SANParks coordinator (e-mails: first name and first letter of surname then Project Number Researcher Title of Project Purpose of the Project Finish date Contact Institution Park @sanparks.org, e.g. Meeting [email protected]) To document key features of the palaeontology Fossil heritage of the Richtersveld National Park 1 Almond JE and geology of Precambrian to Palaeozoic Hugo Bezuidenhout 20.10.2009 31.12.2010 [email protected] Natura viva cc Richtersveld (Precambrian –Palaeozoic) sediments within the Richtersveld National Park. South African Vulnerability of a key iconic species, Aloe To investigate how climate changes may affect the National Augrabies, 2 Altwegg R Ernest Daemane 19.08.2008 31.12.2012 [email protected] dichotoma, to past and future climate change persistence of quiver trees. Biodiversity Richtersveld Institute Temporal and spatial habitat utilization by To detect the effect of density on the choices that University of 3 Anastassiou VM Sam Ferreira 01.09.2009 31.12.2010 [email protected] Kruger elephant cows in Kruger National Park elephants make. KwaZulu Natal Centre for To use field measurements to develop a reliable Leaf area dynamics in a semi-arid African Scientific and 4 Archibald S method to extract (“un-mix”) tree and grass green- Izak Smit 19.02.2008 31.12.2010 [email protected] Kruger savanna Industrial up curves from satellite imagery. Research To collect high quality hyperspectral and LiDAR Carnegie Airborne Observatory (CAO) Carnegie Airborne 5 Asner GP data that can be used to answer the research Izak Smit 22.01.2008 31.12.2010 [email protected] Kruger Programme Observatory questions defined in the three projects. Agulhas, Augrabies, Inventorying insect species from four insect Bontebok, orders and determining their ecology, distribution University of 6 Ball JB Hendrik Sithole 08.04.2008 31.12.2010 [email protected] Karoo, and conservation status in nine of South African Pretoria Namaqua, National Parks Richtersveld, Tankwa, West To explore LiDAR data collected by the ICESAT- Remote Sensing for characterizing savanna GLAS satellite to characterize woody vegetation Centre for 7 Balzter H landscape structure using the Geoscience Laser structure in the KNP, including estimating and Izak Smit 20.10.2009 31.12.2012 [email protected] Environmental Kruger Altimeter System mapping canopy height, canopy cover and woody Research biomass. To examine the effects of multiple factors that Competitive interactions between savanna trees potentially influence seed germination and Wageningen 8 Barbosa ERM and grasses: experiments on the factor that Ernest Daemane 04.12.2008 31.12.2010 [email protected] Kruger seedling recruitment, by manipulating the seeds University influence the early seedling recruitment and seedlings from three species of savanna trees. To enhance our understanding of selected aspects Using stable isotope as a tool to understand the of the biology of penguins and gannets using University of Cape 9 Barquete V trophic relationships of seabirds off southern Andrew Deacon 16.10.2008 31.12.2011 [email protected] Addo stable isotope approaches to contribute to their Town Africa conservation management. To quantify the natural prevalence of Bartonellae Prevalence and genetic diversity of Bartonella in rodents for comparison with rural populations of University of 10 Bastos ADS spp. in the natural rodent population of Kruger Peter Buss 17.06.2008 31.12.2010 [email protected] Kruger rodents in order to assess the infection threat to Pretoria National Park humans. Molecular detection and characterization of To determine the diversity of Bartonella species University of 11 Bastos ADS Peter Buss 19.06.2006 31.12.2011 [email protected] Kruger Bartonella bacteria from South African artiodactyls occurring in wild South African artiodactyls. Pretoria To determine the diversity of Bartonella bacterial species in South African carnivores in order to Prevalence and diversity of Bartonella in South University of 12 Bastos ADS increase our knowledge and understanding of the Peter Buss 19.06.2006 31.12.2011 [email protected] Kruger African carnivores Pretoria distribution of bacterial species of this genus that are associated with South African wildlife. Augrabies, Camdeboo,Richt ersveld, Review of the Grasshopper Subfamily To develop identification keys for Euryphyminae University of 13 Bazelet CS Hendrik Sithole 24.03.2010 31.12.2010 [email protected] Namaqua, Euryphyminae genera (males and females) Stellenbosch Tankwa, and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Augrabies, To produce an interactive digital key to the species South African Camdeboo, Systematics of the Gnaphalieae (Asteraceae) in and update a phylogenetic hypothesis proposed National Golden Gate, 14 Bergh NG Ernest Daemane 23.06.2009 31.12.2011 [email protected] southern Africa. Part I: the Relhania clade based on molecular and morphological data and Biodiversity Namaqua, the taxonomy. Institute Tankwa, Karoo and Richtersveld To develop a statistically robust way to conduct predictive inventories, ecological community Strategic monitoring directives from species to South African 15 Bezuidenhout H surveys and population surveys through an Hendrik Sithole 20.10.2009 31.12.2011 [email protected] Mokala communities: The Mokala Case National Parks evaluation of sample size and survey efforts to define variance of measures within landscapes. To study the efficiency of the constructed wetlands An investigation into the performance of as a management method to treat either septic University of Free 16 Bezuidenhout Y constructed wetlands for the wastewater treatment Andrew Deacon 07.04.2009 31.12.2010 [email protected] Kruger tank effluent directly or to polish the oxidation pond State in the Kruger National Park effluent. To define the temporal scale over which elephant Can we predict elephant population densities from spatial use changes based on spatial changes in University of 17 Birkett PJ individual cow home ranges in Kruger National Sam Ferreira 01.09.2009 31.12.2010 [email protected] Kruger home ranges confirguration and behavioural shifts KwaZulu Natal Park using movement-rate indices. Addo, Kruger, Mapungubwe, Factors determining the interpretive effectiveness To develop an interpretation model for guides in North-West Table Mountain, 18 Boemah DL of ecotour guides in South African National Parks: Louise Swemmer 24.03.2010 31.12.2010 [email protected] the national parks and cultural heritage sites. University Marakele & An interpretation model Kalahari Gemsbok To quantify plant functional types (PFTs) from Plant Functional Trait Variation in Savannas University of Cape 19 Bond WJ mesic to arid savannas and on basalt and granite Navashni Govender 08.04.2008 31.12.2010 [email protected] Kruger along Environmental Gradients Town substrates in Kruger National Park. To explore the different determinants of vegetation Interactions of fire and herbivory in African state by studying changes in herbivore movement University of Cape 20 Bond WJ Navashni Govender 07.04.2009 31.12.2010 [email protected] Kruger savannas in response to large landscape fires set up by the Town SAVFIRE experiments. Determine the population size of Pel’s Fishing Survey of the Pel’s Fishing Owl Scotopelia peli Owl along the major river systems within the Endangered 21 Botha A Andrew Deacon 19.06.2007 31.12.2010 [email protected] Kruger population in the Kruger National Park Kruger National Park as part of a national Wildlife Trust population survey. The aim of this proposal is to register the re- sighting of colour-marked birds in the Kruger Re-sighting study of colour-marked vultures and Endangered 22 Botha A National Park to facilitate the collection of data Andrew Deacon 14.08.2007 31.12.2010 [email protected] Kruger other raptors in the Kruger National Park Wildlife Trust within the Park through the recording of sightings by visitors. To review trends in White–Backed vultures and The effect of variation in large tree availability on Southern Ground Hornbill and relate these to Endangered 23 Botha A white-backed vulture and southern ground hornbill Andrew Deacon 04.12.2008 31.12.2010 [email protected] Kruger changes in large tree densities through collating Wildlife Trust population dynamics and analyzing existing data. Harvesting of second eggs from the Southern To monitor all nests harvested to determine Endangered 24 Botha A Ground Hornbill and monitoring the impacts impacts on breeding success and fledgling of Andrew Deacon 16.10.2008 31.12.2011 [email protected] Kruger Wildlife Trust thereof in the KNP chicks remaining in nests. This project can provide benefits in terms of Study of savanna ecosystems in the Kruger Bouchenak- determining what the causes are for varying University of Cape 25 National Park: a case study using C4 grass Navashni Govender 08.04.2008 31.12.2010 Kruger Khelladi Y palatability between grass species and different Town species evolution groups of grasses. Chemical pollutants and their ecotoxicological To identify the types, fluxes and potential sources North-West 26 Bouwman H effects at different trophic levels in the Olifants- of chemical pollutants in the water and sediment of Danny Govender 01.09.2009 31.12.2011 [email protected] Kruger University Letaba River system of the Kruger National Park the Olifants/Letaba River system. To determine the effect of resource quality and Behavioural ecology of Acheulean hominins in the availability on Acheulean artifact form, and their West Coast