RECENT EVENTS
2024
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Some snapshots of the Archibald Lab, as well as some additional APES and former APES peers, at the 13th Oppenheimer Research Conference - held from 09-11 October 2024.
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In 2024, a couple members of the Archibald Lab did some fieldwork in the Bicuar National Park, Angola. The research team joined the existing research group at Bicuar and set out to demonstrate ground-layer diversity and its response to different environmental dynamics down a catena. Additionally, the team set out to calibrate microclimate models to predict seasonal frost occurrence in response to vegetation and tree cover. For more details on this expedition, see the blogpost by Anya, Tanaya, and Ruth at the following link: https://globalgrassygroup.github.io/2024/02/28/bicuar.html
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We had a visiting researcher from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina - Dr Lucía Mochi.
"In my doctoral research, I investigated woody encroachment processes in Argentinean savannas. Assessing impacts of cattle grazing and grasses on the early stages of encroacher tree species in these ecosystems. My focus is on understanding the determinants of tree seedling establishment to identify potential management tools for early control of woody encroachment. During my visit to South Africa, I participated in a workshop on fire management at Tswalu with researchers from the University of Pretoria, Rhodes University, and SANPark managers. I also collaborated in fieldwork in Dullstroom, where floristic vegetation censuses are performed. As part of my collaboration with the Archibald’s lab, I also initiated a literature review on tree establishment in savannas." |
2023
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Two budding researchers Elaine Slooten and Eulalia Jordaan, from the North West University (NWU) in South Africa embarked on a two-month sampling journey to gather soil and floristic data. This expedition was part of the Future Ecosystems for Africa (FEFA) program for their MSc’s, supported by Oppenheimer Generations Research and Conservation, Frances Siebert (NWU), and Sally Archibald (University of Witwatersrand). You can read more in a short blogpost here: globalgrassygroup.github.io/2023/01/10/southafrica.html
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