Plant Conservation Unit
Botany Department
University of Cape Town
Research Associates
Peter Carrick heads the Namaqualand Restoration Initiative, a project that he initialised and attained funding for from CEPF. This project undertakes to develop restoration strategies for mining areas in Namaqualand. Peter Carrick’s Résumé I completed my BSc (Hons) degree at the University of Cape Town in 1994, with majors in Zoology and Botany. I developed a passionate fascination with plant-animal interactions, particularly plant-herbivore interactions, at this time, and undertook research in both marine and terrestrial systems. Since then I have enjoyed research positions that have taken me from investigations of nutrient availability in the seas around Antarctica to analysing spatial pattern in the tropical forest communities of the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 1996 I returned to South Africa and since then my fascination has primarily concerned the Succulent Karoo. Between 1997 and 2001 I undertook a PhD at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, on a number of aspects relating to plant community dynamics of the Succulent Karoo. Key findings include: nutrients, not water, frequently control the growth of adult plants in areas the receive < 200 mm annual rainfall; the size of rainfall events plays a primary role in controlling the distribution of functional types and biodiversity; for adult plants competition within functional groups is most important, but for seedlings competition between functional groups is often most important; an understanding of the biological processes by which degradation takes place in Succulent Karoo communities (browsing of flowers is key to the degradation caused by herbivores); relating changes in foliar nutrients to plant growth-rates and herbivore preferences across seasons and browsing densities. In my research I endeavour to utilise observations at the individual plant scale to explain pattern at biome scale. Research Interests Over the last six years my research has been focused on semi-deserts generally, and the Karoo biomes specifically, and primarily concerns:
‘Shrub Community Dynamics in a South African Semi-Desert’ Publications Scientific Papers, Book Chapters and Conference Presentations 1. P.J. Carrick. Competitive and facilitative relationships among three shrubs in the Succulent Karoo, South Africa, and the role of browsing intensity and rooting depth. Paper in press. Journal of Vegetation Science. 2. P.J Carrick. Different land-use options produce a gradient of plant richness at a single location in Namaqualand: the pattern and the processes. Paper in press. Proceedings of the 7 th International Rangelands Congress, Durban, South Africa. (Abstract in: African Journal of Range & Forage Science 20) 3. P.J Carrick. Biomass and productivity. In M.T. Hoffman, N. Allsopp, and R.F. Rohde (eds). Paulshoek: Natural Resource Functioning and Use in an Arid Ecosystem. Book in preparation. 4. P.J Carrick. Community structure and competition. In M.T. Hoffman, N. Allsopp, and R.F. Rohde (eds). Paulshoek: Natural Resource Functioning and Use in an Arid Ecosystem. Book in preparation. 5. P.J Carrick. Diet selection by livestock. In M.T. Hoffman, N. Allsopp, and R.F. Rohde (eds). Paulshoek: Natural Resource Functioning and Use in an Arid Ecosystem. Book in preparation. 6. P.J Carrick. Seedbanks. In M.T. Hoffman, N. Allsopp, and R.F. Rohde (eds). Paulshoek: Natural Resource Functioning and Use in an Arid Ecosystem. Book in preparation. 7. P.J. Carrick. The role of rooting depth, browsing intensity and resource availability. Presented at the 1 st joint British Ecological Society – Ecological Society of America Conference 2000, Orlando, USA. 8. B.D. Hahn, S.S. Todd, P.J. Carrick, M.T. Hoffman, and D.M. Richardson, 1999. A frame based model of plant, climate and animal interactions in a communal area of Namaqualand. Presented at the annual meeting of the Arid Zone Forum 1999, Vanrhynsdorp, South Africa. 9. R.J. Anderson, P.J. Carrick, G.J. Levitt, and A. Share, 1997. Holdfasts of adult kelp Ecklonia maxima provide refuges from grazing for recruitment of juvenile kelps. Marine Ecology Progress Series 159, Pp 265-273. 10. S. Johnson, A. Ellis, P.J. Carrick, A Swift, S. Janse van Rensburg, N. Horner, and W. Bond, 1993. Moth pollination and rhythms of advertisement and reward in Crassula fascicularis (Crassulaceae). South African Journal of Botany 59, Pp 511-513. |
Janice Golding's résumé The public understanding of science and appreciation of nature is a critical element of biodiversity governance. In wishing to place botany in the public intellectual space, Janice disseminates research findings of environmental issues of pan-African interest. After undergraduate completion in life sciences at the University of Cape Town, Janice spent one year at the University of the Western Cape where she undertook an Honours degree. In 1997, upon returning to the University of Cape Town to study for a Masters, she was awarded both the Flora Conservation Scholarship (Botanical Society of South Africa) and the BP Scholarship (World Wildlife Fund, WWF) for research on the identification of priority conservation sites in the most transformed area of the fynbos heart land, the Cape Flats. Her research, which was supervised by Dr Bruce McKenzie, Dr Tony Rebelo and Dr Richard Cowling, formed the basis of seminal reports by the Botanical Society of South Africa that helped to leverage long-term finance for the conservation planning of the Cape Flats. In 1999, Janice was offered the position of coordinating a 10-country World Bank-funded Red Data List project from the headquarters of the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) in Pretoria. During this time, she contributed to journals on topics relating to plant extinction ecology, threatened plant policies, the decision-making mechanics of risk assessments and building a peer-reviewed environmental information system in the southern African region. In addition, she chaired the IUCN-Southern African Plant Specialist Group. After the completion of Southern African Plant Red Data Lists (J. Golding, ed.) in 2002, she established SANBI's Threatened Plants Programme from with support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy (NORAD). This programme has subsequently produced an updated account of South Africa's threatened flora (D. Raimondo et al. eds). In the years to follow, Janice studied Geography and Environment from the University of Oxford for which she was a awarded a doctorate in 2009. Made possible by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Oxford's Environmental Change Institute, her studies addressed the utility of life-history traits (dispersal and pollination mode, life form, seed behaviour, breeding system and sprouting capacity) and their influence on predictions of extinction risk in south-central Africa (Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the Caprivi area in Namibia). Using a combination of statistical and artificial neural network (ANN) models which she learned at the UFZ Centre for Environmental Research (Zentrum für Umweltforschung) in Leipzig-Halle, Germany, a key finding produced is that life-history traits are better predictors of country endemism than Red Data List threat status (which reflects the limitations inherent in both the data and IUCN Red List methodology). But more importantly, her thesis demonstrates that life-history trait data derived from the taxonomic literature can increase our understanding of the ecology of rare and threatened plant species in data-poor contexts. Janice has visited and worked with all the major herbaria in southern African countries, and has undertaken consultancy-based field work in as far as Berberati (Central African Republic) and Niassa (Mozambique). In 2009, Janice established a Johannesburg-based management consulting company which works on the design of performance monitoring diagnostics and the technical coordination and review of donor and State-funded projects and programmes. A keen hobbyist, she enjoys yoga, scuba diving, literary and music classics, and reading and commenting on current affairs concerning the environment. She is a prolific contributor of Africanist environmental opinion and analytical news articles. Research Interests Janice's research interests have shifted from the scientific application of extinction assessment methodologies to plant species, to assessment methodologies of biodiversity programmes in general. Her geographical focus is the southern African region. How modern society interacts with, relates to and perceives nature is an endless source of fascination to her. She is interested in multiple aspects of how botanical knowledge - and biodiversity knowledge in general - is diffused and transmuted. Uncertainty, which is derived from unreliable, incomplete, outdated or incorrect knowledge, can improve or disparage efforts for conserving and managing nature. Over the last few years, her work has been focused primarily on:-
Selected Publications Books, book chapters, journal articles, technical reports, conference proceedings and news articles 2011-Sept, in prep. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health.In: 2012 South Africa State of Environment Outlook Report. Department of Environmental Affairs. 2011-August, in prep. The global and UN contribution of 2004 Nobel Peace laureate, Earth Mother Wangari Maathai. In: Obama's Nobel Ancestors: Nobel Peace laureates of African Descent. Centre for Conflict Resolution. Golding, J.S. 2011. Professionalising conservation NGOs. Mail & Guardian, 14 June. Golding, J.S. 2011. Africa, rise up! Langaa Research and Publishing Common Initiative Group (Langaa RPCIG), Cameroon. http://www.langaa-rpcig.net/+Africa-rise-up+.html Golding, J.S. 2011. More polish needed for SA to shine at COP 17 Mail & Guardian, 21 January. http://mg.co.za/article/2011-01-24-more-polish-needed-if-sa-is-to-shine-at-cop17 Golding, J.S. 2011. Business fights poverty. Cape Times, 17 January. Weblink unavailable. Golding, J.S., Waylen, K., Güsewell, S., Kreft, H., Kuzevanov, V.Y., Lehvävirta, S., Parmentier, I. & Pautasso, M. 2010. The living collections of the world's botanic gardens is a matter of socio-economics. Annals of Botany105(5): 689-696. Golding, J.S. 2010. Extinction by design: plant ecology, species extinction and taxonomy in south-central Africa. Lambert Academic Publishing, Saarbrücken, Germany. ISBN 978-3-8383-9116-8. Golding, J.S. 2010. Nurturing Nature. Cape Times. 15 October. http://www.legalbrief.co.za/article.php?story=20101019140621791 Golding, J.S. & Harris, D. 2009. Inclusive Business: Business for Development. B4D Pathfinder Project (Feasibility Report). Working to alleviate poverty by incorporating disadvantaged communities into a company's value chain, while retaining profitability, and upholding the principles of corporate social responsibility. Helical Group (Pty) Ltd. Prepared for the Southern Africa Trust, South Africa. 237 pp. Golding, J.S. 2008. Corporates are the new best friend of the greens. Cape Argus, 23 January. Geldenhuys, C. & Golding, J.S. 2008. In: Faleiro, F.G. & Neto, A.L. Resource use: Activities, conservation and management of natural resources of African savannas. Proceedings of Tropical Savannas Symposium12-17 October 2008 (Brazil). pp. 225-260. Golding, J.S. 2004. Specimen information yields predictable Red List assessments. Biodiversity and Conservation13:773-780. Smith, P.P., Lowry P.P. II, Timberlake & Golding, J.S. 2004. A reply to Smith: The real gulf is between taxonomists and conservationists, but how to reduce it? Conservation Biology13:954. Izidine, S., Nhantumbo, I. & Golding, J.S. 2004. Integração do conceito Lista Vermelha de Plantas no quadro legal biodiversidade de Moçambique (Integration of Red Data List concepts into the biodiversity policy framework in Mozambique). Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report Series No. 17. SANBI/IUCN NETCAB & Mozambique. 38 pp. ISBN 1-919976-05-1. Golding, J.S. 2003. Africa's Threatened Plants. Symposium Organisers: J.S. Golding, J. Timberlake & I. Hedberg. Proceedings: 17th Conference of the Association pour l'Etude Taxonomique de la Flore d'Afrique Tropicale (AETFAT). Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. pp. 743-791. Published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Golding, J.S. & Timberlake, J. 2003. The real gulf is between taxonomists and conservationists, but how to reduce it? Conservation Biology 17:1177-118. Golding, J.S. & Geldenhuys, C.J. 2003. Methods and procedures for the selection of specially protected trees in South Africa for protection in terms of the National Forests Act of 1998 (Section 12). Multiple reports, Champion Trees Project. Prepared for the Department of Water Affairs & Forestry, Pretoria (DWAF). Forestwood Report No. FW-02/ 03. Timberlake, J., Golding, J.S. & Clarke, P.G. 2003. Ground and aerial vegetation survey of the Niassa Game Reserve, northern Mozambique. Prepared for Sociedade para a Gestão e Desenvolvimento da Reserva do Niassa (SGDRN, Mozambique) and Fauna and Flora International (FFI, Cambridge, UK). Biodiversity Foundation for Africa Report, Zimbabwe. Golding, J.S. (ed.) 2002. Southern African Plant Red Data List. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report Series No. 14. South African National Biodiversity Institute. Capture Press, South Africa. 237 pp. ISBN 1-919795-64-2. Willis, C.K., Burrows, J.E., Fish, L., Phiri, P.S.M., Chikuni, A.C. & Golding, J.S. 2002. Developing a greater understanding of the flora of the Nyika. Proceedings: 16th Conference of the Association pour l'Etude Taxonomique de la Flore d'Afrique Tropicale (AETFAT). Meise, Belgium. 253-272 pp. Published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Burrows, J.E. & Golding, J.S. 2002. Fern conservation in South Tropical Africa. Proceedings of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Conference, Species Survival Commission, Fern Specialist Group. Cambridge, United Kingdom. Golding, J.S. 2002. Threatened plants of southern Africa: trends and general recommendations. Conference Proceedings: Endangered Wildlife Trust: State of South Africa's Species. Launched at the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development, South Africa, 2001. pp. 51-63. Golding, J.S. & Smith, P.P. 2001. A 13-point flora strategy to meet conservation challenges. Taxon50:475-477. Golding, J.S. 2001. Southern African herbaria and Red Data Lists. Taxon50:593-602. Smith, G.F., Steyn, E.M.A., Victor, J.E., Crouch, N.R., Golding, J.S. & Hilton-Taylor, C. 2000. Aloaceae. The conservation status of Aloe in South Africa: an updated synopsis. Bothalia30:206-211. Golding, J.S. 2000. Picking up the pieces: Red Data Lists in southern Africa. Bothalia30:213-214. |
