SANParks.org Forums

Hi Everyone

I'm Rockhound. I will be writing under this forum, highlighting some of the research that happens in some of our National Parks. I'm very excited about this new project which is a great learning opportunity for me, and hopefully for you too. I'm a geologist and palaeontologist by specialisation (hence my user name), but am interested in all the natural sciences. I'm lucky to have been a frequent visitor to many of the Sanparks since childhood. Sometimes I'll be writing about things outside my area of expertise, but I will always welcome any comments or questions and try to get an answer from an expert if I don't know myself. I'll also try to recruit other experts to post in their areas of specialisation.

For most posts, I'll pick a scientific publication from a peer-reviewed journal and discuss how the study was done, and what conclusions were made. We can then discuss what it means, what potential implications there are, and what new research would make a good follow-up. If any of you want a copy of the original scientific publication PM me and I can send it along (for your own non-commercial use). Things I have lined up for the next few weeks include

1.) Antelope populations in Kruger Park.
2.) The geological development of Golden Gate.
3.) Lizard behaviour in Augrabies.
4.) What we know about past life from fossils in the Karoo and West Coast National Parks.
5.) Dune sands in the Kgalagadi.
6.) TB in buffalo in Kruger Park.

There may be a slight biased towards geology and fossils!

In the first topic (which I'll try to post later today), we can talk about the Roan Antelope population in Kruger, and whether we can identify any factors that are preventing it from increasing.

Brilliant
I am excited to hear

Welcome on board rockhound

Really looking forward to your posts.

Rockhound I am really looking forward to this thread ..

A privilege for us to have you here, Rockhound.
Welcome

Rockhound, welcome so you are to be our very own Sanparks naked scientist..

Welcome to the forums Rockhound.

I don't have a very "scientific" brain, but will try to understand what you write.........your proposed topics certainly sounbd very interesting!!

Welcome Rochhound, great to have you here, and I am sure we will all learn lots from you.

Rockhound, I do believe we on this forum have uncovered a treasure in you. Thank you for coming aboard and 'breaking new forum ground' and making forum history!

Welcome to the Forums Rockhound

Sounds exciting and looking forward to your posts

Great stuff Rockhound, this is something the forum has long needed. Having someone present, interesting, relevant bits of science and research personally, is a lot easier sometimes than wading through the the all serious literature out there.

Great to have you here rockhound!

This sounds excellent!! Welcome to the forum RH and thank you for taking the time to share and discuss very interesting topics!!

Hi rockhound
Great to have you onboard! These topics sound very interesting and I would love to hear these fascinating research journals.