Publications
Quantifying the projected impact of the South African sardine fishery on the Robben Island penguin colony
Research indicates that the South African sardine fishery is likely to have minimal impact on the African penguin colony at Robben Island, even when compared to scenarios without fishing. The study used a population dynamics model linking penguin adult mortality to local sardine biomass, fitted to moult counts and tagged penguin re-sightings. Findings suggest that rapid colony growth in the 1990s was driven by immigration rather than local survival improvements. Projections based on future sardine abundances under current fishery management procedures show that fishing's impact is overshadowed by uncertainties in sardine spatial distribution.
Reflections on the Metamorphosis at Robben Island
Robben Island, once synonymous with oppressive apartheid-era imprisonment, underwent a profound metamorphosis that contributed significantly to the dismantling of apartheid and South Africa's transition to democracy. This transformation was driven by the resilience, hope, efficacy, and optimism exhibited by political prisoners like Nelson Mandela, who disrupted the traditional prison paradigm from within. The study employs institutional work theory at a macro level and positive psychological capital concepts—hope, efficacy, resiliency, and optimism—at a micro level to analyze this process. Drawing on firsthand accounts from former prisoners and guards, the research reveals how these factors collectively fostered an environment of learning and change that ultimately led to freedom and societal transformation. The findings underscore Robben Island's role in one of modern history's most significant societal shifts, offering valuable insights for organizational scholars and practitioners.
Artificial nests enhance the breeding productivity of African Penguins (Spheniscus demersus) on Robben Island, South Africa
Artificial nests significantly enhance the breeding productivity of African Penguins (Spheniscus demersus) on Robben Island, South Africa. The study found that chicks fledged per egg hatched increased by 9–13% in artificial nests and abandoned buildings compared to natural vegetation, offering shelter from weather and predators without risks like burrow collapse. This supports the use of artificial nests as a conservation tool for this endangered species, aligning with findings from Namibia.
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