scientists can create models that predict the presence of different types of biodiversity and nutrients in an area.

Playing a key role in protecting our natural assets

Equipped with this knowledge, one will be able to understand how to protect and preserve different types of biodiversity and promote the nutritional value of both plants and animals in the environment. “Land managers could use this information for conservation strategies,” states Dr Mashiane, who decided to pursue this study because he was curious about how environmental changes will affect species.

“Grasslands provide important ecosystem services underpinning human well-being, and therefore warrant our protection; I would like to play a role in protecting our natural assets and contribute to understanding our biomes, especially in the context of global change,” he says.

In the next five years, Dr Mashiane plans to pursue further research and mentor other students in his field of study.

News Archive

New wheels for students with disabilities
2012-06-06

 

First Car Rental donated two vehicles to our Unit for Students with Disabilities to meet their transport needs. The minibus will later on be converted to meet the specific transport needs of students with disabilities. From the left are Mr Mokgethi Tshabalala, Executive Head of Thebe Foundation, Mrs Hetsie Veitch, Head of the USD and Mr Bruce Barritt, Managing Director of First Car Rental.
Photo: René-Jean der Berg
06 June 2012

Transport problems of students at our Unit for Students with Disabilities (USD) are now something of the past.

The USD received two brand-new vehicles from First Car Rental, a vehicle rental company, for the transportation of students with disabilities.

“The vehicles are especially useful to transport students of the unit to and from classes and examinations between the two campuses in Bloemfontein. It also helps us to transport students should they have doctors’ appointments or to perhaps have their physical aids serviced,” says Mrs Martie Marina, senior officer at the Unit for Students with Disabilities.

The two vehicles consist of a passenger vehicle and a minibus. The minibus will later on be converted to meet the specific needs of the students.

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