UniVen Department of Zoology

02/10/2026

🐦 New research from UNIVEN Zoology and collaborators!

Published in Ostrich, this study from Vusani Mphethe’s PhD examined Common Bulbul activity on two litchi farms in Levubu, Limpopo.

Bulbul activity increased by approximately 70–80% during ripening and harvest, peaked in December, and was highest in the late afternoon and evening. These findings can guide orchard bird monitoring and crop protection planning, although the study did not measure fruit damage directly.

Read more: https://doi.org/10.2989/00306525.2026.2699394

06/08/2026

New research by Mina Anders and the SARChI research collaboration shows that birds and bats provide important natural pest control in macadamia orchards. Excluding these predators increased insect damage from 6.2% to 10.7%, representing a 70% relative increase. Birds reduced damage mainly in orchard centres, while bats provided pest control throughout the orchards. Conserving surrounding natural habitats also supported greater bat diversity, improved nut quality, and increased total macadamia yield.

Congratulations to Mina on this excellent contribution from her PhD research!

06/08/2026