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Programme
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Day 1
( 07/22/2024 )
Day 2
( 07/23/2024 )
Day 3
( 07/24/2024 )
Day 4
( 07/25/2024 )
Day 5
( 07/26/2024 )
08:00
Registration
DASSIE VENUE
08:30
Overview of AI and Research
09:00
R Coding and AI
09:30
TEA
Dassie Venue
10:00
AI Tutorials & Interactive Sessions Part 1
12:00
LUNCH
Lunch at the Quenna Bistro
13:00
AI Tutorials & Interactive Sessions Part 2
14:30
Closure & Tea
DASSIE VENUE
16:00
Congress 59 Delegate Registration
KWAGGA VENUE
17:15
17:40
18:00
19:00
Meet & Greet Cocktail
MAIN HALL
08:15
08:30
Keynote: Early evidence of the impacts of current and legacy land use on arid ecosystem carbon balance
Session 01 Climate Change & Carbon
09:15
Soil flux measurements, fire, and warming experiment at the Brotherton plateau, uKhahlamba Drakensburg Park, South Africa
Session 01 Climate Change & Carbon
09:30
Fire exclusion and aspect influences seasonal dynamics and temperature sensitivity (Q10) of soil respiration in Afromontane grasslands, Drakensberg, South Africa
Session 01 Climate Change & Carbon
09:45
Long Term vegetation monitoring using SEOSAW protocols at EFTEON sites in KwaZulu-Natal
Session 01 Climate Change & Carbon
09:50
Effect of rainfall reduction and resting period on residual soil water content and selected soil chemical properties of semi-arid grassland
Session 01 Climate Change & Carbon
09:55
Livestock farmers' perception on climate change and adaptation practices: Case of Chris Hani District, in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Session 01 Climate Change & Carbon
10:00
Growth and adaptive characteristics of tagasaste (Chamaecystisus palmensis) tree seedlings in response to varying water availability
Session 01 Climate Change & Carbon
10:05
Discussion
Session 01 Climate Change & Carbon
10:30
TEA
11:00
National Vegetation Map 2024: A summary of updates
Session 02 Biodiversity & Conservation
11:15
Spatial and temporal changes in the riparian vegetation of the Olifants River system over a 25 year period, Mpumalanga
Session 02 Biodiversity & Conservation
11:30
Estimating fraction of bare ground for the Nama-Karoo Biome in South Africa
Session 02 Biodiversity & Conservation
11:45
Fine-scale variation in montane grass species cover and occurrence patterns: Environmental drivers and their consistency across a 1000 m elevational gradient
Session 02 Biodiversity & Conservation
12:00
Rehabilitation of old potato production circles in the Leipoldtville Sand Fynbos, South Africa - What happened to the chickens?
Session 02 Biodiversity & Conservation
12:15
Ways to improve the Red List of Ecosystems in the Grassland biome South Africa
Session 02 Biodiversity & Conservation
12:30
Discussion
Session 02 Biodiversity & Conservation
13:00
LUNCH
14:00
Monitoring the reestablishment of Seriphium plumosum post herbicide control using machine learning and UAV technology
Session 03 Invasive Species
14:15
Can satellite remote sensing be used to measure the water-use impacts of invasive alien trees in the grasslands of southern Africa?
Session 03 Invasive Species
14:30
Trade-offs between spatial and spectral resolution in mapping woody invasive alien trees in the grasslands of the uMzimvubu Catchment, South Africa
Session 03 Invasive Species
14:45
Controlling invasive alien European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus): Limited recovery of natural vegetation on a small, ecologically degraded South African offshore island indicates a shift to an alternative stable state due to prolonged herbivory
Session 03 Invasive Species
15:00
Impact of invasive Rosaceae on plant diversity along elevation gradients in the Maloti-Drakensberg
Session 03 Invasive Species
15:15
Fleshy-fruited invasive alien shrubs population change over time along roadsides of South African grasslands
Session 03 Invasive Species
15:30
Cactus invasions in the North West Parks and Nature Reserves
Session 03 Invasive Species
15:45
Alien and Invasive Plants: Distribution and changes in the Olifants River system in 25 years, Mpumalanga
Session 03 Invasive Species
15:50
Beyond Ornamental: Unveiling the Economic Significance and Ecological Impact of Cortaderia Species Worldwide
Session 03 Invasive Species
15:55
Discussion
16:00
TEA
16:30
Annual General Meeting (AGM)
19:00
20:00
DINNER
BUFFET BRAAI at the Braai Lapa (weather permitting) otherwise the braai will be served at the Quenna Bistro Restaurant
08:30
Keynote: Flexible grazing management to balance the nutrition needs of livestock and sustained rangeland production - evaluating the evidence
MAIN HALL
Session 04 Rangeland Ecology & Management I
Session 04 Rangeland Ecology & Management I
09:15
Stocking intensity: the forgotten parameter in grazing management
Session 04 Rangeland Ecology & Management I
09:30
Ambiguity about grazing intensity: A novel index for quantifying this metric to address conflicting outcomes of grazing systems comparisons
Session 04 Rangeland Ecology & Management I
09:45
Spatial and social attributes are usually neglected in grazing research and documentation of commercial practice, but they can make a difference to the accuracy of assessment of grazing impacts
Rangeland Ecology & Management I
10:00
The Expanded Freshwater and Terrestrial Environmental Observation Network (EFTEON) – An Environmental Research Infrastructure in South Africa
Session 04 Rangeland Ecology & Management I
10:05
Agronomic and Morphological Characteristics of Five Grass Species at Different Growth Stages under Tillage and No-Till in the Sourish Mixed Bushveld
Session 04 Rangeland Ecology & Management I
10:10
Assessing different fodder processing methods and seed recovery after ingestion of various encroaching tree species
Session 04 Rangeland Ecology & Management I
10:15
Discussion
Session 04 Rangeland Ecology & Management I
10:30
TEA
11:00
Sward state and nutritional characteristics of rotationally grazed pastures supporting beef cattle in agroforestry and silvopastoral systems in Jamaica varies with farm and season
Session 05 Planted Pastures & Feeding Ecology
11:15
Ethyl methanesulphonate induced genetic variation in selected tef (Eragrostis tef) genotypes
Session 05 Planted Pastures & Feeding Ecology
11:30
Nutritional quality of fodder and seeds from various encroaching tree species
Session 05 Planted Pastures & Feeding Ecology
11:45
Germination and early seedling growth responses of Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) genotypes to aluminium toxicity and acidic soils.
Session 05 Planted Pastures & Feeding Ecology
12:00
Biomass production of selected perennial C4 grasses harvested at different phenological stages – potential for climate-smart fodder banks for extensive livestock farmers
Session 05 Planted Pastures & Feeding Ecology
12:15
The different roles played by Italian and Westerwolds types in Lolium multiflorum pastures on Cedara Research Station, KwaZulu-Natal
Session 05 Planted Pastures & Feeding Ecology
12:20
Planting date and varietal effect on morphology, agronomy, nutritive value and ruminal fermentation of selected lupin varieties (research proposal)
Session 05 Planted Pastures & Feeding Ecology
12:25
Determining the impacts of increased temperatures and reduced water-availability on the agronomic performance and nutritive value of different indigenous forage grass ecotypes
Session 05 Planted Pastures & Feeding Ecology
12:30
Evaluation of cover crops in selected land care areas of South Africa
Session 05 Planted Pastures & Feeding Ecology
12:35
Morphological, physiological, and nutritional quality responses of Chamaecytisus palmensis plants when subjected to heat stress treatments
Session 05 Planted Pastures & Feeding Ecology
12:40
Discussion
Session 05 Planted Pastures and Feeding Ecology
13:00
LUNCH
14:00
The Ecological Impact of Native Herbivores on Vegetation of Rietkuil Wildlife Conservation Farm, Parys, Free State South Africa.
Session 06 Livestock and Game Management
14:15
Diet Mixing and Supplementation Increased Consumption of the Encroaching Woody Plants by Goats
Session 06 Livestock and Game Management
14:30
Effect of supplementing barley fodder sprout on ruminal modulation and metabolic function of meat-master lambs
Session 06 Livestock and Game Management
14:35
Ecological preferences and seasonal dynamics of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) from bovine hosts in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Session 06 Livestock and Game Management
14:45
Rangelands supporting people: A review of the contribution of the African Journal of Range and Forage Science to advancing knowledge on the human dimensions of African rangelands
Session 07 Communal Rangelands
15:00
Exploring Sustainable Grassland Management in the Umhlabuyalingana Area: A Community-Centred Approach.
Session 07 Communal Rangelands
15:15
Hydroponic barley fodder: Bridging the fodder gap in arid rangelands of South Africa
Session 07 Communal Rangelands
15:30
Evaluation of communal rangeland condition: Case study of Santombe village in Mount Ayliff, Umzimvubu Local Municipality, Eastern Cape Province
Session 07 Communal Rangelands
15:35
Discussion
Session 07 Communal Rangelands
16:30
Poster Session with Cheese and Wine
Dinner is served in the form of a cheese and wine during the poster session
18:00
19:00
FREE EVENING
FREE EVENING
08:30
Keynote: Oops, I lit it again: Effects of wildfire vs intentional burns on grazed grassland
MAIN HALL
Session 08 Fire Ecology
Session 08 Fire Ecology
09:15
An introduction to veldfire investigations, conducted, inter alia, in preparation for litigation
Session 08 Fire Ecology
09:30
The effect of time of day on factors that affect fire intensity in Southern African savanna
Session 08 Fire Ecology
09:45
Life and death in an arid savanna: Effects of rainfall variation and fire on acacia demographics in Tswalu Kalahari Reserve
Session 08 Fire Ecology
10:00
Effect of annual burning on diversity and vegetation composition of Golden Gate Highlands National Park
Session 08 Fire Ecology
10:15
Investigating the response of forb and grass belowground regeneration traits to disturbance in a semi-arid savanna
Session 08 Fire Ecology
10:30
TEA
11:00
Exploring threats and opportunities to the Maputaland Wooded Grassland: A community-centred approach
Session 09 Rangeland Ecology & Management II
11:15
Evaluating the capability and use of rangelands on South Africa’s land redistribution (PLAS) farms
Session 09 Rangeland Ecology & Management II
11:30
Grass species composition and distribution patterns across the three ecological zones of Mpumalanga Province
Session 09 Rangeland Ecology & Management II
11:45
Megacarcasses: a unique disturbance type adding to the spatial complexity of semi-arid rangelands
Session 09 Rangeland Ecology & Management II
12:00
An application of multi-scale remote sensing in estimating grass nutrient limitation as measured by a ratio of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in a savanna ecosystem
Session 09 Rangeland Ecology & Management II
12:15
Discussion
Session 09 Rangeland Ecology & Management II
13:00
LUNCH
14:00
AJRFS Discussion
The African Journal of Range & Forage Science (AJRFS) is the official journal of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa (GSSA) and the leading rangeland and pastoral journal in Africa. The Journal is dedicated to advancing knowledge about rangeland and pasture ecology and management. The Journal aims to publish original, high-quality research of international importance that is relevant to the African continent. In its 31st year since the GSSA's journal was first published as the AJRFS, the GS...
The African Journal of Range & Forage Science (AJRFS) is the official journal of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa (GSSA) and the leading rangeland and pastoral journal in Africa. The Journal is dedicated to advancing knowledge about rangeland and pasture ecology and management. The Journal aims to publish original, high-quality research of international importance that is relevant to the African continent. In its 31st year since the GSSA's journal was first published as the AJRFS, the GSSA faces new challenges and opportunities that are important for the Journal's future relevance and competitiveness as a leading outlet for range and forage-based research. This discussion session will address these issues in detail and will provide information aimed at enhancing the success of GSSA members in publishing their high-quality research and to move the AJRFS to the next level of excellence.
Who should attend this session? Anyone interested in publishing their research in a high quality journal, and anyone with an interest in the success of the AJRFS and the benefits it brings to the GSSA.
The session will cover: (1) A brief overview of the journal, its history, and publishing model; (2) How the journal is financed, the revenue it brings to the GSSA via royalties, how this is changing, and how to increase the benefit to the GSSA; (3) How to increase the success of your submission: aligning with the Journal’s aims and scope, general scientific interest, quality, the peer review process; and (4) Financial considerations for prospective authors including Open Access via the South African National Libraries Consortium (SANLic) and the possible elimination of page charges.
view moreWho should attend this session? Anyone interested in publishing their research in a high quality journal, and anyone with an interest in the success of the AJRFS and the benefits it brings to the GSSA.
The session will cover: (1) A brief overview of the journal, its history, and publishing model; (2) How the journal is financed, the revenue it brings to the GSSA via royalties, how this is changing, and how to increase the benefit to the GSSA; (3) How to increase the success of your submission: aligning with the Journal’s aims and scope, general scientific interest, quality, the peer review process; and (4) Financial considerations for prospective authors including Open Access via the South African National Libraries Consortium (SANLic) and the possible elimination of page charges.
16:00
TEA
19:00
22:00
Gala Dinner
07:30
Registration
DASSIE VENUE
08:00
Welcome, announcements, housekeeping, outline of the programme and summary of intended outcomes.
DASSIE VENUE
Prof. Ralph Clark & Dr Grant Martin
Prof. Ralph Clark & Dr Grant Martin
08:30
Plenary on Bush Encroachment in southern African mountains
Why are (were) our upland grasslands tree-less?William Bond, Emeritus Professor, Biological Sciences, University of Cape TownSouthern African upland vegetation is dominated by extensive grasslands. They contrast with savannas at lower elevations and Karoo shrublands in more arid climates. The existence of these montane grasslands is an unresolved biogeographic puzzle. Why are there no trees? And why are trees beginning to invade these grasslands? In this talk I discuss ideas about the absence of...
Why are (were) our upland grasslands tree-less?
William Bond, Emeritus Professor, Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town
Southern African upland vegetation is dominated by extensive grasslands. They contrast with savannas at lower elevations and Karoo shrublands in more arid climates. The existence of these montane grasslands is an unresolved biogeographic puzzle. Why are there no trees? And why are trees beginning to invade these grasslands? In this talk I discuss ideas about the absence of trees and attempts to test them. Upland climate with more frost and shorter growing seasons, human deforestation, frequent fire, hostile soils have all been considered. Tests at diverse scales include correlations, dynamic vegetation models (DVMs), field and laboratory experiments. Recent studies suggest that increasing atmospheric CO2 over the last half century has been a major factor tipping the balance to favour woody plants. However factors accounting for the ‘savanna treeline’ pattern and dynamics remain at least as enigmatic as the global treeline with much to be discovered.
view moreWilliam Bond, Emeritus Professor, Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town
Southern African upland vegetation is dominated by extensive grasslands. They contrast with savannas at lower elevations and Karoo shrublands in more arid climates. The existence of these montane grasslands is an unresolved biogeographic puzzle. Why are there no trees? And why are trees beginning to invade these grasslands? In this talk I discuss ideas about the absence of trees and attempts to test them. Upland climate with more frost and shorter growing seasons, human deforestation, frequent fire, hostile soils have all been considered. Tests at diverse scales include correlations, dynamic vegetation models (DVMs), field and laboratory experiments. Recent studies suggest that increasing atmospheric CO2 over the last half century has been a major factor tipping the balance to favour woody plants. However factors accounting for the ‘savanna treeline’ pattern and dynamics remain at least as enigmatic as the global treeline with much to be discovered.
09:00
09:15
09:30
09:45
10:00
TEA BREAK
DASSIE VENUE
10:30
The impacts on small mammals of >100 years of bush encroachment in the Soutpansberg, Limpopo Province.
Prof. Peter Taylor
10:45
Legislation governing the management of invasive alien woody plants in South Africa
Prof. Brian van Wilgen
11:00
Legal aspects around listing of and management of indigenous bush encroaching species in southern Africa
Prof. Ralph Clark/Dr Grant Martin
11:15
Q&A including Plenary
12:00
LUNCH
Served at the Quenna Bistro
13:00
Summary of the Mountain Invasion Research Network (MIREN) and “RangeX” Global Consortium
Prof. Ralph Clark
13:15
Outcomes of Rosaceae management at different elevations in the western Maloti-Drakensberg
Dr Grant Martin / Mr Lesego Malekana
13:30
Alpine warming scenarios in the northern Maloti-Drakensberg using Open Top Chambers for the first time in this context
Dr Onalenna Gwate
13:45
Outcomes of pollination interactions and wildlife camera by-catch across elevations in the northern Maloti-Drakensberg
Dr Stephanie Payne
14:00
Synthesis of implications / Q&A
14:30
Discussions
15:00
TEA
DASSIE VENUE
15:30
16:30
Discussions