Relevant Publications

  • Mills, A.J. & de Wet, R. 2019. Quantifying a sponge: The additional water in restored thicket. South African Journal of Science, 115:1-2.  
  • Van der Vyver, M. & Cowling, R.M. 2019. Aboveground biomass and carbon pool estimates of Portulacaria afra (spekboom)-rich subtropical thicket with species-specific allometric models. Forest Ecology and Management, 448:11-21.  
  • Mills, A.J., Milton, S.J., Taplin, B.D. & Allen, J.L. 2018. Viability of watering Portulacaria afra truncheons to facilitate restoration of subtropical thicket: Results from a nursery experiment and cost model. South African Journal of Botany, 115:58-64.  
  • Mills, A.J., van der Vyver, M., Gordon, I.J., Patwardhan, A., Marais C., Blignaut, J., Sigwela, A. & Kgope, B. 2015. Prescribing innovation within a large-scale restoration programme in degraded subtropical thicket in South Africa. Forests, 6:4328-4348.  
  • Mills, A.J. & Cowling, R.M. 2014. How fast can carbon be sequestered when restoring degraded subtropical thicket? Restoration Ecology, 22:571-573. 
  • Mills, A.J., Spear, D., Ndhlovu, T., Knight, M.H., Pienke, D.M., Hofmeyr, S. & Cowling, R.M. 2014. Biomass of large herbivores in South African subtropical thicket. African Journal of Ecology, DOI: 10.1111/aje.12162. 
  • Van Luijk, G., Cowling R.M., Riksen, M.J.P.M. & Glenday, J. 2013. Hydrological implications of desertification: Degradation of South African semi-arid subtropical thicket. Journal of Arid Environments, 91:14-21. 
  • Van der Vyver, M.L., Cowling, R.M., Campbell, E.E. & Difford, M. 2012. Active restoration of woody canopy dominants in degraded South African semi-arid thicket is neither ecologically nor economically feasible. Applied Vegetation Science, 15:26-34. 
  • Van der Vyver, M.L., Cowling, R.M, Mills, A.J. & Difford, M. 2012. Spontaneous return of biodiversity in restored subtropical thicket: Portulacaria afra as an ecosystem engineer. Restoration Ecology, 21:736-744. 
  • Mchunu, S.E. 2012. Distribution and Stability of Soil Carbon in Spekboom Thicket, Eastern Cape, South Africa. MSc. Thesis. University of Stellenbosch, Soil Science Department. 
  • Mills, A.J., Cowling, R.M., Steyn, D., Spekreijse, J., Van den Broeck, D., Weel, S. & Boogerd, C. 2011. Portulacaria afra is constrained under extreme soil conditions in the Fish River Reserve, Eastern Cape, South Africa. South African Journal of Botany, 77:782-786. 
  • Mills, A.J. & Cowling, R.M. 2010. Below-ground carbon stocks in intact and transformed subtropical thicket landscapes in semi-arid South Africa. Journal of Arid Environments, 74:93-100.  
  • Sigwela, A.M., Kerley, G.I.H., Mills, A.J. & Cowling, R.M. 2009. The impact of browsing-induced degradation on the reproduction of subtropical thicket canopy shrubs and trees. South African Journal of Botany, 75:262-267. 
  • Powell, M.J. 2009. Restoration of degraded subtropical thickets in the Baviaanskloof Megareserve, South Africa: The role of carbon stocks and Portuclacaria afra survivorship. MSc thesis, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 
  • Lechmere-Oertel, R.G., Kerley, G.I.H., Mills, A.J. & Cowling, R.M. 2008. Litter dynamics across browsing-induced fence line contrasts in succulent thicket, South Africa. South African Journal of Botany, 74:651-659. 
  • Mills, A.J., Turpie, J., Cowling, R.M., Marais, C., Kerley, G.I.H., Lechmere-Oertel, R.G., Sigwela, A.M. & Powell, M. 2007. Assessing costs, benefits and feasibility of subtropical thicket restoration in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. In: J.Aronson, S.J. Milton and J. Blignaut (eds), Restoring natural capital. Science, business and practice. Island Press, Washington DC. 
  • Mills, A.J. & Cowling, R.M. 2006. Rate of carbon sequestration at two thicket restoration sites in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Restoration Ecology, 14:38-49. 
  • Lechmere-Oertel, R.G., Kerley, G.I.H. & Cowling, R.M. 2005. Patterns and implications of transformation in semi-arid succulent thicket, South Africa. Journal of Arid Environments, 62:459-474. 
  • Lechmere-Oertel, R.G., Kerley, G.I.H. & Cowling, R.M. 2005. Landscape dysfunction and reduced spatial heterogeneity in soil resources and fertility in semi-arid succulent thicket, South Africa. Austral Ecology, 30:615-624 
  • Mills, A.J., O’Connor, T.G., Donaldson, J.S., Fey, M.V., Skowno, A.L., Sigwela, A.M., Lechmere-Oertel, R.G. & Bosenberg, J.D. 2005. Ecosystem carbon storage under different land uses in three semi-arid shrublands and a mesic grassland in South Africa. South African Journal of Plant and Soil, 22:183-190.  
  • Mills, A.J., Cowling, R.M., Fey, M.V., Kerley, G.I.H., Lechmere-Oertel, R.G., Sigwela, A., Skowno, A. & Rundel, P.W. 2005. Effects of goat pastoralism on ecosystem carbon storage in semi-arid thicket, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Austral Ecology, 30:807-813. 
  • Mills, A.J. & Fey, M.V.2004. Soil carbon and nitrogen in five contrasting biomes of South Africa exposed to different land uses. South African Journal of Soil Science, 21:94-103. 
  • Mills, A.J. & Fey, M.V. 2004. Transformation of thicket to savanna reduces soil quality in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Plant and Soil, 265:153-163. 
  • Sigwela, A. M. 2004. The impacts of landuse on vertebrate diversity and vertebrate- mediated processes in the Thicket Biome, Eastern Cape. Ph.D. thesis. University of Port Elizabeth, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. 
  • Lechmere-Oertel, R.G. 2003. The effects of goat browsing on ecosystem patterns and processes in succulent thicket, South Africa. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Port Elizabeth, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. 
  • Mills, A.J. & Fey, M.V. 2003. Declining soil quality in South Africa: effects of land use on soil organic matter and surface crusting. South African Journal of Science, 99:429-436. 
  • Lloyd, J.W., van den Berg, E. & Palmer, A.R. 2002. Patterns of transformation and degradation in the thicket biome, South Africa. TERU report no: 39. University of Port Elizabeth, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. 
  • Midgley, J. & Cowling, R.M. 1993. Regeneration patterns in the Cape subtropical transitional thicket: where are all the seedlings? South African Journal of Botany, 59:496-499.