Sixty years since the creation of Lake Kariba: Thermal and oxygen dynamics in the riverine and lacustrine sub-basins.

The current boom of dam construction at low latitudes endangers the integrity and function of major tropical river systems. A deeper understanding of the physical and chemical functioning of tropical reservoirs is essential to mitigate dam-related impacts. However, the development of predictive tools is hampered by a lack of consistent data on physical mixing and biogeochemistry of tropical reservoirs.

Measuring body dimensions of leopards () from camera trap photographs.

Measurement of body dimensions of carnivores usually requires the chemical immobilization of subjects. This process can be dangerous, costly and potentially harmful to the target individuals. Development of an alternative, inexpensive, and non-invasive method therefore warrants attention.

Fruit fly identification, population dynamics and fruit damage during fruiting seasons of sweet oranges in Rusitu Valley, Zimbabwe.

In 2003, the pest species Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) was reported for the first time in Kenya, Africa, and subsequently on many other African countries. In this work, 20 locations along the Rusitu Valley (Zimbabwe) were sampled in 2014 during the sweet oranges fruiting seasons, to verify the fruit fly taxonomy, invasion source, population dynamics, and fruit damage. The trapped fruit flies were identified using morphological traits and molecular techniques, as B.

Evaluation of a pre-formulated post-emergence herbicide mixture of topramezone and dicamba on annual weeds and Bermuda grass in maize in a sub-tropical agro-ecology.

Weed infestation is one of the major causes of low maize grain yield in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The perennial grass weed, (L.) Pers.

Effect of domestic cooking methods on protein digestibility and mineral bioaccessibility of wild harvested adult edible insects.

Wild harvested edible insects are characterised by high protein and mineral contents with potential to contribute substantially to nutrition security. However, nutritional content is only beneficial when proteins are digestible and minerals bioaccessible. This study determined the effects of domestic processing on protein digestibility and mineral bioaccessibility of two wild harvested insect species: Eulepida mashona (beetle) and Henicus whellani (cricket).

Molecular characterization of Brucella species from Zimbabwe.

Brucella abortus and B. melitensis have been reported in several studies in animals in Zimbabwe but the extent of the disease remains poorly known. Thus, characterizing the circulating strains is a critical first step in understanding brucellosis in the country.

Local Ecological Knowledge on Climate Change and Ecosystem-Based Adaptation Strategies Promote Resilience in the Middle Zambezi Biosphere Reserve, Zimbabwe.

Understanding local community perceptions on impacts, causes, and responses to climate change is vital for promotion of community resilience towards climate change. This study explored local ecological knowledge (LEK) held by local communities on climate change trends and impacts in the Middle Zambezi Biosphere Reserve (MZBR), Zimbabwe. The objectives of the study were to (i) investigate local community perceptions on trends and causes of climate change, (ii) identify biophysical impacts of climate change at the local level, and (iii) explore the ecosystem-based adaptation strategies towards climate change.

An Assessment of Local People's Support to Private Wildlife Conservation: A Case of Save Valley Conservancy and Fringe Communities, Zimbabwe.

The long-term survival of a protected area (PA) may depend to a greater extent on the goodwill and support of the people residing around it. This study assessed local people's support for private sector driven wildlife conservation in Zimbabwe, using the Save Valley Conservancy (SVC) as a case. Specifically, the objectives of the assessment were threefold: (i) to establish perceptions on the current nature of the relationship between SVC and people living on its edge, (ii) to ascertain the proximate and underlying causes of local resistance to SVC, and (iii) to identify strategies local people employ to resist SVC conservation efforts.

Phenotypic and genetic characterisation revealed the existence of several biotypes within the Neorautanenia brachypus (Harms) C.A. wild accessions in South East Lowveld, Zimbabwe.

Background: Local communities in the South Eastern Lowveld of Zimbabwe have adopted the feeding of livestock with Neorautanenia brachypus (Harms) C.A. tuber to mitigate against climate change.

Monkey orange fruit juice improves the nutritional quality of a maize-based diet.

This paper studied the nutritional impact of the use of juice from Strychnos cocculoides (monkey orange) in a maize-based porridge. Monkey orange juice is traditionally used to supplement maize porridge - a staple breakfast cereal especially for vulnerable groups. Monkey orange fruits contain high amounts of micronutrients and phenolic compounds and are widely distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

A Novel Application of a Cryosectioning Technique to Aid Scat Hair Microanalysis.

Scat hair presents a diverse profile of hairs for morphological assessment that may find versatile applications in wildlife forensic investigations. Successful morphological assessment of scat hair microstructure, however, depends on a robust sectioning methodology. We assessed the feasibility and efficacy of a cryosectioning technique compared to that of a gold standard hand-sectioning technique.

Short-term Impacts of Tillage and Fertilizer Treatments on Soil and Root Borne Nematodes and Maize Yield in a Fine Textured .

Conservation agriculture (CA) based on the principles of minimum soil disturbance, crop residue retention, and crop rotation has been the focus of intensive research in recent years. A study was carried out to determine the effects of tillage and fertilizer on the population densities of plant-parasitic nematodes in maize. Three tillage regimes, (i) basin planting, (ii) rip line seeding, and (iii) conventional tillage, were combined with four fertilizer regimes: (i) no-fertilizer, (ii) low fertilizer rate, (iii) medium fertilizer rate, and (iv) high fertilizer rate.

Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) flour: A functional ingredient to favour the use of an unexploited sustainable protein source.

Variability in dehulling efficiency, colour, chemical composition and selected functional properties of raw and pre-treated bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) (BG) flour from red and black-eye varieties were studied.

Utilization of bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) for sustainable food and nutrition security in semi-arid regions of Zimbabwe.

Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) is an indigenous legume crop, cultivated by subsistence farmers throughout sub-Saharan countries.

Diversity and abundance of macro-invertebrates on abandoned cattle kraals in a semi-arid savanna.

Abandoned cattle () kraals are sources of habitat heterogeneity in dystrophic semi-arid African savannas with a strong positive effect on soil nutrients and plant productivity. However, little is known regarding how macro-invertebrate assemblages vary between abandoned kraals and the surrounding savanna matrix. We tested whether herbaceous biomass and basal and aerial covers and soil nutrients have an effect on aboveground and belowground macro-invertebrate assemblages.

Towards an Understanding of Conservation-Based Costs, Benefits, and Attitudes of Local People Living Adjacent to Save Valley Conservancy, Zimbabwe.

Communities juxtaposed to protected areas (PAs) often disproportionally accrue the costs of conservation, but they can also receive benefits from the existence of a PA. The extent to which local communities benefit or incur costs as a result of residing next to PAs is of interest to conservationists and policy-makers. This study sought to understand the costs, benefits, and attitudes of local people living adjacent to Save Valley Conservancy (SVC), Zimbabwe.

An Assessment of Forage Selection by Giraffe Introduced into Umfurudzi Park, Northern Zimbabwe.

Giraffe () is one of the flagship herbivore species in the savanna ecosystem and is of high conservation value. Management of the species under diversified ecosystems, particularly, their introduction in new ecosystems is of great concern, given that limited information is available of how the species acclimatizes to new ecosystems and which forage species it selects. The objectives of the present study were to (i) identify woody plant species selected by the recently introduced giraffes and (ii) determine whether there were differences in woody plant diversity between the dry and wet seasons in Umfurudzi Park, northern Zimbabwe.

Effect of heat and pectinase maceration on phenolic compounds and physicochemical quality of Strychnos cocculoides juice.

Strychnos cocculoides fruit is an important food source for rural populations in Zimbabwe in times of scarcity. Its thick pulp tightly adheres to its seeds, causing pulp extraction constraints and waste during processing, leading to underutilisation. Therefore, pectinase maceration combined with heat treatments was studied to improve juice yield and juice quality.

'Not My Child': Parents' Denial About Adolescent Sexuality in Harare, Zimbabwe.

To find out adult views on adolescent sexualities in Zimbabwe and how adults construct sexual cultures that deny adolescence access to sex. The paper uses qualitative methodologies, with purposively selected parents and key informants. A total of ten in depth interviews, four focus groups and six key informant interviews with purposively sampled male and female respondents were conducted.

Evidence of hidden diversity and taxonomic conflicts in five stream fishes from the Eastern Zimbabwe Highlands freshwater ecoregion.

Stream fishes of the Eastern Afromontane region are among the least studied vertebrates in this region, despite the potential for harbouring cryptic diversity. The present study examined mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) sequence divergence in 153 specimens of stream fishes belonging to four genera and three families, [( and (Amphiliidae); (Mochokidae); and (Mormyridae)], in the Eastern Zimbabwe Highlands (EZH) freshwater ecoregion to explore the extent to which the current taxonomy conceals the ichthyofaunal diversity in the region. The General Mixed Yule Coalescent (GMYC) species delineation method identified 14 clusters within five currently recognised 'species' from the EZH ecoregion.

Sources, behaviour, and environmental and human health risks of high-technology rare earth elements as emerging contaminants.

Recent studies show that high-technology rare earth elements (REEs) of anthropogenic origin occur in the environment including in aquatic systems, suggesting REEs are contaminants of emerging concern. However, compared to organic contaminants, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews on the anthropogenic sources, environmental behaviour, and public and ecological health risks of REEs. The current review aims to: (1) identify anthropogenic sources, transfer mechanisms, and environmental behaviour of REEs; (2) highlight the human and ecological health risks of REEs and propose mitigation measures; and (3) identify knowledge gaps and future research directions.

Growth performance, economic benefits and sensory characteristics of meat from broilers finished on Acacia anguistissima leaf meal-based diets.

The objective of the study was to determine growth performance, viscera organ development, economic benefit and sensory characteristics of meat from broilers finished on Acacia anguistissima leaf meal-based diets. One hundred and eighty Cobb 500-day-old chicks were used in the study. Acacia anguistissima was used as a protein source and included in broiler diets at 0, 50 and 100 g/kg.

Macroinvertebrate communities in riverine systems of buffer areas of protected wildland, rangeland and city areas: implications for conservation of riverine systems on urbanising watersheds.

Riverine systems in developing countries continue to be degraded by anthropogenic pressures such as urbanisation. The responses of biota in watersheds surrounding a drainage divide may provide critical information that is required to protect the ecological condition of riverine systems. This study assessed the spatial variation of selected environmental variables together with macroinvertebrate communities in upper reaches of riverine systems across different land use categories of the Bulawayo region.