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Documents disponibles écrits par cet auteur (52)
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Article
Kyle T. Govender, Auteur ; Mfundo S. T. Maseko, Auteur ; Colleen T. Downs, AuteurSocial media and networking platforms are growing in their usefulness in research through citizen science. We used diverse online data sources and methods to generate insight into the distribution, ecological interactions and any additional info[...]
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Feziwe Phoswa, Auteur ; Colleen T. Downs, AuteurHumans have altered natural habitats to satisfy their needs, affecting global ecosystems and biodiversity. Grasslands have been affected by fragmentation, habitat loss, and landscape changes, which have an impact on grassland birds. Most lapwing[...]
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Mfundo S. T. Maseko, Auteur ; Manqoba M. Zungu, Auteur ; Colleen T. Downs, AuteurThe increase in human population size and the presence of several wildlife species in human-dominated landscapes inevitably lead to interactions that create good or bad relations between wildlife and humans. For instance, some communities percei[...]
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Feziwe Phoswa, Auteur ; S. Thobeka Gumede, Auteur ; Colleen T. Downs, AuteurUrbanised landscapes continue to expand globally, leading to increased habitat fragmentation, which creates a mosaic of natural and managed landscapes. These environmental changes have an impact on bird populations, and are reflected in the decl[...]
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Kyle T. Govender, Auteur ; Mfundo S. T. Maseko, Auteur ; Alan TK Lee, Auteur ; Colleen T. Downs, AuteurCitizen science has emerged as a powerful tool for engaging the public in ecological data collection, crucial for monitoring species’ distributions and abundance over large geographic scales and extended time periods. This study used data from t[...]
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Danica de Freitas, Auteur ; Jacqui Gray, Auteur ; Yvette Ehlers Smith, Auteur ; Matthew Geary, Auteur ; Colleen T. Downs, AuteurThe Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres) has the smallest range of any vulture species in Africa, Europe or Asia and is substantially impacted by anthropogenic factors because of their low productivity and long maturation times. Almost year-round pre[...]
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Nomthandazo S. Manqele, Auteur ; SA Jeanetta Selier, Auteur ; Colleen T. Downs, AuteurThe harvesting and trade of species for use in traditional medicine, or muthi, is predominantly illegal, unregulated, and likely unsustainable, representing a major conservation challenge. In South Africa, vulture populations have declined consi[...]
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Jonah Gula, Auteur ; Amukena Mungole, Auteur ; Kirsty J. Kyle, Auteur ; Matthew J. Burnett, Auteur ; Moses Chibesa, Auteur ; Colleen T. Downs, AuteurKnowledge of where species breed is important for understanding population trends, range shifts and conservation threats. During fieldwork in 2019–2023 in Western Province, Zambia, we recorded evidence of breeding of 21 waterbird species. Accord[...]
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David a. Ehlers Smith, Auteur ; Sandi Willows-Munro, Auteur ; Yvette C. Ehlers Smith, Auteur ; Colleen T. Downs, AuteurDocumenting phylogenetic diversity for conservation practice allows elucidation of ecosystem functioning and processes by highlighting the commonality and divergence of species’ functional traits within their evolutionary context. Conserving dis[...]
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Everton B. P. Miranda, Auteur ; Caio F. Kenup, Auteur ; Charles A. Munn, Auteur ; Niki Huizinga, Auteur ; Nickolas Lormand, Auteur ; Colleen T. Downs, AuteurTourism can be a powerful tool for wildlife conservation if well controlled and responsibly managed. Apex predators constitute particularly attractive subjects for tourism, but simultaneously they may generate conflict with local communities. Ha[...]
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Islamiat Abidemi Raji, Auteur ; Vuyisile Thabethe, Auteur ; Colleen T. Downs, AuteurFigs (Ficus spp.) are a diverse taxon of woody plants that play keystone ecological roles. They provide nutritional and aseasonal fruit crops that are consumed by many frugivores, often in times of fruit scarcity. In a mutually beneficial relati[...]
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S. Thobeka Gumede, Auteur ; David a. Ehlers Smith, Auteur ; Yvette C. Ehlers Smith, Auteur ; Samukelisiwe P. Ngcobo, Auteur ; Mbalenhle T. Sosibo, Auteur ; Mfundo S. T. Maseko, Auteur ; Colleen T. Downs, AuteurEstablishing the specific habitat requirements of forest specialists in fragmented natural habitats is vital for their conservation. We used camera-trap surveys and microhabitat-scale covariates to assess the habitat requirements, probability of[...]
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Islamiat A. Raji, Auteur ; Adams A. Chaskda, Auteur ; Shiiwua A. Manu, Auteur ; Colleen T. Downs, AuteurThe relationship between mistletoes and their host trees constitutes one of the unique host–parasite interactions in ecosystems. Most West African studies have reported on the parasitic nature of the relationship between Tapinanthus dodoneifoliu[...]
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Tinyiko C. Shivambu, Auteur ; Ndivhuwo Shivambu, Auteur ; Colleen T. Downs, AuteurThe Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri is one of the world’s commonest invasive bird species and has established in the South African urban landscapes. However, relatively little is known about the feeding biology of parakeets here. We surv[...]
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Willem G. Coetzer, Auteur ; Colleen T. Downs, Auteur ; Mike R. Perrin, Auteur ; Sandi Willows-Munro, AuteurThe Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus is a habitat specialist, restricted to forest patches in the Eastern Cape (EC), KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and Limpopo provinces of South Africa. Recent census estimates suggest that there are less than 1,600 parrot[...]
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S. Thobeka Gumede, Auteur ; Colleen T. Downs, AuteurNectarivorous and frugivorous birds have been found to select their diet according to sugar type and concentration. Consequently, many studies of sugar preference have been conducted on various avian species. Common Mynas, Sturnus tristis, previ[...]
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Francis R. Martens, Auteur ; Morgan B. Pfeiffer, Auteur ; Colleen T. Downs, Auteur ; Jan A. Venter, AuteurThe post-fledging dependence period (PFDP) is one of the most critical stages in the life history of some avian species. Birds are particularly sensitive to mortality during this stage as they must learn essential skills, such as efficient locom[...]
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Tiwonge I. Mzumara, Auteur ; Mike R. Perrin, Auteur ; Colleen T. Downs, AuteurLilian's Lovebird Agapornis lilianae is a small, near-threatened parrot resident in mopane Colophospermum mopane woodlands. We investigated its diet and foraging behaviour in Liwonde National Park, Malawi. We expected that Lilian's Lovebirds wou[...]
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Lorinda A. Hart, Auteur ; Erin P. Wreford, Auteur ; Mark Brown, Auteur ; Colleen T. Downs, AuteurThe flight speeds of hunting falconry birds were determined using global positioning system data loggers. Until now, the hunting flight speed of African raptors has not been directly measured. We predicted that hunting flight speeds would differ[...]
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Eckhart J. Buchmann, Auteur ; Colleen T. Downs, AuteurA set of stable simple common bird names helps non-ornithologist birders, who contribute to conservation by visiting protected areas and participating in citizen science projects. Changes in English bird names have caused discomfort in the local[...]
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Mfundo S. T. Maseko, Auteur ; Tharmalingam Ramesh, Auteur ; Riddhika Kalle, Auteur ; Colleen T. Downs, AuteurGlobally anthropogenic pressures on natural environments have caused species decline. Ground dwelling bird species declined in numbers because of loss of habitat and nesting sites. Protected areas (PAs) are generally perceived as areas with litt[...]
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Morgan B. Pfeiffer, Auteur ; Jan A. Venter, Auteur ; Colleen T. Downs, AuteurThe breeding success of endangered colonial nesting species is important for their conservation. Many species of Gyps vultures form large breeding colonies that are the foci of conservation efforts. The Cape Vulture is a globally threatened spec[...]
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Thabiso M. Mokotjomela, Auteur ; John H. Hoffmann, Auteur ; Colleen T. Downs, AuteurRooikrans Acacia cyclops is an aggressive invasive tree that threatens natural resources in South Africa. The seeds of A. cyclops have a prominent aril which attracts birds that ingest the seeds and disperse them endozoochorously. Two biological[...]
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Morgan B. Pfeiffer, Auteur ; Jan A. Venter, Auteur ; Colleen T. Downs, AuteurDeclines in Old World vulture populations have been linked to anthropogenic pressures. To assess these threats, the social dimensions of vulture conservation must be explored. Prior research in Africa focused on commercial farmers' perceptions o[...]
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Thabiso M. Mokotjomela, Auteur ; John H. Hoffmann, Auteur ; Colleen T. Downs, AuteurRooikrans Acacia cyclops is an aggressive invasive tree that threatens natural resources in South Africa. The seeds of A.cyclops have a prominent aril which attracts birds that ingest the seeds and disperse them endozoochorously. Two biological [...]
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Colleen T. Downs, Auteur ; Mark Brown, Auteur ; Lorinda Hart, Auteur ; Craig T. Symes, AuteurWorldwide, there is concern about the increased prevalence of infectious diseases and their effects on biodiversity. Increasing changes in the environment, particularly changes in climatic conditions as a consequence of anthropogenic-induced cli[...]
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Amy-Leigh Wilson, Auteur ; Adam Shuttleworth, Auteur ; Colleen T. Downs, AuteurThere is a paucity of studies investigating the digestive efficiencies of avian frugivores fed fibrous (also referred to as woolly) aril pulp. We fed whole Strelitzia nicolai seeds with arils to captive Red-winged Starlings (Onychognathus morio)[...]
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Amy-Leigh Wilson, Auteur ; Colleen T. Downs, AuteurAvian frugivores may select fruit based on their seed loads and pulp-to-seed ratios, and this may have important implications for their role as seed dispersal agents. Consequently, the effect of different seed packaging was investigated in two r[...]
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Mark Brown, Auteur ; Colleen T. Downs, Auteur ; Steven D. Johnson, AuteurGlobally, two bird pollination systems have been recognised, involving specialist and occasional nectar-feeding birds. Whether avian pollinators place selective pressure on the plants they feed on, in terms of flower morphology and nectar traits[...]
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Colleen T. Downs, AuteurMost avian frugivores are not specialised and feed on a variety of fruit that are generally nutrient dilute. Little is known about avian frugivores that supplement their diets with insects as a nutrient source. Although considered a frugivore, t[...]
