DOCSLIB.ORG

A Handbook on the Rare, Threatened & Endemic Species of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
A Handbook on the Rare, Threatened & Endemic Species of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park f A HANDBOOK ON THE RARE, THREATENED & ENDEMIC SPECIES OF THE GREATER ST LUCIA WETLAND PARK A product of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park Rare, Threatened & Endemic Species Project Combrink & Kyle June 2006 St Lucia Office: The Dredger Harbour, Private Bag x05, St Lucia 3936 Tel No. +27 35 590 1633, Fax No. +27 35 590 1602, e-mail [email protected] 2 “Suddenly, as rare things will, it vanished” Robert Browning A photograph taken in 2003 of probably the last known Bonatea lamprophylla, a recently (1976) described terrestrial orchid that was known from three small populations, all within the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park. Nothing was known on the biology or life history of this species, except that it produced spectacular flowers between September and October. This orchid might have to be reclassified in the future as extinct. Suggested citation for this product: Combrink, A.S. and Kyle, R. 2006. A Handbook on the Rare, Threatened & Endemic Species of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park. A product of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park - Rare, Threatened & Endemic Species Project. Unpublished internal report. 191 pp. 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 FOREWORD............................................................................................................................................ 6 2 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................... 7 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................... 9 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.................................................................................................................... 10 5 PROJECT TEAM ................................................................................................................................... 11 6 PROCESS............................................................................................................................................... 13 7 AIMS & OBJECTIVES.......................................................................................................................... 14 7.1 Overall objective............................................................................................................................ 14 7.2 Specific research objectives ........................................................................................................... 14 7.3 Specific awareness objectives........................................................................................................ 14 8 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROJECT .......................................................................................................15 9 MATERIAL AND METHODS.............................................................................................................. 24 9.1 Survey methods.............................................................................................................................. 24 9.1.1 Pitfall trap with drift fences ....................................................................................................... 24 9.1.2 “Willan” PVC rodent traps ........................................................................................................ 24 9.1.3 Fruit chafer beetle traps ............................................................................................................. 24 9.1.4 Sound recordings ....................................................................................................................... 24 9.1.5 Active searching (time constraint searches) .............................................................................. 24 9.2 This document................................................................................................................................ 26 9.3 Capturing local knowledge ............................................................................................................ 30 10 VERTEBRATES .................................................................................................................................... 31 10.1 MAMMALS................................................................................................................................... 31 10.1.1 Flagship species..................................................................................................................... 31 10.1.2 Focal species.......................................................................................................................... 31 10.1.3 Rare, Threatened & Endemic list (ranked in order of conservation importance).................. 31 10.1.3.1 Tongaland Red Squirrel .................................................................................................... 35 10.1.3.2 Short-eared Trident Bat..................................................................................................... 37 10.1.3.3 African Wild Dog.............................................................................................................. 39 10.1.3.4 Rufous Mouse-eared Bat................................................................................................... 41 10.1.3.5 Tsessebe ............................................................................................................................ 43 10.2 BIRDS............................................................................................................................................ 44 10.2.1 Flagship species..................................................................................................................... 44 10.2.2 Focal species.......................................................................................................................... 44 10.2.3 Rare, Threatened & Endemic list (ranked in order of conservation importance).................. 44 10.2.3.1 Natal Nightjar.................................................................................................................... 49 10.2.3.2 Spotted Ground Thrush..................................................................................................... 51 10.2.3.3 Blackrumped Buttonquail ................................................................................................. 53 10.2.3.4 Southern Banded Snake Eagle .......................................................................................... 55 10.2.3.5 Mangrove Kingfisher ........................................................................................................ 57 10.3 REPTILES ..................................................................................................................................... 58 10.3.1 Flagship species..................................................................................................................... 58 10.3.2 Focal species.......................................................................................................................... 58 10.3.3 Rare, Threatened & Endemic list (ranked in order of conservation importance).................. 58 10.3.3.1 Setaro’s Dwarf chameleon ................................................................................................ 61 10.3.3.2 Pygmy Wolf Snake ........................................................................................................... 63 10.3.3.3 Coastal Dwarf Burrowing Skink....................................................................................... 65 4 10.3.3.4 FitzSimon's Dwarf Burrowing Skink................................................................................ 66 10.3.3.5 Southern Forest Worm Snake ........................................................................................... 69 10.3.3.6 Leatherback Turtle ............................................................................................................ 71 10.3.3.7 Gaboon Adder................................................................................................................... 73 10.4 AMPHIBIANS............................................................................................................................... 74 10.4.1 Flagship species..................................................................................................................... 74 10.4.2 Focal species.......................................................................................................................... 74 10.4.3 Rare, Threatened & Endemic list (ranked in order of conservation importance).................. 74 10.4.3.1 Pickersgill’s Reed Frog..................................................................................................... 77 10.4.3.2 Spotted Shovel-nosed Frog ............................................................................................... 79 10.4.3.3 Natal Leaf-Folding Frog ................................................................................................... 81 10.4.3.4 Whistling Rain Frog.......................................................................................................... 83 10.4.3.5 Forest Tree Frog................................................................................................................85 10.5 FRESHWATER & ESTUARINE FISH ........................................................................................ 86 10.5.1 Flagship species....................................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Supplemental Information Biological Conservation No Safe Haven: Protection Levels Show Imperilled South African Reptiles Not
    Supplemental Information Biological Conservation No safe haven: protection levels show imperilled South African reptiles not sufficiently safe- guarded despite low average extinction risk Krystal A. Tolley, Joshua Weeber, Bryan Maritz, Luke Verburgt, Michael F. Bates, Werner Conradie, Margaretha D. Hofmeyr, Andrew A. Turner, Jessica M. da Silva, Graham J. Alexander Supplemental Figures S1-S3 Figure S1. Species richness of threatened and Near Threatened reptiles in South Africa. 1 Figure S2. Reptile species richness in South Africa (darker shades indicate higher richness), with the current protected area network indicated by the black outlines. 2 Figure S3. Reptile species richness in South Africa (darker shades indicate higher richness), with the current protected area network indicated by the grey shaded polygons and the protected area expansion network indicated by black polygon outlines. 3 Appendix S1. Protocol for Measuring Protection Level for South African Reptiles The following process was applied to measure the level of protection for each species, using the interpreted distributions for the species (see main text). We evaluated the effectiveness of South Africa’s protected area network in ensuring that minimum viable populations of reptiles are protected. We set a conservation target for protection of at least 10 fragments of protected habitat, each with areas greater than 10 km2 (1000 ha) for a total of 100 km2 for each species. The fragment size was considered to be the minimum area that would support viable populations, with the total area considered to be the total area needed to safeguard the species survival into the future. The interpreted distributions for each species were then intersected with South Africa’s protected area network (Government of South Africa, 2010).
    [Show full text]
  • An Introduction to the Epiphytic Orchids of East Africa
    Sphyrarchynchus sp. Cyrtorchis crassifoHa Schltr. AN INTRODUCTION TO THE EPIPHYTIC ORCHIDS OF EAST AFRICA. By W. M. MOREAU AND R. E. MOREAU. C()IYl,tents. 1. Introduction. 2. Nomenclature and classification. 3. General ecology. 4. The orchid flower. 5. Published and unpublished sources of East African records. 6. Tentative field key to the genera. 7. Annotated check-list of species. 1. INTRODUCTION. Over fifteen thousand species of orchids have been described, the vast majority of them tropical, and the greater part of them epiphytic, that is, normally growing on trees without deriving sustenance from them. But little more than ten per cent of the majestic total belong to Tropical Africa and moreover, so far as is known at present, within that area ground orchids predominate over epiphytic in the proportion of more than three to one. There is reason to believe that these figures are a reflection rather of our ignorance than of the truth. Because the Tropical African epiphytic orchids are not characterised by the magni• ficence and opulence of those of other regions, they have not attracted the commercial collector and certainly are most imperfectly known. Yet the local orchids display a delightful diversity of adaptation and of form. None are flamboyant, but many are beautiful, some are exquisitely dainty and a few are bizarre. They appeal to the same feelings and are capable of arousing the same enthusiasms as succulents or alpine plants. Moreover, anyone who takes the comparatively little trouble required to collect and grow them has the additional satisfaction of knowing that he is contributing to scientific knowledge.
    [Show full text]
  • Structure and Condition of Zambezi Valley Dry Forests and Thickets
    SSTTRRUUCCTTUURREE AANNDD CCOONNDDIITTIIOONN OOFF ZZAAMMBBEEZZII VVAALLLLEEYY DDRRYY FFOORREESSTTSS AANNDD TTHHIICCKKEETTSS January 2002 Published by The Zambezi Society STRUCTURE AND CONDITION OF ZAMBEZI VALLEY DRY FORESTS AND THICKETS by R.E. Hoare, E.F. Robertson & K.M. Dunham January 2002 Published by The Zambezi Society The Zambezi Society is a non- The Zambezi Society P O Box HG774 governmental membership Highlands agency devoted to the Harare conservation of biodiversity Zimbabwe and wilderness and the Tel: (+263-4) 747002/3/4/5 sustainable use of natural E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.zamsoc.org resources in the Zambezi Basin Zambezi Valley dry forest biodiversity i This report has a series of complex relationships with other work carried out by The Zambezi Society. Firstly, it forms an important part of the research carried out by the Society in connection with the management of elephants and their habitats in the Guruve and Muzarabani districts of Zimbabwe, and the Magoe district of Mozambique. It therefore has implications, not only for natural resource management in these districts, but also for the transboundary management of these resources. Secondly, it relates closely to the work being carried out by the Society and the Biodiversity Foundation for Africa on the identification of community-based mechanisms FOREWORD for the conservation of biodiversity in settled lands. Thirdly, it represents a critically important contribution to the Zambezi Basin Initiative for Biodiversity Conservation (ZBI), a collaboration between the Society, the Biodiversity Foundation for Africa, and Fauna & Flora International. The ZBI is founded on the acquisition and dissemination of good biodiversity information for incorporation into developmental and other planning initiatives.
    [Show full text]
  • Overgrazed Shrublands Support High Taxonomic, Functional and Temporal
    Ecological Indicators 103 (2019) 599–609 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Ecological Indicators journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ecolind Overgrazed shrublands support high taxonomic, functional and temporal diversity of Mediterranean ground spider assemblages T ⁎ Dimitris Kaltsasa, , Eleni Panayiotoub, Konstantinos Kougioumoutzisc, Maria Chatzakid a Don Daleziou 45, 382 21 Volos, Greece b Palagia Alexandroupolis, PO Box 510, 681 00 Alexandroupolis, Greece c Laboratory of Systematic Botany, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 118 55 Athens, Greece d Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, 681 00 Alexandroupolis, Greece ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Keywords: The phryganic and maquis shrublands form the most typical vegetal formations in the Eastern Mediterranean Indicator species that since thousands of years have been subject to various types of anthropogenic disturbance, including grazing. Gnaphosidae We studied the impact of sheep and goat grazing on 50 assemblages of ground spiders (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) in Crete phryganic, maquis and forest habitats from zero to 2000 m elevation on Crete, Greece using pitfall traps for one Maquis year at each sampling site. In total, 58 gnaphosid species and 16,592 individuals were collected. Cretan endemic Livestock grazing Gnaphosidae were negatively affected by intensive grazing and, contrary to findings on other taxa studied on the Habitat degradation island, they were sparse and rare throughout the study area. The species composition of gnaphosid assemblages was primarily determined by elevation. Trachyzelotes lyonneti, Urozelotes rusticus, Zelotes scrutatus, Anagraphis pallens and Berinda amabilis proved to be significant indicators of overgrazing. The vast majority of spiders belonging to synanthropic and nationally red-listed species were found in overgrazed sites.
    [Show full text]
  • Amphibian Diversity in Shimba Hills National Reserve, Kenya: a Comprehensive List of Specimens and Species
    Journal of East African Natural History 106(1): 19–46 (2017) AMPHIBIAN DIVERSITY IN SHIMBA HILLS NATIONAL RESERVE, KENYA: A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF SPECIMENS AND SPECIES Beryl A. Bwong Biogeography Research Group, Department of Environmental Sciences University of Basel, 4056 Basel , Switzerland & Herpetology Section, Zoology Department, National Museums of Kenya P.O Box 40658, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya [email protected] Joash O. Nyamache, Patrick K. Malonza, Domnick V. Wasonga, Jacob M. Ngwava Herpetology Section, Zoology Department, National Museums of Kenya P.O Box 40658, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected], [email protected] Christopher D. Barratt, Peter Nagel Biogeography Research Group, Department of Environmental Sciences University of Basel, 4056 Basel , Switzerland [email protected]; [email protected] Simon P. Loader Biogeography Research Group, Department of Environmental Sciences University of Basel, 4056 Basel , Switzerland & Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK [email protected] ABSTRACT We present the first annotated amphibian checklist of Shimba Hills National Reserve (SHNR). The list comprises of 30 currently known amphibians (28 anurans and two caecilians), which includes 11 families and 15 genera. In addition, individual records per species, distribution in the reserve and brief remarks about the species are presented. The checklist is based on information from museum collections, field guides, unpublished reports and newly collected field data. We are able to confirm the presence of two Eastern Afromontane species in the SHNR: Scolecomorphus cf. vittatus and Callulina cf. kreffti. The latter has not been recorded since the original collection of a single specimen over 50 years ago.
    [Show full text]
  • African Butterfly News Can Be Downloaded Here
    LATE SUMMER EDITION: JANUARY / AFRICAN FEBRUARY 2018 - 1 BUTTERFLY THE LEPIDOPTERISTS’ SOCIETY OF AFRICA NEWS LATEST NEWS Welcome to the first newsletter of 2018! I trust you all have returned safely from your December break (assuming you had one!) and are getting into the swing of 2018? With few exceptions, 2017 was a very poor year butterfly-wise, at least in South Africa. The drought continues to have a very negative impact on our hobby, but here’s hoping that 2018 will be better! Braving the Great Karoo and Noorsveld (Mark Williams) In the first week of November 2017 Jeremy Dobson and I headed off south from Egoli, at the crack of dawn, for the ‘Harde Karoo’. (Is there a ‘Soft Karoo’?) We had a very flexible plan for the six-day trip, not even having booked any overnight accommodation. We figured that finding a place to commune with Uncle Morpheus every night would not be a problem because all the kids were at school. As it turned out we did not have to spend a night trying to kip in the Pajero – my snoring would have driven Jeremy nuts ... Friday 3 November The main purpose of the trip was to survey two quadrants for the Karoo BioGaps Project. One of these was on the farm Lushof, 10 km west of Loxton, and the other was Taaiboschkloof, about 50 km south-east of Loxton. The 1 000 km drive, via Kimberley, to Loxton was accompanied by hot and windy weather. The temperature hit 38 degrees and was 33 when the sun hit the horizon at 6 pm.
    [Show full text]
  • The Genus Abantis Hopffer, 1855 in Angola and Description of a New Species (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae, Pyrginae) SHILAP Revista De Lepidopterología, Vol
    SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterología ISSN: 0300-5267 [email protected] Sociedad Hispano-Luso-Americana de Lepidopterología España Mendes, L. F.; Bivar de Sousa, A. The genus Abantis Hopffer, 1855 in Angola and description of a new species (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae, Pyrginae) SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterología, vol. 37, núm. 147, septiembre, 2009, pp. 313-318 Sociedad Hispano-Luso-Americana de Lepidopterología Madrid, España Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=45515238007 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative 313-318 The genus Abantis Hopff 7/9/09 17:41 Página 313 SHILAP Revta. lepid., 37 (147), septiembre 2009: 313-318 CODEN: SRLPEF ISSN:0300-5267 The genus Abantis Hopffer, 1855 in Angola and description of a new species (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae, Pyrginae)* L. F. Mendes & A. Bivar de Sousa Abstract One new species of the genus Abantis Hopffer, 1855 is described from Angola (Moxico Province) and compared with the most similar ones - main differences concern the wings shape, dorsal wing pattern and shape of the valves of genitalia; new data are presented relatively to other species of the same genus known to fly in the country. KEY WORDS: Lepidoptera, Hesperiidae, Pyrginae, Abantis, new species, new data, Angola. El género Abantis Hopffer, 1855 en Angola y descripción de una especie nueva (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae, Pyrginae) Resumen Se describe una nueva especie del género Abantis Hopffer, 1855 procedente de Angola (Provincia de Moxico) y se compara con las especies conocidas más parecidas - las principales diferencias respecto a la forma y el color dorsal de las alas y la morfología de las valvas de la genitalia; se presentan nuevos datos relativos a otras especies del mismo género conocidas en el país.
    [Show full text]
  • Orchids: 2017 Global Ex Situ Collections Assessment
    Orchids: 2017 Global Ex situ Collections Assessment Botanic gardens collectively maintain one-third of Earth's plant diversity. Through their conservation, education, horticulture, and research activities, botanic gardens inspire millions of people each year about the importance of plants. Ophrys apifera (Bernard DuPon) Angraecum conchoglossum With one in five species facing extinction due to threats such (Scott Zona) as habitat loss, climate change, and invasive species, botanic garden ex situ collections serve a central purpose in preventing the loss of species and essential genetic diversity. To support the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, botanic gardens create integrated conservation programs that utilize diverse partners and innovative techniques. As genetically diverse collections are developed, our collective global safety net against plant extinction is strengthened. Country-level distribution of orchids around the world (map data courtesy of Michael Harrington via ArcGIS) Left to right: Renanthera monachica (Dalton Holland Baptista ), Platanthera ciliaris (Wikimedia Commons Jhapeman) , Anacamptis boryi (Hans Stieglitz) and Paphiopedilum exul (Wikimedia Commons Orchi ). Orchids The diversity, stunning flowers, seductiveness, size, and ability to hybridize are all traits which make orchids extremely valuable Orchids (Orchidaceae) make up one of the largest plant families to collectors, florists, and horticulturists around the world. on Earth, comprising over 25,000 species and around 8% of all Over-collection of wild plants is a major cause of species flowering plants (Koopowitz, 2001). Orchids naturally occur on decline in the wild. Orchids are also very sensitive to nearly all continents and ecosystems on Earth, with high environmental changes, and increasing habitat loss and diversity found in tropical and subtropical regions.
    [Show full text]
  • Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Seismic Reflection Survey and Well Drilling, Umkhanyakude District Municipality, Northern Kzn
    SFG1897 v2 Public Disclosure Authorized ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT SEISMIC REFLECTION SURVEY AND WELL DRILLING, UMKHANYAKUDE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY, NORTHERN KZN Public Disclosure Authorized Client: SANEDI–SACCCS Consultant: G.A. Botha (PhD, Pr.Sci.Nat) in association with specialist consultants; Brousse-James and Associates, WetRest, Jeffares & Green, S. Allan Council for Geoscience, P.O. Box 900, Pietermaritzburg, 3200 Council for Geoscience report: 2016-0009 June, 2016 Copyright © Council for Geoscience, 2016 Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Table of Contents Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................................... vii 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 1 2 Project description ................................................................................................................................ 4 2.1 Location and regional context ....................................................................................................... 5 2.2 2D seismic reflection survey and well drilling; project description and technical aspects ............ 7 2.2.1 Seismic survey (vibroseis) process ....................................................................................... 7 2.2.2 Well drilling ...........................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • NABRO Ecological Analysts CC Natural Asset and Botanical Resource Ordinations Environmental Consultants & Wildlife Specialists
    NABRO Ecological Analysts CC Natural Asset and Botanical Resource Ordinations Environmental Consultants & Wildlife Specialists ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE REPORT FOR HANS HOHEISEN WILDLIFE RESEARCH STATION Compiled by Ben Orban, PriSciNat. June 2013 NABRO Ecological Analysts CC. - Reg No: 16549023 / PO Box 11644, Hatfield, Pretoria. Our reference: NABRO / HHWRS/V01 NABRO Ecological Analysts CC Natural Asset and Botanical Resource Ordinations Environmental Consultants & Wildlife Specialists CONTENTS 1 SPECIALIST INVESTIGATORS ............................................................................... 3 2 DECLARATION ............................................................................................................ 3 3 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 3 4 LOCALITY OF STUDY AREA .................................................................................... 4 4.1 Location ................................................................................................................... 4 5 INFRASTRUCTURE ..................................................................................................... 4 5.1 Fencing ..................................................................................................................... 4 5.2 Camps ...................................................................................................................... 4 5.3 Buildings ................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Bird Checklists of the World Country Or Region: Ghana
    Avibase Page 1of 24 Col Location Date Start time Duration Distance Avibase - Bird Checklists of the World 1 Country or region: Ghana 2 Number of species: 773 3 Number of endemics: 0 4 Number of breeding endemics: 0 5 Number of globally threatened species: 26 6 Number of extinct species: 0 7 Number of introduced species: 1 8 Date last reviewed: 2019-11-10 9 10 Recommended citation: Lepage, D. 2021. Checklist of the birds of Ghana. Avibase, the world bird database. Retrieved from .https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/checklist.jsp?lang=EN&region=gh [26/09/2021]. Make your observations count! Submit your data to ebird.
    [Show full text]
  • Catalogue of the Type Specimens of Lepidoptera Rhopalocera in the Hill Museum
    Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries CATALOGUE OF THE Type Specimens of Lepidoptera Rhopalocera IN THE HILL MUSEUM BY A. G. GABRIEL, F.E.S. Issued June, 1932 LONDON JOHN BALE, SONS & DANIELSSON, LTD. 83-91, GBEAT TITCHFIELD STEEET, OXEOED STEEET, W. 1 1932 Price 20/- Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries Unfortunately Mr. Joicey did not live to see the publication of this Catalogue. It will however remain, together with the four completed volumes of the " Bulletin of the Hill Museum," as a lasting memorial to to the magnificent collection of Lepidoptera amassed by Mr. Joicey, and to the work carried out at the Hill Museum under his auspices. G. Talbot. Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries CATALOGUE OF THE TYPE SPECIMENS OF LEPIDOPTERA RHOPALOCERA IN THE HILL MUSEUM. By A. G. GABRIEL, F.E.S. INTRODUCTION BY G. TALBOT. It is important to know exactly where type specimens are to be found. The British Museum set an example by publishing catalogues of some of their Rhopalocera types, and we hope this will be continued. Mr. Gabriel, who was responsible for that work, has been asked by Mr. Joicey to prepare a catalogue for the Hill Museum. The original description of almost every name in this catalogue has been examined for the correct reference, and where the sex or habitat was wrongly quoted, the necessary correction has been made.
    [Show full text]