Aim The biogeography and evolution of South African sea cucumbers have been previously explored; however, these aspects lack detailed study. This study (1) explores the biogeography of sea cucumbers along the coastline of South Africa (SA) and (2) presents a preliminary molecular phylogeny based on the mitochondrial 16S marker. Location South Africa. Taxon Class Holothuroidea. Methods Distribution data obtained primarily from...

Canavalia rosea is an extremophilic legume that grows in hypersaline and nutrient-deficient ecosystems. The extremophilic nature of C. rosea may be attributed to its ability to establish symbiotic associations with nutrient mineralizing and plant growth promoting (PGP) bacteria housed in the nodules. This study examined legume-microbe symbiosis and plant nutrition of C. rosea growing in subtropical coastal zone in KwaZulu-Nata...

Herbivory is ubiquitous. Despite being a potential driver of plant distribution and performance, herbivory remains largely undocumented. Some early attempts have been made to review, globally, how much leaf area is removed through insect feeding. Kozlov et al., in one of the most comprehensive reviews regarding global patterns of herbivory, have compiled published studies regarding foliar removal and sampled data on global her...

Aim While there is a huge macroecological and biogeographical literature addressing endemism, very little has been done to systematically study lineages that are widely distributed across the globe. Our aim here was to list and analyse those lineages of terrestrial tetrapod vertebrates found in 60–90% of the world, loosely termed here as cosmopolitan. Location Global. Methods Two sets of geographical units and three occupancy...

Aim The genus Kniphofia contains 71 species with an African–Malagasy distribution, including one species from Yemen. The genus has a general Afromontane distribution. Here we explore whether Kniphofia is a floristic indicator of the Afromontane centre of endemism and diversity. The South Africa Centre of diversity and endemism was explored in greater detail to understand biogeographical patterns. Location Africa, Afromontane R...