Rhino poaching in South Africa took off steeply around 2009, and shows no sign of abating before every rhino has been killed or mutilated for its horn.
The University of Pretoria (UP) has been part of a groundbreaking international study to understand how plants found in drylands have adapted to these extreme habitats. The results of this large-scale study, which involved 120 scientists from 27 countries, were recently published in scientific journal Nature and have significant implications for protecting biodiversity as the planet warms and...
UP researchers contributed datasets from South African drylands, with sampling being carried out in the vicinities of Graaff Reinet and Prince Albert in the central Karoo, and around Lichtenburg in the North-West province. These sites provided unique data as South Africa’s drylands are particularly rich in plant species compared with many of the other sites included in the study.
Listen to the Nature podcast where a round up of the UP and partners study is mentioned explaining what happens when environments get more dry and plant species numbers drop, but the number of traits increase and the global significance of this research.
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