Maloti Minnow Survey
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MALOTI MINNOW SURVEY MOHALE AND EASTERN ESU AUGUST 2017 Prepared by: Advance Africa Management Services Authors: McCafferty, J. R., Monongoaha, P., Mapheelle, M., Morokole, N., Ntsohi, R and Hecht, T. Prepared for: Lesotho Highlands Development Authority Abstract A fish distribution survey was undertaken in the Lesotho Highlands from 31 July – 16 August 2017 to re-assess the status of both evolutionary significant units of the Maloti minnow Pseudobarbus quathlambae. A total of 13 rivers and 42 sites were surveyed. P. quathlambae (Mohale ESU) is no longer present in the Senqunyane, Bokong and the Jorodane River (below Pampiri Falls) upstream of Mohale Dam. The disappearance of P. quathlambae from these primary habitat rivers is most likely a result of predation by and competition for habitat and food from smallmouth yellowfish Labeobarbus aeneus. The construction of a barrier in the Senqunyane to protect P. quathlambae is no longer necessary. Unless a programme focussing on the eradication of L. aeneus and restocking of P. quathlambae is initiated, construction of a barrier at this stage would serve no purpose. Populations of translocated P. quathlambae (Mohale ESU) were recorded in the Jorodane- (above Pampiri Falls) (n = 38), Makhaleng- (n = 11), and Maletsunyane River (n = 41). No fish were recorded in the Quthing River. P. quathlambae (Eastern ESU) was recorded in the Tsoelikane- (n = 15), Sani- (n=2), Mothae- (n = 7), upper Matsoku- (n = 33), Senqu- (n = 15) and Moremoholo River (n = 33). The Maloti minnow is not extinct below the Tsoelikane Falls as previously thought. Very few P. quathlambae were recorded in the Sani- and Mothae River and none were present in the lower Matsoku River. No rainbow trout (O. mykiss) were recorded in any of the rivers surveyed. The health and size of various minnow populations cannot be accurately determined at this stage. It is recommended that a follow-up survey be conducted in early summer to better understand the population dynamics of the translocated populations and the Eastern ESU populations. These surveys should incorporate river health and rangeland assessments to provide baseline data for future monitoring of the populations. Once the status of the populations has been established then a new management plan and conservation actions must be prepared and implemented. This should include a monitoring programme which incorporates aquatic and terrestrial components. It is recommended that a workshop is held to develop a roadmap for the conservation of P. quathlambae in the Lesotho Highlands. i Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................ i 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 The Mohale ESU ............................................................................................................................ 2 1.2 The Eastern ESU ............................................................................................................................ 4 1.3 Objectives...................................................................................................................................... 5 2. Methods .............................................................................................................................. 5 2.1 Mohale ESU Survey sites ............................................................................................................... 6 2.2 Eastern ESU Survey sites ............................................................................................................... 6 2.3 Sampling Methods ........................................................................................................................ 7 2.4 Data Analyses ................................................................................................................................ 9 3. Results ............................................................................................................................... 10 3.1 Mohale ESU – Native Range ........................................................................................................ 10 3.2 Mohale ESU – Translocated Range ............................................................................................. 11 3.3 Eastern ESU ................................................................................................................................. 14 4. Discussion .......................................................................................................................... 19 4.1. Mohale ESU – Native Range ....................................................................................................... 19 4.2. Mohale ESU – Translocated Range ............................................................................................ 19 4.3. Eastern ESU ................................................................................................................................ 20 5. Conclusions ....................................................................................................................... 24 6. Recommendations ............................................................................................................. 25 7. References ......................................................................................................................... 27 Acknowledgements.................................................................................................................... 28 APPENDIX A ............................................................................................................................... 30 APPENDIX B ............................................................................................................................... 30 ii List of Acronyms and Abbreviations BMU – Biodiversity Management Unit CPUE – Catch per unit effort ESU – Evolutionarily significant unit FSL – Full supply level IBT – Inter-basin transfer IUCN – International Union for Conservation of Nature KZN – Kwazulu-Natal LHDA – Lesotho Highlands Development Authority LHWP – Lesotho Highlands Water Project MU – Management Unit PERMANOVA - Permanent multivariate analysis of variance List of Figures Figure 1: The Maloti minnow (Pseudobarbus quathlambae) ................................................................. 1 Figure 2: Distribution of the Mohale ESU and the Eastern ESU in the Lesotho Highlands (Source: Shelton et al., 2016) ................................................................................................................................ 2 Figure 3: Survey sites for the Mohale ESU and the Eastern ESU, August 2017. ..................................... 5 Figure 4: A – Connecting the SAMUS 1000 E Electrofisher; B – Electrofishing on the Bokong River; C – Maloti minnows kept alive in buckets; D – Maloti minnow ................................................................... 8 Figure 5: Measurements of channel width and water quality were conducted at each site ................. 8 Figure 6: Length frequency distributions of P. quathlambae recorded in the Jorodane- (above Pampiri Falls), Makhaleng-, and Maletsunyane Rivers. ..................................................................................... 13 Figure 7: A = Adult P. quathlambae, Jorodane River; B = adult P. quathlambae, Makhaleng River; C = juvenile P. quathlambae, Maletsunyane River. .................................................................................... 14 Figure 8: CPUE (fish/hr) from sampling sites on the Mothae River, April 2011 and August 2017. ...... 16 Figure 9: Length frequency distributions of P. quathlambae recorded in the Tsoelikane-, Sani-, Mothae- Matsoku-, Senqu- and Moremoholo Rivers, August 2017. ................................................................... 17 Figure 10: Principle component analysis biplot summarising habitat conditions in the Tsoelikane, Mangaung, Sani, Mothae, Matsoku (upper), Matsoku (lower), Senqu and Moremoholo Rivers, August 2017. PC 1 represents 44.6%, and PC 2 represents 21.5%, of the total variation in habitat conditions (based on the selected variables) among sites. .................................................................................... 18 Figure 11: River bank slumping, erosion and extensive invasion of Chrysocorma spp in the Quthing River catchment. ................................................................................................................................... 20 Figure 12: P. quathlambae sampled below the Tsoelikane falls .......................................................... 21 Figure 13: The Sani River; note the erosion, river bank slumping and litter. ....................................... 22 Figure 14: The Mothae River; a road had been constructed across the river channel. ....................... 23 Figure 15: Sampling site on the lower Matsoku (JR22). ....................................................................... 23 Figure 16: Sampling site on the Senqu River; juvenile P. quathlambae from the Moremoholo River . 24 i List of Tables Table 1: Survey sites for the Mohale ESU, August 2017. (Shaded grey area indicates those sites surveyed in May 2017). ........................................................................................................................... 6 Table 2: Survey sites