An invasive alien Proteaceae lures some, but not all nectar-feeding bird pollinators away from native Proteaceae in South African fynbos.

Invasive alien plants often influence pollinator visitation to native plants when sharing pollinator guilds. It is of conservation concern when the invasive alien plant is characterized by floral resources that attract pollinators, thereby reducing the reproductive success of native species. This is well studied for insects, but whether the same is true for bird pollinators is largely unknown. We address this by considering the impact of an invasive alien plant (Banksia speciosa) on visitation rates of nectar-feeding bird pollinators to native Protea compacta in the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa. We determined bird pollinator visitation rate to B. speciosa and P. compacta over 21 h of observation at three sites. We also quantified how visitation rate influenced reproductive success of both study species through different breeding experiments. Sugarbird visitation to P. compacta was significantly lower in the presence of B. speciosa, while there was no effect for sunbirds as they mostly avoided B. speciosa. Protea compacta had higher nectar volumes and sucrose per flower than B. speciosa. Sucrose per hectare was higher in all P. compacta plots compared to B. speciosa. Neither study species is pollen limited and they are self-compatible to some extent. But pollinator visitation enhanced seed production in both species. We show here that the invasive alien B. speciosa flowers attract sugarbirds - but not sunbirds - away from native P. compacta. The long-term effect of reduced pollinator visitation may reduce the fitness of P. compacta, but the long-term demographic impact is unknown and would require further study.

Persistent organochlorine pesticides detected in blood and tissue samples of vultures from different localities in South Africa.

Gas chromatography was used to establish the presence of quantifiable residues of 14 persistent chlorinated hydrocarbon pollutants in whole blood, clotted blood, heart, kidney, liver and muscle samples obtained from individual African whitebacked (Pseudogyps africanus), Cape griffon (Gyps coprotheres) and Lappetfaced (Torgos tracheliotos) vultures from different localities in South Africa. The levels of pesticides measured in whole blood samples of live specimens were compared between nestlings from two natural breeding colonies, adults from a wildlife area and birds held in captivity. Statistically significant (P<0.05) differences between populations were detected in geometric means calculated for gamma-BHC (lindane), alpha(cis)-chlordane and alpha-endosulfan. Five of the organochlorine contaminants displayed significant variations between concentrations detected in the clotted blood, organs and muscles excised from vulture carcasses. This includes residues of gamma-BHC, alpha-chlordane, dieldrin, beta-endosulfan and heptachlor epoxide. Values of the respective biocides measured in vulture samples were generally low in comparison to results documented for a number of avian species. Although no threat is posed by any of the organochloride pesticides, continual monitoring of especially breeding colonies is recommended. Furthermore, the suitability of African whitebacked vulture nestlings as basic bioindicators is highly advocated.

Estimation and management of genetic diversity in small populations of plains zebra (Equus quagga) in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Plains zebras (Equus quagga antiquorum) occur in few large, but many small, isolated populations in KwaZulu-Natal. Problems identified in small populations include reduced striping patterns on hind quarters, smaller size, elevated mortality rates and high number of still-births. Inbreeding may be implicated. Population viability analysis (PVA) was conducted with a computer model (VORTEX), and DNA and allozyme analyses were conducted to test the findings of the model. Using standard methods, DNA (PCR-RAPD) and allozyme diversity was assessed in blood samples from 72 plains zebra from four KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Services (KZN-NCS) protected areas: Umfolozi Game Reserve (UGR), Albert Falls (AFNR), Vernon Crookes (VCNR) and Harold Johnson (HJNR) Nature Reserves. Populations of the latter three, small-sized (9-110 individuals) populations were seeded from the same source population (UGR: current population of 2000) during the past 25 years. Information from PCR-RAPD and allozyme analyses were compared with each other as well as to that predicted by population genetic modelling (using VORTEX). Allozyme heterozygosities were consistently high in all populations (12.1-12.9%), with no observable losses associated with reduced population size. On the other hand, percentage loss of polymorphism (20-39%) calculated from the PCR-RAPD study appeared to be positively correlated with the loss of heterozygosity predicted by population viability analysis (PVA), and negatively correlated with population size. On the basis of the above results, a policy of translocation was advocated for small, intensely managed populations of zebras, whereby a harem should be translocated every five years for a population size of nine (HJNR), while for a population size of 110 (VCNR) translocations should take place every 15 years if heterozygosity is to be maintained at more than 90% within each population over 100 years.

Allozyme variation in four populations of African whitebacked vultures (Gyps africanus) and phylogenetic relationships between four vulture species from southern Africa.

Genetic variation detected by protein electrophoresis at 41 presumptive gene loci was assayed in four populations of Gyps africanus and compared to values previously obtained for Gyps coprotheres. Values calculated for percentage of polymorphic loci (P=34.15%, 0.99 criterion) and average heterozygosity (&Hmacr;=0.108, +/-0.032) in G. africanus, confirm low levels of genetic variation as reported for G. coprotheres. Allele frequency data, assessed at 19 loci, were obtained to evaluate genetic differentiation among four vulture species. Six (31.58%) of the 19 shared loci were polymorphic. Values of 1.26 (+/-0.1), 26.32% and 0.076 (+/-0.047) for G. africanus, 1.21 (+/-0.1), 21.05% and 0.097 (+/-0.045) for Torgos tracheliotus, 1.11 (+/-0.7), 21.05% and 0.053 (+/-0.053) for Neophron percnopterus and 1.05 (+/-0.5), 5.26% and 0.044 (+/-0.047) for G. coprotheres were obtained for the mean number of alleles per locus, P and &Hmacr;, respectively. An average between-population fixation index (F(ST)) value of 0.322 was obtained, which is indicative of significant (P<0.01) differentiation between the four accipitrid species studied. Considerable concordance was obtained between dendograms produced from different analyses, pointing to the distinctiveness of N. percnopterus, which has evolved along a separate lineage as G. africanus, G. coprotheres and T. tracheliotus. Along the latter lineage G. africanus is clustered together with G. coprotheres which is consistent with the morphological similarities of these species.

Monitoring in motion. An update on the Air Ambulance Service of the South African Red Cross Society (Cape Region).

Since 1966, when 40 patients were transported in a single-engined light aircraft in its first year of service, the Air Ambulance Service of the Cape Region of the South African Red Cross Society has continued to grow annually, providing the people of southern Africa with a remarkable and, in its many ways, unique service. More than 3,300 patients have been transported on more than 2,500 flights in the past 23 years. In June 1988, a Cessna Citation jet aircraft was taken into service and, by 20 January 1989, had already transported more than 148 patients on 102 flights. This aircraft was equipped in Cape Town and has sophisticated life support and monitoring equipment, which enables critically ill patients to be transported over long distances in safety.

Amoxapine in the treatment of depression. A clinical evaluation in ambulant patients.

Amoxapine (Demolox; Lederle), an antidepressive agent, was administered to 24 patients suffering from pathological depression in an open uncontrolled single-blind study. The dosage ranged from 75 to 150 mg/d. Four patients dropped out of the study owing to side-effects and 1 because of rapid improvement. The 19 showed a marked improvement and experienced no side-effects. There were firm indications that improvement can be expected within 7 days.