Research Articles (University of Pretoria)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/121

This collection offers open access to the full text of research articles published by staff, students and affiliates of the University of Pretoria. These items are identical in content to their published counterparts. It is linked to the Research Information System and complements the Annual Research Report.

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Understanding black women opportunity entrepreneurs' networking behavior : navigating intersectionality in South Africa's entrepreneurial ecosystem
Pettersen, Inger Beate; Scheepers, Caren Brenda; Botha, Melodi; Moos, Menisha; Moos, Menisha (Emerald, 2026)
PURPOSE : Globally, black women entrepreneurs represent the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs, driving significant economic and social impact. This research timely responds to calls aiming for varied research contexts and for investigating women entrepreneurs in non-Western contexts. This study examines networking within South Africa's entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) to contextualize theory across diverse cultural and socio-economic settings, thereby deepening understanding of the compounded barriers faced by black women entrepreneurs at the intersection of race and gender. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH : A qualitative research design was adopted to explore individual experiences while identifying patterns and connections that can enhance our understanding of black women's networking behavior to navigate the EEs in South Africa. FINDINGS : The study's findings reveal three unique themes which contribute to women's proactive networking behavior, involving cross-gender and cross-race relations. Furthermore, we learn how black women entrepreneurs exploit strategic networking opportunities to grow their tech ventures and navigate intersectionality through resilience of being part of a minority group. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS : EE actors should deliberately introduce allyship programs to enhance black women's position and belonging in various settings through, e.g. mentorship and training programs. Policymakers in other countries could gain key insights from the South African Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) policy, which positively influence women entrepreneurs' position in EEs. ORIGINALITY/VALUE : Our study links the Intersectionality Theory with Social Network Theory. Previous studies considered gender and networking behavior, without referring to the intersection between gender and race and how this intersection might influence networking behavior.
Affordable loss heuristic scale development and validation
Lew, Charlene; Smith, Sean Michael (Emerald, 2026-12)
PURPOSE : The study aims to develop a distinct and parsimonious scale of affordable loss. The affordable loss heuristic explains a way of reasoning in entrepreneurial investment decision-making in uncertainty. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH : The scale development process spans several phases including conceptualization, qualitative interviews and expert item review in the item development phase. In the exploratory phase, two studies are used to refine the instrument. In the validation phase, the scale is validated through confirmatory factor analysis and assessment of the invariance thereof. FINDINGS : The study produces a two-dimensional reflective scale of affordable loss, including dimensions of a loss heuristic in uncertainty and experimental mindset. The scale is validated and invariant across different geographical contexts. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS : The scale builds on the theory of affordable loss, presenting clearer insights into the nature and dimensions of this heuristic. It offers an empirical contribution by enabling the measurement of affordable loss as a construct in entrepreneurial decision-making. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS : An understanding of affordable loss gives practitioners the means to assess and develop entrepreneurial reasoning. ORIGINALITY/VALUE : The study presents a novel measure of the affordable loss investment heuristic, paving the way for future studies into its antecedents and outcomes.
Enhancing survival of Bifidobacterium spp. in yoghurt through oxidative stress adaptation
Thomashoff, Ursula Louise; Sibanda, Thulani; Buys, E.M. (Elna Maria) (Wiley, 2026-01)
BACKGROUND : Bifidobacterium spp. are widely recognised probiotic bacteria with well-documented health benefits associated with their incorporation into foods. Despite these benefits, maintaining their viability in oxygen-rich environments like yoghurt poses substantial challenges. AIM : This study examined the impact of oxidative stress adaptation on the viability, fermentation characteristics and physicochemical properties of Bifidobacterium spp. during yoghurt production and shelf-life at 4°C. METHODS : Oxidative (H2O2) stress-adapted and unadapted strains of Bifidobacterium bifidum, B. breve and B. animalis subsp. animalis, 6–7 log cfu/mL, were incorporated during yoghurt fermentation. Two independent yoghurt batches were produced for each treatment combination, with two replicates analysed per batch. Viability (via plate counts and PMAxx-qPCR) and physicochemical properties were monitored over 28 days at 4°C. MAJOR FINDINGS : Stress adaptation enhanced B. bifidum survival during fermentation by 1.0 log cfu/g compared with unadapted strains (P < 0.0001), with B. breve showing similar improvement. Although adaptation initially improved survival, this advantage diminished throughout shelf-life in both species. B. animalis remained stable. The plate count method showed a decline of B. bifidum and B. breve populations, while the PMAxx-qPCR method detected a significantly higher level of viable cells (P < 0.05) in the yoghurt. SCIENTIFIC IMPLICATIONS : Oxidative stress adaptation may enhance Bifidobacterium spp. viability and the functional value of probiotic yoghurt.
Numerical analysis of stabilisation for random hyperbolic systems of conservation laws
Chu, Shaoshuai; Herty, Michael; Kurganov, Alexander (Taylor and Francis, 2026)
This paper extends the deterministic Lyapunov-based stabilisation framework to random hyperbolic systems of conservation laws, where uncertainties arise in boundary controls and initial data. Building on the finite-volume discretisation method from [M. Banda and M. Herty, Math. Control Relat. Fields, 3 (2013), pp. 121–142], we introduce a stochastic discrete Lyapunov function to prove the exponential decay of numerical solutions for systems with random perturbations. For linear systems, we derive explicit decay rates, which depend on boundary control parameters, grid resolutions, and the statistical properties of the random inputs. Theoretical decay rates are verified through numerical examples, including boundary stabilisation of the linear wave equations and linearised shallow-water flows with random perturbations. We also present the decay rates for a nonlinear example and for the linearised Saint-Venant system with source terms.
Librarians to the rescue! An LIS-associated workflow model for the rescue of research data at risk
Patterson, Louise; Bothma, T.J.D. (Theodorus Jan Daniel); Van Deventer, Martha Johanna (Unisa Press, 2025-10)
This study presents a data rescue workflow model and explores the potential roles and responsibilities of the library and information services (LIS) sector in rescuing at-risk data. The methodology was multifaceted, consisting of three distinct phases of data collection and analysis. First, content analysis was conducted on 15 purposively selected data rescue publications to identify key activities that are integral to the data rescue process. This phase resulted in the creation of an initial data rescue workflow model. Second, feedback was obtained from six experienced researchers at a South African research institute, chosen from a sample of criterion-based researchers, after they reviewed the initial model. This feedback was used to revise the model. Third, additional feedback on both the initial and revised models was gathered during a mini focus group session with three purposively selected LIS experts at the same research institute. This feedback was used to refine the model and develop a final recommended data rescue workflow model, which is presented in this study. The recommended model outlines the crucial stages, activities, and outputs of data rescue in a chronological sequence. The study’s outcomes provide new insights into data rescue and the involvement of LIS professionals, highlighting how various LIS experts can contribute to data rescue projects.
Vermicomposting of camel (Camelus dromedarius) manure with fly ash and microbial inoculants : effects on nutrients and heavy metals
Mupambwa, Hupenyu A.; Ruben, Elia N.M.; Haneklaus, Nils H.; Handura, Bethold; Howoses, Veronica A.; Brahim, Jamal Ait; Beniazza, Redouane; Roubik, Hynek; Truter, Wayne F.; Van der Merwe, Elizabet Margaretha; Brink, Hendrik Gideon (MDPI, 2026-03)
Please read abstract in the article.
An emulated dynamic framework for evaluating metaheuristic-based load balancing techniques in edge computing networks
Molokomme, Daisy Nkele; Onumanyi, Adeiza James; Abu-Mahfouz, Adnan Mohammed (MDPI, 2026-03)
Edge computing (EC) has emerged as a paradigm to support computation-intensive Internet of Things (IoT) applications by enabling task offloading to nearby servers. Despite its potential, the inherent heterogeneity of edge resources and the dynamic, unpredictable nature of task arrivals present significant challenges for designing and evaluating effective load balancing strategies. Traditional evaluation methods are limited as follows: physical testbeds lack scalability and flexibility, while abstract simulators often oversimplify network behavior, failing to capture realistic system dynamics. To address these limitations, we present an emulated dynamic edge computing framework (EDECF) designed for evaluating load balancing schemes in EC networks. First, we developed dedicated service models for each EC node within the EDECF and implemented them using the common open research emulator (CORE) platform, thereby providing a scalable, flexible, and realistic environment for testing optimization strategies. Second, we introduced a robust fitness function that explicitly models latency, queue stability, and fairness for metaheuristic-based load balancing under dynamic edge conditions. To assess its effectiveness, this function was incorporated and tested using the following methods: the particle swarm optimization, genetic algorithm, differential evolution and simulated annealing-based load balancing algorithms. In addition, baseline methods such as the round robin and shortest queue techniques were also deployed to demonstrate the framework’s capacity to facilitate rigorous analysis in heterogeneous and time-varying scenarios. Overall, results are presented to demonstrate EDECF’s capability to emulate realistic workloads, capture resource variability at the edge, and support comprehensive evaluation of algorithmic performance across diverse network settings. Thus, this work aims to establish a practical and extensible foundation for researchers and practitioners to design, test, and optimize load balancing strategies in EC environments.
Kinship and network analysis of two South African beef cattle breeds using pedigree and high-density SNP markers
Khanyile, Khulekani S.; Maiwashe, Azwihangwisi; Magagula, Nozipho A.; Van Marle-Koster, Este; Zwane, Avhashoni A. (MDPI, 2026-03-19)
Accurate genealogical records are essential in livestock breeding for maintaining genetic diversity, preventing inbreeding, and mapping of economically important traits in beef production. This study aimed to assess parent–offspring relationships within South African Bonsmara and Nguni cattle populations using both traditional pedigree records and genomic data. Hair samples from 119 Nguni and 311 Bonsmara cattle were genotyped using the BovineSNP50 array, and these were imputed to Illumina BovineHD BeadChip using updated SNP coordinates from the assembly genome (ARC—UCSD 1.2). Quality control and data filtering were performed using PLINK v1.9, while relationship inference was conducted using KING v2.2.8 and PLINK v1.9 software for principal component analysis, IBD metrics and Mendelian error-based exclusion. Categories of relatedness through network relationship analysis revealed a predominance of half-sibling relationships in both breeds, with 2317 such relationships identified in Nguni and 1221 in Bonsmara. Inference of parent–offspring pairs showed discrepancies with the recorded pedigrees, with 49 inferred pairs compared to 47 recorded pairs in Nguni, and 62 inferred pairs compared to 75 pairs recorded in Bonsmara. Relationships based on IBD using PLINK with a ‘PI-HAT’ threshold greater than 0.45 revealed unique parent–offspring inferences that differed from those obtained using KING v2.2.8. Phylogenetic network analysis assigned each individual’s genomic origin independent of the pedigree records, supporting the efficiency of SNP data for genetic assignment. These results demonstrated that SNP-based pedigree verification can accurately identify parent–offspring and half-sibling relationships, providing a reliable foundation for recombination analysis and supporting precise trait mapping and informed selection in breeding programs.
Determinants of market choices among beef cattle farmers in uMgungundlovu District of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa
Mkhize, Rachel S.; Mokolopi, Gloria; Chipfupa, Unity; Loki, Olwethu (MDPI, 2026-02-11)
Globally, the demand for beef and beef-related products has significantly escalated over the past decade. This study aimed to evaluate the factors influencing the market participation of smallholder beef cattle farmers in uMgungundlovu, South Africa. The study employed a cross-sectional research design, which followed a mixed-methods approach to collect data. Survey data were collected from smallholder cattle farmers from the uMgungundlovu District in KwaZulu-Natal using a semi-structured questionnaire. Purposive sampling was employed to select four local municipalities from the uMgungundlovu District out of a total of seven, whereas a simple random sampling was used to recruit farmers. The sampling was conducted using Microsoft Excel, whereby each farmer was allocated a random number, and then the required sample was generated from those numbers. To determine factors that influence farmers’ market choice, a multinomial logit regression model was used. A significant proportion of the farmers (43.1%) were aged between 51 and 70, followed by 35.5% aged 31 to 50. Just under half (48.2%) of farmers had received formal training in livestock production. This finding (p < 0.001) reinforces the central role of education in income determination. Better-educated individuals tend to earn more and diversify their income sources. This study underpinned that the livestock farming population is dominated by primarily middle-aged, male, semi-educated, and resource-poor individuals, and they rely significantly on traditional farming methods and government assistance. The multinomial logit regression revealed that farmers’ market choices are influenced by education level, extension service quality, access to quality bulls, and breeding knowledge significantly influenced farmers’ market choices. Specifically, secondary and tertiary education reduced the likelihood of participating in auction markets relative to informal markets, while limited breeding knowledge and poor extension services further constrained participation in formal channels.
Deconstructing the complexity of measuring food security in South Africa : a systematic review and meta-analysis (2000-2024)
Masamha, Blessing; Gwanzura, Owen; Mutanga, Shingirirai S. (BioMed Central, 2026-03)
BACKGROUND : Measuring the non-observable nature of food security has remained complex mainly because of the construct’s complexity and its continuously evolving nature. The main challenges in measuring food security involve determining what is to be measured and how it is measured. In South Africa, various approaches and indicators have led to divergent food security measurement outcomes, leading to inaccurate assessment, monitoring, and targeting of context-specific food security interventions. This study analyses food access, availability, and stability measurement metrics and proposes a clear food security measurement approach for South Africa. Comprehensive reviews of food security indices with a national scope and subsequent meta-analysis to determine these indicators’ effect size, publication bias, and heterogeneity have not been adequately explored. METHODS : A systematic review and meta-analysis using the PRISMA guidelines were used to select the analysed articles. A search strategy was used to retrieve literature from the Web of Science and Scopus Databases, yielding a total of 1155 articles. Rayyan 1.6 software was used for screening articles and duplicate removal, whilst the Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to qualitatively assess the articles. Perplexity and Quill Bot Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools were used to enhance literature search and paraphrasing, respectively, to improve the validity and reliability of the review. The inclusion and exclusion criteria resulted in a final sample of 82 articles being eligible for analysis. RESULTS : Most studies used Household Food Insecurity Access Score (HFIAS), (n = 45), Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) (n = 24), Coping Strategy Index (CSI), (n = 13), and the Household Hunger Score (HHS) (n = 4). Few studies used a composite of indicators, while most studies used HFIAS alone. The indicators used provide very different estimates of the prevalence of food insecurity in South Africa. Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal provinces had the most studies distributed across rural communities, while Cape Town City and Gauteng Province had the highest number of urban studies. Meta-analysis was done on HFIAS (n = 16) and HDDS (n = 14) indicators using a Forest plot and Funnel plot, and results showed limited heterogeneity and publication bias across the studies. CONCLUSIONS : More food security studies need to use longitudinal designs, composite indicators across different seasons, and along the urban, peri-urban, and rural settlement gradient, and panel data from national surveys. The routine national surveys need to adopt the full modules of indicators to allow for household and individual food security analysis in South Africa. We recommend the Agency Module, the Women Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI), and the Women Empowerment in Livestock Index (WELI) to measure the sustainability and agency dimensions of food security.
What research questions are we asking in English-language music therapy journals?
Dos Santos, Andeline (Routledge, 2025-07-21)
INTRODUCTION : Music therapy (MT) research is well-established. Gaining an overview of the body of knowledge is valuable, including examining how we formulate research questions. In MT, the questions that are asked shape what is investigated, how studies are designed, and the types of knowledge that are prioritised. A descriptive analysis was conducted on English-language research articles published between 2017 and 2024 across 12 MT-specific journals to explore: (a) What research questions are asked? and (b) How can the insights from this study offer points for discussion that could shape how inquiry in the field proceeds? RESULTS : A total of 698 articles across 12 MT-specific journals were reviewed, and 1180 research questions were extracted and analysed. The research questions focused on eight areas: MT practice, MT as a profession, MT education, other related role-players, research processes, concepts, musicking, and looking outwards. The majority of questions addressed service users, particularly adults, with autistic individuals most frequently studied, followed by those with dementia. Established MT approaches received more attention than newer ones. Most questions were descriptive and open, with questions that critically interrogated their own assumptions being very rare. Only 3% of questions were developed collaboratively with participants. Researchers ask more questions about how MT processes are characterised and experienced than about change mechanisms. DISCUSSION : The findings reveal patterns and gaps in how MT researchers are currently shaping inquiry, particularly through how they craft their questions. By mapping current trends, this article aims to encourage critical reflection and promote purposeful, innovative approaches to advancing MT research.
Extended high-frequency audiometry in early detection of noise-induced hearing loss in occupational settings
Mkwanazi, Hilda; De Jager, Leigh Biagio; Graham, Marien Alet; Swanepoel, De Wet (Medknow, 2025-09)
OBJECTIVE : This study investigated the effect of noise exposure on extended high-frequency audiometry (EHFA) thresholds in an occupational setting. This study aimed to determine whether EHFA can provide insights into early cochlear changes that are undetectable through conventional methods and whether EHFA is more pronounced among workers exposed to higher noise levels. METHODS : A retrospective, quantitative design was employed to analyze audiometric data from 180 employees across categories of three occupational noise exposure (<85, 85–104, and ≥105 dBA, A-weighted). Participants underwent conventional and EHFA, with thresholds measured from 500 to 20,000 Hz. Stratified random sampling was used to select individuals with normal thresholds at 500 to 4000 Hz (<25 dB HL). Multivariate analysis of variance and logistic regression were used to evaluate the effects of noise exposure, age, and years of service on EHFA thresholds. RESULTS : The conventional audiometry thresholds were found between −10 and 50 dB HL, and the EHFA range was between −10 and 100 dB HL. The hearing threshold patterns were similar across the noise categories. No significant differences were observed in conventional audiometry and EHFA based on noise exposure categories (P = 0.511) or years of service (P = 0.745). However, significant associations with age were identified at 6000 Hz, 8000 Hz, and across all EHFA thresholds (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION : EHFA demonstrated limited sensitivity in differentiating noise-induced hearing loss across noise exposure categories, potentially reflecting the effectiveness of the hearing conservation program implemented. Age emerged as a significant factor influencing thresholds at high frequencies, highlighting the importance of considering age in EHFA.
Workers’ power and platform capitalism : the embryo towards an alternative
Masikane, Fikile; Webste, Edward (Routledge, 2025-02-26)
Over the past decade, there has been an expansion of digital platforms that has reshaped the world of work by introducing platform work. Most of the studies on gig work – platform work – focus on the global North. While there is growing evidence in developing countries, the research on how platform workers in Africa are responding to the platform economy is quite limited. Although platform work is based on freedom and autonomy to work, our research among food courier riders in South Africa, Ghana and Kenya found that this new work order is deepening worker insecurity and undermines worker right. We argue that technology allows platform workers an avenue to bargain for their labour rights, thus contributing to the emergence of self-organised, hybrid forms of union-like associations – associational power – and new partnerships with traditional unions and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) – societal power. This provides platform workers with the ability to develop collective solidarity and engage in strike action. Ultimately, the rise of the gig economy has led to a new social force which can replace the old one, as evident from the recent upsurge in labour struggles in the platform economy globally as well as in the global South.
Silent invaders : the hidden threat of asymptomatic phytobiomes to forest biosecurity
Tanney, Joey B.; Kemler, Martin; Vivas, Maria; Wingfield, Michael J.; Slippers, Bernard (Wiley, 2025-07)
Populations of diverse, unknown, and potentially pathogenic fungi and fungus-like organisms are continuously introduced into new locations via asymptomatic infections (e.g. as endophytes or latent pathogens) within internationally traded live plants. Interactions between these asymptomatic fungi and novel recipient host trees can be unpredictable, and urban introductions may act as bridgeheads into natural and managed forests. Historical examples of novel, highly destructive forest tree diseases highlight the potential threat of this pathway. As the trade in live plants continues to expand, the likelihood of high-impact incursions increases. This has led to calls for more proactive management, including more stringent treatment and regulatory standards, and even the phasing out of trade in plants determined to be an untenable risk to forest ecosystems. In this review, we discuss how biosecurity systems should consider advances in understanding the diversity and ecology of phytobiomes associated with asymptomatic plants and what measures can be considered to reduce this threat to global forest health.
Decoding the brain, respecting the person : a neuroethical inquiry into consent and cognitive liberty in South Africa
Botes , Marietjie; Labuschaigne, Melodie; Casteleyn, Camille; Inkster, Becky; Sheppard, Mark (Springer, 2025-10-09)
As neurotechnologies emerge in South Africa's clinical, research, and consumer health landscapes, existing informed consent models, predominantly shaped by Western individualist ethics, prove insufficient. Neural data, uniquely intimate and increasingly commodified, poses profound ethical and legal risks, including mental privacy violations, behavioural profiling, and cultural alienation. This article interrogates these risks through a neuroethical lens grounded in African relational philosophy, particularly Ubuntu, which emphasises communal personhood, collective decision-making, and spiritual interconnectedness. We analyse the limitations of South African and international legal frameworks, arguing that they neither adequately recognise neural data as a distinct category nor accommodate culturally appropriate consent processes. In response, we propose a pluralistic, relational consent framework that incorporates tiered, dynamic, and interactive mechanisms, sensitive to linguistic, educational, and spiritual diversity. By centring cognitive liberty and advocating for sui generis neurorights protections, this paper contributes a decolonial, culturally situated perspective to global neuroethics and informs more inclusive governance models for neural technologies in legally and socially pluralistic societies.
Real‑time automated measurements of optic nerve sheath diameter for noninvasive assessment of intracranial pressure in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage
Netteland, Dag Ferner; Aarhus, Mads; Sandset, Else Charlotte; Padayachy, Llewellyn; Helseth, Eirik; Brekken, Reidar (BioMed Central, 2025-06)
BACKGROUND : Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) is a promising noninvasive parameter for intracranial pressure (ICP) assessment. However, in the setting of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), several previous studies have reported no association between ultrasonically measured ONSD and ICP. In this study, we evaluate ONSD in patients with aSAH using a novel method of automated real-time ultrasonographic measurements and explore whether factors such as having undergone surgery affects its association to ICP. METHODS : We prospectively included adult patients with aSAH undergoing invasive ICP monitoring. ONSD was obtained using a prototype ultrasound machine with software for real-time automated measurements at the bedside. Correlation between ONSD and ICP was explored, and the ability of ONSD to discriminate dichotomized ICP was evaluated. Abovementioned analyses were performed for the whole cohort and repeated for subgroups by whether the basal cisterns had been surgically entered before ultrasound examination. RESULTS : Twenty-six ultrasound examinations were performed in 20 patients. There was a positive correlation between ONSD and ICP (R = 0.43; p = 0.03). In the subgroup where the basal cisterns had not been surgically entered before ultrasound examination, there was a stronger correlation (R = 0.55; p = 0.01), whereas no correlation was seen in the subgroup where the basal cisterns had been surgically entered (R = - 0.16; p = 0.70). ONSD displayed an ability to discriminate ICP dichotomized at ≥ 15 mm Hg (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.84, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.65-0.96). Subgroup analysis revealed a perfect discriminatory ability (AUC = 1, 95% CI 0.81-1) where the basal cisterns had not been surgically entered and no discriminatory ability (AUC = 0.47, 95% CI 0.16-0.84) where the basal cisterns had been surgically entered before ultrasound examination. CONCLUSIONS : Automatically measured ONSD correlated well with ICP and displayed a perfect discriminatory ability in patients with aSAH in whom the basal cisterns had not been entered surgically before ultrasound examination, and may be a clinically valuable noninvasive marker of ICP in these patients. Caution should be exercised in using ONSD in patients in whom the basal cisterns have been entered surgically before ONSD measurements, as no association was observed in this subgroup.
Cash strapped! Can the multi-lateral human rights system survive the UN financial crisis?
Skelton, Ann, 1961- (Sage, 2025-12)
The United Nations is facing a financial emergency so acute that it threatens not only the day-to-day functioning of its institutions but also the very architecture of the multilateral human rights system. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the institutional anchor of global rights protection, recently announced a shortfall of around US $60 million in its core budget, having received only US $179 million of the US $246 million allocated for 2025. Extra-budgetary funding, on which many of its programmes rely, has simultaneously been cut by another US $60 million. These are not abstract numbers: they translate into treaty bodies forced to cancel sessions for the first time in their history, special rapporteurs restricted to a single country visit each year, and commissions of inquiry struggling to secure the staff and resources needed to investigate atrocities. The crisis raises an unsettling question – are we witnessing a temporary budgetary glitch, or the beginning of a deeper unraveling, in which states no longer have the political will to sustain the human rights project they created? This column takes up that question by tracing the roots of the UN's financial shortfall, examining its immediate and long-term consequences, situating it against pre-existing weaknesses in the system, and exploring whether its timing – coinciding with an increasingly hostile global environment for human rights – is mere coincidence or symptomatic of a more profound shift. It concludes with reflections on survival: not through unbounded expansion, but through consolidation, reform, and above all, solidarity.
Atlantochodaeus, a new genus of Ochodaeidae Streubel, 1846 (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea) from Brazilian Atlantic Forest with four new species and morphological notes to the family
Da Costa-Silva, Vinicius; Sousa, Rafael; Fuhrmann, Juares; Grossi, Paschoal C.; Vaz‑de‑Mello, Fernando Z. (Springer, 2025-06)
Atlantochodaeus, a new genus of Ochodaeidae from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest is described, discussed, and illustrated. Additionally, four new species belonging to Atlantochodaeus are described: Atlantochodaeus everardoi n. sp. and Atlantochodaeus paulseni n. sp., both recorded from Rio de Janeiro State; Atlantochodaeus hucheti n. sp. from Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo States, and Atlantochodaeus oliviae n. sp. from Minas Gerais State. Detailed descriptions of these species are accompanied by a differential diagnosis and a distribution map. A dichotomous key for all South American genera of Ochodaeidae and the species of Atlantochodaeus is provided to aid in identification. A comprehensive comparative morphology study regarding Parochodaeus pectoralis (LeConte, 1868) (type species of Parochodaeus) and the Atlantochodaeus species are discussed and illustrated. A discussion about gland, mycangium and stridulatory apparatus of Ochodaeinae are also provided. These findings emphasize the richness of the Atlantic Forest and underscore the importance of detailed taxonomic studies in revealing its biodiversity.
WatchListR : a tool for developing watch-lists of invasive species to inform biosecurity decision-making
Ivey, Philip J.; Faulkner, Katelyn T.; Miller, Justin; Van Steenderen, Clarke J.M. (Pensoft Publishers, 2025-11-20)
The Global Biodiversity Framework calls for member countries to reduce the rate of introduction of known or potential invasive alien species by at least 50 percent by 2030. An essential tool that will assist countries in achieving this ambitious target is a list of known or potential invasive alien species that are absent from their territories but might enter along a variety of pathways (‘watch-list’ hereafter). Generating watch-lists requires consideration of curated information on a large number of species. The growing volume of distribution data and the improved understanding of historical species introductions and invasions have created a significant data overload for countries compiling watch-lists. We have developed a computational workflow to automate part of this process, enabling countries to draw up these lists quickly and cost-effectively. The WatchListR tool requires reliable and accurate information on species present in the country (indigenous and introduced, as well as economically important). As information on which species are present is sometimes not readily available, local experts should ideally review and verify the watch-lists developed by WatchListR. As a case study, we used WatchListR to develop a list of species prohibited for importation into the Republic of Mauritius. We explore the development of WatchListR, describe the processes used, consider the efficacy of the tool, highlight planned future advancements, and suggest how countries can support the tool’s development through the use and creation of expert-validated watch-lists.
Lessons and challenges in creating alien species lists : insights from South Africa’s national reports on the status and management of biological invasions
Zengeya, Tsungai Alfred; Faulkner, Katelyn T.; Mtileni, Masingitla P.; Wilson, John R.U. (Pensoft Publishers, 2025-10-30)
Information on alien species present in a country, their status (establishment, distribution, impacts), and how they entered and move around the country is crucial for effective management. Such information underpins regulations, allocation of management resources, and evaluations of current and future threats. South African regulations, first promulgated in 2014, mandate a triennial process of national reports on the status and management of biological invasions, requiring a consolidated list of alien species. Here we describe the process followed to create such a list, how the list evolved over time, and highlight lessons learnt and challenges encountered. Over the production of three status reports, there have been major improvements in how data were presented, how changes were tracked, and the degree to which the information was consistent with international best practice. The development of documented and repeatable workflows ensured clarity on why a species was included on the list and facilitated reviews and updates. The focus for future reports is to include all historical data sources and to put processes in place to incorporate new information as it becomes available. We conclude with a reflection on what has worked and identify eight recommendations for those developing national lists of alien species: 1. structure data and make them available; 2. use data standards and metadata; 3. list data sources and levels of confidence; 4. take a modular approach; 5. document workflows; 6. integrate with reporting requirements; 7. commit dedicated resources; and 8. learn by doing.

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