Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Categories
UFS News Media Release Research
Years
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Months
January February March April May
Previous Archive
30 January 2024 Photo SUPPLIED
Prof Frank Zachos
Prof Frank Zachos, an Affiliated Professor in the Department of Genetics, participated in a study on the genetic diversity of species published in the prestigious Nature Ecology & Evolution.

Early this year, an article examining the monitoring of genetic diversity in Europe – indicating which countries are doing it, for which and for how many species – was published in the prestigious Nature Ecology & Evolution. Prof Frank Zachos, an Affiliated Professor in the Department of Genetics at the University of the Free State (UFS) in Bloemfontein, South Africa, participated in this study, which was co-conducted by 52 scientists representing 60 universities and research institutes from 31 countries.

According to Prof Zachos, who is also a scientist and curator of mammals at the Natural History Museum in Vienna in Austria – one of the world’s largest natural history museums with more than 30 million specimens – genetic diversity is crucial for species to adapt to climate change.

Genetic diversity key to species survival

Genetic diversity is one of the keys to species survival. He points out that in 2022, the International Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has placed increased emphasis on the need to protect the genetic diversity found in wild species – a fundamental component of biological diversity that has been generally neglected in the past.

Prof Zachos explains that global warming is already putting pressure on many species in Europe and elsewhere, particularly those with populations at the climatic limits of their range. These populations are not only at risk of extinction, but also tend to carry genetic variants favoured by natural selection for survival in challenging environments. “These ecologically peripheral regions may, therefore, function as reservoirs from which, through gene flow, adaptive variants can spread into populations of the core range that will be affected by climate change later. This increases the overall resilience of species,” he says. 

He emphasises that analysing genetic diversity and its changes over time in populations located in areas with challenging environmental conditions is especially important for conservation.

Better monitoring of species needed

In a statement, he mentions that this study reveals that current efforts to monitor genetic diversity in Europe are incomplete and insufficient.

According to the new study, more efforts are necessary, particularly in the southeast of Europe (Turkey and the Balkans), as this region is underrepresented, but at the same time strongly affected by climate change, possibly harbouring many reservoir populations that can adapt well to the challenges posed by environmental shifts.

Prof Zachos adds that monitoring efforts were significantly biased towards certain taxonomic groups, as they have found many monitoring projects targeting large carnivores such as brown bears and wolves, iconic species that are also of political relevance.

He explains that they will, however, be less affected by climate change than, for example, amphibians and many tree species. “Yet, the latter are only rarely included in genetic monitoring projects,” says Prof Zachos, who is of the opinion that a monitoring strategy with less geographic and taxonomic bias, along with systematic targeting of full environmental gradients and high-biodiversity regions, would be an important contribution towards the protection of threatened species – many of which also provide invaluable services to humans, such as crop pollination or pest control.

Better support for ecosystem conservation

He holds the view that this is not only restricted to Europe, but applies globally, especially in superdiverse regions such as Southern Africa.

Prof Zachos states that, considering recent agreements aimed at halting biodiversity decline – of which South Africa is a signatory country – the study also points out the urgent need for improved international monitoring of species, and especially their genetic diversity. “This will facilitate better land-use planning and support for ecosystem conservation and restoration actions, ensuring the survival of species and the services they provide,” he says.

News Archive

Researchers international leaders in satellite tracking in the wildlife environment
2015-05-29

 

Ground-breaking research has attracted international media attention to Francois Deacon, lecturer and researcher in the Department Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences at the UFS, and Prof Nico Smit, from the same department. They are the first researchers in the world to equip giraffes with GPS collars, and to conduct research on this initiative. Recently, they have been joined by Hennie Butler from the Department of Zoology as well as Free State Nature Conservation to further this research.

“Satellite tracking is proving to be extremely valuable in the wildlife environment. The unit is based on a mobile global two-way communication platform, utilising two-way data satellite communication, complete with GPS systems.

“It allows us to track animals day and night, while we monitor their movements remotely from the computer. These systems make possible the efficient control and monitoring of wildlife in all weather conditions and in near-to-real time. We can even communicate with the animals, calling up their positions or changing the tracking schedules.

“The satellite collar allows us to use the extremely accurate data to conduct research with the best technology available. The volume of data received allows us to publish the data in scientific journals and research-related articles.  

“Scientific institutions and the public sector have both shown great interest in satellite tracking, which opens up new ground for scientific research for this university. Data management can be done, using Africa Wildlife Tracking (AWT) equipment where we can access our data personally, store it, and make visual presentations. The AWT system and software architecture provide the researcher with asset tracking, GPS location reports, geo-fencing, highly-detailed custom mapping, history reports and playback, polling on demand, history plotting on maps, and a range of reporting types and functions,” Francois said.

Data can be analysed to determine home range, dispersal, or habitat preference for any specific species.

Francois has been involved in multiple research projects over the last 12 years on wildlife species and domesticated animals, including the collaring of species such as Black-backed Jackal, Caracal, African Wild Dog, Hyena, Lion, Cheetah, Cattle, Kudu, Giraffe, and Black Rhino: “Giraffe definitely being the most challenging of all,” he said.

In 2010, he started working on his PhD, entitled The spatial ecology, habitat preferences and diet selection of giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa) in the Kalahari region of South Africa.

 

Since then, his work has resulted not only in more research work (supervising four Masters students) but also in a number of national and international projects. These include work in the:

  • Kalahari region (e.g. Khamab Nature Reserve and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park)
  • Kuruman region (Collared 18 cattle to identify spatial patterns in relation to the qualities of vegetation and soil-types available. This project took place in collaboration with Born University in Germany)
  • Woodland Hills Wildlife Estate and Kolomella Iron Ore – ecological monitoring
  • A number of Free State nature reserves (e.g. Distribution of herbivores (kudu and giraffe) and predators (camera traps)

Francois is also involved with species breeding programmes and management (giraffe, buffalo, sable, roan, and rhino) in Korrannaberg, Rustenburg, Hertzogville, Douglas, and Bethlehem as well as animal and ecological monitoring in Kolomella and Beesthoek iron ore.

Besides the collaring of giraffes, Francois and his colleagues are involved in national projects, where they collect milk from lactating giraffes and DNA material, blood samples, and ecto/endo parasites from giraffes in Southern Africa.

With international projects, Francois is working to collect DNA material for the classification of the nine sub-species of giraffe in Africa. He is also involved in projects focusing on the spatial ecology and adaptation of giraffe in Uganda (Murchison Falls), and to save the last 30 giraffe in the DRC- Garamba National Park.

This project has attracted a good deal of international interest. In June 2014, a US film crew (freelancing for Discovery Channel) filmed a documentary on Francois’ research (trailer of documentary). Early in 2015, a second crew, filming for National Geographic, also visited Francois to document his work.

 

More information about Francois’ work is available at the GCF website. 

Read Francois Deacon's PhD abstract

Direct enquiries to news@ufs.ac.za.

 

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept