Prof. J.J.Midgley

Research Interests

I am interested in evolutionary ecology and ecosystem dynamics. At the moment I am working on pollination in Erica, rodent pollination in general and rodent scatterhoarding in fynbos and savanna (marula). In terms of ecosystem dynamics, I'm working on woody plant dynamics in savanna and in the Knysna forest.

Scientific Papers

1.Midgley, J.J. 1986. Aspects of the phylogeny, evolution and biogeography of the genus Leucadendron (Proteaceae). Palaeoecology of Africa 17: 193?200

2.Midgley, J.J. and Vlok J. 1986. Flowering patterns of Cape Proteaceae. Acta Hort 185:273-276

3.Midgley, J.J. 1987. The derivation, utility and implications of a divergence index for the fynbos genus Leucadendron (Proteaceae). Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 95: 135-152

4.Midgley, J.J. 1988. The adaptationists' programme can benefit from phylogenetic perspectives: examples from Cape flora. S. Afr. J. Sci. 84:85-87

5.Midgley, J.J. 1988. Mortality of Cape Proteaceae seedlings during their first summer. S.A. For. J. 145:9-12

6.Bond, W.J. and Midgley J.J. 1988. Allometry and sexual differences in leaf size. Am. Nat 131(6):901-910

7.Bond, W.J., Midgley, J.J. and Vlok J. 1988. When is an island not an island? Insular effects and their causes in fynbos shrublands. Oecologia 77:515-521

8.Midgley, J.J. and Bond W.J. 1989. Leaf size and inflorescence size may be allometrically related traits. Oecologia 78:427-429

9.Midgley, J.J. and Bond W.J. 1989. Evidence from Southern African Coniferales for the historical decline of the gymnosperms. S. Afr. J. Sci. 85:81-85

10.Midgley, J.J. 1989. Season of burn of serotinous fynbos Proteaceae:A critical review and further data. S. Afr. J. Bot. 55(2):165-170

11.Midgley J.J., Hoekstra, T. and Bartholomew R. 1989. Implications of a field germination trial of serotinous fynbos Proteaceae for season of burn. Vegetatio 79:185-192

12.Midgley J.J. 1989. Pollen dispersal distances for a conifer canopy species in the Knysna Forest. S. Afr. J. Bot. 55(6): 662-663

13.Midgley J.J. and Bond W.J. 1990. Knysna Fynbos "islands"; origins and conservation. S. Afr. For. J. 153: 18-21

14.Midgley, J.J. and Clayton P. 1990. Short-term effects of an Autumn Fire on small mammal populations in Southern Cape Mountain Fynbos. S. Afr.For. J. 153: 27-30

15.Midgley, J.J. and Viviers M. 1990. The germination of seeds from heated serotinous cones of eight shrubland species. S. Afr. For. J. 155:5-9

16.Midgley, J.J. Seydeck A. Reynell D. and McKelly D. 1990 Fine-grain pattern in Southern Cape plateau forests. J. Veg. Sci. 1: 539-546

17.Midgley, J.J and von Maltitz G. 1990. Comparison of seedling distribution patterns of wind and ant-dispersed Proteaceae. S. Afr. J. Ecol. 1(2):60-62

18.Midgley, J.J and Bond W.J. 1991. Angiosperms versus gymnosperms: a critical evaluation of the reproductive superiority hypothesis. Biol. J. Linn. Soc 44:81-92

19.Midgley, J.J. and Bond W.J. 1991. How important is biotic pollination and dispersal for the success of the angiosperms? Proc. Roy. Soc. B. 333:209-215 (Also in the book: The evolutionary interaction between animals and plants. 1991. Chaloner, W.G., Lawton, J and Harper J.L. (ed). The Royal Society. London).

20.Le Maitre D. and Midgley, J.J. 1991. Allometric relationships between leaf and inflorescence mass in the genus Protea : an analysis of the exceptions to the rule Functional Ecology 5(4):476-484

21.Midgley, J.J. and Stuart-Hill G. 1991. Megaherbivores, Acocks, spekboom and goats. S. Afr. J. Sci. 87:550-551

22.Midgley, J.J., Cowling R.M. and B. Lamont. 1991. Relationship of follicle size and seed size in Hakea (Proteaceae). Isometry, allometry and adaptation. S. Afr. J. Bot. 57(2):107-110

23.Zacharias, P. Stuart-Hill, G. and Midgley J.J. (editors) 1991. Proceedings of 1st Valley Bushveld/Subtropical Thicket Symposium. Grassland Society of Southern Africa Special Publication. 55pp

24.Midgley, J.J. 1991. Valley Bushveld dynamics and tree euphorbias. In Proceedings of 1st Valley Bushveld/Subtropical Thicket Symposium. Zacharias, P. Stuart-Hill, G. and Midgley J.J. (ed). Grassland Society of Southern Africa Special Publication. pp 8-9

25.Midgley, J.J. and Joubert D. 1991. Parasitic plants, their host plants and the influence of herbivory by large mammals. Koedoe 34(2):149-152

26.Midgley, J.J. and Schafer G. 1992. Correlates of water colour in streams rising in Southern Cape catchments vegetated by fynbos and or forest. Water SA 18(2):93-100

27.Midgley, J.J. 1992. Why do some hopliinids have such large hind legs? J. Ent. Soc. of S. Afr. 55(1):157-163

28.Le Maitre D. and Midgley J.J. 1992. Plant reproductive ecology. In The ecology of fynbos. Nutrients, Fire and Diversity. R. Cowling (ed). Oxford University Press. pp 135-174

29.Midgley, J.J. and Watson L. 1992. Nearest neighbour interactions amongst adult Proteaceae in the southern Cape. S. Afr. J. Bot. 58(3):207-208

30.Midgley, J.J. 1992. Aspects of the dynamics of the High Forest at Langebos (Alexandria Forest Type). S. Afr. For. J. 161:19-22

31.Midgley, J.J. and Gobetz P. 1993. Dynamics of the forest vegetation at the Umtiza Nature Reserve. Bothalia 23(1):111-116

32.Midgley, J.J. 1993. An evaluation of Hutchinsons beetle-daisy hypothesis. Bothalia 23(1):70-72

33.Midgley, J.J. and Cowling R.M. 1993. Regeneration patterns in Valley Bushveld; where are all the seedlings S. Afr. J. Bot. 59 (5):496-499

34.Midgley, J.J. 1993. Mass mortality of tree Euphorbias in the Eastern Cape: Are baboons the culprits? Bontebok 8:28-30

35.Linder H.P. and Midgley J.J. 1994. Taxonomy, compositional biodiversity and functional biodiversity of fynbos. S. Afr. J. Sci. 90:329-333

36.Midgley, J.J. & Scott D.F. 1994. The use of stable isotopes of water in hydrological studies in the Jonkershoek Valley. Water SA 20(2): 151-154

37.Midgley, J.J. Talma S., Scott D., Olbrich B. and van Wyk G.F. 1994. Analysis of stable isotopes of xylem water from plantation trees in E. Transvaal and Zululand indicate they utilised ground water during the drought of 1992. S. Afr. For. J. 170:33-36

38.Picker, M. & Midgley J.J. 1994. Observations on unusual mating and fossorial activity in the monkey beetle Hoplcnemis crassipes Olivier (Coleoptera:Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae) Afr Ento 2(2): 181-182

39.Dean, W.R.J., Midgley, J.J. and Stock W. 1994 The distribution of mistletoe species in South Africa; patterns of species richness and host choice. J. Biogeog. 21:503-510

40.Everard D. A., van Wyk G.F and Midgley J.J. 1994. Disturbance and diversity of forests in Natal: lessons for their utilisation. Strelitzia 1:275-286.

41.Midgley, G., Midgley J.J., Linder H.P. and Bond W.J. 1994. Mistletoes on CAM hosts; an ecophysiological perspective on an unusual combination. S. Afr. J. Sci. 90:482-484

42.Midgley, J.J., Bond, W.J.& Geldenhuys C.J. 1995. A review of southern African conifers. In Southern conifers. Enright, N., Veblen, T. and Hill B. (ed). University of Melbourne Press.

43.Midgley, J.J., van Wyk G., and Everard D.A. 1995. Relative lack of regeneration of canopy dominants in some South African forests. S. Afr. J. Sci. 91:7-8

44.Midgley, J.J. van Wyk G.R and Everard D.A. 1995 Leaf attributes of some South African forest species. Afr. J. Ecol. 33:160-168

45.Midgley, J.J. Cameron, M.C. and Bond W.J. 1995. Gap characteristics and replacement patterns in the Knysna Forest, South Africa. J. Veg. Sci. 6:29-36

46.Bond W.J. and Midgley J.J. 1995. Kill thy neighbour: an individualistic argument for the evolution of flammability. Oikos 73:79-85

47.Midgley, J.J. and Bond W.J. 1995 Relative attractiveness of seeds of myrmecochorous Australian and South African plants to ants, and the chemical basis of this attraction. S. Afr. J. Bot. 61(4):230-232

48.Everard, D.A., Midgley J.J., and Van Wyk G.F. 1995. Dynamics of some forests in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, based on ordinations and size-class distributions. S. Afr. J. Bot. 61(6): 283-292

49.Midgley J.J. 1996. Why the worlds vegetation is not completely dominated by resprouters. Ecography 19(1): 92-95

50.Picker M and Midgley J.J. 1996. Pollination by monkey beetles (Coleoptera:Scarabaeidae:Hopliini): flower and colour preferences J. Afr. Ento. 4(1): 7-14

51.Cowling R.M. and Midgley J.J. 1996. The influence of regional phenomena on an emerging global ecology. Global ecology and biogeography Letters 5:1-3

52.Ellis A.G. and Midgley J.J. 1996 A new plant-insect mutualism involving a carnivorous plant and a hemipteran insect. Oecologia 106:478-481

53.van Wyk G.F. Midgley, J.J. and Everard D.A. 1996 Floristics and dynamics of the Dukuduku forest, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. S. Afr. J. Bot. 62(3):133-142

54.Linder H.P. and Midgley J.J. 1996 Anemophilous plants select their own species from the air. Oecologia 1996:85-87

55.Midgley J.J. and Ward D. 1996 Tests of induced responses of spinescent plants must take into account annual growth patterns. Afr. J. Rangeland Sci. 13(2): 78-80

56.Kruger L.M., Midgley J.J. and Cowling R.M. 1997 Sprouting in forests; a model based on canopy height. Funct. Ecol. 11:101-105

57.Johnson S. D. and Midgley J.J. 1997 Fly pollination of Gorteria diffusa (Asteraceae), and a possible mimetic function for dark spots on the capitulum. Am. J. Bot. 84(4): 429-436

58.Midgley J.J., Cowling R.M., Hendriks H., Esler K. and Rundel P. 1997 Population ecology of tree succulents (Aloe and Pachypodium) in the arid w Cape; decline of keystone species. Biodiv and Cons. 6:869-876

59.Midgley J.J. 1997 The decline of Aloe pillansii at Cornells Kop in the Richtersveld Aloe 34:39

60.Cowling R.M., Kirkwood D. Midgley J.J. Pierce S.M. 1997 Invasion and persistence of bird-dispersed, sub-tropical thicket and forest species in fire-prone coastal fynbos.J. Veg. Sci. 8:475-488.

61.Midgley J.J., Cowling R.M. Seydack, A and van Wyk G.F. 1997. Forests. In Vegetation of Southern Africa (Edited Cowling R.M., Richardson D. M and Pierce S.M.). Cambridge Univ. Press. pp 278-299

62.Cowling R.M., Richardson D.M., Schulze, R.E., Hoffman, M.T. Midgley,J.J. and Hilton-Taylor C. 1997. Species diversity at the regional scale. In Vegetation of Southern Africa. (Edited by Cowling R.M. ., Richardson D. M and Pierce S.M.). Cambridge Univ. Press. pp 447-473

63.Midgley J.J. and Johnson S.D. 1998 Some pollinators do not prefer symmetrical flowers. J. Evol. Ecol. 12:123-126

64.Midgley J.J. 1998 Allometry of dispersal of tumblers (Combretum species) and parachutes (Leucadendron).Pl. Syst. & Evol. 211:141-147

65.Midgley J.J. and Stock W.D. 1998 15N analyses confirms insectivorous habit of Roridula gorgonias despite an absence of proteolytic enzymes. Annals of Botany 82(3):387-388

66.Midgley J.J., Enright N.J. and Cowling R.M. 1998. Demography and co-existence of two ecologically equvalent Proteaceae. Aust. J. Bot. 46:501-505

67.Midgley J.J. 1998. Mistletoes of Africa (review of P. Polhill & D. Wiens). Nature 396:732

68.Skowno A, Midgley J.J., Bond W.J. and Balfour D. 1999. Secondary succession in Acacia nilotica savanna in the Hluhluwe Game Reserve. Plant Ecology 145:1-9

69.Zachariades C and Midgley J.J. 1999. Extrafloral nectaries of South African Proteaceae attract insects but do not reduce herbivory. Afr. Ento. 7(1): 67-76

70.Kirkwood D. and Midgley J.J. 1999. The floristics of Sand Forest in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Bothalia 29: 293-304

71.Midgley J.J. 2000. What are the relative costs, limits and correlates of increased degree of serotiny? Aust. Ecol. 25:65-68

72.Midgley J.J. and Enright N.J. 2000. Serotinous species show correlation between retention time for leaves and cones. J. Ecol. 88:348-351

73.Midgley J.J. 2000 Determinants of clutch size in Leucadendron (Proteaceae); Pleiotropy versus trade-offs . Flora (Germany) 195(3):252-256

74.West A.G., Bond, W.J. & Midgley J.J. 2000. Soil isotopes reveal ancient grassland under forest at Hluhluwe, KwaZulu, Natal. S. Afr. J. Sci. 96:252-254

75.Midgley J.J. and Kruger L.M. 2000. Senescence in Cape Proteaceae. J. Medit. Ecol. 1:181-185

76.West A. Midgley, J.J. and Bond W.J. 2000. Regeneration failure and the potential importance of human disturbance in subtropical forest. Appl. Veg. Sci. 3:223-232

77.West A., Midgley J.J. and Bond W.J. 2001. The evaluation of 13C isotopes of trees to determine regenerative environments. J. For. Ecol. & Mgmt. 147:139-149

78.Midgley, J.J. & Bond W.J. 2001. A synthesis of the demography of African Acacias. J. Trop. Ecol. 17:871-886

79.Midgley, J.J., McLean, P., Botha, M. & Balfour, D. 2001. Why do some African Acacias have a flat-top? Afr. J. Ecol. 39:226-228

80.Midgley, J.J., Botha M. & Balfour D. 2001. Patterns of variation in thorn length, density, type and colour in African Acacias. Afr. J. Rangeland Sci. 18:59-61

81.Midgley, J.J. Scott, D.F. & Harris C. 2001. How do we know how much groundwater is stored in Cape mountains? S. Afr. J. Sci. 97:285-287

82.Bond, W.J & Midgley J.J. 2001.The persistence niche: ecology of sprouting in woody plants. Trends in Research in Ecology and Evolution 16(1):45-51

83.Johnson S.D., Pauw A & Midgley J.J. 2001. Rodent pollination in Massonia. Am. J. Bot. 88:1768-1773

84.Johnson S.D. & Midgley J.J. 2001. Pollination by monkey-beetles (Hoplinii): Do colour and dark centres influence alighting behaviour?. J. Ecol. Entomology 30(5): 861-868

85.Anderson B.C. & Midgley J.J. 2001. Food or sex; pollinator-prey conflict in carnivorous plants. Ecol. Letters 4:511-513

86.Kruger L.M & Midgley J.J. 2001. The influence of resprouting forest canopy species on richness in Southern cape forests, South Africa. Global Ecology & Biogeography 10:567-572

87. Midgley J.J. 2001. Do mixed-species mixed-size indigenous forests following the self-thinning line? Trends Ecol. & Evol. 12:661-2