Search Results (66)

Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) is one of the few endemic South African plants that has achieved economic importance and international acclaim, mostly as a herbal tea. Plant production, limited to a small mountainous region in South Africa, is at risk as commercial rooibos longevity is in decline, mostly due to low stress tolerance. Transcriptome data can serve to identify molecular markers for improved stress response, which would speed up selection and facilitate the establishment of breeding programmes. Previously, rooibos leaf transcriptomes have been sequenced using Illumina, which yields short reads, hampering correct reassembly of full-length transcripts. Here, we established Oxford Nanopore-based, long-read transcriptome analysis for leaf and root samples from rooibos. We report on potential pitfalls in data pre-processing (PolyA tail trimming and rRNA removal), and compare two assemblers (RATTLE and RNA-Bloom2) and two clustering algorithms (VSEARCH and CD-HIT). The best assembly comprising 169,122 transcripts was generated using RNA-Bloom2 with short-read polishing, followed by CD-HIT clustering. Of the 95,054 predicted proteins, only 67% were also present in the Illumina dataset. The remainder comprised substantially shorter, mostly full-length sequences from a wide range of primary and secondary biosynthesis pathways. Functional annotation indicated that this transcriptome represents a high-quality, comprehensive resource for data mining. In the leaf fraction, comparative transcriptomics identified overexpressed rooibos transcripts potentially involved in photosynthesis, photorespiration and carbon fixation. In the roots, overexpressed transcripts encoded enzymes potentially involved in regulation of root growth and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. These transcripts may represent first targets for molecular marker development. Full article

Background: Agroecology is increasingly discussed as a strategic response to the combined challenges of drought, ecological degradation, and rural vulnerability. In Morocco, this debate has become particularly urgent because agriculture now operates under persistent hydro-climatic stress, declining water availability, and strong territorial disparities between rainfed, irrigated, mountain, and oasis systems. Methods: This article is based on a structured critical review combined with an interpretive bibliometric synthesis of Moroccan and North African literature on agroecology, water stress, agricultural transition, and food-system resilience. The review was organized through conceptual framing, targeted source selection, thematic screening, and integrative synthesis. Results: Morocco is not an agroecological blank slate. Practices compatible with agroecological transition already exist across the country, including crop diversification, legume rotations, crop–livestock integration, biological regulation, organic amendments, and multifunctional production systems. However, previous reviews have mainly documented practices, projects, or sustainability initiatives without fully explaining why these remain weakly connected, poorly scaled, and insufficiently institutionalized under Moroccan conditions. This review shows that the principal barrier is not the absence of relevant practices but the absence of a coherent transition architecture capable of aligning water governance, farm economics, advisory systems, public incentives, territorial differentiation, and market valorization. The Moroccan case reveals a central paradox: agroecology is most necessary precisely where the structural conditions for its adoption are most fragile. To capture this contradiction, the paper proposes the concept of a Hydro-Agroecological Transition Trap, defined as a condition in which worsening water stress simultaneously intensifies the need for agroecological redesign and reduces the ability of farms and institutions to implement it. Conclusions: The manuscript concludes by proposing a six-pillar transition framework for Morocco based on water-smart agroecology, territorially differentiated pathways, participatory innovation, transition finance and risk-sharing, market construction, and multidimensional assessment. The originality of the study lies in shifting the analysis from a shortage of practices to a shortage of transition architecture, thereby contributing to international debates on agroecological scaling under chronic hydro-climatic stress. Full article

Globally, land use and land cover (LULC) change is a major driver of soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics in mountainous ecosystems, where steep slopes, shallow soils, and strong climatic gradients amplify land use impacts. This review systematically synthesises empirical evidence regarding how LULC transitions influence SOC dynamics in mountainous landscapes, with particular emphasis on dominant trends, underlying mechanisms, methodological bottlenecks, and future research perspectives. Following PRISMA guidelines, we evaluated 30 carefully screened peer-reviewed studies that explicitly link temporal LULC change to carbon dynamics in mountainous environments. The results show SOC losses across most LULC transitions, especially following forest and rangeland conversion to cropland and built-up land. In contrast, SOC recovery is time-lagged, partial, and often decoupled from rapid aboveground biomass recovery. Methodologically, while static carbon models (e.g., InVEST) are demonstrated to systematically underrepresent lateral erosion-driven SOC losses, they have been highly adopted in the synthesised studies, highlighting their practical scalability in data-scarce and complex mountain terrains. Finally, the synthesis reveals a strong geographic bias in the literature, with most studies emerging from Asia, highlighting substantial knowledge gaps in other regions. Prioritising empirical multidecadal SOC monitoring in highly vulnerable and underrepresented regions, such as African mountainous systems, where socioeconomic pressures are expected to intensify, is critical for developing integrative, evidence-based strategies for sustainable land management under accelerating LULC change. Full article

The scorpion genus Hottentotta Birula, 1908 is widely distributed across Africa and the Middle East, extending to Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka. The processes which resulted in their evolution and diversification across this vast area are poorly understood. The present study investigated the phylogeny and historical biogeography of the genus in the Iranian Plateau and the Zagros Mountains based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences from four African species, an Arabian species and eight species from the Middle East, most of which are endemic to Iran. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the monophyly of all species included in the analysis and recovered a clade comprising Iranian and Afro-Arabian species. S-DIVA and BBM analyses demonstrated that the species of Hottentotta occurring in the Iranian Plateau and the Zagros Mountains originated from an African ancestor and then dispersed to their current geographical ranges. Further divergence coincided with the orogeny of the Zagros Mountains and climatic changes during the Miocene epoch. The results support the hypothesis that the Zagros Mountains formed a geographical barrier which promoted vicariance and diversification on the Iranian Plateau. Full article

Grasslands occupy 24% of the Earth’s surface. In most areas of the world these are either destroyed, fragmented or converted into cultivated fields. In Africa, their biodiversity is still insufficiently known. This study reports on the avian assemblages associated with grasslands in South African Highveld and Lesotho Drakensberg. Special attention was paid to the species richness, diversity, and population densities and dominance of particular species. Birds were counted by means of the Line Transect Method in three distinguished grassland types: Dry Cymbopogon-Themeda Grassland (transect length: 28 km), Wet Cymbopogo-Themeda Grassland (27 km) km, and Mountain Themeda-Festuca Grassland (31 km). In total, 86 bird species were recorded. While cumulative dominance was similar between the Dry and Wet Grassland (61–65%), these two were much different from that in the Mountain Grassland (46%). However the dominance index was similar in all three grassland types compared (0.25–0.33). Only one species, the long-tailed widow Euplectes orix was a common dominant species for all three grassland types. African stonechat, wing-snapping cisticola Cisticola ayresii, Levaillant’s cisticola Cisticola tinniens and yellow bishop Euplectes capensis were dominant only in the Mountain Grassland; northern black korhaan Afrotis afroides and the eastern clapper lark Mirafra fasciolata—only in the Dry and Wet Grassland; ostrich Struthio camelus, cloud cisticola Cisticola textrix, African quailfinch Ortygozpiza atricollis and pied starling Spreo bicolor—only in the Dry Grassland, while the helmeted guineafowl Numida meleagris, zitting cisticola Cisticola juncidis and African pipit Anthus cinnamomeus—only in the Wet Grassland. Despite these obvious differences in dominance and population densities of species, Diversity and evenness indices were similar in all three grassland types. Shannon’s Diversity Index (H′) varied between 1.22 and 1.35; Simpson Diversity Index between 0.91 and 0.94, while Pielou’s Evenness Index (J′) varied between 0.33 and 0.36. However, Sørensen Similarity Index between the three grassland types was low, ranging between 0.07 and 0.26. Proportions of ecological guilds were similar in the Dry and Wet Grassland but differed from mountain Grassland. In comparison with other tropical grassland, avian communities in southern Africa are characterized by higher species richness and higher its variance between particular grassland types. Full article

The conservation of agricultural animal resources holds significant importance for addressing future breeding demands and promoting sustainable utilization of regional livestock genetic resources. As one of China’s five major fine cattle breeds, Nanyang cattle exhibit notable characteristics, including strong adaptability and a docile temperament. Through whole-genome comparative analysis of the Nanyang cattle core conservation population and free-ranging populations in mountainous areas, this study systematically investigated the genetic diversity, population structure, and adaptive evolutionary mechanisms of this indigenous Chinese cattle breed. Population structure analysis revealed that both groups belong to a single genetic lineage of Nanyang cattle without significant genetic differentiation; however, the free-ranging population demonstrated a slower linkage disequilibrium decay rate. Combined F_ST and θπ ratio analyses identified 170 positively selected genes, with KEGG enrichment highlighting glutamatergic synapse and African trypanosomiasis immune pathways. PLCB4, as a shared gene across both pathways, may exert pleiotropic functions in environmental adaptation. The core conservation population likely exhibits reduced diversity in neuroplasticity-related genes under artificial selection, whereas the free-ranging population retained more genes associated with environmental adaptation and immune response. These findings provide genomic evidence for formulating differentiated conservation strategies for Nanyang cattle, necessitating balanced co-optimization of production trait breeding and natural adaptability preservation. Full article

This study investigates rural settlement patterns and land suitability in Rwanda’s Western Highlands, a mountainous region highly vulnerable to geohazards like landslides and flooding. Its primary aim is to inform sustainable, climate-resilient development planning in this fragile landscape. We employed high-resolution satellite imagery, a Digital Elevation Model (DEM), and comprehensive geospatial datasets to analyze settlement distribution, using Thiessen polygons for influence zones and Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) for spatial clustering. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was integrated with the GeoDetector model to objectively weight criteria and analyze settlement pattern drivers, using population density as a proxy for human pressure. The analysis revealed significant spatial heterogeneity in settlement distribution, with both clustered and dispersed forms exhibiting distinct exposure levels to environmental hazards. Natural factors, particularly slope gradient and proximity to rivers, emerged as dominant determinants. Furthermore, significant synergistic interactions were observed between environmental attributes and infrastructure accessibility (roads and urban centers), collectively shaping settlement resilience. This integrative geospatial approach enhances understanding of complex rural settlement dynamics in ecologically sensitive mountainous regions. The empirically grounded insights offer a robust decision-support framework for climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction, contributing to more resilient rural planning strategies in Rwanda and similar Central African highland regions. Full article

This study examined the factors influencing wild boar population density in Slovakia from 2013 to 2023, focusing on biometeorological, demographic, and ecological variables. Linear regression models were used to analyze spring population figures and the number of hunted animals across eight self-governing regions. Following the African swine fever outbreak in 2019, population dynamics changed significantly. The number of wild boars hunted increased while population densities decreased, particularly in the Presov, Kosice, and Banska Bystrica regions. Biometeorological factors, including monthly air temperature and precipitation, significantly influenced wild boar density at the national level, with soil temperature at a 5 cm depth playing a key role regionally. Demographic factors, such as road network and human population densities, also impacted wild boar populations, with road network density being the most important. Ecological factors, including the presence of brown hares, common pheasants, and grey wolves, had varying effects across regions. Grey wolf predation and interspecies competition were particularly significant in mountainous, less urbanized areas. The joint influence of biometeorological and demographic factors was higher in regions affected by African swine fever. This study highlights the complex interactions between environmental, demographic, and ecological factors and provides insights into more effective wildlife management strategies aimed at the sustainable management of wild boar populations. It advocates for a regionally tailored, integrated approach that considers the influence of biometeorological, demographic, and ecological factors, while also addressing the risks associated with epidemics, such as African swine fever. Full article

This article argues that indigenous knowledge is significantly resourceful for ecological sustainability, without which humanity will not survive. It addresses the intersection between the 15th United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SGD) “Life on Land” and African indigenous knowledge systems, including the fundamental support system that can sustain the livelihoods of communities. It reconstructs the vision of ecological sustainability from the indigenous knowledge perspective by first analyzing the inadequacy of the United Nations carbon-pricing approach to reforestation and conservation in developing countries. Then, it uses the ethnosphere methodological approach, affirming the ecological ethical warrants found in indigenous epistemology and cosmology in regard to land protection in dialogue with the sustainability vision of Laudado Si’, Querida Amazonia, and Laudate Deum. This article explores indigenous knowledge’s wellspring for ecological sustainability and what it offers for a more sustainable “Life on Land”. It suggests an approach to ecological sustainability that goes beyond a market-based instrument to CO₂ reduction to embrace a view of the “sacramental universe” as essential theological input, without which sustainable “Life on Land” cannot be met. It concludes by showing how African mountain region conservancy practices are not essential in sustaining “Life on Land” not solely because they provide the earth’s freshwater but also because they contain valuable ecologically sensitive cultural and religious wisdom. Full article

Moreyra and co-authors, in their recent paper published in Plants, presented a desperately needed Hyb-Seq phylogeny of the genus Cirsium sensu lato. Through their findings, they provided a critical assessment of an earlier proposal of ours to separate Cirsium sect. Eriolepis and Cirsium italicum into the genera Lophiolepis and Epitrachys, respectively. While we fully respect their right not to accept our proposal, we cannot remain silent to their arguments that not only misinterpret our findings and statements but are often in direct conflict with their own results that actually support our proposal to segregate Lophiolepis. In addition, as Moreyra and co-authors did not include Epitrachys italica (formerly Cirsium italicum) in their analyses; they have no basis for arguing in favour or against our proposal to separate it as a monotypic genus. Finally, we conclude that the genus Cirsium, as circumscribed by the above-mentioned authors (i.e., including Lophiolepis), is definitively not monophyletic. Full article

We examined the distribution of termites along an elevational gradient in the western Rif Mountains of northern Morocco. Sampling followed standardized protocols at nine forest sites (125, 325, 488, 715, 850, 1150, 1316, 1544, and 1700 masl), all except the lowest site within the Intercontinental Mediterranean Biosphere Reserve. We found a total of three termite species, with Reticulitermes grassei (Rhinotermitidae) being the most abundant, followed by Kalotermes flavicollis (Kalotermitinae) and Amitermes sp. (Terminidae). Comparing microhabitat preferences, we found R. grassei and Amitermes sp. exclusively in buried wood and under rocks, and K. flavicollis exclusively in dead tree trunks and surface wood. The findings reveal the distribution of microhabitats along an elevation gradient and the corresponding preferences of termite species across these microhabitats. We found that total termite density decreased significantly with elevation (r_s = −0.40; p < 0.001), but with distinct differences among species. Kalotermes flavicollis and Amitermes sp. showed a strong negative correlation between density and elevation. In contrast, for R. grassei, the most common termite, we found no significant correlation. Termite density also varied among forest types, with a non-significant trend (p = 0.075) of higher density in the cork oak forest (hits/m² = 0.06) compared to holm oak (0.04) and fir–cedar (0.02) forests. This research contributes to the limited knowledge of termite diversity and ecology in northern Africa and western Mediterranean forests. Full article

Since achieving political independence in the 1960s, Anglophone Caribbean nations have faced the urgent task of exploring cultural independence. In the socio-cultural sphere, Black nationalism dominated, with Pan-Africanism and Rastafarianism exerting significant influence. In literary creation, writers and intellectuals sought to unearth local popular religions and folk traditions to produce literature that was distinctively Caribbean. In this quest, rituals—especially those involving religious possession—emerged as pivotal tools for writers to explore historical traditions and reflect on identity formation. Ritual plays, in particular, vividly represented these dynamics within the socio-cultural context. This paper examines the interaction between Black nationalist movements and ritual plays during this period, highlighting their significant role in shaping Caribbean identities. It reveals that ritual plays such as Dream on Monkey Mountain, Couvade, and An Echo in the Bone challenge Pan-Africanism promoted by Black nationalist movements. Instead, they employ ancestor possession rituals and elements from multiple religious rituals to construct a native Caribbean identity. These plays underscore the central role of Afro-Caribbean traditions while also highlighting the region’s diverse cultural heritage and the localized nature of Caribbean identity. Furthermore, they broaden the use of religious rituals in recalling and understanding traditions. Full article

The Internet of Things (IoT) has emerged as a transformative technology with the potential to revolutionize various sectors and industries worldwide. Despite its global significance, the adoption and implementation of IoT technologies in emerging technology ecosystems within the Central African region still need to be studied and explored. This paper presents a case study of the Silicon Mountain technology ecosystem, located in Fako division of the southwest region of Cameroon, focusing on the barriers and challenges to adopting and integrating IoT technologies within this emerging tech ecosystem. Through a survey-based approach, we investigate the factors influencing IoT adoption in the Silicon Mountain tech ecosystem, including technological, economic, social, and regulatory factors. Our study reveals key insights into the current state of IoT adoption, opportunities for growth and innovation, and IoT adoption challenges. Key among the challenges identified for impeding IoT uptake were issues related to standardization and financial resources, labor shortage in the industry, educational and knowledge gaps, market challenges, government policies, security and data privacy concerns, and inadequate power supply. Based on our findings, we provide recommendations for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and academic institutions to promote and facilitate the widespread adoption of IoT technologies in Silicon Mountain and the Central African region at large. Full article

The present study aims to assess the tectonic activity in the South Setifian allochthonous complex, providing insights into the evolution of the landscape. A morphometric analysis of Jebel Youcef Mountain (JYM) in Eastern Algeria was conducted to assess neotectonic activity. Six quantitative parameters were analyzed: stream length-gradient index, asymmetric factor, hypsometric integral, valley floor width-to-valley height ratio, index of drainage basin shape, and index of mountain front sinuosity across the 16 river basins in the region. The geomorphic indices are combined into a single index of relative tectonic activity (IRTA), categorized into four classes: very high, high, moderate, and low. The results identified two major lineament sets. The NE-SW lineament set is the dominant structural feature, playing a key role in driving recent geological processes and deformation in the study area. In contrast, the E-W and NW-SE lineament sets exert a more localized influence, primarily affecting the Jurassic formations at Kef El Ahmar’s central peak in Jebel Youcef, though they exhibit relatively lower tectonic activity compared to the NE-SW lineament set. Based on the relative active tectonic classes, significant neotectonic activity is evident in the study area, as shown by distinctive basement fracturing. The findings contribute to understanding the structural processes in the study area. Furthermore, the study establishes a systematic framework for analyzing tectonic activity and landscape morphology evolution, enhancing our perception of the convergence between the North African Alpine zones and the Atlas range. Full article