PAF article 10/2018: Holoparasites, Halloween and herbal medicine

Popular article (authored by yours truly) published in the Prince Albert Friend, a community newspaper for the Karoo towns of Prince Albert, Leeu-Gamka, Merweville and Klaarstroom, recording the district's history since 1912. When you think of a parasite, what comes to mind? There are many negative connotations, but not all parasites are bad news. Mistletoe …

PAF article 09/2018: The emissaries of spring

Popular article (authored by yours truly) published in the Prince Albert Friend, a community newspaper for the Karoo towns of Prince Albert, Leeu-Gamka, Merweville and Klaarstroom, recording the district's history since 1912. An eye in a blue face Saw an eye in a green face. ‘That eye is like to this eye’ Said the first …

PAF article 08/2018: Paying more than ordinary attention…

Popular article (authored by yours truly) published in the Prince Albert Friend, a community newspaper for the Karoo towns of Prince Albert, Leeu-Gamka, Merweville and Klaarstroom, recording the district's history since 1912. “Experience teaches that many curious and minute plants will escape detection, unless sought with more than ordinary attention; and that, by sitting or …

Prince Albert: April

My fieldwork posts up until now give an idea of my feelings towards the Karoo. There is something enchanting about its humble beauty, its complexity that not everyone can appreciate, and its tranquility that not everyone gets to experience. It comes then as no surprise that I found myself hopelessly drawn to this place. And …

First field work of 2017: Eastern Karoo

My co-supervisor Sam Jack and I spent another week sampling sites in the Eastern Karoo last week. Last time we were out was in September last year, sampling the icy cold slopes in Sutherland. The situation this time round was quite the opposite. The eastern-most extent of the Eastern Karoo that we sampled ranged from Colesberg to …

The Arid Zone Ecology Forum

I was privileged to attend the Arid Zone Ecology Forum (AZEF) in Prince Albert from 3 – 6 October 2016. This year, AZEF celebrated 30 years of research at the Tierberg LTER (long-term ecological research) Nature Reserve. Among the accomplished researchers this establishment hosted are Timm Hoffman (my supervisor), William Bond, Richard Cowling, Mike Picker …

The Arid Zone

Bit of a delayed start to this blogging business, but here it is: my first attempt at an academic diary. As an introduction to what will (optimistically) be a prosperous account of my journey through my Masters degree in arid zone ecology, I would like to introduce you, kind readers, to the Arid Zone. Let me …