3 – 7th July 2017 – Combined Congress of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa (ESSA) and the Zoological Society of Southern Africa (ZSSA), University of Pretoria, Pretoria.

South African Soil biota in a Changing Climate 

The speakers included:

  • Janion- Scheepers: A need for knowledge of soil biota ecological function in southern Africa.
  • Swart: Direct and indirect effects of abiotic factors on the rhizosphere microbiome of selected plants: Implications for measuring the impact of climate change.
  • Jacobs: Soil Fusarium survey of the grassland biome of South Africa.
  • Badenhorst: The effect of pollutants and agricultural practices on soil mesofaunal assemblages.
  • A. Neethling: How the lack of importance in soil economy has affected pseudoscorpion (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones) research.
  • Blanckenberg: Resurrection ecology of invertebrates in temporary wetlands in the Cape Floristic region: effects ofurbanisation and fire.
  • van der Merwe: Soil biota as bioindicators of erosion levels and fire disturbances in afromontane grassland areas within the Golden Gate Highlands National Park.
  • Botham: Forest patch status and soil health indices along a topographical gradient within afromontane grasslands.
  • Louw:  Managing change in cropping system soils requires strategic thinking.

We thank all the speakers, everyone that attended and the organisers of the ESSA/ZSSA for making the symposium possible.