Sani Pass Elevation Gradient Project

Publications

Elevation-diversity patterns through space and time: ant communities of the Maloti-Drakensberg Mountains of southern Africa.

Bishop, T., Robertson, M.P., van Rensburg, B.J., Parr, C.L. 2014. Elevation-diversity patterns through space and time: ant communities of the Maloti-Drakensberg Mountains of southern Africa. Journal of Biogeography. 41: 2256-2268. doi:10.1111/jbi.12368

---

Contrasting species and functional beta diversity in montane ant communities.

Bishop, T., Robertson, M.P., van Rensburg, B.J., Parr, C.L. 2015. Contrasting species and functional beta diversity in montane ant communities. Journal of Biogeography. 42, 1776–1786.  doi:10.1111/jbi.12537

---

Ant assemblages have darker and larger members in cold environments.

Bishop, T.R., Robertson, M.P., Gibb, H., van Rensburg, B.J., Braschler, B.,  Chown, S.L., Foord, S., Munyai, C., Okey, I., Tshivhandekano, P., Werenkraut, V., Parr, C. 2016. Ant assemblages have darker and larger members in cold environments. Global Ecology and Biogeography. 25: 1489-1499.  doi:10.1111/geb.12516

---

Coping with the cold: minimum temperatures and thermal tolerances dominate the ecology of mountain ants.

Bishop, T.R., Robertson, M.P., van Rensburg, B.J. and Parr, C.L. 2017. Coping with the cold: minimum temperatures and thermal tolerances dominate the ecology of mountain ants. Ecological Entomology. 42: 105–114.  doi:10.1111/een.12364

---

Thermoregulatory traits combine with range shifts to alter the future of montane ant assemblages.

Bishop, T.R., Parr, C.L., Gibb, H. van Rensburg, B.J., Braschler, B., Chown, S.L., Foord, S.H., Lamy, K., Munyai, T.C., Okey, I., Tshivhandekano, P.G., Werenkraut, V. and Robertson, M.P. 2019. Thermoregulatory traits combine with range shifts to alter the future of montane ant assemblages. Global Change Biology. 25:2162–2173. doi:10.1111/gcb.14622

---

Invasion of grasslands by silver wattle, Acacia dealbata (Mimosaceae) alters beetle (Coleoptera) assemblage structure.

Coetzee, B.W.T., van Rensburg, B.J., Robertson M.P. 2007. Invasion of grasslands by silver wattle, Acacia dealbata (Mimosaceae) alters beetle (Coleoptera) assemblage structure. African Entomology. 15: 328-339.  doi:10.4001/1021-3589-15.2.328

---

Low levels of intraspecific trait variation in a keystone invertebrate group.

Gaudard, C. Robertson, M.P. Bishop, T.R. 2019. Low levels of intraspecific trait variation in a keystone invertebrate group. Oecologia.  190: 725–735.  doi:10.1007/s00442-019-04426-9

---

Human activity facilitates altitudinal expansion of exotic plants along a road in montane grassland, South Africa.

Kalwij, J.M., Robertson, M.P., van Rensburg, B.J. 2008. Human activity facilitates altitudinal expansion of exotic plants along a road in montane grassland, South Africa. Applied Vegetation Science. 11: 491-498.  doi:10.3170/2008-7-18555

---

Annual monitoring reveals rapid upward movement of exotic plants in a montane ecosystem.

Kalwij, J., Robertson, M.P., van Rensburg, B.J. 2015. Annual monitoring reveals rapid upward movement of exotic plants in a montane ecosystem. Biological Invasions. 17: 3517–3529.  doi:10.1007/s10530-015-0975-3

---

Plant species that invade high elevations are generalists: support for the directional ecological filtering hypothesis.

Steyn, C., Greve, M., Robertson, M.P., Kalwij, J.M., le Roux, P.C. 2017. Plant species that invade high elevations are generalists: support for the directional ecological filtering hypothesis. Journal of Vegetation Science. 28: 337–346.  doi:10.1111/jvs.1247

Student Theses

Assessing the intraspecific variation in the ants of Sani Pass in response to temporal changes.

Engelbrecht, E. 2019. Assessing the intraspecific variation in the ants of Sani Pass in response to temporal changes. Honours project, University of Pretoria.

---

Taxonomic and functional diversity of ants across environmental gradients.

Newman, S.A. 2018. Taxonomic and functional diversity of ants across environmental gradients. MSc thesis, University of Pretoria.

---

Intraspecific variation in ants: Testing a central paradigm of functional trait ecology.

Gaudard, C. A. 2018. Intraspecific variation in ants: Testing a central paradigm of functional trait ecology. Honours project, University of Pretoria.

---

Taxonomic and functional ecology of montane ants.

Bishop, T.R. 2016. Taxonomic and functional ecology of montane ants. PhD thesis, University of Liverpool.

---

A comparison of ant diversity between natural and disturbed montane grasslands in South Africa.

de Jong, G. 2016. A comparison of ant diversity between natural and disturbed montane grasslands in South Africa. Honours project, University of Pretoria.

---

What makes for a successful alpine alien ascender? Identifying the drivers of upslope range expansion by alien plants.

Steyn, C. 2014. What makes for a successful alpine alien ascender? Identifying the drivers of upslope range expansion by alien plants. Honours project, University of Pretoria.

---

Invertebrate species turnover and body size patterns across an altitudinal gradient.

Jansen, W. 2013. Invertebrate species turnover and body size patterns across an altitudinal gradient. MSc thesis, University of Pretoria.

---

Invasion of grasslands by silver wattle, Acacia dealbata alters beetle assemblage structure.

Coetzee, B.W.T. 2006. Invasion of grasslands by silver wattle, Acacia dealbata alters beetle assemblage structure. Honours project, University of Pretoria.

---

Environmental effects on Coleoptera diversity in the Maloti-Drakensberg region.

Reynolds, B.N. 2006. Environmental effects on Coleoptera diversity in the Maloti-Drakensberg region. Honours project, University of Pretoria.

---

The impact of silver wattle (Acacia dealbata) on small mammal assemblages in the Sani Pass region of the Drakensberg.

Van der Merwe, J. 2005. The impact of silver wattle (Acacia dealbata) on small mammal assemblages in the Sani Pass region of the Drakensberg. Honours project, University of Pretoria.

---