Sanparks Research Report 2012, Published August 2013 CONTENTS

SANPARKS Re SeARch RePoRt 2012 coNteNtS

Foreword ...... 2

About this report ...... 3

Scientific Services: An overview ...... 4

History and research nodes ...... 4

Formal university aﬃliations and NRF academic ratings ...... 6

Honours and awards ...... 6 the life and times of a SANParks researcher ...... 7 conservation and society: the growing emphasis on social-ecological research ...... 9

Developing a benefit sharing framework for national parks ...... 11

Using adaptive approaches to guide and evaluate consumptive resource use projects ...... 13

Park management support through social data collation ...... 14

Responsible Tourism Research Programme gets going ...... 15

Governance, collaboration and social learning ...... 15

Regional ecologists: Bridging science and management at SANParks ...... 16

Research projects and collaborations ...... 19

Selected research highlights ...... 20

LiDAR technology used to quantify rates of treefall in Kruger NP ...... 20

Dilemma of an alien species in a marine protected area ...... 22

Global environmental change ...... 23

Crocodile studies in Lower Olifants and Letaba Rivers ...... 26

New understanding of fire ecology in eastern coastal fynbos ...... 28

Savanna system interactions ...... 29

Monitoring ...... 30

Overview of monitoring activities in the Garden Route ...... 30

Overview of monitoring in the Cape Cluster parks ...... 35

Overview of monitoring needs and priorities across the savanna and arid parks ...... 38

SANParks Research Report 2012, published August 2013 CONTENTS

Savanna Science Network Meeting: Celebrating a decade ...... 42

Publications and presentations ...... 43

Papers in peer-reviewed journals ...... 43

External peer-reviewed research related to national parks ...... 48

Books and book chapters ...... 49

Technical and scientific reports ...... 49

Conference presentations ...... 49

Popular articles ...... 49

Service to scientific community ...... 50

Editorship of, and review for, journals ...... 50

Student supervision, thesis examination, review of research proposals ...... 51

Visiting scholarships and sabbaticals hosted ...... 52

Scientific Support Services ...... 53

Herbarium and collection curation ...... 53

Geographic information systems ...... 55

Progress with and use of the Research Lab in Skukuza ...... 58

Skukuza Indigenous Nursery ...... 58

Data and data management ...... 59

Service to broader conservation sector ...... 60

Ramsar Convention ...... 60

Mentorship and capacity development for research within Scientific Services ...... 61

Junior Scientist Programme ...... 61

GreenMatter ...... 64

A few final words: What we have covered, where are we now? ...... 65

Appendices ...... 66

Contributors ...... Inside back cover

Map of parks and research nodes ...... Inside back cover

Visit SANParks Scientiﬁc Services online at www.sanparks.org/conservation/scientiﬁc/ 2 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

Foreword

South African National Parks (SANParks) produced a Scientific Report in 2012 as a baseline review to establish our status, and what our own staff have researched and published between 2008 and 2011. While on the one side this Research Report builds on the earlier review of 2012, on the other side it continues and amplifies the legacy of research that was laid down when SANParks was first created by the National Parks Bill of 1926. Since then this research legacy was legislated in the National Parks Act of 1976 and now it is endorsed by its successor, the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act (57 of 2003) or NEMPA.

Section 4 of the repealed National Parks Act of 1976 narrowly stated the object (purpose) of declaring a national park as: “preservation and study (research) therein of wild animals, marine and plant life and objects of geological, archaeological, historical, ethnological, oceanographic, educational and other scientific interest ... for the benefit and enjoyment of visitors...”. In stark contrast, section 20 (2) of NEMPA states that, among others, national parks are also declared: “to provide spiritual, scientific, educational, recreational and tourism opportunities which are environmentally compatible; and to contribute to economic development, where feasible”. Indeed, SANParks has gradually moved from single species concerns to broader issues of biodiversity conservation in a complex social- economic world. The concerns of the broader society, legitimate or otherwise, can no longer be ignored.

Accordingly, we have changed the mission of SANParks from “national parks will be the pride and joy of all” to “national parks connecting to society” because it is what we now strive for.

SANParks comprises 19 national parks covering over four million hectares across eight terrestrial biomes and at sea. As already stated, SANParks receives its mandate to conduct research in national parks from NEMPA. As a custodian, SANParks relies on credible and robust science and research to contribute to the knowledge necessary to manage and conserve this incredible diversity for future generations in a rapidly changing world.

SANParks has a long history of using science to inform park management. The first research unit was established in Kruger National Park in 1950. In order to achieve this research mandate, we rely a great deal on collaboration with scientists, academics and research students from universities and research institutions in South Africa and abroad. We believe in a close partnership between park management, in-house research and academic science to keep our knowledge production anchored in solving relevant problems and open to the best ideas and most rigorous review. This symbiotic relationship is built on a desire to learn and share knowledge. SANParks provides research coordination, access to parks, long term datasets, field experiments, and logistical support to academics and students who in turn contribute research funding, expertise, capacity, training and equipment. Currently we enable approximately 800 active research projects in national parks of which 75% are headed by South African scientists. SANParks thus facilitates significant capacity development within the country and attracts substantial international research expertise and funds into South Africa.

In order to further improve scientific access to parks we have recently established research facilities in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier and Addo Elephant National Parks and hope to extend this to more parks where such support is currently lacking. We are also proud of the SANParks junior scientist capacity building programme for young scientists from previously disadvantaged race groups with two candidates successfully completing PhD and MSc degrees in the past year. With this publication we highlight some of the scientific achievements from 2012, also recognising that these often rest on longer-term knowledge generation endeavours and investments. Importantly, the organisational ability to achieve effective conservation in the complex and dynamic social-ecological milieu of today requires continuous integration and synthesis of knowledge to ensure ongoing learning and adaptive capacity within SANParks.

Dr David Mabunda, Chief Executive, SANParks (top) Dr Hector Magome, Managing Executive, Conservation Services (below left) Danie Pienaar, Senior General Manager, Scientific Services (below right) SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 3

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About this report

The in-house research function in SANParks is geographically and organisationally dispersed and correlates with the roles typically credited to boundary or bridging organisations, This report represents operating in a challenging “landscape of tensions” associated the first formal stand- with “being all things to all people”. Thus, research in SANParks alone annual research is successful to the extent that it is able to bridge and navigate report for SANParks, multiple boundaries and expectations. highlighting and reflecting on selected It has to mobilise resources for research, facilitate the identification of research needs and common interests, stimulate cooperation activities and and co-learning across vertical (e.g. between local management achievements and a feedbacks and national policy development) and horizontal (e.g. across disciplines and parks) boundaries, create inter-organisational diverse range of research arenas for building trust and, at times, resolve conflicts. The innovations during 2012. synergistic learning systems of conservation science and conservation practice depend on people with the social capital and skills to engage across boundaries, yet who have enough depth in their own practice to add value and earn their standing in these tough, hybrid knowledge domains.

This report represents the first formal stand-alone annual research report for SANParks, highlighting and reflecting on selected activities and achievements and a diverse range of research innovations during 2012. The report was not written with the intention of being comprehensive and all-encompassing, but rather uses an exemplar approach to specifically illustrate advances within particular sections of the report. The report itself has been a learning journey, acknowledging the history, experience and dedication of many individuals and the combined heterogeneous group, upon which the research and monitoring function rests within the organisation. While the organisation’s research capital does not reside entirely within one department, Scientific Services has taken the lead in driving the research agenda for SANParks. 4 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

Scientific Services: An overview History and research nodes

Research in SANParks dates back to the anecdotal observations of Major James Stevenson Hamilton made in the Kruger Park over 110 years ago. Formal scientific research and wildlife management was adopted in Kruger National Park (NP) in the 1950s, almost three decades after the first National Park Act was passed. From these humble beginnings Scientific Services now strives to generate, facilitate and harvest knowledge to best inform policy and management strategy and actions across the SANParks estate, spanning over four million hectares on land, and 150 000 hectares at sea. Research across the 19 parks is centralised through three research nodes, namely the Savanna & Arid Research Unit, Garden Route Research Centre and the Cape Research Centre (CRC). Each node has its own region-specific mandate and area of focus.

The Savanna & Arid Research Unit was formed in 2006 with the amalgamation of the then RELATED: See map Skukuza- and Kimberley-based Scientific Services groups. This resulted in a significant on inside expansion of focus and research expertise across the savanna, arid and grassland parks, back including parks as diverse as Addo Elephant, Golden Gate Highlands, Mapungubwe, cover Marakele, Kruger, Kgalagadi Transfrontier, Richtersveld, Augrabies Falls, Mokala, Mountain Zebra, Karoo and Camdeboo. Currently there are formal offices and/or research support facilities in Skukuza, Phalaborwa and Shingwedzi in Kruger NP, Kimberley, Knysna (where a regional ecologist servicing the Frontier Region is based) and Marakele, Kgalagadi 3-SECONd BrIEF Transfrontier and Addo Elephant NPs. During 2012, the staff complement included 14 Scientific Services scientists and science managers, three regional ecologists, 15 specialist technicians, strives to generate, biotechnicians and research facilitation managers, three administrative and 30 general support personnel (game guards, hut attendants, supervisors and general workers). facilitate and harvest knowledge The first SANParks scientist to be appointed in the Garden Route was stationed at to best inform policy Tsitsikamma in 1980 while the Garden Route node was formed at Rondevlei in 1991 with and management a nucleus of four scientists and one biotechnician. The Rondevlei office has since grown strategy, and actions to six scientists, two biotechnicians and two administrative/support staff. In 2005, across the SANParks following the incorporation of the state forests into Garden Route NP, the former estate, spanning in Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) Scientific Services staff based at Knysna excess of four million were integrated into SANParks and now form an integral part of the Garden Route hectares on land, Research Centre. The Knysna unit has a longer history than the Rondevlei unit, having been and 150 000 hectares operational in the area since the 1960s, although research conducted by DWAF staff can at sea. be traced back to at least the 1920s. The Knysna unit presently comprises six scientists and three biotechnicians. SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 5

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In 2006 one soil and water scientist left the Garden Route to start the nucleus of the CRC 3-SECONd BrIEF in Cape Town. She was soon joined by a biotechnician and in 2008 the General Manager and a marine biologist were appointed with funding from the AW Mellon Foundation. In As the research 2008 the CRC moved into the refurbished offices at Tokai and by 2011 seven additional nucleus of SANParks, members of staff had been appointed. The CRC primarily conducts research to support Scientific Services decision-making by park managers in Namaqua, Tankwa Karoo, West Coast, Table continues to position Mountain, Bontebok and Agulhas NPs. In 2012, there were 11 members of staff at the itself at the interface CRC: a general manager, six scientists, one senior biotechnician, one junior plant ecologist, of research and practice one intern and one administrative officer. in conservation science,

In addition, a number of SANParks staff outside of the Scientific Services department also with a view to suppor- contribute to the SANParks research function in many and varied ways, and have thus ting evidence-based been included in this annual research report. As a collective, the research function serves management practices the organisation’s overarching research needs and generates knowledge that informs in our parks. protected area management and promotes the conservation of South Africa’s biodiversity and cultural heritage. As awareness of the relationship between the environment and society has grown, it has become equally important to consider how the parks and the natural resources they protect can be shared in an equitable manner which is sustainable and of benefit to all. The role and value of broader social-ecological systems thinking has become recognised as key in the achievement of SANParks’ mission. Scientific Services has embraced the notions of participation, partnerships, collaboration and communication in meeting its mandate as knowledge generators and brokers for the organisation. Through these approaches, SANParks contributes to global knowledge production and advances in conservation science and is able to leverage knowledge for protected area management. 6 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

Formal university affiliations and NrF academic ratings

A number of scientific staff members within the organisation have formal university affiliations and/or are associated with academic centres, providing strategic opportunities and collaboration, as well as knowledge and capacity leveraging opportunities between SANParks research staff and these academic institutions. In addition, three SANParks staff members were NRF-rated during 2012, as outlined in Table 1.

Table 1: Formal university affiliations and NRF academic ratings of scientific staff at SANParks

SANParks scientist Formal academic affiliation

Hugo Bezuidenhout Research Fellow, Applied Behavioural Ecology & Ecosystem Research Unit, UNISA

Sam Ferreira Research Collaborator, University of Pretoria; Honorary Associate Professor, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)

Llewellyn Foxcroft Core Team Member, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Invasion Biology (C·I·B), Stellenbosch University (SU) NRF rating: Y1

Danny Govender Extra-ordinary Lecturer, University of Pretoria

Stephen Holness Research Associate, Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU)

Mike Knight Research Associate, Department of Zoology, NMMU

Melodie McGeoch Honorary Professor, Department of Botany and Zoology, SU; Core Team Member, C·I·B, SU NRF rating: B3

Anè Oosthuizen Research Associate, Department of Zoology, NMMU

Dirk Roux Research Associate, Sustainability Research Unit, NMMU; Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, Water Research Node, Monash South Africa NRF rating: B3

Nicola van Wilgen Associate Researcher, C·I·B, SU Honours and awards

During 2012 a number of research staff were recognised and/or received awards for varied and prestigious achievements. Patricia Khoza, Mureal Baloyi, Queen Chauke and Angela Gaylard received organisational achievement awards for excellent performance in their respective workplaces, providing a solid and reliable support function (Patricia, Mureal and Queen in Kruger NP) and a significant contribution to building the science-management relationship in the Frontier Region (Angela). The Regional General Manager Special Award in the Cape Region was awarded to CRC for its integrated research, monitoring and science RELATED: support work with the Cape Cluster parks. In addition, two candidates received the read Kyle prestigious SANParks Kudu Award, namely Kyle Smith for his innovative contributions to Smith’s estuarine management in the Garden Route and the Chief Executive’s Kudu Award for mini bio 33 on page bravery to Graeme Ellis, for his selfless actions in rescuing a park colleague from a lion attack in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 7

The life and times of a SANParks researcher

It is difficult to profile a “typical researcher” working for a conservation agency because the roles and activities of these individuals tend to evolve over time and may differ substantially across different agencies, and even among individuals within the same agency. However, a distinguishing feature of the research function in present-day SANParks is that researchers are expected to be practising researchers and not merely personnel with scientific backgrounds. In other words, SANParks’ researchers are actively involved in defining problems, designing methodologies, collecting and analysing data, and subjecting new findings to the scrutiny of their peers in the scientific community. The scientific research process is designed to rigorously test the reliability of resulting information, and participation therein provides an element of quality control and hence credibility associated with such information.

SANParks researchers are practising researchers, defining problems, designing methodologies, F E I collecting and analysing data, and subjecting new findings to scientific scrutiny. They: r B • consolidate knowledge, d

N • connect reliable and relevant scientific information, O C

E • integrate with management and policy functions, S -

0 • engage with conservation stakeholders and society at large, and 1 • scan the landscape for emerging issues, research themes and potential threats.

(Photo left: Stefanie-Freitag ronaldson, top: Loretta Steyn, all other images: rudi van Aarde) 8 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

A second and equally important expectation of SANParks researchers is that they not only produce reliable information, but also harvest and integrate information and subsequently consolidate knowledge so that it is relevant to fulfilling the organisation’s mandate. SANParks’ in-house research should therefore be aligned with one or more of three operational focus areas, namely: • Conservation – the primary mandate of the organisation is the conservation of South Africa’s biodiversity, landscapes and associated heritage assets through a system of national parks. Conservation includes research related to the components, processes and functions of all forms of biodiversity as well as the systematic expansion of the conservation estate. • Responsible tourism – the organisation plays a significant role in promoting South Africa’s nature-based tourism business targeted at both international and domestic tourism markets. Responsible tourism includes conducting research to understand the expectations, perceptions and impacts of tourists. • Constituency building towards a people-centered conservation and tourism mandate – SANParks is required to build constituencies at international, national and local levels, in support of the conservation of the natural and cultural heritage of South Africa. Constituency building includes undertaking research related to processes of stakeholder engagement, benefit sharing and co-operative governance. )

e Thirdly, the research service should play an active role in connecting reliable and relevant s d n

e scientific information with management and policy functions, as well as with conservation r a B

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n their time in workshops with stakeholders, planning meetings with managers, and forums o s d l that inform policy making. Skillful facilitation is required to instil an attitude of mutual a n o r learning to – notwithstanding diverse backgrounds, beliefs, views and interests – integrate g a t i

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( research themes and potential threats that might be relevant to conservation management and policy. Attendance of conferences, contributions in international working groups, participation in cutting-edge research projects and following the latest scientific literature are some of the activities that help our researchers to stay at the forefront of developments in conservation. SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 9

Conservation and society: 3-SECONd BrIEF Trans-disciplinary research teams study The growing emphasis on the linkages between biophysical systems social-ecological research and social systems in an attempt to under- In SANParks’ quest to promote further synergy between the conservation of biodiversity stand the dynamics of and the needs of people, the social science research programme has continued to these social-ecological systems. evolve in scope and magnitude. A significant injection of tourism-related research projects in support of the organisation’s Sustainable Tourism Policy was observed in 2011. This has been followed by an increase in resource use and livelihood-related projects in 2012 in response to the 10-SECONd BrIEF need for adaptive monitoring in SANParks’ small but growing team of social-ecological these areas. Furthermore, new researchers focuses on the conservation of biodiversity and the needs of people. categories of social projects were In seeking to understand these complex and frequently uncertain systems their scope of work is broad, ranging from issues relating to tourism, sustainable registered during 2012, including livelihoods, benefit sharing, environmental education and poaching. projects related to poaching issues.

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0 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

n Other n Poaching nInterpretation n History n Sociology nManagement n Cultural Heritage and Archaeology n Environmental Education nResource use, livelihoods and ecosystem services n Socio-economics n Tourism Figure 1: Number and categories of social science research projects registered with SANParks since 1998. 10 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

Three full-time scientists cover the spectrum of social and tourism research across SANParks, while additional capacity has been leveraged through the joint appointment of a postdoctoral researcher in Garden Route NP focusing on social-ecological systems research. SANParks’ social scientists work in close association with a number of colleagues from other departments within SANParks and with external collaborators on a variety of issues including environmental education, cultural heritage, benefits and benefit sharing as well as managing water and other shared natural resources. This collaboration is essential to address social-ecological research and monitoring needs as input into decision- making, including capacity to conduct in-house surveys, data capture and analysis in all parks. Much of this data includes qualitative and value-based information which requires thoughtful analysis and benefits from a team approach.

Jaco Barendse: Negotiating society, ecosystems and natural resources

At the beginning of 2012, Jaco was appointed as a joint SANParks-Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) postdoctoral research fellow and is based at the George campus in the Sustainability Research Unit. Jaco has a background in marine biology, including a PhD study on humpback and southern right whales off the west coast of South Africa, and has done extensive research on sustainable fisheries and seafood for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). His current focus is on the sustainable utilisation of natural resources and the complex relationships of society with ecosystems and the services they provide. A particular focus is on the concept of stewardship as a tool that may contribute to sustainability and conservation of a Jaco Barendse, joint common natural heritage. Other projects include the management options of invasive SANParks-NMMU postdoctoral research alien fish, determining the value of trophy fish to anglers in the Garden Route, and fellow, during a evaluating the perceptions of visitors to Garden Route NP about alien invasive plants. weekend hike in the Gamkaberg Nature reserve. (Photo: Cara Nieuwoudt)

SANParks and members of the Makuya Traditional Healers’ Association meet outside Musunda village, Limpopo, to discuss the planting and care of propagated Warburgia seedlings. (Photo: Louise Swemmer) SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 11 developing a benefit sharing framework for national parks

Research support for the people-centred approach of SANParks has focused on the 10-SECONd BrIEF investigation of benefits and the effective sharing thereof. Although benefits from national parks are not new, until recently there has been no consolidated framework that clarifies SANParks participates the meanings, scale and scope of benefits and benefit sharing in the SANParks context. in an active, stimu- This framework articulates the components and objectives of benefit sharing and provides lating community guidance on how to adaptively manage the trade-offs between benefits and costs. Much of practice known as of this context has been explored through SANParks’ participation in an active, stimulating the INSAKA Research community of practice known as the INSAKA Research Group, which has resulted Group focused on in the submission of two research papers during 2012 exploring the complexity of developing a cadre conceptualising and implementing benefit sharing in the protected area context. An important outcome is the recognition that alternative indicators must be explored to of competent represent the intangible outcomes of management initiatives resulting in social and/or professionals capable economic impacts. Such indicators have now been used in a number of projects including of influencing the resource harvesting (mopane worms, medicinal plants, sour fig and thatch grass) and in management of the evaluation of social and economic impacts of the Expanded Public Works Programme southern Africa’s in SANParks. Similarly, alternative indicators are being used for evaluating Kruger NP’s complex and dynamic Environmental Education Programme in an attempt to move away from accounting simply social-ecological through numbers of learners and educators. systems.

The mopane worm (Gonimbrasia belina ) is an important source of protein for many indigenous people in southern Africa, and is usually harvested after its fourth and final moult. (Photos: Loretta Steyn; rudi van Aarde; Stefanie Freitag- ronaldson) 12 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

Monitoring 12 years of environmental education in Kruger NP

Kruger NP has been implementing Environmental Education (EE) programmes since 1952, when the first formal information officer was appointed. The EE programme currently engages with over 72 000 learners, 3 200 non-school community members and 1 800 educators annually. However, insufficient research support has been given to EE officers and thus monitoring and evaluation of education outcomes has not been carried out. A research project was recently set up to evaluate long-term patterns of school and grade participation, and to monitor the alignment of objectives and outcomes of specific programmes. The research reports on the number of school visits, the return rates of schools, as well as their social and economic profiles.

Key findings include: • From a total of 2 011 records of visits to Letaba Elephant Hall between 2007 and 2012, 57% of the groups were school groups. • Of those, only 15% were from local schools (within 20 km of the western boundary of Kruger NP). • Most of the visits were first-time visits. • Based on a visit to the 143 local schools within the BaPhalaborwa, Hlanganani and Makuya forum areas, 66% of the schools had previously participated in Kruger NP school programmes. • Of the remaining 33%, most indicated that their non-participation was due to a lack of knowledge about the programmes. • More than half of the schools had an educator to pupil ratio of greater than the “ideal” of 30, and many schools had insufficient access to services and infrastructure.

These findings have important implications for the design and monitoring of the EE programmes. What emerges is that programmes may need to be school- or even grade- specific in order to ensure that the programme objectives are aligned with the needs of the particular school. Social and economic indicators are currently being developed in order to rank schools in terms of specific EE programme objectives and, where possible, to engage on specific issues with selected clusters of schools. Environmental education programmes need to move away from monitoring programme outcomes in terms of numbers of participants, and focus on more appropriate and objective indicators in order to increase local impact.

right: Learners from Nwa risenga Primary learning about the tooth structure of the African elephant at the Letaba Elephant Hall. (Photo right: riana Harmse) SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 13

Young learners viewing an exhibition of diﬀerent animal scats hosted by SANParks at an event at the CSIr. (Photo: Loretta Steyn)

Using adaptive approaches to guide and 3-SECONd BrIEF evaluate consumptive resource use projects Social scientists help guide and evaluate controlled Resource use in national parks has a long history that is geographically heterogeneous consumptive resource use and varied in terms of beneficiaries, outcomes, impact, monitoring and evaluation, projects in various national sustainability, access and control. Furthermore, individual examples of resource harvesting parks, including: are driven by varied, and at times conflicting, objectives including social and economic • harvesting of medicinal benefits, constituency building and conservation. This complexity and the multi-disciplinary plants, sour figs and nature of resource use, requires involvement of many departments and units within mopane worms, SANParks at various scales and scopes regarding both the management of and research • thatch-harvesting on extractive resource use initiatives. A SANParks Resource Use Working Group, including projects, and scientists and practitioners, guides ongoing theoretical and practical development of key • fishing (in open-access concepts and associated adaptive approaches. parks).

The fronds (leaves) of the seven-weeks fern (Rumohra adiantiformis ) are harvested in the Garden route, and used extensively in flower arrangements, both locally and abroad. (Photo: Alexis Symonds) 14 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

SANParks’ social scientists provide a supportive and enabling environment for strategic adaptive management approaches to resource use, particularly for monitoring and evaluating management outcomes. This has highlighted strengths and weaknesses of current approaches to resource use, particularly in parks with controlled harvesting approaches (e.g. thatch in Kruger and Golden Gate NPs, ferns in Garden Route NP, mopane worms in Kruger NP). Evaluating the distribution and accrual of benefits from consumptive resource use is a common challenge across such initiatives, especially where harvesting communities are large and heterogeneous, and/or in open- RELATED: access parks. In addition, scientists integrate social and biological read about moni- approaches and methodologies in setting sustainable harvest quotas, toring where often there are limited or no baseline evaluations and/or longitudinal on page 30 datasets for populations to determine sustainable yields. 2012 has seen a deepening of interlinked social and biological evaluation approaches for resource use The bark, stems, roots and leaves of the rare projects involving medicinal plant, sour fig, fern, thatch, mopane worm and marine and pepperbark tree estuarine fish harvesting (which explicitly also considers by-catch and trends in catch and (Warburgia salutaris ) effort). Research has also shown that the perceptions of harvesters around resource are used to treat availability and sustainability are highly variable with some harvesters very aware of natural various conditions including colds, resource limitations (e.g. the !Khomani San and Mier communities in Kgalagadi respiratory complaints, Transfrontier Park), while others believe that the resource is infinite (e.g. sour fig harvesters fever, malaria, in Aghulas NP). In the case of rare plants – such as rooiwortel, pepper-bark and wild ginger venereal diseases, – research is being done on the possibilities of promoting access to alternative sources of abdominal pain, cancer, rheumatism plant tissue in order to reduce pressure on wild populations in parks. and stomach ulcers. As such the demand for W. salutaris Park management support through social products is high and most tree populations data collation have been intensely impacted. (Photo: Social scientists are playing an increasing role in the Louise Swemmer) development and ongoing maintenance of relevant databases in order to support more effective decision- making, provide a repository of information that can be easily referenced and made available when needed, as well as enable long-term changes to be tracked and comparative studies undertaken. 2012 marked the development of a number of important baseline databases for Kruger NP, including a ‘schools database’ detailing the location, size, infrastructure, social and economic development project history as well as history of engagement with Kruger NP. This will be used Some of the more for planning future objective-specific engagement strategies for than 70 learners in the relevant Kruger NP projects and programmes. A second database initiated Grade r class at Mninginisi Primary during 2012 is collating historical records of livestock losses on Kruger NP boundaries due School, Limpopo, one to damage-causing wildlife. An early version of this database has already been used to of the schools visited explore financial scenarios under various compensation strategies for retrospective with the highest payment of livestock loss. Four research projects in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park are teacher to pupil ratio. examining different aspects of plant harvesting by the !Khomani San and Mier (Photo: Louise Swemmer) communities. These have resulted in a database of plants used by the San and include a few species that are known only by their bushman names. SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 15 responsible Tourism research Programme gets going

The development and coordination of a dedicated Responsible Tourism Research Programme is aimed at supporting the strategic, adaptive and integrated management of tourism in SANParks in line with the recently approved SANParks Responsible Tourism Policy. The research framework identifies knowledge gaps linked to the key principles from the policy. In order to address the gaps, a tourism research database is being developed to identify opportunities for focused collaborations with external research partners. Tourism research proposals to SANParks pass through the Scientific Services project registration process, and are subject to additional review by an independent tourism research advisory panel to SANParks. The panel was established in 2012 and consists of national and international scientists who contribute to robust proposal review and evaluation. Overall, the need for shorter studies addressing marketing-related needs over relatively short time frames has been flagged as important. One such project conducted during 2011/12 by the University of Johannesburg, in collaboration with SANParks, aimed at investigating the perceptions that residents of Soweto have regarding SANParks as tourist destinations and has contributed valuable insight in this regard.

At a K2C stakeholder Governance, collaboration and social learning meeting at the Wits rural Facility, projects and initiatives in the area At a broad, regional level SANParks staff work on issues around governance, multi-party were presented and bioregional collaboration and social learning in natural resource management. A particular synergies created. focus is on freshwater governance for sustainable development. A major emphasis in this (Photo: Frik Bronkhorst) regard has been to develop alternative, more qualitative developmental criteria in place of “tick-box” indicators, and these have now started receiving some consideration as supplementary methodologies to enhance monitoring and evaluation efforts. Two large nascent Global Environmental Facility (GEF) programmes (one on enhancing protected area networks and another on mainstreaming biodiversity in municipalities) have resulted in the re-mobilisation and extension of an existing stakeholder network in the Kruger to Canyons (K2C) Biosphere region. This is in preparation for several other major programmes coming into the region, including USAID’s Resilience in the Limpopo Basin (RESILIM) programme and the Department of Environmental Affairs’ (DEA) drive for transformation towards a Wildlife Economy there. A well-supported and comprehensive catalogue and synthesis document was produced in 2012, which may be an important foundation document underlying further development Kruger to Canyons decisions in the multi-use Lowveld landscape. Biosphere More importantly, the goodwill and (Photo: Wynand Uys) collaborative learning processes, that form part of this initiative, will hopefully help towards a rational alignment of land use options, driven partly by stakeholders. 16 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

10-SECONd BrIEF rEGIONAL ECOLOGISTS: By bridging the science- management divide, regional ecologists Bridging science and enhance knowledge exchange processes management at SANParks at SANParks. Their extended professional Regional ecologists provide a critical link at the science-management interface within networks ensure on- SANParks, encouraging scientists and park managers to work synergistically to address the going interfacing and spectrum of protected area conservation needs. These positions originated in 2007 in sharing. This continuous recognition of (a) the need to explicitly link science and conservation management issues integration and syn- as part of the Strategic Adaptive Management (SAM) approach, and (b) in response to thesis of knowledge capacity shortages and large geographical distances between Scientific Services offices ensures ongoing and parks. Regional ecologists focus on building relationships with park managers and learning and adaptive rangers through assistance with scientific and monitoring inputs for decision-making in capacity across the the conservation arena. organisation. What is Strategic Adaptive Management (SAM)?

SAM begins with framing the desired future state of a socio-ecological system, specifically national parks in the SANParks context. It is broadly articulated in A science-manage- conjunction with diverse stakeholder groups and their respective values, recognising ment forum, social, technological, environmental/ecological, and political influences. The desired facilitated by regional state, which is in itself variable, is circumscribed by and evaluated through a series of ecologists in thresholds of potential concern (TPCs) that give some acceptable boundaries for system Shingwedzi, Kruger variability, beyond which management action is considered necessary. The range of NP, where SANParks scientists, managers alternative management options required to maintain or strive for the desired state are and rangers engaged then considered within the context of potential threats and risks associated with with and learnt from management options, resource constraints and acceptability of the proposed one another while interventions. Selection of an appropriate action is followed by planning and discussing specific implementation, with ongoing evaluation of results and outcomes against objectives. issues pertinent to the This is essential for adjusting methodology and strategy as new understanding and management of the Nxanatseni north knowledge emerges. region. (Photo: Cathy Greaver) Opportunities for integrating science and management are formalised through science-management fora (SMFs), coordinated by regional ecologists, for individual parks or clusters of similar or nearby parks. These forums are held several times a year, and provide a platform for scientists, park managers and rangers, and other relevant internal role-players (including colleagues from Veterinary Wildlife Services or Park Planning) to discuss topical management concerns and jointly make implementation and associated monitoring decisions. SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 17

A useful recent construct has been the compilation of mechanism or influence diagrams 3-SECONd BrIEF that represent the science-management team’s joint understanding of the processes driving particular management concerns. This enables explicit incorporation of different A complex network of knowledge types, including experiential knowledge, into decision-making and has geographically and substantially improved shared understanding and relationships between scientists and organisationally managers. It also facilitates identification of important knowledge gaps, and encourages dispersed people and discussion about the desired state and the degree of change in the system that will be mechanisms guides the tolerated before management interventions are undertaken (TPC articulation). These diagrams also serve as knowledge management tools, which can continually be updated bridging of science and as our understanding of the issue advances. Some examples of how this process has management at facilitated the integration of science and management are the joint development of SANParks. This ensures rehabilitation programmes (including implementation, monitoring and TPCs) for that a joint under- Camdeboo and Namaqua NPs, a prescribed burning and monitoring programme for Table standing of the issues Mountain and Bontebok NPs, and a fire management and monitoring protocol for informs decision- Marakele NP. making.

Subsistence need

Poverty/ unemployment Traditional hunting/ Proximity harvesting to town

Illegal harvesting Illegal harvesting out of control under control Disregard for law

Wood collecting Biltong hunting

Commercial gain

Figure 2: Compiling a mechanism diagram, such as the one above on illegal harvesting in Camdeboo NP, provides a structured means of harnessing all the available knowledge at science-management fora, while stimulating dialogue directed at a speciﬁc management problem.

Another important recent construct is the use of risk-benefit analysis, in which the acceptability of various management options is assessed in the adaptive management cycle prior to implementation of a management intervention. Examples of risk-benefit analyses include those informing decisions around whether to control brown locusts in Karoo NP, introducing brown hyaenas to Mokala NP, prioritisation of areas for rehabilitation work in Namaqua NP, large herbivore removal and wildflower management at West Coast NP and agreeing on an elephant management strategy for Addo Elephant, Kruger and Marakele NPs.

Exceeded, or predicted to soon be exceeded, TPCs are tabled at SMFs and initiate dialogue between scientists and managers to take the necessary course of management action to prevent undesirable biodiversity outcomes for the particular issue concerned. An example of this is the management concern (articulated as a TPC) around the increased mortality rate of African penguin chicks through kelp gull predation on Bird Island, Addo Elephant NP. 18 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

Once the TPC had been flagged, an active adaptive management experiment was designed to test two competing hypotheses about the outcome of culling gulls on penguin survival. The intervention provided evidence that a consistent culling programme is required to retain gull predation at levels that would not severely compromise the continued survival of this endangered penguin, the largest breeding population of which is found on the islands of Addo Elephant NP. The findings are reported in Bird Conservation International (2012), as a collaborative effort between SANParks and the Percy Fitzpatrick Institute of African Ornithology.

Regional ecologists are also involved in organising and undertaking routine monitoring activities such as vegetation monitoring and annual aerial surveys of large herbivores, RELATED: which provide information not only on population sizes, but also on the spatial distribution read about of these populations and how this differs over space and time. Through this, they provide monitoring 30 scientific support for herbivore population management such as game sales and off-takes, on page as well as fauna reintroductions, cognisant of SANParks’ overarching biodiversity values and operating principles.

Regional ecologists play a crucial role in facilitating adaptive planning and management Carly Cowell, regional ecologist for the Cape processes through science-management integration, communicating with key Cluster and Namaqua stakeholders, drawing in relevant scientific expertise from within national parks, the organisation or outside academic institutions, and collecting herbarium assisting in soliciting research to fill identified knowledge vouchers in Namaqua gaps. The growing existence of park-based research NP for the Species of facilities and infrastructure are providing nodes for Special Concern Monitoring further attracting, enabling and fostering research Programme. relationships to keep SANParks abreast with (Photo: Nicola van Wilgen) emerging social-ecological theory and practice.

10-SECONd BrIEF Scientists and managers join forces when they need to: • identify knowledge gaps, • identify when thresholds of concern have been reached, • determine when strategic intervention is necessary, • develop rehabilitation programmes, • facilitate stakeholder engagement, • do a risk-benefit analysis to assess management options (especially at the end of an adaptive management cycle), • ensure SANParks’ overarching biodiversity values and operating principles are adhered to when making wildlife management decisions, and • ensure that activities remain linked to SANParks’ objectives and vision. SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 19 rESEArCH PrOJECTS ANd COLLABOrATIONS

At any one time SANParks hosts approximately 800 active registered research projects 3-SECONd BrIEF across all national parks, with an annual turnover of approximately 100 projects. During During 2012 more the year under review, there were 779 registered projects, of which 608 were ongoing, than 160 new and 161 newly registered. Of the projects active in 2012, approximately 75% were run research projects by South African researchers and 25% by international researchers. were registered at SANParks.

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(Photo left: Stefanie-Freitag ronaldson, above: Loretta Steyn) 20 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 ) n y e t S

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SELECTEd rESEArCH HIGHLIGHTS LidAr technology used to quantify rates of treefall in Kruger NP

The research collaboration between Carnegie Airborne Observatory (CAO) and SANParks started in 2008 when CAO conducted their first aerial campaign in Kruger NP and surroundings. The CAO system collects hyper-spectral and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data at a resolution varying between 0.5-1 m.

These data are suitable for a wide range of ecological applications related to mapping 3D structure and composition of woody vegetation, and as such has contributed towards understanding the impacts of fire, herbivory and humans on woody vegetation. The collaboration has since extended to include two additional aerial campaigns in 2010 and 2012, resulting in a total area repeat coverage of approximately 300 000 ha in Kruger NP and 50 000 ha in a range of land uses surrounding the park. This collaboration currently involves about 30 researchers (mostly from Stanford University, CSIR and the University of the Witwatersrand), and close to 30 peer-reviewed articles have been published in the past four years (http://cao.stanford.edu/) . SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 21

A particularly interesting paper was published in 2012 regarding treefall dynamics in 10-SECONd BrIEF different geological, rainfall and herbivory contexts within Kruger NP. Asner & Levick (2012) analysed repeat LiDAR coverage inside and outside of four herbivore exclosures to compare Using LiDAR the “background” rate of treefall with the rate of treefall in the presence of herbivores technology scientists This was achieved by comparing the change in height of 60 000 individually geo-tagged have been able to trees between 2008 and 2010. It was found that the rate of treefall was six times faster in the presence of herbivores, with an average rate of treefall of 2.54 trees/ha over the two accurately measure years. The rate of treefall was faster on basaltic soils, valley bottoms and drier landscapes, the dimensions of a as compared to granitic soils, crests and wetter landscapes respectively. The study also large number of trees provided quantitative support for the “elephant trap”, and eloquently illustrated that in Kruger NP, which 5-9 m high trees are the structural cohort most at risk of being toppled by elephants (e.g. helps them to 20% of 8 m high trees were toppled in the study area between 2008 and 2010). understand the impacts of fire, herbivory and a b humans on woody vegetation. This exciting project has produced close to 30 peer-reviewed articles in the past four years, and it is envisaged that LiDAR will play an increasingly important role as a tool for vegetation structure monitoring in SANParks. c d

Figure 4: Horizontal view of woody vegetation canopy derived from LiDAR point clouds in a) 2008 and b) 2010 – the red circles highlight areas where canopies were lost between the two years. Panels c) and d) represent a vertical view of the point cloud of a single tree that toppled between c) 2008 and d) 2010 (note the same termite mound to the left of each panel) (adapted from Levick and Asner, 2013). 22 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

3-SECONd BrIEF dilemma of an alien species The introduction of in a marine protected area invasive alien marine species, largely Studies of historical records and species distribution patterns by researchers from the associated with University of Cape Town (UCT) have confirmed that approximately 80 marine species have shipping activities, been introduced along the coast of South Africa. An additional 40 species are suspected is progressively to have been introduced. These introductions were largely associated with shipping changing the rocky activities and the majority of the marine alien species remain confined to sheltered shore communities harbours and estuaries. However, there are several species that have colonised the open along the South wave-swept coast, of which the most significant is possibly the Mediterranean mussel, African coast, Mytilus galloprovincialis . including in national Researchers from SANParks and Rhodes University have been studying the invasion along parks. These species, the Garden Route coast, where there has been a substantial increase in the abundance of which include alien Mediterranean mussels, but this has been variable and site-specific. At sites where Mediterranean Mediterranean mussels are plentiful, this species tended to dominate the high shore and mussels, are often indigenous brown mussels ( Perna perna ) the low shore, with a mixed zone at the middle diﬃcult to eradicate level. The influx of Mediterranean mussels in the lower- and middle-Balanoid zone of the or control. Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area (MPA) began in the early 1990s and has resulted in an increase in the overall mussel density, a reduction in indigenous brown mussels numbers, but no apparent change to the biomass and diversity of the fauna associated with the mid zone of mussel beds.

The overall impact of the Mediterranean mussel on the rocky shore community of the Tsitsikamma MPA has been less than that observed by researchers on the west coast. There the Mediterranean mussel significantly increased the intertidal benthic biomass, providing a suitable habitat for many small invertebrates and additional food resources for predators, such as the African black oystercatcher, but negatively impacting on the survival of adult granular limpets.

Mussel bed comprising indigenous brown mussels and the blue-black alien Mediterranean mussel near Storms river Mouth in the Garden route. (Photos: Peter Chadwick) SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 23

Given their wide range, prolific reproductive habits and widely dispersing larvae it is Parthenium virtually impossible to control their spread and abundance within the Tsitsikamma MPA, hysterophorus and no management action has been taken. The overall effect will be that the indigenous (Santa Maria feverfew/whitetop brown mussel population will be reduced and restricted to the low shore, while the density weed) has widely of mussels in the upper zone will increase, potentially providing additional food resources invaded northern for mussel predators and a habitat for smaller invertebrates. KwaZulu-Natal, through Swaziland, Mozambique, and the Global environmental change south-eastern Kruger NP. In Kruger NP this Protected areas exist and are managed to safeguard biodiversity. However, protected areas alien invasive herb is at this stage mainly may not be immune to the loss of biodiversity which afflicts unprotected areas. A Global confined to the Environmental Change (GEC) Project, involving 22 SANParks and ten external scientists, Crocodile river and was undertaken to assess the status, trends and impacts of six drivers of global change: roadsides in the alien species, climate change, disease, freshwater ecosystem change, habitat change and Crocodile Bridge resource use. Results from the project to date: region. (Photo: Ezekiel Khoza) Alien species • A total of 813 alien plants and animals have been documented within SANParks with aliens occurring in all parks (mean = 88 species per park; range = 14 [Richtersveld] to 398 [Kruger]). • While the highest number of alien species was recorded in Kruger NP, the most widespread aliens are found in Cape parks which experience the most negative impacts of alien plant species. • A number of alien animal species also cause significant damage to indigenous species and ecosystems in a number of parks such as freshwater fish in Addo Elephant NP, cats in Table Mountain and Kruger NPs, and grazing species, especially in Richtersveld NP.

rampant invasion of the Outeniqua Mountains in Garden route NP by alien pine trees, largely originating from nearby timber plantations. These pines are spread and propagated by fires which naturally occur in fynbos ecosystems. The aliens use excessive amounts of water thereby reducing runoﬀ available to downstream users. (Photo: Tineke Kraaij) 24 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

The bark of the black stinkwood ( Ocotea resource use bullata ) is stripped • Over 380 resources, ranging from medicinal plants and large mammals to marine bait and used extensively species and abiotic resources, have been recorded as being used in national parks in the treatment of although the actual number may be significantly higher. headaches, urinary • Almost half of these resources are harvested without authorisation. infections, nervous • The quantities being harvested are known for only 14% of resources in disorders and at least one park, with most quantities unknown or estimated, diarrhoea. (Photo: Wessel Vermeulen) making it impossible to evaluate whether current rate of use is sustainable.

right: remains of illegally harvested rooiwortel ( Bulbine latifolia ); the root (corm) of the succulent is harvested for its wide range of purported medicinal properties which include the treatment of venereal diseases, rheumatism, blood disorders, convulsions, diabetes, urinary complaints, vomiting and diarrhoea. (Photo: Wessel Vermeulen) Freshwater system change • Generally, rivers flowing through national parks are in better condition than those outside protected areas – 76% of the river length in national parks is considered to be in a good ecological condition compared to only 47% of the river length outside of national parks. Below left: Toxic • Flowing through a national park does not necessarily guarantee maintenance of microcystis blooms are ecological condition for a river because upstream activities influence downstream becoming more common condition – this is evidenced by 24% of all rivers in national parks being in a moderately in impoundments throughout the Olifants to heavily modified ecological condition. river. Shown below is a • Of the approximately 250 estuaries or estuarine systems in South Africa, 16 occur in large bloom over the four of the national parks (two occur in Namaqua NP, two in Table Mountain NP, one in Olifants Gorge, Kruger NP, Agulhas NP, and 11 in Garden Route NP). Only ten of these estuaries occur fully within towards the inlet of the park boundaries. Massingir dam. Bloom activity has been linked to nutrient enrichment and phosphate pollution, one of the major anthropogenic impacts on the river. (Photo: Llewellyn Foxcroft) SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 25

Climate change • Although data were not available for all parks, significant temperature increases were identified across the country over the last five decades, with the occurrence of extremely high minimum and maximum temperatures also becoming more common. In addition, temperature decreases in minimum temperature were detected in two parks. • Future projections indicate that temperatures will continue to increase, with temperatures in 2050 estimated to be an average of 1-3 degrees Celsius warmer. • Mokala NP is expected to receive slightly more rain than it did on average 100 years ago, while Addo, Bontebok and Garden Route NPs appear to have experienced a drying trend over the last 100 years, associated with longer dry spells. Rainfall in other parks appears to have been relatively stable, although trends are difficult to detect and for some parks insufficient data are available. • Analysis of potential future climate suggests that the savanna biome will remain the most stable, while the grassland biome is the most vulnerable (although Golden Gate NP is predicted to retain its grassland biome envelope) and parks in the Nama Karoo will change considerably. a b Addo Elephant 22 26.5 Table Mountain Agulhas

E 21 R 26.0 U T A L R A E U P N M N E A 20

N 25.5 M A E U M M I X A

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18 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 YEAR YEAR c 32 Kruger Habitat change Mapungubwe • Habitat quality, as reflected by an Kgalagadi E assessment of large herbivore R 31 U T A L populations, appears to be stable R A E U P N in most parks; however additional M N E A

30 N data – on vegetation quality, M A E U M M

I community composition and X A M 29 surrounding land-use change – is currently being collected to better understand habitat condition and 28 species changes over time. 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 YEAR Figure 5: Mean maximum temperature changes since 1960 for parks in diﬀerent parts of the country a) an aseasonal rainfall park in south-central South Africa, b) two winter rainfall parks in the south-west of South Africa, and c) three summer rainfall parks, one in the north-west of South Africa and two in the north-east of the country. 26 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

10-SECONd BrIEF disease • Disease surveillance strategies and reporting need to be revised to better enable Environmental change is detection of trends in disease occurrence. taking place in national parks, although the rate at At park level, Table Mountain, Garden Route and Addo Elephant NPs have the highest which these impacts will cumulative impacts across drivers. All three of these parks have open-access areas, which start to become apparent increases the likelihood of alien species introduction, habitat change and fragmentation is still uncertain, as are and use of natural resources. their implications. As scientists engage with Although studied independently, in reality, drivers of change interact with one another these preliminary findings, making it difficult to isolate their individual effects and likely future impacts. For example, emergent knowledge gaps changes in climate and land-use are expected to influence the distribution and impact of will direct future research, disease on biodiversity and wildlife management, especially in areas where wildlife is kept including how drivers of at high densities or in close proximity to livestock. One of the next steps in the project will change interact with one be assessing how drivers are expected to act in synergy. another. The inherent One of the major concerns identified by the assessment is that for many of the parks complexity in the systems insufficient information is available or accessible to determine the status and impacts of being studied and the change drivers. Long-term collection, coordinated collation and appropriate archiving of accompanying uncertainty data and meta-data are crucial, as is the participation of and sound communication will require those involved between all stakeholders. to continuously evaluate and adapt their management strategy accordingly as new insight is gained.

due to the environment in which the Nile crocodile occurs, transmitters are easily destroyed or lost, making movement patterns diﬃcult to evaluate. Here a crocodile is shown being fitted with a satellite transmitter using the new stain- less steel surgical wire technique. (Photos: danny Govender) Crocodile studies in Lower Olifants and Letaba rivers

Research on Nile crocodiles ( Crocodylus niloticus ) in Kruger NP continues following a spate of crocodile deaths in the Olifants River Gorge in 2008. A significant component of the research focuses on the spatial and temporal dynamics of crocodile populations in the Lower Olifants and Letaba Rivers. Results suggest that factors driving change in crocodile abundance are variable across different reaches in the study area. All river reaches studied showed a decline between 2008-2010 due to a pansteatitis outbreak. However, since 2010 crocodile numbers varied in the upper reaches of both rivers, but continued to decline in SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 27

the Lower Olifants River Gorge Reach. Furthermore, it appears that by 2012 the decline 10-SECONd BrIEF associated with the pansteatitis epidemic has become secondary to other drivers associated with habitat change, particularly within the Olifants River Gorge Reach where flooding A spate of crocodile and associated sedimentation in early 2012 has severely impacted the rapid/run habitat. deaths in the Olifants River Gorge in 2008 has As a consequence of challenges with fitting and retaining the crocodile transmitters, spurned ongoing limited data are available on movement patterns. However, recent techniques – making studies into crocodile use of new technology and methods of attaching transmitters – have held some promise; two crocodiles have contributed seven and ten months of continuous data. According to abundance in Kruger the relatively long datasets provided by these two crocodiles, it appears that while NP. Initially, the movements do occur – usually downstream during summer – crocodiles generally remain spotlight fell on within a specific locality for a considerable period of time. The information generated by pansteatitis or “yellow the recently fitted transmitters should clarify the spatial dynamics of crocodiles and help fat disease”, but the explain trends in their abundance. studies have revealed

) that factors driving e d r a

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P associated with the ( pansteatitis epidemic appears to have become secondary to other drivers associated with habitat change, particularly within the Olifants River Gorge, where flooding and associated sedimentation severely impact The croc, the catﬁsh and the carp: the habitat. What caused the pansteatitis outbreak? Left: Pansteatitis, an Much research has been directed at under- inflammation of body standing which factors may have precipitated fats, visible here as the pansteatitis epidemic. Recent studies that yellow deposits, occurs in a wide range of have analysed the fatty acid profile and stabile species. In crocodiles isotopes of affected crocodiles point towards a the condition causes difference in diet between affected and unaffected stiﬀness and lethargy, crocodiles. This alternative feeding hypothesis pur- and death is thought ports silver carp ( Hypophthalmichthys molitrix ), a locally to occur through abundant, alien-introduced fish, rich in poly-unsaturated starvation or drowning. fatty acids (PUFAs), may have exposed affected crocodiles (and (Photo: SANHU) sharptooth catfish, in which the disease is also increasing in prevalence), to levels of PUFAs not normally present in their diets. Excessive amounts of these fatty acids may have exhausted antioxidant levels and triggered fat necrosis and inflammation, typical of the disease. However, other factors such as environmental pollution cannot be ruled out and will be considered in the ongoing research on Nile crocodile health in the Olifants basin. 28 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

New understanding of fire ecology in eastern coastal fynbos

Until recently, knowledge of fynbos fire ecology was largely based on the summer-autumn fire regimes of the western fynbos biome where the climate is Mediterranean. However, in the eastern coastal Cape Floral Kingdom, where Garden Route NP is situated, the climate is milder and rainfall occurs year-round, with presumed effects on fire regimes. Garden Route NP faces considerable challenges related to the management of fire, including significant pressure from the adjacent plantation industry to reduce wildfire hazard by burning fynbos at short intervals, and high levels of invasion by alien trees (largely Pinus species originating from plantations). A recent research programme sought to improve understanding of fire ecology in eastern coastal 10-SECONd BrIEF fynbos, and to provide guidelines for sound management of fire in Garden Route NP. The Knowledge of fynbos fire approach entailed assessments of (a) historical catchment management policies, (b) actual ecology in the eastern fire records (1900-2010), (c) seasonality in fire-prone weather conditions and lightning, and (d) the response of indicator plant species (Proteaceae) to fires in different seasons coastal Cape Floral and at different intervals. Kingdom, where Garden

Route NP is situated, was Results showed that fynbos close to plantations have most likely been compromised by limited until a recent frequent and low-intensity burning in the past. In terms of area burnt (1900-2010), project shed some light on lightning-ignited fires dominated the fire regime, particularly in the Tsitsikamma region, the matter. The research whereas prescribed burning was relatively unimportant. Typical fire return intervals (8-26 identified wildfire hazards years; 1980-2010) were comparable to those in other fynbos regions and appeared to be from the adjacent shorter in the Tsitsikamma than in the Outeniqua region. Proteoid shrubs started flowering plantation industry, high at 4-9 years of age, and their post-fire recruitment success suggested that for biodiversity levels of invasion by alien conservation purposes, fire return intervals should be no less than nine years. Increases in trees, and global change as the total area burnt annually (since 1980) were correlated with long-term increases in the the major challenges. incidence of fire-prone weather conditions, suggesting that fire regime changes may be Comprehensive infor- related to global change. All available evidence (the record of actual fires, fire danger mation about ecological weather, lightning, and post-fire plant recruitment) imply that fires in eastern coastal fynbos are aseasonal and for this reason managers do not need to be concerned if fires thresholds is now available occur in any season. The ecological requirements for high fire intensity may nonetheless to better guide adaptive be constrained by a need for safety. The findings of this research were synthesised into management of fire in the ecological thresholds pertaining to the different elements of the fire regime to guide park. adaptive management of fire in Garden Route NP.

A fire burning through mature dune Sandplain Fynbos near rondevlei in Garden route NP. If fire is kept out of this vegetation type, as happens when natural veld lies in between farms or developed areas, it turns into scrub and may turn onto scrub forest over time. This area was intentionally burned to maintain vigorous fynbos. (Photo: Johan Baard) SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 29

Savanna system interactions 10-SECONd BrIEF Substantial areas subject It was evident from available large herbivore population data for Kruger NP that over the to long fire intervals past century bulk feeders (buffalo, waterbuck, blue wildebeest, plains zebra) had increased provide quality dry- towards comparatively high population densities, whereas population numbers of season forage for selective selectively feeding antelope species (sable antelope, roan antelope, tsessebe, eland) had grazers such as sable declined progressively over this time span. Under the current paradigm, predation (top- antelope, roan antelope, down regulation) is deemed the principal regulator of the herbivores involved. A group tsessebe, and eland, from Scientific Services undertook to investigate the relevant population performance potentially ameliorating trends from a bottom-up perspective (climate effects). the negative eﬀects of climate on forage quality. A climate-vegetation response model (CVRM) was developed to form a framework for the interpretation of expected effects of climate on forage quantity and quality. According to Such areas remain rela- the CVRM, both shorter-term transient temperature acclimation pulses and longer-term tively free of the more shifts in plant metabolic functionality were predicted to have occurred in response to numerous bulk grazers temperature trends over the past century. These temperature responses were expected to such as buﬀalo, water- have resulted in transient pulses of increased forage availability (due to increased nitrogen buck, blue wildebeest, and carbon-nutrient quality), as well as the long-term decline of carbon-nutrient quality plains zebra and their of grass forage. attendant predators. This in turn provides For species where forage quality was of importance (blue wildebeest/zebra, selective refuge and reduced grazers), population performance ratings were negatively correlated with minimum predation risk for the temperature (T min ) and positively with dry-season rainfall. According to the CVRM, selective grazers. acclimation of forage plants to increasing temperature had resulted in temperature-enhanced plant productivity initially increasing food availability of good quality and thereby supporting transient synchronous increases in population abundance of both blue wildebeest/zebra and selective grazers. However, over the long-term (approximately 1910-2010) acclimation of forage plants to concurrently rising T min resulted in accelerated plant growth activity at the cost of storage-based metabolism, thereby cumulatively compromising the carbon- nutrient quality of forage, a key resource for selective grazers.

In accordance with the CVRM, the results of this study implicated climate-effects as the ultimate cause of large herbivore population trends over time. These climate effects exerted their influence in shaping forage quality. In the context of another part of this research project, long fire intervals were found to produce enhanced dry-season forage quality in terms of nitrogen and phosphorus contents, as well as improved digestibility. The Sable (above) and eland associated high quality forage items are (left) are two of the four embedded within a matrix of long-grasses selectively grazing typical of grass swards of advanced age antelope species in (approximately > 8 years). Such items are thus northern Kruger NP. available only to selective grazers, whereas bulk (Photos: Cathy Greaver) grazers with high forage quality requirements, such as blue wildebeest and zebra, would tend to avoid such areas. 30 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

Monitoring

Monitoring is an integral function of Scientific Services, covering a great variety of domains, scales and geographic areas. In order to standardise monitoring practices for consistency of reporting and communication, the Biodiversity Monitoring System (BMS) was developed in 2009/10 and provides a framework for biodiversity monitoring activities across parks and research nodes. The BMS consists of ten monitoring programmes, full details of which were published in a special issue of Koedoe in 2011. Since then, these ten programmes have been prioritised across parks, guiding their implementation and resource allocations. Overview of monitoring activities in the Garden route

SANParks manages approximately 41 500 ha of indigenous forest, several estuarine systems (including an estuarine bay, coastal lakes, open and closed estuaries and river mouths) and the Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Garden Route NP. Monitoring in the Garden Route is thus focused on terrestrial, estuarine and marine components.

A large variety of 10-SECONd BrIEF botanical monitoring is undertaken in the Garden route The BMS in the Garden Route is focused on terrestrial, estuarine and marine components. including long-term Terrestrial indicators: monitoring in forest • gaps to assess the indigenous forest dynamics, eﬀect of forest gap • resource use, size and disturbance • red data plant species, and on regeneration • fire mapping. dynamics. Estuarine indicators: (Photo: Wessel Vermeulen) • surrogates for ecosystem structure and function, a b • water quality assessments, • emergent macrophyte community changes, • waterbird abundances, • fish community composition, and • Knysna seahorse population surveys. Marine indicators: • reef fish and stocks of intertidal bait organisms, • nearshore reef fish populations, • shore angling fish species, and • intensive study of selected indicator species. SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 31

In the terrestrial environment, there is a long history of monitoring various aspects of Long-term monitoring indigenous forest dynamics, including the impacts of climate change, as well as a in burnt forest areas in concerted effort to evaluate the impact, sustainability and adherence to conditions for Garden route NP is undertaken to assess extractive forest resource use. Forest monitoring programmes provide data over several tree response to fire, decades, which is important because of the slow rates of tree growth and natural change and forest succession in the forests, long periods between management interventions for some activities (e.g. following disturbance the 10-year felling cycle for timber) and the relatively light impacts of most management by fire. activities. Forest dynamics monitoring provides data on natural processes and changes (Photo: Wessel Vermeulen) occurring in the forest, including tree growth, mortality and regeneration, changes in stand species composition, forest gap dynamics, and forest establishment and rehabilitation. For example, more than 50 000 individual trees in the Diepwalle research site have been measured periodically since the early 1970s, providing a substantial database on the rates of change of Garden Route forests. A number of projects established during the 1990s are beginning to reveal some of the effects of different types of disturbance and gap size on the regeneration of forest species. Similarly, monitoring of forest and forest margin sites burnt by wildfires in 1996, 1998 and 2005 is revealing the early stages of a recovery process that will take many decades.

Resource use monitoring provides an understanding of the ecology of the forest species that are harvested and leads to the development of sustainable harvesting levels and practices. Thus, for example, a comprehensive management plan was compiled for the exotic but important timber tree Acacia melanoxylon (Australian blackwood) and monitoring of incidence of spread and success of control RELATED: read actions was initiated to ensure a conclusive knowledge base for sound decision-making about social- ecological on aspects of blackwood control and utilisation. Data from permanent sample plots research 9 established during the 1980s in timber use areas and similar unharvested areas have to on page date not revealed any detrimental effects of harvesting. The fronds of the seven-weeks fern ( Rumohra adiantiformis ) have been harvested commercially since the early 1980s, and more recently there has been increased interest in the harvesting of other fern species as well as various medicinal plants. Monitoring led to the development of sustainable The seven-weeks fern (Rumohra adiantiformis ) is harvesting levels and appropriate harvesting practices. harvested for greenery in flower arrangements from In addition, there are developed monitoring programmes for red data plant species of selected forest and fynbos conservation concern in the park (approximately 100 plant species have IUCN Red List areas in the Garden route. status in Garden Route NP). Monitoring data on the distribution, abundance and a) Seven-weeks fern stand population performance of such species also feeds into the South African National (Photo: Wessel Vermeulen), b) Only fully matured, hardened fronds without c d blemishes are used, with frond size, form and colour determining product quality (Photo: Alexis Symonds) , c) Here the fronds are seen being prepared for export (Photo: Alexis Symonds) , and d) rigorous monitoring is undertaken to determine fern regrowth and dynamics, and informs harvesting quotas and the areas to be harvested annually. (Photo: Wessel Vermeulen) 32 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

Biodiversity Institute’s (SANBI) Red List assessments. 2012 achievements include the fourth consecutive annual demographic monitoring of the Critically Endangered Disa procera . An assessment of the only Prunus africana (Vulnerable) population in Garden Route NP found a decline in adults and the absence of saplings. As germination of seed is successful but seedlings do not grow into the sapling phase, exclosures were erected and individual seedlings monitored; initially twice per month and currently monthly. In addition, three previously unknown red-listed species were found in the park, namely Aster laevigatus (Vulnerable), Protea grandiceps (Near Threatened) and Senecio pellucidus (Data Deficient). Localities for other Species of Special Concern (SSC) were also found for the first time.

Fire mapping makes use of GIS approaches and serves as a basis for the design of natural experiments and for fire management decisions and planning, and to recognise potential long-term changes in fire regimes. Regular evaluation of fire regime outcomes in terms of agreed thresholds is done as part of the adaptive management cycle.

A significant focus on marine monitoring in the Tsitsikamma MPA is directed at reef fish RELATED: and intertidal bait organisms which are exploited by legal and illegal fishers. Monitoring of subtidal reef communities is still in its infancy and the Elwandle Node of the South read about African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) is experimenting to ascertain which new tools for methods are most suitable for monitoring nearshore reef fish populations. In the interim, monitoring reef results from their controlled fishing experiments are used to select indicator species for fish in the monitoring. The roman was selected as an indicator species because it is dominant in Tsitsikamma catches, has a small home range and feeds on a wide variety of invertebrate prey items MPA on page 34 which makes its susceptible to deteriorations in invertebrate reef fauna. Between 2006 and 2011 sizeable variations were noted in the mean annual catch per unit effort and The roman, a dominant predatory mean fork length of roman, but no consistent directional changes were apparent and fish species of the provisional TPCs were not exceeded. Similarly, catch data from the South African Institute Tsitsikamma near- for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) are used to monitor shore angling fish species with shore reefs, is used blacktail selected as an indicator species. Substantial variations were noted in mean annual as an indicator species catch per unit effort for all fish, but there was no sign of a decline in fish stocks in the of reef health. (Photo right and below: period 1998 to 2011. Intertidal invertebrate bait stocks are annually assessed since 2009 Allen Walker, at three sites in the MPA and one in the open De Vasselot area. Although variation between bottom: rudi van Aarde) annual samples is sizeable, the abundance of redbait, alikreukel and mussel cover is consistently higher in the MPA than the exploited site. As these studies continue, the monitoring programme will be refined and improved. SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 33

Kyle Smith: Fishing for the perfect research interview … in his own words

I joined the SANParks family in March 2008 as a marine ecologist based at Rondevlei Scientific Services in Garden Route NP. My job description included, among other things, initiating applied ecological research projects and implementing monitoring programmes within the marine and estuarine environment in order to provide information to feed back into adaptive ecosystem management. An important component of the work was to investigate resource utilisation in estuarine and marine areas. My personal objective was far simpler … to make a difference.

Recreational and subsistence fisheries have historically not received the same research or management attention that the large scale commercial ones have and hence the general paucity of knowledge on these fisheries. Unfortunately, what research has been conducted, along with independent population assessments, has shown that many of our linefish species (those fish caught on hook and line) are severely over- exploited and have collapsed. Clearly more monitoring was required.

Within Garden Route NP we now monitor the Knysna and Swartvlei estuarine fisheries. With training and assistance from Working for the Coast, we also cover the Wilderness and De Vasselot coastlines. We can now estimate annual angler fishing effort and total catches for these areas and this information forms part of the annual SANParks resource use report submitted to DEA. In collaboration with People & Conservation, an angler awareness and education Kyle Smith, marine programme is being developed, while new research questions about drivers of angler ecologist based in rondevlei, on the boat behaviour are currently being formulated. Much of the information is gathered through donated by Honda structured angler interviews, which in themselves are an art. I think I would describe Marine for research myself as a bit of an introvert, happier taking my dogs for a run than going to a party work and monitoring and angler surveys have definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone. in the Garden route. (Photo: Jonathon Pare) Working in a small but diverse research unit I have been exposed to a variety of different research techniques and questions. Research questions are always out there, and we should be actively looking for them. If we become too rigid in what we do we may miss exciting and important opportunities. The 2012 Otter African Trail Run (The Retto) seemed like a good opportunity to raise awareness regarding some marine conservation issues and the value of marine protected areas (MPAs). At the same time we had a “captive” sample group for a study on the transport and possible distribution of alien plants into protected areas through sanctioned and organised sporting events. What started off as a small idea has mushroomed into quite an exciting and interesting project. What initially looked like a lot of sand has in fact revealed a few hundred seeds. Germination trials are still underway to identify the different plant species.

I am very grateful to my SANParks colleagues and the external researchers I have been fortunate enough to have worked with so far. Collaboration is important, not only from a financial and capital-sharing perspective, but more importantly for the experience pool it provides and the ability to share ideas. 34 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

New tools for monitoring reef ﬁsh in the Tsitsikamma MPA

Human-induced impacts and climate change are serious threats to global ecosystems and in particular a large amount of research has highlighted the negative impacts that over-fishing has had on South Africa’s reef fish stocks. To effectively manage these resources, scientists need to separate natural change within marine ecosystems from anthropogenic (human) impacts and that is where so-called “no-take” MPAs come in. By preventing all fishing by people, these no-take MPAs provide an opportunity to monitor these natural fluctuations and trends in fish populations

SAEON’s emphasis within the Tsitsikamma MPA has been the long-term monitoring of sub-tidal reef fishes using standardised bait angling methods that have been tested in the field and verified in peer-reviewed publications. To date this dataset represents the longest and most comprehensive sub-tidal reef fish abundance estimate in southern Africa. In addition, new technologies such as baited remote underwater video and remotely operated vehicles have been incorporated into experimental design projects to assess their feasibility and improve our ability to monitor and describe natural variability. This in turn increases our ability to model and predict changes in future situations. Some of the results of this research have been published in Marine Ecology Progress Series (2012).

A “jump camera” set up to monitor invertebrate life within the Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area. The jump camera is a remote underwater camera with live feed to the surface that takes stills and video footage of reef invertebrates. The camera is lowered and picked up from a boat along a transect line thereby “jumping” across the reef. (Photo, right: Kyle Smith, Estuarine monitoring is undertaken primarily in the larger more intensively utilised and above: iStock) managed systems with a high conservation rating, particularly the Touw and Swartvlei systems and Knysna estuary. Monitoring is aimed at assessing long-term changes in physical, chemical and biological attributes, resulting from environmental changes using indicators as surrogates for ecosystem structure and function at multiple levels of organisation over a range of spatial and temporal scales. Long-term regular water quality assessments are undertaken in all larger systems. In the Wilderness lakes, assessments of emergent macrophyte community changes and waterbird abundances also form part of the environmental monitoring programme. Assessments of fish community composition SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 35

are undertaken intermittently in some estuaries, whereas more regular surveys are Seine-netting in one undertaken of the Knysna seahorse population in the Swartvlei Estuary. Complementary of the estuaries of surveillance programmes include regular assessments of water quality in influent rivers Garden route NP; there is considerable and submerged macrophyte biomass in estuarine lakes. threat to the aquatic ecosystems and Long-term datasets (20+ years) such as the salinity, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen and indigenous fish clarity measures in the Touw and Swartvlei Estuary are rare. Recently completed analyses species from invasive of long-term water quality changes in the Touw system showed that the water chemistry alien fish species that of the estuarine lakes is moving towards being more characteristic of freshwater systems. have established themselves in the It was concluded that both biological and physical features are potentially driving water lakes and estuaries. quality changes, including reductions in river inflow, reduced marine connectivity, (Photo: Jaco Barendse) constriction of flow between water bodies, and periodic declines in submerged plant biomass. This enabled reassessment of monitoring programme design, and formulation of management recommendations relating specifically to maintaining freshwater and marine water inflows into the lake systems, and selected removal of accumulated sediments in interleading channels along with more regular cutting of submerged aquatic plants to facilitate water exchange between water bodies. This long-term monitoring highlighted the vulnerability of even highly protected estuaries to both deliberate and incidental manipulations. Overview of monitoring in the Cape Cluster parks

The Cape Research Centre (CRC) is a young science node within SANParks and monitoring activities have developed in parallel with 10-SECONd BrIEF the development of the BMS since 2010. Monitoring programmes are being implemented by park staff in collaboration with the CRC in West Coast, Staﬀ members across Table Mountain, Bontebok, Agulhas, and Tankwa NPs as well as Namaqua, and the the Cape Cluster parks !Khomani San in the !Ae!Hai Kgalagadi Heritage Park have joined forces with in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Using a relative the CRC to implement score-based ranking approach to identify eﬀective monitoring species (both plants and animals), moni- programmes. toring activities are being developed Monitoring activities and implemented according to each park’s priorities. A strong focus on are developed and SSC, habitat degradation and implemented restoration programmes is according to each evident. park’s priorities and are designed to optimise restoration the benefits of interventions in cooperation between Namaqua NP, such as this erosion silt trap the science node, featuring seedlings academic researchers, establishing in an old partners and parks. erosion gully, are constantly monitored. (Photo: Carly Cowell) 36 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

The African black The plant Species of Special Concern Monitoring Programme is aimed at identification, oystercatcher prioritisation and monitoring of selected species that are considered conservation priorities (Haematopus for each park. Floral species lists, in various forms, now exist for most of the Cape Cluster moquini ), below and parks with SSC identification and prioritisation underway. After the 2009/10 fire, particular right, is one of the world’s most range- effort was put into Agulhas NP: from April 2011 to October 2012, vegetation surveys were restricted and rarest conducted across 63 long-term monitoring plots. Monitoring in this park will assess trends, oystercatcher species, abundance and species shifts in order to inform park management decisions. A similar and is listed in the process, again using a relative score-based ranking approach, was followed in West Coast IUCN red data Book as NP and a list of SSC was produced in 2012. The highest ranking and therefore priority Near Threatened. species to monitor in this park is Siphonaria compressa , a gastropod found only in the Langebaan Lagoon and the Knysna Estuary. SANParks will collaborate with Prof George Branch (UCT) and his long-term monitoring programme in this regard. Bird species constitute a significant proportion of the SSCs in West Coast NP and are monitored by park staff, Oceans and Coasts and/or the Animal Demography Unit (ADU). Species monitored include bank, Cape and crowned cormorants, Cape gannet, African black oystercatcher, lesser flamingo and other salt marsh foraging species. There has been significant primary data collection by various agencies and this information will be used to develop management plans for West Coast NP.

The Cape gannet ( Morus capensis ), above, is endemic to southern Africa. The largest colony of this bird, with over 120 000 birds, is found on Malgas Island, West Coast NP. despite the current population size the species is listed as Vulnerable because it has a very small breeding An exercise conducted to identify and rank the animal SSCs for Table Mountain NP in 2012 range (six islands), and highlighted the need for monitoring individual species and habitats, including amphibians, over-exploitation of its caves for cave dwelling invertebrates, and freshwater bodies for water breeding beetles. prey by human fisheries – A population census for large antelope species and the monitoring of bird species of compounded by pollution concern by the ADU (who also monitor in Table Mountain NP and the associated MPA) – is causing a continuous decline in the quality of have added significantly to our knowledge of species in Table Mountain NP. Just as surrounding waters for important as the data collection is the feedback loop between SANParks and institutions foraging. such as the ADU. The CRC is working to improve the information flow through seminars (Photos: Peter Chadwick) and meetings of concerned and involved stakeholders. SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 37

Threatened amphibians of Table Mountain NP

The Critically Endangered Table Mountain ghost frog ( Heleophryne rosei ), top right, is one of several threatened amphibians in the Cape Peninsula that are the focus of a recently initiated amphibian monitoring project. Developed by the CRC, the project aims to establish a co-operative management strategy among local, provincial and national conservation entities. Other species include the Near Threatened Cape Peninsula moss frog (Anthroleptella lightfooti ), below right, the Endangered Cape platanna ( Xenopus gilli ), the Vulnerable Cape dwarf mountain toad (Capensibufo rosei ), the Endangered western leopard toad (Amietophrynus pantherinus ), and the Critically Endangered micro frog ( Microbatrachella capensis ). Conservation status as per IUCN Red List. (Photos: Table Mountain ghost frog, Peter Swart; Cape Peninsula moss frog, John Measey)

Significant progress has been made with the development and implementation of the Habitat Degradation and Rehabilitation Monitoring Programme. A case study is the rehabilitation and restoration of old farms and degraded lands in Namaqua NP which has been informed by a rehabilitation plan and an associated risk-benefit analysis conducted with park management to prioritise areas for work. In 2012, monitoring of the progress and effectiveness of actions taken to date showed that measures to curb soil erosion had reduced the amount of soil lost in the rainy season. The successes in organising and training the Working for Lands teams and the early results of 10-SECONd BrIEF the rehabilitation measures have resulted in other parks requesting such plans for implementation. The Namaqua rehabilitation plan is now a pilot for other plans and the The highly successful CRC will coordinate a larger group of in-house specialists to develop comprehensive habitat rehabilitation and rehabilitation plans for all the Cape Cluster parks. In Table Mountain NP, the ‘Game Camp’ restoration of old farms area in Groote Schuur Estate with endemic and critically endangered peninsula shale and degraded lands in renosterveld is degraded primarily due to incorrect burning regimes, alien invasion and Namaqua NP was fragmentation. Restoration efforts were initiated through an extensively negotiated informed by a rehabili- prescribed burn on the lower slopes of Devils Peak. This will enable research aimed at determining landscape-scale restoration strategies for this vegetation type through sowing tation plan and an of seed and fire. Two fenced areas on the site will be used for trials to establish the best associated risk-benefit restoration method, including combinations of seeding, fire, tillage, herbicide-application analysis, conducted with and rodent-exclusion. park management to prioritise areas for work. This project is now A prescribed burn in serving as a pilot and the Groote Schuur Game Camp on the the CRC will coordinate a lower slopes of devil’s larger group of in-house Peak, as part of the specialists to develop Prescribed Burn comprehensive habitat Programme for Table Mountain NP rehabilitation plans for to aid vegetation all the Cape Cluster restoration. parks. (Photo: Pierre Gallagher) 38 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

The plant SSC Monitoring Programme has been integrated into reporting on global conservation targets. The SSC and Habitat Degradation and Rehabilitation Monitoring Programmes for the Cape Cluster parks were used to illustrate how the BMS programmes are informed by and help achieve the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation targets under the Convention on Biological Diversity at a SANBI-led workshop in early 2012.

In terms of resource use, the monitoring of sour fig harvesting (primarily Carpobrotus acinaciformis ) through experimental plots in Agulhas NP was implemented to better understand a variety of factors that influence the sustainability of harvesting. SANParks’ present Resource Use Policy governs how such resource use activities should be overseen These are two types of sour in parks and requires that resource use is monitored to promote sustainable use practices figs from Agulhas NP, the that complement biodiversity conservation while providing benefits for people from yellow edulis and the pink national parks. Because sour figs are desired by local people, are an important part of their acinaciformis , which is preferred for eating. livelihoods, and are not endangered, they make an interesting case study where (Photos: Carly Cowell ) manipulative experimentation to test the impact of harvesting is possible. A monitoring initiative was established to provide information on the rate of plant regeneration of sour 10-SECONd BrIEF figs after harvesting using a number of different methods known to be used by harvesters. Sour fig harvesting in Manipulative harvesting is being done in an area known as Bergplaas and the impacts of the open access Agulhas each method of harvesting on plant regeneration and flowering will be assessed every NP has been an area of twelve months and compared with growth in control plots. The next step is to feed this concern. The impacts of information back to the sour fig harvesters so that they can adjust their harvesting diﬀerent methods of methods. These types of data will ensure management decisions are based on facts derived harvesting on plant from credible data. This project is an example of social and natural scientists working regeneration and together to develop rigorous research methodologies which may offer management flowering is being insights. assessed. The next step is to feed this information back to the Overview of monitoring needs and priorities sour fig harvesters in across the savanna and arid parks order for them to adjust their harvesting methods. These types of There is a long history of monitoring across the terrestrial ecosystems of the savanna and data will ensure arid parks group, with many established programmes on the go and long-term datasets management decisions available. With changing needs, threats and pressures on parks and capacity constraints, are based on facts the overall monitoring requirements were thus considered in terms of the BMS framework derived from credible during 2012. This process aimed to provide clarity on priorities across the 12 parks (Addo, data. This project is an Karoo, Camdeboo, Mountain Zebra, Augrabies, Kgalagadi Transfrontier, Richtersveld, example of social and Mokala, Golden Gate, Marakele, Mapungubwe, Kruger), recognising budget and staff natural scientists constraints. The process provided both a prioritised set of minimum required monitoring working together to needs per park, responding to key concerns and SANParks’ mandate, and a greater joint develop rigorous understanding of the breadth and scale of monitoring needs. The process was research methodologies multipronged with (a) regional ecologists presenting proposed priorities per park based which may oﬀer on science-management interactions, and (b) discipline scientists presenting their expert management insights. opinion priorities between and across parks. With this background, working groups then considered monitoring priorities on a park-by-park basis. These ‘wish lists’ were RELATED: read about consolidated into a proposed monitoring program for each park, also taking into account social-ecological national and international reporting obligations, park differentiation priorities within research on page SANParks and available human capacity (note: marine monitoring needs for Addo Elephant 9 and about regional ecologists on page 16 NP were not evaluated at this time). SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 39

The prioritisation is aimed at realistic effort allocation with current resources, also taking 10-SECONd BrIEF into account that progressive realisation of the implementation and/or adaptation of monitoring programmes is key. The park ecological systems monitoring approach will There is a long continue under the guidance of the regional ecologists as is presently implemented at the history of monitoring SMFs and aims to capture and address park specific concerns (e.g. quiver trees in Augrabies programmes across the NP). Regional ecologists will prioritise in consultation with park managers and scientific specialists if and how monitoring for these concerns should be taken forward and/or if terrestrial ecosystems specific projects need to be registered to start addressing those concerns. It was also of the savanna and arid recognised that monitoring prioritisation was driven heavily by concerns raised at parks group. Priorities individual park level and that SANParks must also keep a “finger on the pulse” of the were revisited during system, tracking important baseline information and conditions. It was thus suggested 2012 in terms of the that ‘supersites’ be identified in these parks, most likely to be based on most dominant BMS framework in and most threatened vegetation types per park, and monitoring proposals presented for order to ensure that these. activities are refined, developed and implemented according to each park’s priorities, taking into account national and international reporting obligations, park diﬀerentiation priorities within SANParks and available human capacity.

Aerial surveys of large mammals, including buﬀalo, below, and Species of Special Concern such as black and white rhino, left, are conducted across the parks to estimate numbers as well as to understand demographic trends and landscape use patterns. (Photo top: Cathy Greaver, left: rudi van Aarde) 40 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

10-SECONd BrIEF

Baseline monitoring programmes are There are thus (a) baseline monitoring programmes to be implemented across all parks, while implemented across all parks including climate, vegetation at park-specific programmes may be representative supersites and herbivore exclosures, indicator implemented in one or more parks. inventorisation (such as birds, reptiles, insect groups, rodents), alien invasive species through structured mapping and rapid Baseline programmes: response assessments, specific high profile SSC, large mammal • climate, censuses (design, frequency and intensity still to be optimized), • vegetation at representative supersites game reintroductions, removals and sales, as well as freshwater and herbivore exclosures, and river health indicators, and (b) proposed park-specific • indicator inventories (birds, reptiles, programmes, including requirements for SSC, habitat degradation insect groups, rodents), and restoration, resource use, fire and/or herbivore impacts, • alien invasive species, disease, etc. In all instances, there are cases where monitoring is • specific high profile species of special already conducted by SANParks (although analysis, reporting and concern, feedback may need to be improved or optimised); monitoring is • large mammal censuses, conducted by external groups (and SANParks must strengthen data • game reintroductions, removals and and report archiving, and in some cases further collation and sales, and analysis of data to address SANParks’ specific needs); monitoring • freshwater and river health indicators. is currently not done and needs urgent attention once the Park-specific programmes: monitoring plan is developed. In some instances, monitoring priority still needs to be decided, and in some of these cases • requirements for SSC, research projects rather than monitoring may be sufficient. • habitat degradation and restoration, and • resource use, fire and/or herbivore impacts, disease.

researchers monitor the eﬀects of herbivores on the large riverine trees in Mapungubwe NP inside and outside the elephant exclosure that was erected to protect selected parts of the forest from utilisation by elephant. (Photo: rina Grant)

A SANParks oﬃcial inspects the new fish ladder at Engelhard dam in the Letaba river, Kruger NP. A total of 12 fish species were found along the length of the fish ladder which is Fence contrast in Addo Elephant NP as a result of past used by migrating fish to agricultural practices; spekboom ( Portulacaria afra ) is being bypass obstacles or barriers planted to restore the degraded vegetation. It has been observed such as weirs and dam walls. that spekboom is one of several species that is eﬃcient in sequesting (Photo: Thabo Mohlala) carbon. (Photo: Ernest daemane) SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 41

Next steps require the identified draft monitoring programmes to be finalised during 2013, 3-SECONd BrIEF with implementation and/or amendment of existing monitoring approaches thereafter. Champions have been identified to articulate the objectives, methods, logistics, The identified draft responsibilities and adaptive management feedback mechanisms. Once complete, it is monitoring expected that this prioritisation process will have led the group to a realistic roadmap to programmes are to be implement a more coordinated and structured monitoring system with defendable finalised during 2013 priorities and largely within resource limits. It is anticipated that this monitoring system, and a realistic roadmap or components thereof, will be reviewed in 2-5 year cycles. The importance of developing to implement a more monitoring frameworks and programmes for needs relating to tourism, cultural heritage, ecosystem services and resource use has also been flagged. coordinated and structured monitoring Great progress has been made during 2012 in the system with defendable development of the Habitat Degradation and priorities and largely Rehabilitation Monitoring Programme and its within resource limits sub-components for the savanna and arid will be produced in parks. Within a heterogeneity paradigm the the near future. challenge is to define how much degradation in a system is acceptable and contributing to heterogeneity and to define unacceptable degradation. The restoration A network challenge is determining how such a system of gully could be restored to achieve this required erosions heterogeneity. However, in the context of the developing as a result of monitoring programme, degradation is con- water runoﬀ sidered to typically result from human induced from the road in activities that have, or are likely to, lead to more richtersveld NP. Apart permanent changes in the state of the ecosystem. In from erosion caused reality SANParks cannot define the “natural” state and rather by footpaths created provides opportunities for ecological processes to play out. Restoration is therefore aimed by livestock, water runoﬀ from the road at providing such opportunities for ecological processes to play out, and if necessary, mimic infrastructure desired outcomes. A strong focus during 2012 went into assessing the extent to which contributes to major national parks have been degraded by past and present land use practises or other events, soil erosion in the specifically whether the system’s functioning has been altered by this degradation and park. whether the system is, as a consequence, less resilient to further external disturbances. (Photo: Ernest daemane) The current programme addresses the effects of past management practices and monitors the recovery process after rehabilitation interventions, using appropriate indicators. Identification and description of degradation type and cause in Camdeboo, Mountain 3-SECONd BrIEF Zebra, Addo Elephant, Marakele, Mapungubwe and Richtersveld NPs highlight soil erosion, vegetation transformation and bush encroachment as the dominant type. Methodologies The importance of for mapping included SPOT satellite images, identification of degradation during aerial developing monitoring census and ground sampling, with variable rehabilitation measures subsequently proposed frameworks and and implemented to address this. Landscape function analysis monitoring has begun in programmes for needs Camdeboo, Addo Elephant and Mountain Zebra NPs, with vegetation monitoring plots relating to tourism, assessing bush densification indicators established in Marakele NP. Monitoring for cultural heritage, Mapungubwe and Richtersveld NPs will begin during 2013, making use of the landscape ecosystem services and function analysis monitoring technique combined with ant diversity surveys. Development resource use has been of a monitoring technique to detect degradation at early developmental stages (at a flagged. landscape level) is challenging and still needs to be developed. 42 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

3-SECONd BrIEF Savanna Science Network The annual Savanna Science Networking Meeting has grown in Meeting: Celebrating a decade stature over the years th and in 2012 attracted Scientific Services hosted the 10 annual Science Networking Meeting in 2012, with 75 diﬀerent scientific 230 delegates representing 75 diﬀerent scientific and conservation organisations from and conservation ten countries. After humble beginnings in 2002 with a handful of delegates at organisations from Shingwedzi, the meeting is now a recognised international event attracting renowned ten countries. academics, conservation managers and a host of postgraduate students. The conference provides an opportunity for scientific dialogue and sharing of findings from research conducted in and around protected areas, primarily focused in the savanna biome. It is also an important forum for ongoing debate about ecological understanding and philosophy in the context of conservation challenges, resulting in new and varied research collaborations.

The meeting has grown in size and stature over the last decade, having moved venue on three occasions to accommodate the growing interest. The original ‘Kruger Network Meeting’ widened its focus from 2007 to incorporate a broader focus on global savanna systems. In addition, the meeting format has changed to keep abreast of 10-SECONd BrIEF changing needs and increased knowledge facilitation requirements (there were 111 platform presentations and speed talks in 2012). The concept The conference provides of five minute speed talks was introduced in 2010, while 2012 saw the inclusion of a very an opportunity for successful dedicated early evening cheese, wine and poster session. Even though the scientific dialogue and conference has experienced considerable growth over the years and is now held in the sharing of findings from Nombolo Mdhluli Conference venue in Skukuza, it has purposefully retained an intimate research conducted in and “local” flavour, with the resident community taking responsibility for evening meals and around protected at the Skukuza Golf Club, in the process raising funds for the local crèche, primary school areas, primarily focused and church. in the savanna biome. It is an important forum for The conference continues to be very popular but has remained true to its initial ideals of ongoing debate about providing a critical, energetic and collegial platform for scientific networking and ecological understanding collaboration. This initial concept was greatly facilitated and has been generously and philosophy in the supported by the AW Mellon Foundation and its grants to SANParks and its collaborators. context of conservation challenges, resulting in new and varied research collaborations. SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 43

Publications and 3-SECONd BrIEF 47 papers authored or co-authored by presentations SANParks research staﬀ were published Papers in peer-reviewed journals in peer-reviewed journals in 2012. During 2012 SANParks research staff authored or co-authored 47 peer-reviewed journal articles. Thirty seven staff members contributed as authors, with a total of 78 SANParks authorships across the papers. Fifteen (31%) of the publications had a SANParks staff member as principal author. Eighteen staff members authored a single paper, 16 authored two to four papers, while three staff members published five or more papers in 2012 (Figure 6).

3-SECONd BrIEF By publishing their findings in scientific journals, the researchers of SANParks Scientific Services not only subject new findings to the scrutiny of their peers in the scientific community, but continuously contribute to the development of significant and strategic research agendas for the organisation.

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The 47 publications were spread across 35 journals, 32 of which are Thomson Reuters ISI- accredited. Two journals, Koedoe and Conservation Evidence , have recently been added to the Thomson Reuters Masters Journal List, and as such not yet received an impact factor. The accredited journals in which SANParks research staff published in 2012 cover a range of impact factors (Figure 7). According to the 2011 impact factors (2012 impact factors will only appear in the second half of 2013), six (13%) of the papers appeared in journals with impact factors greater than five – this is considerably more than the four papers (3%) published in this tier over the preceding three years (2008-2011).

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Figure 7: Number of peer reviewed papers published by SANParks research staﬀ during 2012 according to impact factor of journals (NA = not accredited; A = accredited, awaiting 1st impact factor).

The most frequently used journal for research dissemination was the in- house journal Koedoe (6). Thirty journals had a single paper with SANParks affiliated authorship, with more than one paper appearing in Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine (4), PLOS ONE (3), Pachyderm (3) and Ecological Applications (2) (Table 2 on page 46).

Photos: Loretta Steyn SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 45

Koedoe : SANParks’ in-house peer-reviewed journal

Koedoe (www.koedoe.co.za ), the official journal of SANParks, promotes biodiversity conservation science and protected area management in Africa by publishing research that will enhance the body of knowledge required to support effective conservation and sustainable management of our natural resources. This knowledge is generated within the context of complex ecological and social systems in which protected area networks are embedded. As a result, Koedoe highlights fundamental practices that contribute to the conservation of natural resources, which are increasingly faced with pressures from a growing human population and the effects of global environmental change. Koedoe also publishes scientific advancements in field studies, in-depth reviews of complex topics, as well as evidence-based policy and management approaches to assist with context-specific management challenges.

In 2012 over 52 000 unique (i.e. unduplicated) visits were made to the website (Figure 8), the majority by South Africans, with international readership recorded for UK, USA, Germany, Australia, Netherlands and France. More significantly, over 122 800 articles were downloaded, representing an increase in usage of almost 60% from 2011.

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Figure 8: There has been a steady increase in visitors to the Koedoe website and in the number of papers downloaded since the journal moved to the AOSIS OpenJournals online platform in 2008.

Importantly Koedoe has been accepted into the Thomson Reuters Science Citation Index Expanded, and will receive its first impact factor in mid-2014. Inclusion in the Thomson Reuters Web of Science is regarded as a critical assessment of a journal’s academic worth, and will likely translate into an increase in submissions to the journal and readership. An increase in submissions will allow the journal’s editor to be more selective in the choice of papers accepted for review and publication, which will in turn raise the journal’s citation potential and quality thereby encouraging submissions from top/high- impact authors, locally and abroad. Currently the majority of first authors are affiliated with SANParks, with some international and regional first-author contributions from the UK, Canada, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Zambia. An increase in the institutional and geographic diversity of authors will increase the journal’s overall contribution to global conservation science and protected area management dialogue and relevance. Assurance of a speedier production turn-around time (from acceptance to online publication) for Koedoe has also been identified as an important incentive for author submissions, particularly from high-impact/highly cited authors. 46 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

Table 2: Journals in which SANParks research staﬀ published in 2012, ordered by number of papers, followed by impact factor (A = accredited, awaiting 1 st impact factor; NA = not accredited).

Journal Total No. of papers No. of Impact no. of (principal papers factor papers author) (co-author) (2011) Koedoe 64 2A Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 41 30.381 PLOS ONE 31 24.092 Pachyderm 33 0.286 Ecological Applications 21 15.102 Annual Review of Environment and Resources 116.419 Molecular Ecology 115.522 Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 115.415 Journal of Ecology 115.044 Diversity and Distributions 114.83 Conservation Biology 11 4.692 Remote Sensing of Environment 114.574 Ecography 114.188 Ecosystems 113.495 Oikos 113.061 Ecology and Society 112.516 European Journal of Forest Research 11 1.982 Austral Ecology 111.824 Environmental management 111.744 Journal of Arid Environments 11 1.723 Journal of Insect Conservation 111.688 South African Journal of Botany 111.659 European Journal of Wildlife Research 111.306 South African Journal of Wildlife Research 111.085 African Journal of Marine Science 110.98 ZooKeys 110.879 African Journal of Ecology 110.655 African Journal of Range & Forage Science 11 0.6 Southern Forests: A Journal of Forest Science 11 0.567 African Entomology 110.47 Conservation Evidence 11A Ecosphere 11NA Journal of Coastal Conservation 11NA Journal of Sustainable Development 11NA TOTAL 47 15 32 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 47

SANParks research staff published with 181 unique co-authors (some contributing to more 3-SECONd BrIEF than one paper) representing 67 different organisations (Appendix A). Fifty seven percent of the collaborative authors had a primary affiliation with a South African organisation, Over half (57%) while the remainder were from organisations spread across 14 countries, mostly from of the authors North America and Europe (Figure 9). Most of the authors were from local tertiary SANParks research institutions (40%) or international universities (29%), with the balance of authors affiliated staﬀ co-published with research councils, non-profit organisations, zoos, consultants, government with had a primary departments, other conservation agencies or research and veterinary institutes. aﬃliation with a 120 103 South African 100

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R E B 40 36 32 M U N 20 6 2 2 0 SOUTH NORTH EUROPE AUSTRALIA & AFRICA OTHER AFRICA AMERICA (INC. ENGLAND) NEW ZEALAND AUTHOR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN Figure 9: Geographic origin of author aﬃliations of authors co-publishing with SANParks research staﬀ.

An analysis of SANParks research staff 2012 publications indicates some rather pronounced focuses in geographic scale, type of research and biome (Figure 10). Most studies were conducted within national parks (56%), located in terrestrial ecosystems (84%), based on original empirical research (78%), conducted in the savanna biome (46%) and explored the bio-physical domain (91%). Five papers were published in the socio-economic domain, although some of the bio-physical papers also considered the socio-economic implications of the study. 30 40 25 35 25 20 30 S R

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Figure 10: SANParks research staﬀ publication breakdown for a) geographic scale, b) type of research, and c) biome in which study was conducted. 48 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

RELATED: read about research External peer-reviewed research projects and collabo- related to national parks rations 19 on page SANParks leverages substantial intellectual capital and research funding through registered projects by external collaborators. During 2012, 146 papers relating to 16 of the 19 national parks were published in peer-reviewed journals (Table 3; note, this excludes 20 papers published by SANParks research staff that do not relate to specific parks, e.g. conceptual papers, studies conducted outside national parks or papers relating to scales larger than national parks). Kruger NP (69), Garden Route NP (20) and Table Mountain NP (14) were the parks that featured the most in the peer reviewed literature during 2012. Some of these publications appeared in top international journals (e.g. a paper on tree dynamics and the rate of treefall in Kruger NP appeared in Ecology Letters , rated 1/134 for Ecology by Thomson Reuters Journal Citation Reports, with an impact factor of 17.557). Full references are provided in Appendices B and C.

Table 3: Articles related to specific South African national parks appearing in peer reviewed journals during 2012. Note: this does not include 20 papers authored by SANParks research staff that do not relate to specific parks.

National Park No. of No. of papers with papers SANParks authors

Addo Elephant 11 0 Agulhas 20 Augrabies 21 Bontebok 00 Camdeboo 00 Garden Route 20 3 Golden Gate Highlands 30 Karoo 10 Kgalagadi Transfrontier 40 Kruger 69 19 Mapungubwe 20 Marakele 30 3-SECONd BrIEF Mokala 00 During 2012, Mountain Zebra 10 146 papers relating Namaqua 10 to 16 of the 19 Richtersveld 10 e d

r Table Mountain 14 1

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r West Coast 30 reviewed journals; : s o t

Kruger, Garden o Multiple parks 82 h Route and Table P Mountain NPs TOTAL 146 27 featured the most. SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 49

Books and book chapters

Three staff members authored or co-authored five chapters in three different books (Appendix D). Two of these books relate to forestry and the third book relates to chemical and physical restraint of wildlife. Technical and scientific reports

SANParks research staff contributed to a total of 50 technical or scientific reports in 2012 (reference list in Appendix E). Almost all of the reports were published internally (47), and most of these internal reports (36) dealt with issues at an individual park scale (e.g. fire policies for individual parks; vegetation assessments at specific proposed development sites in parks; botanical lists for specific parks; degradation reports for a specific park, etc.). In many cases park management collaborated and consequently co-authored these reports with colleagues from Scientific Services. Five of the internal reports produced in 2012 are subsections of the Global Environmental Change Project , with contributions from more than ten SANParks research staff members.

Conference presentations RELATED:

SANParks research staff presented 15 papers at national and 23 papers at international conferences during 2012, representing SANParks at a total of 20 conferences and forums read about the (Appendix F; note, only reflecting conferences at which staff were first-authors). A 2012 Savanna reference list is provided in Appendix G. Fifteen of the conferences were hosted in South Science Network Meeting on Africa, while five were hosted abroad. Four staff members were invited to give five keynote page 42 presentations at these conferences.

3-SECONd BrIEF SANParks research staff contributed both to biome-specific conferences (e.g. Fynbos Forum, Thicket Forum, Savanna Science Network Meeting ) as well as discipline-specific Scientific Services is conferences (e.g. Southern African Society of Aquatic Scientists; Grassland Society of aware of the impor- th Southern Africa; INSAKA ). The 10 Annual Savanna Science Network Meeting, hosted by tance of science SANParks attracted the most SANParks presented papers (12), while SANParks research awareness and shares staff also had good representation at the International Symposium on Managing Benefit its key research Sharing in Changing Social Ecological Systems (INSAKA) (three papers). activities with all South Africans via Popular articles popular articles in a variety of publications SANParks research staff contributed to and magazines. seven features that appeared in glossy magazines. Contributions were also made to the quarterly SANParks Times newspaper, various websites and newsletters. 50 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

3-SECONd BrIEF Service to scientific community Above and beyond their duties within Scientific Services, Editorship of, and review for, journals many staﬀ members Two staff members contributed in the capacity of journal editors. Dr Llewellyn Foxcroft is – scientists and the editor-in-chief for Koedoe and associate editor for Neobiota , while Dr Dirk Roux is an technicians alike – associate editor for Conservation Letters and Koedoe . Sixteen SANParks research staff participate in members reviewed a total of 54 manuscripts for 30 journals across a wide range of professional disciplines and journal impact factors (Table 4; Figure 11). Most of the reviews were for societies, contribute Koedoe (7), Conservation Letters (6), PLOS ONE (4) and South African Journal of Botany to journals, (4). supervise Table 4: Journals for which SANParks research staﬀ reviewed manuscripts during 2012, postgraduate ordered by number of papers, followed by impact factor (A = accredited, awaiting 1 st students and host impact factor; NA = not accredited). visiting scholars. Journal No. of papers Impact factor Koedoe 7A Conservation Letters 6 4.082 PLOS ONE 4 4.092 South African Journal of Botany 4 1.659 African Journal of Ecology 3 0.655 Diversity and Distributions 2 4.83 Ecography 2 4.188 Ecology & Society 2 2.516 South African Journal of Wildlife Research 2 1.085 Water SA 2 0.853 Global Ecology and Biogeography 1 5.145 Biological Conservation 1 4.115 Journal of Environmental Management 1 3.245 Animal Conservation 1 2.931 Biological Invasions 1 2.896 Biodiversity and Conservation 1 2.238 International Journal of Wildland Fire 1 2.231 Landscape and Urban Planning 1 2.173 Plant Ecology 1 1.829 Phytotaxa 1 1.797 European Journal of Wildlife Research 1 1.306 Fisheries Management and Ecology 1 1.294 Contributions to Zoology 1 1.231 African Journal of Marine Science 1 0.98 African Journal of Range & Forage Science 1 0.6 Southern Forests 1 0.567 African Journal of Aquatic Science 1 0.471 Ostrich 1 0.427 South African Journal of Education 1 0.38 Journal for Transdisciplinary Research in Southern Africa 1 NA TOTAL 54 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 51

Three book reviews were conducted in 2012, and these were published in African Zoology, Koedoe and Proceedings of the Royal Society of South Africa . 16 14 12 S R

E 10 P A P 8 F O

E 6 B M

U 4 N 2 0 NA A <1 1-2 2-3 3-4 4-5 >5 IMPACT FACTOR Figure 11: Number of papers peer reviewed by SANParks research staﬀ during 2012 according to impact factor of journals. (NA = not accredited; A = accredited, awaiting 1 st impact factor). Students supervision, thesis examination, review of research proposals

Five staff members have been supervising or co-supervising a total of ten Masters and three PhD studies across eight South African universities (Table 5). Four staff members examined five Masters dissertations and two PhD theses at four South African tertiary institutions. Additionally, two colleagues acted as external examiners for modules at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) and the Southern African Wildlife College.

Table 5: Supervision and external examination of postgraduate degrees

University Supervision Examination Masters Phd Masters Phd Monash University, South Africa 2 Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University 21 North-West University 1 Rhodes University 1 Stellenbosch University 11 Tshwane University of Technology 1 University of Cape Town 1 University of KwaZulu-Natal 3 University of Pretoria 131 University of the Witwatersrand 1 TOTAL 10 352

Seven SANParks research staff members acted as reviewers for 11 separate funding applications, including applications to the NRF (6), Water Research Commission (WRC) (2), Fynbos Forum Innovation Scholarship (1), Save our Species Conservation Fund (World Bank, GEF and IUCN initiative) (1) and National Geographic (1). One application was also reviewed for admission of an individual to the South African Council of Natural and Scientific Professions. 52 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

Visiting scholarships and sabbaticals hosted

Fullbright Sabbatical in SANParks: Prof Greg Kiker (University of Florida, USA) As part of a Fullbright-funded sabbatical, Prof Greg Kiker (University of Florida, USA) spent approximately eight months during 2012 in Skukuza, collaborating with various SANParks staff. The remainder of the sabbatical was spent at UKZN where he worked closely with Prof Rob Slotow, and NMMU where he set up collaborative projects with Prof Graham Kerley. During the period in Skukuza, Greg cleaned, systematically arranged and created meta-data for various historical woody vegetation datasets collected in Kruger NP. These datasets included the woody VCA datasets, as well as the data collected by Freek Venter (1990). Level one processing of the data was done to create various products relating to woody vegetation composition and structure. Time series analysis of changes in woody cover and structure was also conducted. The cleaned datasets, as well as the derived data products and detailed meta-data reports, will soon be freely available on the SANParks data repository. Furthermore, an introduction to these datasets and some analysis associated with the data products will be submitted for consideration for publication early in 2013. As a second phase to this project, Greg has been using these and other datasets to calibrate and validate models on how different elephant management scenarios may influence various ecological processes in the park (primarily using the SAVANNA and QnD modelling approaches). During the sabbatical period Greg established strong collaborative and capacity building ties with a staff member of Scientific Services, based in Skukuza, who is planning to use various spatial statistical approaches to further analyse and data mine these datasets as part of his proposed PhD (to be registered in 2013 at UKZN with Greg as co-supervisor). Greg furthermore initiated and registered new collaborative projects in Addo Elephant NP (with two PhD students) in which remote sensing imagery will be used to explore long-term vegetation changes and to investigate how elephant distribution and movement patterns (derived from collar data) are related to water and forage resources.

Prof Greg Kiker, at the Skukuza research Camp. (Photo: above: Mindy Kiker, right: Loretta Steyn) SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 53

Scientific Support Services 3-SECONd BrIEF Equipped with cutting edge equipment, Scientific Support provides services and infrastructure to enable both internal scientific expertise, databases staﬀ and outside researchers conduct national parks-based research. These include a and the requisite variety of services such as taxonomic identification and support, GIS and remote infrastructure, the sensing support, data storage and analytical support, as well as overnight Scientific Support Services team accommodation, and game guarding assistants in certain parks. provides a wide range of analytical, imaging Herbarium and collection curation and curatorial services, facilities and SANParks’ biological collections, housed at the Skukuza Biological Reference Collection, training to scientists Kruger NP, and the Garden Route and Kimberley Herbaria, serve as valuable repositories from across SANParks of knowledge and baseline references for research, aiding in taxonomic identification and and other academic occasionally revision. Standard information recorded for each specimen is captured institutions. electronically on the respective databases, and as new specimens are added to the collections, species lists are drawn up for each park/region. Siphonochilus aethiopica (wild ginger) a red data Skukuza Biological reference Collection plant; the rhizomes of this Critically Endangered The Skukuza Biological Reference Collection, founded in the 1950s, currently features plant are chewed and used approximately 15 000 plant specimens representing about 2 000 taxa, 3 500 vertebrate in the treatment of colds, specimens, and 14 000 invertebrates. coughs, influenza and hysteria. (Photo: Guin Zambatis) All bio-ecological information relevant to the plant specimens collected is in the process of being captured in a digital bio-ecological database based on the National Herbarium in Pretoria’s PRECIS system. Zoological specimens are captured in an Access database, using similar criteria to the plant database. To date about 14 408 plant specimens and 7 164 zoological specimens have been electronically captured.

In 2012: • a Red Data plant species list of Kruger NP was compiled, • seven new fungi species and one new succulent were added to the herbarium collection, • 88 specimens were added to the biological specimen collection, • 2 700 specimens were added to the PRECIS plant bio-ecological database, • photographs with botanical descriptions of 209 species were added to the specimen Australluma collection (to provide supplementary visual ubomboensis (Ubombo aid in the identification of closely related thick-boat), added species), to the Skukuza • photographs of 101 plant species were added herbarium collection in 2012, is a very small to a separate photograph collection, and succulent, and is found • 281 biological specimens were identified for visiting in shallow soils. researchers. (Photo: Guin Zambatis) 54 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

Shizophyllum commune (splitgill), a wide-spread fan-shaped fungus was added to the Skukuza herbarium collection in 2012. (Photo: Guin Zambatis)

Kimberley South African National Parks Herbarium Started in 1991 and now internationally registered, the Kimberley South African National Parks Herbarium (KSAN) hosts a collection of plant specimens from various, mostly arid and savanna national parks. Information about and photographs of specimens are captured alongside the main collection in a computerised Photographic Plant Guide Programme, available to researchers and park visitors. The programme allows users to identify plants they have seen by using an identification key and searching through a list of Lentinus stupeus options. (bluegum woodcap) – small hairy brown In 2012 the programme was upgraded and is to be installed in several new parks, including fungus with a funnel Augrabies, Namaqua, Kgalagadi Transfrontier, Mountain Zebra, and Karoo NPs. shape cap, added to the Skukuza A total of 525 plant specimens were added to the various collections managed by KSAN: herbarium • Tankwa NP collection: 200 plant specimens, collection in 2012. • Namaqua NP collection: 110 plant specimens, (Photo: Guin Zambatis) • Mokala NP collection: 200 plant specimens, and • West Coast NP collection: 15 plant specimens. Garden route Herbarium Founded in 1998 as part of the then Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, the Garden Route Herbarium was transferred to SANParks in 2007, and currently has a plant species list of over 2 000 specimens. When necessary, specimens are sent to the SANBI’s Compton Herbarium for formal identi-fication and new specimens are added to the national database.

In 2012: • 276 plant species were added to the collection, and • 40 specimens were identified by staff for a visiting researcher working in Bontebok NP.

The Near Threatened Protea grandiceps (red sugarbush), one of the specimens added to the Garden route herbarium collection in 2012, prefers rocky habitat that protects it from fire. (Photo: Johan Baard) SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 55

Geographic Information Systems 10-SECONd BrIEF The purpose of GIS Geographic Information Systems (GIS) makes use of computer applications to combine within SANParks is to information and geography, allowing us to visualise patterns and explore relationships facilitate spatial data between places or features. In simple terms it is the production of “smart maps” by analysis for eﬀective spatially linking datasets as points, lines, polygons and/or grids or images with tabular data to derive new information. SANParks GIS offices are found in Skukuza, Tokai, ecological monitoring, Rondevlei and Knysna, where specialists provide dedicated GIS expertise for staff and research and manage- visiting researchers. The purpose of GIS within SANParks is to facilitate spatial data analysis ment support. GIS for effective ecological monitoring, research and management support. In order to achieve provides a new way this, a number of commercial and open source software packages are used for spatial of viewing and archiving and analysis and field data collection (e.g. ESRI ArcGIS, ERDAS IMAGINE, interpreting the world Quantum GIS and GRASS, CyberTracker). In 2012, a software Enterprise License Agreement around us, helping us (ELA) was signed between Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) and DEA, determine how to ensuring the more widespread availability of sophisticated GIS software products across build an environ- SANParks. mentally aware future. Skukuza (Kruger NP) The Skukuza GIS Lab is responsible for the acquisition, production, dissemination, maintenance and analysis of GeoSpatial data across SANParks (with emphasis on the savanna and arid regions). A list of all the available datasets can be found at http://www.sanparks.org/conservation/scientific/knowledge-generation/gis.php#data. Research highlights for 2012 include the development of a SANParks-wide field data collection system ( http://www.koedoe.co.za/index.php/koedoe/issue/view/82 ), environmental niche modelling to determine causal factors of mopane worm ( Gonimbrasia belina ) outbreaks, habitat suitability mapping for the endangered pepper-bark tree ( Warburgia salutaris ), and fire scar modelling in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park using MODIS satellite imagery.

Figure 12: Estimated areas burnt in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in 2012 using a change detection model with MODIS Terra imagery. Disclaimer: Without proper ground-truthing these results remain estimates. 56 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

Kruger NP GIS day

The first annual Kruger NP GIS Day was held on 27 November 2012. The event was hosted by the Skukuza GIS-RS Lab and People & Conservation, and held at the Mpunzana Combined School in Shabalala (Mpumalanga). The objective of this initiative is to empower teachers in local communities to educate learners on how to build an environmentally aware future using GIS as a tool. The programme included an interactive presentation on GIS, explaining how it provides a new way of viewing and interpreting the world around us. Due to the lack of computers the 72 students who participated improvised by using paper maps, working through group activities designed to develop their geographic and environmental awareness.

rondevlei and Knysna (Garden route NP) GIS specialists in Rondevlei and Knysna, integrated within the Scientific Services offices, are responsible for the collection, management and maintenance of various environmental datasets, and data collection programmes. A significant emphasis is on supporting Operations and Scientific Services with timeous, accurate answers from analyses of spatially related data for planning and decision-making. 2012 highlights include the development of GIS models to identify areas for Invader Plant Control to assure sound planning for the Invader Plant Control programme, as well as the development of models to rapidly determine veld age of fynbos areas and fire return periods that advise on ecologically acceptable age of various fynbos areas. Work on specific research projects include (a) identification and mapping of the emergent plant communities of the Wilderness Lakes system to assess long-term community changes, (b) creation of density maps for sand and mud prawns in the Swartvlei Estuary for assessments of changes in species abundance, (c) creation of digital elevation models and production of contour maps of lake systems, and (d) creation of maps for assessment of blue duiker density using pellet counts and camera trap returns.

Tokai (Table Mountain NP*) In the Cape Research Centre’s GIS office, GIS is used as a tool to support research by helping to illustrate findings and understand the spatial characteristics of research in the Cape region. The main focus in 2012 was the implementation of the Biodiversity Monitoring Framework using GIS to investigate various ecological systems, explore options for alien species management, focus efforts for monitoring Species of Special Concern, and quantify impacts and resource use. In addition, the year under review saw the creation of a spatially explicit Table Mountain NP research project database and map, which will be updated as new projects are registered and additional sites approved. The ‘research map’ will ensure sensitive habitats are not over- researched, and that endangered species and vegetation are not disturbed.

* Much of the Table Mountain NP-specific GIS work is produced and managed from Table Mountain NP head office. SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 57 e d r a A

n a v

i d u r

: s o t o h P

Vetting of new applications TMNP – Cape of Good Hope Applied for and approved, sampling sites for Morella species

Photo: iStock

Figure 13: Proposed sites for Morella species research (family: Myricaceae), in a 2012 application; sites within the proximity of sensitive wetlands were declined; those outside (circled in red) were approved. 58 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

Progress with and use of the research Lab in Skukuza

An analytical laboratory was recently added to the Scientific Services Research Laboratory in Skukuza, to conduct analytical chemistry assays. The addition of a Discreet Auto Analyser and microwave digester allow for quick and repeatable analysis of even trace levels of analytes. Housed within the same research infrastructure, the General Lab accommodates water bio-assays, ELISAs, microscopy and haematology. During 2012 it supported projects such as the Tree-grass Programme with soil analysis, the Lion The research Demographic Study with the determination of prey species Lab in Skukuza through faecal analysis, the Lion FIV Disease Interaction where staﬀ and Project with various immunological and blood chemistry researchers with registered projects assays, and the development of Tuberculosis diagnostic assays within SANParks in rhinoceros. It serviced the Organization for Tropical Diseases conduct laboratory with laboratory space for small student projects and the procurement analyses. (Photo top: of laboratory consumables. Boitumelo Ntabe, right: Purvance Shikwambana) 3-SECONd BrIEF Skukuza Indigenous Nursery A Discrete Auto Analyser was The nursery continues to play a key role in educating staff, public visitors and learners recently added to about the region’s plant species, the threat of alien plants and suitable indigenous the Analytical Lab alternatives, water-wise indigenous gardening and how to use local plants sustainably. During 2012, the nursery worked closely with the Lowveld Honorary Rangers to develop in Skukuza, an alien plant display and plant a medicinal plant garden in the nursery grounds, and with Kruger NP, and SAEON to plant a calendar garden in the grounds of the local school, Skukuza Primary. is used for the chemical analysis Information board on the Calendar Garden. The Calendar Gardens project is designed of soils, water and to help understand climate change. Each garden contains a set of five carefully plants. selected plants, suited to the particular geographic area. Each plant has a distinct flowering and leafing schedule that is influenced by the weather, with at least one flowering or leafing event occurring in each season. By recording the timing of these events over a period of years, scientists are able to determine how plant responses may be tracking changes in climate.

Additional support for landscape improvement was provided by Biodiversity Social Projects (BSP) with a team of Environmental Monitor general workers who improved plant propagation in the nursery and worked on various rehabilitation projects in and around Skukuza. The nursery actively worked to improve on the collection of trees, shrubs and succulents that occur in Kruger NP and surrounds, focusing on sandveld areas and less common species. The seed bank now includes seeds from local dominant species and also species from sandveld areas in the north of the park. SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 59 data and data management 3-SECONd BrIEF Reliable data

SANParks data repository ( http://dataknp.sanparks.org ) is an innovative and user-friendly support more way for people to access the vast sets of scientific data that have accumulated from the eﬀective decision- many years of research conducted within SANParks since the 1950s. making, provide a repository of Archiving data with the associated metadata allows these datasets to be used in a variety information that can of ways to answer questions that may not have been the primary objective of the study, be easily referenced as well as to help inform management. These datasets can also be used for long-term and made available comparative studies. Making this information available to people was the driving when needed, as motivation in developing the data repository. well as enable long-term changes The system was originally developed especially for ecological data by the National Centre to be tracked and for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) in Santa Barbara, USA. In 2012 SANParks comparative studies became a member node of the DataONE: Data Observation Network for Earth program undertaken. which is a federated data network that is being built to improve access to data about life on Earth and the environment that sustains it, and to support science by: (a) engaging the relevant science, data, and policy communities, (b) facilitating easy, secure, and persistent storage of data, and (c) disseminating integrated and user-friendly tools for data discovery, analysis, visualisation, and decision-making.The data repository has been constructed to protect sensitive data by using a login/password system. This means that data access can be restricted to a few users who are working with that particular dataset.

Data that have not been published will be lead-time protected with only the metadata made available until the data are clear for public circulation. By the end of 2012 the data repository had expanded to contain 302 datasets of which 216 are open access. These data include tabular data, GIS data and reports. In 2012 emphasis was placed on adding data from parks other than Kruger NP – of these 302 datasets, 159 are from the other national parks. The advantages of this repository are being broadened to include automation of analyses to determine whether certain ecological thresholds have been exceeded. A scientific workflow program called Kepler will access the data directly from this data repository, perform the necessary analyses and provide output to managers via a web-based system, indicating whether the ecological threshold of interest has been exceeded or not.

10-SECONd BrIEF

By the end of 2012 the SANParks data repository had expanded to contain 302 datasets of which 216 are open access. In 2012 emphasis was placed on adding data from parks other than Kruger NP – of these 302 datasets, 159 are from the other national parks. The advantages of this repository are being broadened to include automation of analyses to determine whether certain ecological thresholds have been exceeded.

(Image: iStock) 60 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

The Langebaan Lagoon in West Coast NP is one of three South African ramsar sites which occur in areas either wholly or partly managed by SANParks. (Photo: SANParks Photo Library) Service to broader conservation sector ramsar Convention

The Ramsar Convention, oﬃcially known as the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially for Waterfowl Habitat, is an intergovernmental treaty between 164 countries which provides a framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands. Over time the focus of the convention has significantly broadened to incorporate a range of wetland types as well as a range of issues relevant to the conservation of wetlands. Each participating country is obliged to designate at least one wetland within their territory for the Ramsar List, i.e. a Ramsar site. Globally there are 2 087 designated Ramsar sites with a total surface area surpassing 200 million hectares. South Africa, a founder state of the Ramsar Convention, has designated 20 Ramsar sites, three of which occur in areas either wholly or partly managed by SANParks, namely the Wilderness Lakes in Garden Route NP, Langebaan Lagoon and islands in West Coast NP, and Makuleke wetlands on the Limpopo floodplain in Makuleke Contractual Park at the northern extremity of Kruger NP.

SANParks’ commitment to the Ramsar Convention in 2012 included providing assistance with the preparation of management plans for Ramsar sites in parks, and participation in the 11th meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP11). Held in Romania in July, particular attention was given to (a) tourism in wetlands, (b) an integrated framework for avoiding, preventing and mitigating wetland losses, (c) principles for the planning and management of urban and peri-urban wetlands, (d) the linking of wetland conservation and wise use with poverty eradication, and (e) climate change and wetlands. The majority of the South African contributions, which reflected local conditions, interests, benefits and institutional arrangements, were adopted. All adopted resolutions can be downloaded off the Ramsar website www.ramsar.org SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 61

Mentorship and capacity development for research within Scientific Services

In November 2012 Scientific Services held a workshop to reflect on its capacity development programme and the practice of mentoring within the division. While overall the development programme has delivered on its promises, there have been challenges to doing so. These include honing the selection criteria and learning from experience how to evaluate potential to succeed, improving the integration of junior scientists and interns into research programmes through a more structured mentoring system, and including more staﬀ on the time-intensive requirements of mentors. The need for more aquatic interns (fresh water and marine) has also been identified. Renewed funding and human capital are both essential for the continuation of Scientific Services’ capacity development programme. Junior Scientist Programme

SANParks, through funding from the Andrew W Mellon Foundation in 2003, piloted a capacity building programme for young scientists from previously disadvantaged race 10-SECONd BrIEF groups. Additional grant funding awarded in 2005, together with SANParks collateral funding, continues to support students. This programme, which extended beyond the Developing our initial Kruger NP catalyst phase, supports a strategic human capital development objective collective capacity in the SANParks business plan. It provides an internship-like opportunity for promising for decision-making postgraduate students interested in pursuing a scientific career in conservation. Such is an eﬀective way to students are embedded in SANParks and exposed to the application of science to ensure that we are conservation management needs, uniquely straddling the interface between academia working together to and science-based decision-making. accomplish a common goal. It Reflections on this programme, its successes and failures over the years show that: (a) it helps foster is important to have a small community of junior scientists in one location to support each other and share their challenges and successes, and (b) students need to be based out of confident young an existing and active SANParks research node to enable exposure to SANParks’ research researchers who can culture and engender the passion for a science career in conservation. In addition, and in use these order to grow an understanding of the requirements to be a protected area agency experiences and scientist, candidates in their first year on the programme are required to: (a) join the skills as they Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) socio-ecological semester course to expand their continue making a horizons and challenge their perceptions as well as grow their confidence, (b) write up diﬀerence in their and submit a scientific paper for publication, (c) engage extensively with SANParks’ own communities scientists, taking part in science-management activities, thereby getting to know both the and in the national organisation and the management challenges, and (d) distil their research interests and parks across South work on a research proposal in collaboration with prospective supervisors at jointly-agreed- Africa. upon universities and with SANParks scientists. It has proven very useful to follow this 62 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

initial path and for junior scientist candidates to register at academic institutions in their second year on the programme.

The year under review was busy, with various highlights and considerable changes in the number of candidates. Three candidates left the programme during 2012. This was due to uncertainty of PhD study direction and family commitments closer to home for one candidate, SANParks’ geographic inability to mentor a second candidate who sourced a university-based bursary for PhD study but is still working in collaboration with SANParks, and the third candidate performing poorly and not meeting the minimum requirements to remain on the programme despite extensive engagement and mentorship during the first year. The candidates showed extreme appreciation for the personal growth and expanded experience that the Junior Scientist Programme afforded them in Kruger, and cited the exposure to the conservation-based research as a highlight of their time with SANParks.

Robin Petersen: Aquatic scientist rising

Robin Petersen joined the SANParks Junior Scientist Programme in January 2009 after completing his BSc (Hons) in Environmental and Water Sciences in the Earth Science Department at University of the Western Cape (UWC). Based in Skukuza, Robin registered for an MSc degree at UWC, focusing on groundwater recharge processes in Kruger NP. His enthusiastic feedback and broad exposure gained during the Organisation for Tropical Studies (OTS) semester course led SANParks to consider this course as a non-negotiable component of new junior scientist candidates’ first year experiences. Robin made good progress in developing his research proposal and collecting and analysing his data, while at the same robin Petersen, time engaging energetically with groundwater-related management concerns at emerging Mapungubwe and Kruger science-management forums. Said Robin: “Highlights during groundwater and my three years of being a junior scientist were definitely going into the bush and freshwater ecology experiencing wild animals on foot, wrestling crocodiles (crocodile capture) and seeing specialist, joined Kruger NP from the helicopter during the annual wildlife census (without throwing up!). Scientific Services in Skukuza on Having the opportunity to network with the most well-known scientists in the field of completion of his MSc ecology and geo-hydrology at the Savanna Science Network Meetings and conferences and the Junior around the country was also one of the privileges of the position.” Scientist Programme. (Photo: Izak Smit) Robin was awarded his MSc degree by UWC in 2012. He was offered, and accepted, the vacant position of aquatic scientist on the staff of Scientific Services in the Savanna & Arid Research Unit at SANParks, where he has been working since February 2012. “I grabbed the position with both hands and have ‘dived’ straight into the challenges of doing research in high priority ecosystems such as rivers and wetlands in the park. I am fortunate in that this job offers opportunities to explore the less-visited pristine river ecosystems of Kruger NP and monitor the health of this important life blood. I have finally found my calling as a fresh water ecologist … and I look quite strapping in my waders!” SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 63

Two candidates, Mmoto Masubelele and Robin Petersen (see text box on page 62) completed and defended their PhD and MSc theses successfully during 2012 through UCT and UWC respectively. Dr Masubelele expressed his sincere appreciation to both the Mellon Foundation and SANParks for his sponsorship of his MSc and then his PhD over the past four and a half years. Mmoto said, “I have met wonderful people both in Skukuza and especially Cape Town and look forward to working with them in the future in the fight for conservation of biodiversity in South Africa. I have learnt a great deal from the programme, from project proposal reviews, TPCs and adaptive management employed by SANParks, and this will hold me in good stead in the future endeavours.” Both candidates were successfully absorbed into SANParks’ employ as scientists during 2012 and represent a proud achievement for SANParks’ post-graduate conservation-science human capital development of candidates from designated groups in South Africa.

Four candidates remain on the Junior Scientist Programme as of the end of 2012. Two are funded from the Mellon Foundation funding to SANParks: Tercia Strydom, registered for an MSc degree through UKZN (see below), and Kevin Deenadayalan, who completed a B- Tech degree in January 2012, fulfilled the first year contractual requirements and is currently working towards defining an MSc topic for registration in 2013. In addition, SANParks took on the funding of a further three candidates in 2012: Nosipho Tyagana, who is registered for a B-Tech degree through CPUT and is based at the CRC, Nashreen Williams who is based at the CRC and is registering for an MSc, and Nolubabalo Tantsi who was completing her MSc degree through the University of Pretoria.

Tercia Strydom: Mastering the battle of the elements – water vs. ﬁre … in her own words

In 2010, I completed an Honours degree at UWC where I focused on geohydrology, particularly groundwater-surface water interaction. The following year I moved to the other end of the country when I was granted the opportunity to be appointed as a junior scientist at Scientific Services in Kruger NP.

With increasing anthropogenic demands on water resources in South Africa, there is a discernible need for water professionals and researchers within SANParks to monitor the effect of external pressures on water resources in our protected areas. We are all Junior scientist and aware that water is one of the most precious resources in our country, therefore, the MSc student, Tercia monitoring and protection thereof is crucial. With support and funding from the Junior Strydom, installing a Scientist Programme and the Water Research Commission (WRC), I am currently tipping-bucket rain pursuing my MSc in hydrology through UKZN. This study is being conducted on the gauge at one of her fieldwork sites in Experimental Burn Plots in Kruger NP which is part of a long-term fire experiment that Kruger NP. The study has been running since the early 1950s. The study aims to determine the effect of long- looks at how fire, soil term fire frequency on soil hydrological processes and properties. Since fire forms a hydrological natural part of savanna systems and is used as an important management tool in Kruger properties, vegetation NP, the results of this research will inform park management and improve decision- and wildlife interact making regarding the use of fire. at a larger scale in a semi-arid landscape. Upon being appointed, I have been fortunate to be exposed to some of the best (Photo: Faith Jumbi) scientists in the country and in the world, stemming from a wide variety of fields. I have also been able to dabble in several non-hydrological studies which have been both eye- opening and refreshing. Moving nearly 2 000 km across the country has been the hardest, yet most rewarding decision I have ever made. 64 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

The programme has been through numerous iterations in scale in terms of numbers of RELATED: candidates on the programme. SANParks has learnt a great deal from the process, and will consolidate these learnings to take forward in the mentorship of future young scientists, particularly those from previously disadvantaged backgrounds. Capacity and read about the Skukuza Science personality to mentor these young scientists is one of the biggest challenges. Discussions Leadership are underway with Dr Laurence Kruger and Karen Vickers of the OTS and Nsasani Trust to Initiative below assist SANParks Scientific Services in this highly personal and individualised need. GreenMatter

Conservation Services, along with the Human Resources Department, has been actively involved with GreenMatter, a non-governmental organisation that grows biodiversity skills in South Africa. One key focus area during 2012 was the development of leadership skills for the sector. As part of this initiative, marine scientist at the CRC, Mbulelo Dopolo, was selected as a GreenMatter Fellow together with Thembi Khoza from SANParks’ Corporate Governance department, and Mmoto Masubelele, a SANParks junior scientist at the time and now working as a landscape ecologist at the CRC. During the year, Mbulelo benefited greatly from workshops and the opportunity to network at different levels. Through this networking he has been able to secure WWF post-graduate interns to assist with marine monitoring in the Cape Cluster parks. In addition, his visit to Canada in 2013 will largely be funded through GreenMatter and will provide insight into, among other things, how conservation and fisheries objectives are reconciled in Canada in the light of high demand from adjacent traditional fishing communities. This is highly relevant to the South African context.

SANParks participated in several other important initiatives in various ways, for example by providing a person to serve in several advisory roles, such as on the adjudication committee for GreenMatter Senior Fellows, taking part in professionalisation workshops, experiential training workshops, and in the development of content material for the leadership initiative. In addition, several SANParks members attended the 2nd Annual Environmental Skills Summit organised by GreenMatter, and also assisted in running certain sessions. Overall, SANParks has a cordial and close relationship with GreenMatter, and there is a strong feeling of camaraderie and mutual helpfulness, with a sense of structured and systemic progress in this important area.

Skukuza Science Leadership Initiative

Recognising the skills shortage in the biodiversity sector in South Africa, a Human Capital Development Strategy has been proposed by SANBI, the Lewis Foundation and GreenMatter. With its internationally acknowledged and solid science base, substantial human capital and as custodian of a significant portion of the country’s diverse and ecologically important natural capital, SANParks was identified as a key role player in this initiative. Partnering with SANParks are the Nsasani Trust, and OTS, South Africa, both dedicated to the holistic science training and empowerment of South African students through experiential learning. Based in Skukuza, Kruger NP, ideally positioned to provide a unique and dynamic training platform, and drawing on local and international scientists and park managers, the programme will not only build capacity in science conservation research and leadership in South Africa, but will also contribute to SANParks’ long-term research and monitoring objectives, and its mandate of connecting to society. The science leadership initiative will be housed in a sustainably built facility which will include a lecture theatre, library, computer lab, wet and dry laboratory, administration office, kitchen and dining hall, and accommodation for staff and students. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2013. SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 65

A few final words: What we have covered, where are we now?

The nature of what is required from conservation agency researchers and the research service they provide now requires adaptability, flexibility, bridging ability and some transdisciplinary aptitude within the team. This results in a very wide spectrum of engagement from practice to policy, depth to breadth of knowledge fields and an ability to form relationships with many and varied stakeholders internal and external to the organisation. In this era of knowledge sharing, contextualisation and co- learning, this annual report did not aim for completeness of reporting, but rather uses an exemplar approach across the spectrum of knowledge production and application in SANParks, to illustrate achievements and importantly to facilitate reflection. The process of developing this report was aimed at learning and providing a communication and critical reflection tool. Thus, some areas of research development and leveraging have received little or no attention in this report for 2012, including the extended scientific community in and around SANParks’ science nodes who contribute directly and/or in leveraged ways to providing conservation perspectives and addressing knowledge needs in various ways. This includes, for example, the contributions of various geographically embedded SAEON nodes and contract staff living and working in close association with SANParks and the subtle roles of SANParks’ head office staff in opening up opportunities for exploring research from action research to how we frame research (for example in questioning the plethora of tick- box monitoring and evaluation systems currently so prevalent in national and international targets). In the spirit of adaptive learning and the open knowledge system within which SANParks is embedded, we anticipate that the nature of this report will adapt and change in approach, emphasis and structure over the years to come as new areas of focus emerge and are highlighted.

(Photos, left: rudi van Aarde, right: Loretta Steyn) 66 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

Authors and aﬃliations for papers published related to APPENdIX A South African national parks

Author Institution Country No. of papers co-published with SANParks research staﬀ Adcock, K IUCN African Rhino Specialist Group South Africa 1 Asner, GP Carnegie Institution for Science United States 3 Bengis, R State Veterinary Services South Africa 1 Bester, SP South African National Biodiversity Institute South Africa 1 Beukes, H Agricultural Research Council South Africa 1 Biggs, R Stockholm University Sweden 1 Birkett, PJ University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa 1 Bohensky, EL Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Australia 1 Research Organisation Bond, WJ University of Cape Town South Africa 1 Born, C Stellenbosch University South Africa 1 Braczkowski, A University of Oxford England 1 Bradley, BA University of Massachusetts United States 1 Breen, C University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa 1 Bryant, B Taronga Western Plains Zoo Australia 1 Buk, KG Tshwane University of Technology South Africa 1 Cho, MA Council for Scientific and Industrial Research South Africa 1 Cilliers, SS North-West University South Africa 1 Citino, S White Oaks Conservation Centre United States 1 Clauss, M Durban Institute of Technology South Africa 1 Codron, D University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa 1 Codron, J University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa 1 Coetsee, C Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University South Africa 1 Combrink University of Cape Town South Africa 1 Coulson, D Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University South Africa 1 Cowling, RM Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University South Africa 1 Craine, JM Kansas State University United States 1 Crawford, RJM Department of Environmental Aﬀairs South Africa 1 Cromsigt, JPGM University of Oslo Norway 1 Cundill, G Rhodes University South Africa 1 Cuthbert, RJ Royal Society for the Protection of Birds England 1 Dakos, V Wageningen University Netherlands 1 Daw, TM Stockholm University Sweden 1 De Boer, WF Wageningen University Netherlands 2 De Jong, CB Wageningen University Netherlands 1 De Klerk-Lorist, LM State Veterinary Services South Africa 1 De Knegt, HJ Wageningen University Netherlands 2 Debba, P Council for Scientific and Industrial Research South Africa 1 Downsborough, L Monash South Africa South Africa 1 Driver, A South African National Biodiversity Institute South Africa 1 Du Preez, P Namibian Ministry of Environment and Tourism Namibia 1 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 67

Duffy, KJ Durban Institute of Technology South Africa 1 Duncan, M Saint Louis Zoo United States 1 Dyer, BM Department of Environmental Affairs South Africa 1 Emmett, MC Rhino Action Group Effort South Africa 1 Erasmus, B University of the Witwatersrand South Africa 1 Erwin, TL Smithsonian Institution United States 1 Esfandiari, J Chembio United States 1 Esler, KJ Stellenbosch University South Africa 1 Estes, LD Princeton University United States 1 Evans, LS James Cook University Australia 1 February, EC University of Cape Town South Africa 1 Fleming, G Disney's Animal Kingdom United States 1 Gedir, JV Victoria University of Wellington New Zealand 1 Geldenhuys, CJ Stellenbosch University South Africa 1 Geldenhuys, D CapeNature South Africa 1 Glass, JP Tristan Conservation Department Tristan da Cunha 1 Gosling, CM University of Groningen Netherlands 1 Grass, T Tristan Conservation Department Tristan da Cunha 1 Greenwald, R Chembio United States 1 Hall, G Council for Scientific and Industrial Research South Africa 1 Harris, L Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University South Africa 1 Heitkonig, I Wageningen University Netherlands 1 Higgins, SI Goethe University Frankfurt am Main Germany 1 Hjalten, J Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Sweden 1 Hoetmer, AJ Wageningen University Netherlands 1 Hole, DG Conservation International United States 1 Huchzermeyer, KDA Sterkspruit Veterinary Clinic South Africa 1 Jacobs, S Stellenbosch University South Africa 1 Jansen van Vuuren, B Stellenbosch University South Africa 1 Johansson, T Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Sweden 1 Kerley, GIH Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University South Africa 1 Khan, A University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa 1 Kirkman, K University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa 1 Kleynhans, EJ Stellenbosch University South Africa 1 Klopper, RR South African National Biodiversity Institute South Africa 1 Knox, N ITC, University of Twente Netherlands 1 Kohi, E Wageningen University Netherlands 2 Kos, M Wageningen University Netherlands 1 Kotschy, K University of the Witwatersrand South Africa 1 Lannas, K University of Cape Town South Africa 1 Law, PR PRLDB Modelling United States 1 Le Roux, JJ Stellenbosch University South Africa 1 Le Roux, PC Stellenbosch University South Africa 1 Lee-Thorp, J University of Oxford England 1 Leitch, AM James Cook University Australia 1 Levick, SR Carnegie Institution for Science United States 1 Linklater, WL Victoria University of Wellington New Zealand 1 Lombard, AT Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University South Africa 1 Lorentz, SA University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa 1 68 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

Author Institution Country No. of papers co-published with SANParks research staff Louw, JH Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University South Africa 1 Lubcker, N University of Pretoria South Africa 1 Lyashchenko, KP Chembio United States 1 Main, R Council for Scientific and Industrial Research South Africa 1 Makhado, AB Department of Environmental Affairs South Africa 1 Marais, E Stellenbosch University South Africa 1 Martin, L Colorado State University United States 1 Mathieu, R Council for Scientific and Industrial Research South Africa 1 Matose, F University of Cape Town South Africa 1 Mauck, B University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa 1 Mawdsley, AS Cleveland State University United States 1 Mawdsley, JR Smithsonian Institution United States 2 Meek, C University of Alaska United States 1 Melice, J Université Pierre et Marie Curie France 1 Miller, E Saint Louis Zoo United States 1 Miller, M Palm Beach Zoo United States 4 Moncreiff, G Goethe University Frankfurt am Main Germany 1 Mosimane, A University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa 1 Muchapondwa, E University of Cape Town South Africa 1 Muggeo, VMR Università di Palermo Italy 1 Mungatana, E University of Pretoria South Africa 1 Mutanga, O University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa 1 Mwakiwa, E Wageningen University Netherlands 1 Myburgh, JG University of Pretoria South Africa 1 Mylniczenko, N Disney's Animal Kingdom United States 1 Naidoo, L Council for Scientific and Industrial Research South Africa 1 Nel, R Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University South Africa 1 Ngcobo, S University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa 1 Nkhata, BA Monash South Africa South Africa 1 Ntsala, D Bohlabatsatsi Information Management South Africa 1 Okita-Ouma, B Kenya Wildlife Services Kenya 1 Olea-Popelka, F Colorado State University United States 3 Olff, H University of Groningen Netherlands 1 Oppenheimer, M Princeton University United States 1 Page, B University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa 2 Paglia, D University of California United States 1 Pasi, J University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa 1 Peel, MJS Agricultural Research Council South Africa 2 Pickles, A University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa 1 Pickles, J University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa 1 Pretorius, Y Wageningen University Netherlands 2 Prins, HHT Wageningen University Netherlands 2 Pryke, JS Stellenbosch University South Africa 1 Quinlan, A Carleton University Canada 1 Radcliffe, R Cornell University United States 1 Ramoela, A Council for Scientific and Industrial Research South Africa 1 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 69

Raubenheimer, EJ University of Limpopo South Africa 1 Raudsepp-Hearne, C McGill University Canada 1 Richardson, DM Stellenbosch University South Africa 2 Riddell, ES University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa 1 Robards, MD Wildlife Conservation Society United States 1 Roets, F Stellenbosch University South Africa 1 Ryan, PG University of Cape Town South Africa 1 Schluter, M Stockholm University Sweden 1 Schoeman, D Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University South Africa 1 Schoon, ML Arizona State University United States 1 Schultz, L Stockholm University Sweden 1 Schulze, RE University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa 1 Schutte-Vlok, A CapeNature South Africa 1 Scogings, PF University of Zululand South Africa 1 Shannon, G University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa 1 Silver, SB Arizona State University United States 1 Sithole, Z University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa 1 Skidmore, AK ITC, University of Twente Netherlands 1 Slotow, R University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa 4 Spear, D Stellenbosch University South Africa 1 Spohr, C Stellenbosch University South Africa 1 Sponheimer, M University of Colorado at Boulder United States 1 Steyn, HM South African National Biodiversity Institute South Africa 1 Swaisgood, RR San Diego Zoo Global Institute for United States 1 Conservation Research Tadross, MA University of Cape Town South Africa 1 Thaker, M University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa 1 Thompson, GD Stellenbosch University South Africa 1 Trollope, WSW Working on Fire International South Africa 1 Turner, WR Conservation International United States 1 Upfold, L Department of Environmental Aﬀairs South Africa 1 Van Aardt, JAN Rochester Institute of Technology United States 1 Van der Waal, C Wageningen University Netherlands 2 Van Helden, P Stellenbosch University South Africa 1 Van Langevelde, F Wageningen University Netherlands 2 Van Wieren, SE Wageningen University Netherlands 2 Van Wilgen, BW Council for Scientific and Industrial Research South Africa 1 Vanak, AT University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa 2 Vardien, W Stellenbosch University South Africa 1 Visagie, J CapeNature South Africa 1 Waller, L University of Cape Town South Africa 1 Watson, L Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University South Africa 1 Wessels, K Council for Scientific and Industrial Research South Africa 1 West, PC University of Minnesota United States 1 Wilcove, DS Princeton University United States 1 Wilson, JRU Stellenbosch University South Africa 1 Woodborne, S Council for Scientific and Industrial Research South Africa 1 70 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

APPENdIX B: Peer reviewed journal publications by SANParks research staﬀ (Note: SANParks research staﬀ indicated in bold) AUGrABIES FALLS NATIONAL PArK

Buk, K. G., & Knight, M. H. (2012). Habitat suitability model for black rhinoceros in Augrabies Falls National Park, South Africa. South African Journal of Wildlife Research , 42(2), 82-93. GArdEN rOUTE NATIONAL PArK

Braczkowski, A., Watson, L., Coulson, D., & Randall, R. (2012). Diet of leopards in the southern Cape, South Africa. African Journal of Ecology , 50(3), 377-380.

Seydack, A. H. W., Durrheim, G. , & Louw, J. H. (2012). Forest structure in selected South African forests: Edaphoclimatic environment, phase and disturbance. European Journal of Research , 131(2), 261-281.

Vermeulen, W. J., Geldenhuys, C. J. , & Esler, K. J. (2012). Response of Ocotea bullata , Curtisia dentata and Rapanea melanophloeos to medicinal bark stripping in the southern Cape, South Africa: Implications for sustainable use. Southern Forests: A Journal of Forest Science , 74(3), 183-193. KrUGEr NATIONAL PArK

Birkett, P. J., Vanak, A. T., Muggeo, V. M., Ferreira, S. M. , & Slotow, R. (2012). Animal perception of seasonal thresholds: Changes in elephant movement in relation to rainfall patterns. PLOS ONE , 7(6), e38363.

Cho, M. A., Mathieu, R., Asner, G. P., Naidoo, L., Van Aardt, J., Ramoelo, A., Debba, P., Wessels, K., Main, R., Smit, I. P. J., & Erasmus, B. (2012). Mapping tree species composition in South African savannas using an integrated airborne spectral and LiDAR system. Remote Sensing of Environment , 125, 214-226.

Codron, J., Codron, D., Sponheimer, M., Kirkman, K., Duffy, K. J., Raubenheimer, E. J., Melice, J., Grant, C. C. , Causs, M., & Lee-Thorp, J. A. (2012). Stable isotope series from elephant ivory reveal lifetime histories of a true dietary generalist. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences , 279(1737), 2433-2441.

Coetsee, C., Jacobs, S., & Govender, N. (2012). An overview of nitrogen cycling in a semiarid savanna: Some implications for management and conservation in a large African park. Environmental management, 49(2), 387-402.

Ferreira, S. M., Botha, J. M. , & Emmett, M. C. (2012). Anthropogenic influences on conservation values of white rhinoceros. PLOS ONE , 7(9), e45989.

Govender, N. , Mutanga, O., & Ntsala, D. (2012). Veld fire reporting and mapping techniques in the Kruger National Park, South Africa, from 1941 to 2011. African Journal of Range & Forage Science , 29(2), 63-73.

Higgins, S. I., Bond, W. J., Combrink, H., Craine, J. M., February, E. C., Govender, N. , Lannas,K., Moncreiff, G., & Trollope, W. S. (2012). Which traits determine shifts in the abundance of tree species in a fire-prone savanna? Journal of Ecology , 100(6), 1400-1410.

Levick, S. R., Asner, G. P., & Smit, I. P. J. (2012). Spatial patterns in the effects of fire on savanna vegetation three-dimensional structure. Ecological Applications , 22(8), 2110-2121.

Mathebula, N. , Miller, M., Buss, P., Joubert, J. , Martin, L., Kruger, M., Hofmeyr, M. , & Olea-Popelka, F. (2012). Biochemical values in free-ranging white rhinoceros ( Ceratotherium simum ) in Kruger National Park, South Africa. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine , 43(3), 530-538. SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 71

Mawdsley, J. R., & Sithole, H. (2012). Tiger beetles (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) of the Kruger National Park, South Africa: Distribution, habitat associations and conservation status. African Entomology , 20(2), 266-275.

Miller, M., Joubert, J., Mathebula, N. , De Klerk-Lorist, L. M., Lyashchenko, K. P., Bengis, R., Van Helden, P., Hofmeyr, M. , Olea-Popelka, F., Greenwald, R., Esfandiari, J., & Buss, P. (2012). Detection of antibodies to tuberculosis antigens in free-ranging lions ( Panthera leo ) infected with Mycobacterium bovis in Kruger National Park, South Africa. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine , 43(2), 317-323.

Riddell, E. S., Khan, A., Mauck, B., Ngcobo, S., Pasi, J., Pickles, A., Sithole, Z., Lorentz, S. A., & Govender, N. (2012). Preliminary assessment of the impact of long-term fire treatments on in situ soil hydrology in the Kruger National Park. Koedoe – African Protected Area Conservation and Science , 54(1), 7 pages.

Scogings, P. F., Johansson, T., Hjältén, J., & Kruger, J. (2012). Responses of woody vegetation to exclusion of large herbivores in semi-arid savannas. Austral Ecology , 37(1), 56-66.

Seydack, A. H. W., Grant, C. C., Smit, I. P.J., Vermeulen, W. J., Baard, J., & Zambatis, N. (2012). Climate and vegetation in a semi-arid savanna: Development of a climate vegetation response model linking plant metabolic performance to climate and the effects on forage availability for large herbivores. Koedoe – African Protected Area Conservation and Science , 54(1), 1-12.

Seydack, A. H. W., Grant, C. C., Smit, I. P.J., Vermeulen, W. J., Baard, J., & Zambatis, N . (2012). Large herbivore population performance and climate in a South African semi-arid savanna. Koedoe – African Protected Area Conservation and Science , 54(1), 1-20.

Smit, I. P. J. , & Asner, G. P. (2012). Roads increase woody cover under varying geological, rainfall and fire regimes in African savanna. Journal of Arid Environments , 80, 74-80.

Vanak, A. T., Shannon, G., Thaker, M., Page, B., & Grant, R. (2012). Biocomplexity in large tree mortality: Interactions between elephant, fire and landscape in an African savanna. Ecography , 35, 315-321.

Venter, F. J., & Govender, N. (2012). A geomorphic and soil description of the long-term fire experiment in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Koedoe – African Protected Area Conservation and Science , 54(1), 10 pages.

Woodborne, S., Huchzermeyer, K. D. A., Govender, D., Pienaar, D. J. , Hall, G., Myburgh, J. G., Deacon, A. R., Venter, J. , & Lübcker, N. (2012). Ecosystem change and the Olifants River crocodile mass mortality events. Ecosphere , 3(10), 87, 17 pages. TABLE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PArK

Roets, F., Pryke, J. S., & McGeoch, M. A. (2012). Abiotic variables dictate the best monitoring times for the endangered Table Mountain stag beetle (Colophon westwoodi Gray 1832, Coleoptera: Lucanidae). Journal of Insect Conservation , 1-7. TANKWA KArOO NATIONAL PArK

Bester, S. P., Klopper, R. R., Steyn, H. M., & Bezuidenhout, H. (2012). New plant records for Tankwa Karoo National Park, South Africa. Koedoe – African Protected Area Conservation and Science , 54(1), 9 pages. MULTIPLE PArKS

Harris, L., Holness, S. , Nel, R., Lombard, A. T., & Schoeman, D. (2012). Intertidal habitat composition and regional-scale shoreline morphology along the Benguela coast. Journal of Coastal Conservation , 1-12.

Miller, M., Olea-Popelka, F., Joubert, J., Mathebula, N., Zimmerman, D., Hausler, G., Dreyer, C., Hofmeyr, M., & Buss, P. (2012). Serum iron and selected biochemical values in free-ranging black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis ) from South Africa. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine , 43(3s), 55-60. 72 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

NOT PArK-SPECIFIC

Biggs, R., Schlüter, M., Biggs, D. , Bohensky, E. L., BurnSilver, S., Cundill, G., Dakos, V., Daw, T. M., Evans, L. S., Kotschy, K., Leitch, A. M., Meek, C., Quinlan, A., Raudsepp-Hearne, C., Robards, M. D., Schoon, M. L., Schultz, L., & West, P. C. (2012). Towards principles for enhancing the resilience of ecosystem services. Annual Review of Environment and Resources , 37(1), 421-448.

Born, C., le Roux, P. C., Spohr, C., McGeoch, M. A. , Jansen van Vuuren, B. (2012). Plant dispersal in the sub- Antarctic inferred from anisotropic genetic structure. Molecular Ecology , 21, 184-194.

Bradley, B. A., Estes, L. D., Hole, D. G., Holness, S. , Oppenheimer, M., Turner, W. R., Beukes, H., Schultze, R. E., Tadross, M. A., & Wilcove, D. S. (2012). Predicting how adaptation to climate change could affect ecological conservation: Secondary impacts of shifting agricultural suitability. Diversity and Distributions , 18(5), 425-437.

Citino, S., Bryant, B., Duncan, M., Fleming, G., Hofmeyr, M. , Miller, E., Miller, M., Mylniczenko, N., Paglia, D., & Radcliffe, R. (2012). IOD in rhinos-veterinary group report: Report from the clinical medicine and pathology working group of the international workshop on iron overload disorder in browsing rhinoceros (FEBRUARY 2011). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine , 43(3s), 105-107.

Crawford, R. J. M., Dyer, B. M., Geldenhuys, D., Makhado, A. B., Randall, R. M. , Upfold, L., Visagie, J., & Waller, L. (2012). Trends in numbers of crowned cormorants in South Africa, with information on diet. African Journal of Marine Science , 34(3), 411-424.

Daemane, M. E. , Cilliers, S. S., & Bezuidenhout, H. (2012). Classification and description of the vegetation in the Spitskop area in the proposed Highveld National Park, North West Province, South Africa. Koedoe – African Protected Area Conservation and Science , 54(1), 1-7.

Ferreira, S. M. , & Okita-Ouma, B. (2012). A proposed framework for short-, medium- and long-term responses by range States to curb poaching for African rhino horns. Pachyderm , (51), 60-74.

Gosling, C. M., Cromsigt, J. P., Mpanza, N. , & Olff, H. (2012). Effects of erosion from mounds of different termite genera on distinct functional grassland types in an African savannah. Ecosystems , 15(1), 128–139.

Kos, M., Hoetmer, A. J., Pretorius, Y., de Boer, W. F., de Knegt, H., Grant, C. C., Kohi, E., Peel, M. J., Slotow, R., Van der Waal, C., Van Wieren, S., Prins, H. H. T., & Van Langevelde, F. (2012). Seasonal diet changes in elephant and impala in mopane woodland. European Journal of Wildlife Research , 58(1), 279-287.

Knight, M. H. (2012). African Rhino Specialist Group Chair report/Rapport du Groupe Spécialiste des Rhinos d’Afrique. Pachyderm , 51, 10-21.

Knight, M. H. (2012). African Rhino Specialist Group Report/Rapport du Groupe Spécialste de Rhinos d’Afrique. Pachyderm , 52, 7-19

Linklater, W. L., Gedir, J. V., Law, P. R., Swaisgood, R. R., Adcock, K., Du Preez, P., Knight, M. H. , & Kerley, G. I. (2012). Translocations as experiments in the ecological resilience of an asocial mega-herbivore. PLOS ONE , 7(1), e30664.

Mawdsley, J. R., Erwin, T. L., Sithole, H. , & Mawdsley, A. S. (2012). A synopsis of the genus Cypholoba Chaudoir (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Anthiini) known to occur in the Republic of South Africa. ZooKeys , 181, 23-43.

McGeoch, M. A. , Spear, D., Kleynhans, E. J., & Marais, E. (2012). Uncertainty in invasive alien species listing. Ecological Applications , 22, 959-971.

Muchapondwa, E., Biggs, H. , Driver, A., Matose, F., Mungatana, E., & Scheepers, K. (2012). Providing economic incentives for biodiversity conservation in an emerging bioregional context. Journal of Sustainable Development , 5(11), 118-129. SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 73

Nkhata, B. A., Mosimane, A., Downsborough, L., Breen, C., & Roux, D. J. (2012). A typology of benefit sharing arrangements for the governance of social-ecological systems in developing countries. Ecology and Society , 17(1), 17.

Pretorius, Y., Stigter, J. D., de Boer, W. F., Van Wieren, S. E., de Jong, C. B., de Knegt, H. J., Grant, C. C. , Heitkonig, I. M. A., Knox, N. M., Kohi, E. M., Mwakiwa, E., Peel, M. J. S., Skidmore, A. K., Slotow, R., Van der Waal, C., Van Langevelde, F., & Prins, H. H. T. (2012). Diet selection of African elephant over time shows changing optimization currency. Oikos , 121(12), 2110-2120.

Ryan, P. G., Glass, J. P., Glass, T., Barendse, J. , & Cuthbert, R. J. (2012). Eradication of New Zealand flax Phormium tenax on Inaccessible and Nightingale Islands, Tristan da Cunha. Conservation Evidence , 9, 58-62.

Van Wilgen, N. J. , & Richardson, D. M. (2012). The roles of climate, phylogenetic relatedness, introduction effort, and reproductive traits in the establishment of non-native reptiles and amphibians. Conservation Biology , 26(2), 267-277.

Vardien, W., Richardson, D. M., Foxcroft, L. C. , Thompson, G. D., Wilson, J. R. U., & Le Roux, J. J. (2012). Invasion dynamics of Lantana camara L. (sensu lato) in South Africa. South African Journal of Botany , 81, 81-94. APPENdIX C Peer reviewed journal publications related to South African national parks (Note: List does not include papers authored by SANParks research staﬀ – see Appendix B)

AddO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PArK

Anderson-Lederer, R. M., Linklater, W. L., & Ritchie, P. A. (2012). Limited mitochondrial DNA variation within South Africa’s black rhino ( Diceros bicornis minor ) population and implications for management. African Journal of Ecology , 50(4), 404-413.

Ddumba, H., Mugisha, J. Y. T., Gonsalves, J. W., & Kerley, G. I. H. (2012). The role of predator fertility and prey threshold bounds on the global and local dynamics of a predator-prey model with a prey out-flux dilution effect. Applied Mathematics and Computation , 218(18), 9169-9186.

Edler, A. U., & Friedl, T. W. (2012). Age-related variation in carotenoid-based plumage ornaments of male red bishops Euplectes orix . Journal of Ornithology , 153(2), 413-420.

Friedl, T. W., & Groscurth, E. (2012). A real-time PCR protocol for simple and fast quantification of blood parasite infections in evolutionary and ecological studies and some data on intensities of blood parasite infections in a subtropical weaverbird. Journal of Ornithology , 153(1), 239-247.

Hayward, M. W. (2012). Perspectives on fencing for conservation based on four case studies: Marsupial conservation in Australian forests; bushmeat hunting in South Africa; large predator reintroduction in South Africa; and large mammal conservation in Poland. Fencing for Conservation , 7-20.

Kadye, W. T., & Booth, A. J. (2012). Inter-seasonal persistence and size structuring of two minnow species within headwater streams in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Journal of Applied Ichthyology , 28(5), 791-799.

Kotsedi, D., Adams, J. B., & Snow, G. C. (2012). The response of microalgal biomass and community composition to environmental factors in the Sundays Estuary. Water SA , 38(2), 177-189.

Landman, M., Schoeman, D. S., Hall-Martin, A. J., & Kerley, G. I. (2012). Understanding long-term variations in an elephant piosphere effect to manage impacts. PLOS ONE , 7(9), e45334. 74 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

Moseley, C., Grémillet, D., Connan, M., Ryan, P. G., Mullers, R. H., Van der Lingen, C. D., Miller, T. W., Coetzee, J. C., Crawford, R. J. M., Sabarros, P., McQuaid, C. D., & Pichegru, L. (2012). Foraging ecology and ecophysiology of Cape gannets from colonies in contrasting feeding environments. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology , 422, 29-38.

Santymire, R., Meyer, J., & Freeman, E. W. (2012). Characterizing sleep behavior of the wild black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis bicornis ). Sleep , 35(11), 1569-1574.

Tambling, C. J., Druce, D. J., Hayward, M. W., Castley, J. G., Adendorff, J., & Kerley, G. I. (2012). Spatial and temporal changes in group dynamics and range use enable anti-predator responses in African buffalo. Ecology , 93(6), 1297-1304. AGULHAS NATIONAL PArK

Gordon, N., Garcia-Rodriguez, F., & Adams, J. B. (2012). Paleolimnology of a coastal lake on the southern Cape coast of South Africa: Sediment geochemistry and diatom distribution. Journal of African Earth Sciences , 75, 14-24.

Segarra-Moragues, J. G., Puche, F., & Sabovljević, M. (2012). Rediscovery of Riella alatospora (Riellaceae, Sphaerocarpales), an aquatic, South African endemic liverwort previously known from a now largely transformed type locality. South African Journal of Botany , 79, 32-38. AUGrABIES FALLS NATIONAL PArK

Craig, A. J. (2012). Regular moult-breeding overlap in the pale-winged starling Onychognathus nabouroup . Ostrich , 83(3), 169-170. GArdEN rOUTE NATIONAL PArK

Barnes, R. S. K., & Ellwood, M. D. F. (2012). Spatial variation in the macrobenthic assemblages of intertidal seagrass along the long axis of an estuary. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science , 112, 173-182.

Bernard, A. T. F., & Götz, A. (2012). Bait increases the precision in count data from remote underwater video for most subtidal reef fish in the warm-temperate Agulhas bioregion. Marine Ecology Progress Series , 471, 235- 252.

Braczkowski, A., Watson, L., Coulson, D., Lucas, J., Peiser, B., & Rossi, M. (2012). The diet of caracal, Caracal caracal , in two areas of the southern Cape, South Africa as determined by scat analysis. South African Journal of Wildlife Research , 42(2), 111-116.

Forsyth, G. G., Le Maitre, D. C., O’Farrell, P. J., & Van Wilgen, B. W. (2012). The prioritisation of invasive alien plant control projects using a multi-criteria decision model informed by stakeholder input and spatial data. Journal of Environmental Management , 103, 51-57.

Hodgson, A. N., & Dickens, J. (2012). Activity of the mangrove snail Cerithidea decollate (Gastropoda: Potamididae) in a warm temperate South African estuary. Estuarine , Coastal and Shelf Science , 109, 98-106.

Hugo, C. D., Watson, L. H., & Cowling, R. M. (2012). Wetland plant communities of the Tsitsikamma Plateau in relation to fire history, plantation management and physical factors. South African Journal of Botany , 83, 47- 55.

Jackson, J. M., Rainville, L., Roberts, M. J., McQuaid, C. D., & Lutjeharms, J. R. E. (2012). Mesoscale bio-physical interactions between the Agulhas Current and the Agulhas Bank, South Africa. Continental Shelf Research , 49, 10-24.

James, N. C., Götz, A., Potts, W. M., & Cowley, P. D. (2012). Temporal variability of a temperate fish assemblage in Africa’s oldest marine protected area. African Journal of Marine Science , 34(1), 15-26. SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 75

Kaplan, H., Van Zyl, H. W. F., Le Roux, J. J., Richardson, D. M., & Wilson, J. R. U. (2012). Distribution and management of Acacia implexa (Benth.) in South Africa: A suitable target for eradication? South African Journal of Botany , 83, 23-35.

Ramukumba, T., Mmbengwa, V. M., Mwamayi K. A., and Groenewald, J. A. (2012). Analysis of the socio- economic impacts of tourism for emerging tourism entrepreneurs: The case of George municipality in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Journal of Hospitality Management and Tourism , 3(3), 39-45.

Roberts, D. L., Karkanas, P., Jacobs, Z., Marean, C. W., & Roberts, C. G. (2012). Melting ice sheets 400,000 yr ago raised sea level by 13 m: Past analogue for future trends. Earth and Planetary Science Letters , 357/358, 226-237.

Roberts, M. J., Downey, N. J., & Sauer, W. H. (2012). The relative importance of shallow and deep shelf spawning habitats for the South African chokka squid ( Loligo reynaudii ). ICES Journal of Marine Science , 69(4), 563-571.

Scott, R. J., Griffiths, C. L., & Robinson, T. B. (2012). Patterns of endemicity and range restriction among southern African coastal marine invertebrates. African Journal of Marine Science , 34(3), 341-347.

Simaika, J. P., & Samways, M. J. (2012). Using dragonflies to monitor and prioritize lotic systems: A South African perspective. Organisms Diversity & Evolution , 12(3), 251-259.

Tempelhoff, J., Van Niekerk, D., Van Eeden, E., Gouws, I., Botha, K., & Wurige, R. (2012). The December 2004-January 2005 floods in the Garden Route region of the southern Cape, South Africa. Journal of Disaster Risk Studies , 2(2), 93-112.

Walmsley, T. A., Matcher, G. F., Zhang, F., Hill, R. T., Davies-Coleman, M. T., & Dorrington, R. A. (2012). Diversity of bacterial communities associated with the Indian Ocean Sponge Tsitsikamma favus that contains the bioactive pyrroloiminoquinones, Tsitsikammamine A and B. Marine Biotechnology , 14(6), 681-69.

Wepener, V., & Degger, N. (2012). Status of marine pollution research in South Africa (1960-present). Marine Pollution Bulletin , 64(7), 1508-1512. GOLdEN GATE HIGHLANdS NATIONAL PArK

Mol, L., & Viles, H. A. (2012). The role of rock surface hardness and internal moisture in tafoni development in sandstone. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms , 37(3), 301-314.

Reisz, R. R., Evans, D. C., Roberts, E. M., Sues, H. D., & Yates, A. M. (2012). Oldest known dinosaurian nesting site and reproductive biology of the Early Jurassic sauropodomorph Massospondylus . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , 109(7), 2428-2433.

Telfer, M. W., Thomas, Z. A., & Breman, E. (2012). Sand ramps in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, South Africa: Evidence of periglacial aeolian activity during the last glacial. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology , 313/314, 59-69. KArOO NATIONAL PArK

Kai, M., González, I., Genilloud, O., Singh, S. B., & Svatoš, A. (2012). Direct mass spectrometric screening of antibiotics from bacterial surfaces using liquid extraction surface analysis. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry , 26(20), 2477-2482. KGALAGAdI TrANSFrONTIEr PArK

Bothma, J. D. P., & Bothma, M. D. (2012). Leopard range size and conservation area size in the southern Kalahari. Koedoe – African Protected Area Conservation and Science , 54(1), 4 pages. 76 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

Moswete, N. N., Thapa, B., & Child, B. (2012). Attitudes and opinions of local and national public sector stakeholders towards Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Botswana. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology , 19(1), 67-80.

Saarinen, J., Hambira, W. L., Atlhopheng, J., & Manwa, H. (2012). Tourism industry reaction to climate change in Kgalagadi South District, Botswana. Development Southern Africa , 29(2), 273-285.

Thondhlana, G., Vedeld, P., & Shackleton, S. (2012). Natural resource use, income and dependence among San and Mier communities bordering Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, southern Kalahari, South Africa. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology , 19(5), 460-470. KrUGEr NATIONAL PArK

Abu Samra, N., Jori, F., Xiao, L., Rikhotso, O., & Thompson, P. N. (2012). Molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium species at the wildlife/livestock interface of the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases , 1(1), 1-8.

Archibald, S., Staver, A. C., & Levin, S. A. (2012). Evolution of human-driven fire regimes in Africa. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , 109(3), 847-852.

Asner, G. P., & Levick, S. R. (2012). Landscape-scale effects of herbivores on tree fall in African savannas. Ecology Letters , 15, 1211-1217.

Baade, J., Franz, S., & Reichel, A. (2012). Reservoir siltation and sediment yield in the Kruger National Park, South Africa: A first assessment. Land Degradation & Development , 23(6), 586-600.

Brahmbhatt, D. P., Fosgate, G. T., Dyason, E., Budke, C. M., Gummow, B., Jori, F., Ward, M. P., & Srinivasan, R. (2012). Contacts between domestic livestock and wildlife at the Kruger National Park interface of the Republic of South Africa. Preventive Veterinary Medicine , 103(1), 16-21.

Budischak, S. A., Jolles, A. E., & Ezenwa, V. O. (2012). Direct and indirect costs of co-infection in the wild: Linking gastrointestinal parasite communities, host hematology, and immune function. International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife , 1, 2-12.

Buitenwerf, R., Bond, W. J., Stevens, N., & Trollope, W. S. W. (2012). Increased tree densities in South African savannas: >50 years of data suggests CO 2 as a driver. Global Change Biology , 18(2), 675-684.

Chaminuka, P., McCrindle, C. M., & Udo, H. M. (2012). Cattle farming at the wildlife/livestock interface: Assessment of costs and benefits adjacent to Kruger National Park, South Africa. Society & Natural Resources , 25(3), 235-250.

Chaminuka, P., Groeneveld, R. A., Selomane, A. O., & Van Ierland, E. C. (2012). Tourist preferences for ecotourism in rural communities adjacent to Kruger National Park: A choice experiment approach. Tourism Management , 33(1), 168-176.

Chirima, G. J., Owen-Smith, N., & Erasmus, B. F. (2012). Changing distributions of larger ungulates in the Kruger National Park from ecological aerial survey data. Koedoe – African Protected Area Conservation and Science , 54(1), 11 pages.

Cini, F., Kruger, S., & Ellis, S. (2012). A model of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations on subjective well-being: The experience of overnight visitors to a National Park. Applied Research in Quality of Life , 1-17.

Colgan, M. S., Baldeck, C. A., Féret, J. B., & Asner, G. P. (2012). Mapping savanna tree species at ecosystem scales using support vector machine classification and BRDF correction on airborne hyperspectral and LiDAR data. Remote Sensing , 4(11), 3462-3480.

Colgan, M. S., Asner, G. P., Levick, S. R., Martin, R. E., & Chadwick, O. A. (2012). Topo-edaphic controls over woody plant biomass in South African savannas. Biogeosciences , 9(5), 1809-1821. SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 77

Davies, A. B., Eggleton, P., Van Rensburg, B. J., & Parr, C. L. (2012). The pyrodiversity-biodiversity hypothesis: A test with savanna termite assemblages. Journal of Applied Ecology , 49(2), 422-430.

Davis, A. L., Scholtz, C. H., & Swemmer, A. M. (2012). Effects of land usage on dung beetle assemblage structure: Kruger National Park versus adjacent farmland in South Africa. Journal of Insect Conservation , 16(3), 399-411.

Dion, E., & Lambin, E. F. (2012). Scenarios of transmission risk of foot-and-mouth with climatic, social and landscape changes in southern Africa. Applied Geography , 35(1), 32-42.

Ekblom, A., Gillson, L., Risberg, J., Holmgren, K., & Chidoub, Z. (2012). Rainfall variability and vegetation dynamics of the lower Limpopo Valley, Southern Africa, 500AD to present. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology , 363/364, 69-78.

Ferguson, K., & Hanks, J. (2012). The effects of protected area and veterinary fencing on wildlife conservation in Southern Africa. Parks , 18(1), 49.

Hayward, M. W., & Hayward, M. D. (2012). Waterhole use by African fauna. South African Journal of Wildlife Research , 42(2), 117-127.

Hattas, D., & Julkunen-Tiitto, R. (2012). The quantification of condensed tannins in African savanna tree species. Phytochemistry Letters , 5(2), 329-334.

Helm, C. V., & Witkowski, E. T. F. (2012). Characterising wide spatial variation in population size structure of a keystone African savanna tree. Forest Ecology and Management , 263(1), 175-188.

Holdo, R. M., Mack, M. C., & Arnold, S. G. (2012). Tree canopies explain fire effects on soil nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon in a savanna ecosystem. Journal of Vegetation Science , 23(2), 352-360.

Huchzermeyer, K. D. A., & Huchzermeyer, D. (2012). Prevalence of pansteatitis in African sharptooth catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell), in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association , 83(1), 9 pages.

Kamath, P. L., & Getz, W. M. (2012). Unraveling the effects of selection and demography on immune gene variation in free-ranging plains zebra ( Equus quagga ) populations. PLOS ONE , 7(12), e50971.

Knox, N. M., Skidmore, A. K., Prins, H. H., Heitkönig, I., Slotow, R., Van der Waal, C., & de Boer, W. F. (2012). Remote sensing of forage nutrients: Combining ecological and spectral absorption feature data. ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing , 72, 27-35.

Laubscher, L., & Hoffman, L. (2012). An overview of disease-free buffalo breeding projects with reference to the different systems used in South Africa. Sustainability , 4(11), 3124-3140.

Lyons, C. L., Coetzee, M., Terblanche, J. S., & Chown, S. L. (2012). Thermal limits of wild and laboratory strains of two African malaria vector species, Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles funestus . Malaria Journal , 11(1), 226.

Maas, M., Keet, D. F., Rutten, V. P. M. G., Heesterbeek, J. A. P., & Nielen, M. (2012). Assessing the impact of feline immunodeficiency virus and bovine tuberculosis co-infection in African lions. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences , 279(1745), 4206-4214.

Macandza, V. A., Owen-Smith, N., & Cain III, J. W. (2012). Dynamic spatial partitioning and coexistence among tall grass grazers in an African savanna. Oikos , 121(6), 891-898.

Macandza, V. A., Owen-Smith, N., & Cain III, J. W. (2012). Habitat and resource partitioning between abundant and relatively rare grazing ungulates. Journal of Zoology , 287(3), 178-185. 78 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

MacFadyen, D. N., Avenant, N. L., Van der Merwe, M., & Bredenkamp, G. J. (2012). The influence of fire on rodent abundance at the N’washitshumbe enclosure site, Kruger National Park, South Africa. African Zoology , 47(1), 138-146.

Marsden, C. D., Woodroffe, R., Mills, M. G., McNutt, J. W., Creel, S., Groom, R., Emmanuel, M., Cleaveland, S., Kat, P., Rasmussen, G. S., Ginsberg, J., Lines, R., André, J. M., Begg, C., Wayne, R. K., & Mable, B. K.(2012). Spatial and temporal patterns of neutral and adaptive genetic variation in the endangered African wild dog (Lycaon pictus ). Molecular Ecology , 21(6), 1379-1393.

Melzer, S. E., Chadwick, O. A., Hartshorn, A. S., Khomo, L. M., Knapp, A. K., & Kelly, E. F. (2012). Lithologic controls on biogenic silica cycling in South African savanna ecosystems. Biogeochemistry , 108(1), 317-334.

Midgley, J. J., Gallaher, K., & Kruger, L. M. (2012). The role of the elephant ( Loxodonta africana ) and the tree squirrel ( Paraxerus cepapi ) in marula ( Sclerocarya birrea ) seed predation, dispersal and germination. Journal of Tropical Ecology , 28(02), 227-231.

Murn, C. (2012). Field identification of individual white-headed vultures Trigonoceps occipitalis using plumage patterns – an information theoretic approach. Bird Study , 59(4), 515-521.

Myburgh, J. G., Huchzermeyer, F. W., Soley, J. T., Booyse, D. G., Groenewald, H. B., Bekker, L. C., Iguchi, T., & Guillette, L. J. (2012). Technique for the collection of clear urine from the Nile crocodile ( Crocodylus niloticus ). Journal of the South African Veterinary Association , 83(1), 6 pages.

Naidoo, L., Cho, M. A., Mathieu, R., & Asner, G. (2012). Classification of savanna tree species, in the Greater Kruger National Park region, by integrating hyperspectral and LiDAR data in a random forest data mining environment. ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing , 69, 167-179.

Nortjé, G. P., Van Hoven, W., & Laker, M. C. (2012). Factors affecting the impact of off-road driving on soils in an area in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Environmental Management , 59(6), 1164-1176.

Owen-Smith, N., Goodall, V., & Fatti, P. (2012). Applying mixture models to derive activity states of large herbivores from movement rates obtained using GPS telemetry. Wildlife Research , 39(5), 452-462.

Owen-Smith, N., Chirima, G. J., Macandza, V., & Le Roux, E. (2012). Shrinking sable antelope numbers in Kruger National Park: What is suppressing population recovery? Animal Conservation , 15(2), 195-204.

Prager, K. C., Mazet, J. A., Munson, L., Cleaveland, S., Donnelly, C. A., Dubovi, E. J., Gunther, M. S., Lines, R., Mills, G., Davies-Mostert, H. T., McNutt, J. W., Rasmussen, G., Terio, K., & Woodroffe, R. (2012). The effect of protected areas on pathogen exposure in endangered African wild dog ( Lycaon pictus ) populations. Biological Conservation , 150(1), 15-22.

Ramoelo, A., Skidmore, A. K., Cho, M. A., Schlerf, M., Mathieu, R., & Heitkönig, I. M. A. (2012). Regional estimation of savanna grass nitrogen using the red-edge band of the spaceborne rapid eye sensor. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation , 19, 151-162.

Ryan, S. J., Cross, P. C., Winnie, J., Hay, C., Bowers, J., & Getz, W. M. (2012). The utility of normalized difference vegetation index for predicting African buffalo forage quality. The Journal of Wildlife Management , 76(7), 1499-1508.

Saayman, M., Rossouw, R., & Saayman, A. (2012). Does conservation make sense to local communities? Development Southern Africa , 29(4), 588-609.

Scheiter, S., & Higgins, S. I. (2012). How many elephants can you fit into a conservation area. Conservation Letters , 5(3), 176-185.

Thomas, B., Holland, J. D., & Minot, E. O. (2012). Seasonal home ranges of elephants ( Loxodonta africana ) and their movements between Sabi Sand Reserve and Kruger National Park. African Journal of Ecology , 50(2), 131- 139. SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 79

Thomas, B., Holland, J. D., & Minot, E. O. (2012). Wildlife tracking technology options and cost considerations. Wildlife Research , 38(8), 653-663.

Van den Hoven, M., & Reilly, B. (2012). Estimating population size of saddle-billed storks Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis in southern Kruger National Park, South Africa. Ostrich , 83(3), 153-159.

Watson, R. M., Crafford, D., & Avenant-Oldewage, A. (2012). Evaluation of the fish health assessment index in the Olifants River system, South Africa. African Journal of Aquatic Science , 37(3), 235-251.

Witt, L. D., Merwe, P. V. D., & Saayman, M. (2012). An ecotourism model for South African National Parks. Tourism & Management Studies , 2, 1138-1142. MAPUNGUBWE NATIONAL PArK

O’Brien, G. C., Bulfin, J. B., Husted, A., & Smit, N. J. (2012). Comparative behavioural assessment of an established and a new tigerfish Hydrocynus vittatus population in two man-made lakes in the Limpopo River catchment, southern Africa. African Journal of Aquatic Science , 37(3), 253-263.

Shrestha, A. K., Van Wieren, S. E., Van Langevelde, F., Fuller, A., Hetem, R. S., Meyer, L. C. R., de Bie, S., & Prins, H. H. T. (2012). Body temperature variation of South African antelopes in two climatically contrasting environments. Journal of Thermal Biology , 37(3), 171-178. MArAKELE NATIONAL PArK

Davies-Mostert, H. T., Kamler, J. F., Mills, M. G., Jackson, C. R., Rasmussen, G. S., Groom, R. J., & Macdonald, D. W. (2012). Long-distance transboundary dispersal of African wild dogs among protected areas in southern Africa. African Journal of Ecology , 50(4), 500-506.

Potgieter, K. R., & Davies-Mostert, H. T. (2012). A simple visual estimation of food consumption in carnivores. PLOS ONE , 7(5), e34543.

Schoeman, C. S., & Foord, S. H. (2012). A checklist of epigaeic ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Marakele National Park, Limpopo, South Africa. Koedoe – African Protected Area Conservation and Science , 54(1), 1-7. MOUNTAIN ZEBrA NATIONAL PArK

Kok, A. D., Parker, D. M., & Barker, N. P. (2012). Life on high: The diversity of small mammals at high altitude in South Africa. Biodiversity and Conservation , 21(11), 2823-2843. NAMAQUA NATIONAL PArK

Kunz, N. S., Hoffman, M. T., & Weber, B. (2012). Effects of heuweltjies and utilization on vegetation patterns in the succulent Karoo, South Africa. Journal of Arid Environments , 87, 198-205. rICHTErSVELd NATIONAL PArK

Germs, G. J. B., & Gaucher, C. (2012). Nature and extent of a late Ediacaran (ca. 547 Ma) glacigenic erosion surface in southern Africa. South African Journal of Geology , 115(1), 91-102. TABLE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PArK

Damiana, F. R., Justin O’Riain, M. J., Vera, J. A., & Christopher, C. A. (2012). A coprological survey of protozoan and nematode parasites of free-ranging chacma baboons ( Papio ursinus ) in the southwestern Cape, South Africa. South African Journal of Wildlife Research , 42(1), 35-44. 80 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

Ferreira, S. (2012). Moulding urban children towards environmental stewardship: The Table Mountain National Park experience. Environmental Education Research , 18(2), 251-270.

Hoffman, T. S., & O’Riain, M. J. (2012). Troop size and human-modified habitat affect the ranging patterns of a chacma baboon population in the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. American Journal of Primatology , 74(9), 853- 863.

Lewis, S. E. F., Turpie, J. K., & Ryan, P. G. (2012). Are African penguins worth saving? The ecotourism value of the Boulders Beach colony. African Journal of Marine Science , 34(4), 497-504.

Liu, W. P. A., Janion, C., & Chown, S. L. (2012). Collembola diversity in the critically endangered Cape Flats sand fynbos and adjacent pine plantations. Pedobiologia , 55(4), 203-209.

Mager, D. M., & Hui, C. (2012). A first record of biological soil crusts in the Cape Floristic Region. South African Journal of Science , 108(7/8), 4 pages.

Petersen, L. M., Moll, E. J., Collins, R., & Hockings, M. T. (2012). Development of a compendium of local, wild- harvested species used in the informal economy trade, Cape Town, South Africa. Ecology and Society , 17(2), 26.

Picker, M., Colville, J. F., & Burrows, M. (2012). A cockroach that jumps. Biology Letters , 8(3), 390-392.

Pryke, J. S., & Samways, M. J. (2012). Importance of using many taxa and having adequate controls for monitoring impacts of fire for arthropod conservation. Journal of Insect Conservation , 16(2), 177-185.

Pryke, J. S., & Samways, M. J. (2012). Differential resilience of invertebrates to fire. Austral Ecology , 37, 460- 469.

Ravasi, D. F., O’Riain, M. J., Davids, F., & Illing, N. (2012). Phylogenetic evidence that two distinct Trichuris genotypes infect both humans and non-human primates. PLOS ONE , 7(8), e44187.

Turner, R. C., Midgley, J. J., Barnard, P., Simmons, R. E., & Johnson, S. D. (2012). Experimental evidence for bird pollination and corolla damage by ants in the short-tubed flowers of Erica halicacaba (Ericaceae). South African Journal of Botany , 79, 25-31.

West, A. G., Dawson, T. E., February, E. C., Midgley, G. F., Bond, W. J., & Aston, T. L. (2012). Diverse functional responses to drought in a Mediterranean-type shrubland in South Africa. New Phytologist , 195(2), 396-407. WEST COAST NATIONAL PArK

Cook, T. R., Hamann, M., Pichegru, L., Bonadonna, F., Grémillet, D., & Ryan, P. G. (2012). GPS and time-depth loggers reveal underwater foraging plasticity in a flying diver, the Cape cormorant. Marine Biology , 159, 373- 387.

Kandel, A. W., & Conard, N. J. (2012). Settlement patterns during the Earlier and Middle Stone Age around Langebaan Lagoon, Western Cape (South Africa). Quaternary International , 270, 15-29.

Thomas, D. B., Chinsamy, A., Conard, N. J., & Kandel, A. W. (2012). Chemical investigation of mineralisation categories used to assess taphonomy. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology , 361/362, 104-110. MULTIPLE PArKS

Duncan, C., Chauvenet, A. L. M., McRae, L. M., & Pettorelli, N. (2012). Predicting the future impact of droughts on ungulate populations in arid and semi-arid environments. PLOS ONE , 7(12): e51490.

Du Plessis, M. L., Van der Merwe, P., & Saayman, M. (2012). Environmental factors affecting tourists’ experience in South African national parks. African Journal of Business Management, 6(8), 2911-2918. SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 81

Ribeiro, Â. M., Lopes, R. J., & Bowie, R. C. (2012). Historical demographic dynamics underlying local adaptation in the presence of gene flow. Ecology and Evolution , 2(11), 2710-2721.

Solano-Fernández, S., Attwood, C. G., Chalmers, R., Clark, B. M., Cowley, P. D., Fairweather, T., Fennessy, S. T., Götz, A., Harrison, T. D., Kerwath, S. E., Lamberth, S. J., Mann, B. Q., Smale, M. J., & Swart, L. (2012). Assessment of the effectiveness of South Africa’s marine protected areas at representing icthyofaunal communities. Environmental Conservation , 39(3), 259-270.

Slabbert, E., & Plessis, L. D. (2012). The influence of demographic factors on travel behaviour of visitors to nature-based products in South Africa. Tourism & Management Studies , 2, 1118-1121.

Warehol, G., & Kapla, D. (2012). Policing the wilderness: A descriptive study of wildlife conservation. International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice , 36(2), 83-101. APPENdIX d Book chapters published by SANParks research staﬀ (Note: SANParks research staﬀ indicated in bold)

Buss, P. , Miller, M., & Meltzer, D. (2012). Basic physiology. In: Kock, M. D. & Burroughs, R. (eds). Chemical and Physical Restraint of Wild Animals. A Training and Field Manual for African Species , 2 nd Edition. IWVS (Africa), 13-40.

Buss, P. , & Morton, D. (2012). Basic pharmacology. In: Kock, M. D. & Burroughs, R. (eds). Chemical and Physical Restraint of Wild Animals. A Training and Field Manual for African Species , 2 nd Edition. IWVS (Africa), 41-52.

Geldenhuys, C. J., & Vermeulen, W. J. (2012). Yield regulation and silvicultural systems for harvesting timber and wood products from natural forest and woodland. In: Bredenkamp, B. V., & Upfold, S. J. (eds). South African Forestry Handbook. 5th Edition. Southern African Institute of Forestry (SAIF), Menlo Park, 545-562.

Seydack, A. H. W. (2012). Regulation of timber yield sustainability for tropical and subtropical moist forests: Ecosilvicultural paradigms and economic constraints. In: Pukkala, T., & Von Gadow, K. (eds.). Continuous Cover Forestry, Managing Forest Ecosystems 23 . Springer Science and Business Media B. V., 129-165.

Vermeulen, W. J. , Geldenhuys, C. J., & Esler, K. J. (2012). Development and implementation of harvest systems for little-known species, particularly for non-timber forest products. In: Bredenkamp, B. V., & Upfold, S. J. (eds). South African Forestry Handbook . 5 th Edition. Southern African Institute of Forestry (SAIF), Menlo Park, 563- 577. APPENdIX E

Technical and scientific reports published by SANParks research staﬀ (Note: SANParks research staﬀ indicated in bold)

Ashton, P., Roux, D. , Breen, C., Day, J., Mitchell, S., Seamn, M., & Silberbauer, M. (2012). The freshwater science landscape in South Africa, 1900-2010. Overview of research topic, key individuals, institutional change and operating culture. Report Number TT 530/12, Water Research Commission, Pretoria. 139 pages.

Baard, J. (2012). Alien Plant Species List and photos of the Garden Route National Park. South African National Parks, Knysna. 61 pages. 82 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

Baard, J., & Kraaij, T. (2012). IUCN Red Listed Plant Species of the Garden Route National Park: A field guide . South African National Parks, Knysna. 105 pages.

Baard, J. , & Kraaij, T. (2012). Management plan for species of conservation concern: Garden Route National Park . South African National Parks, Knysna. 22 pages.

Cheney C., Cowell, C. , & Strauss, C. (2012). Tankwa-Karoo Park management plan process . South African National Parks, Cape Town. 6 pages.

Coetzee, M., Biggs H. C. , & Malan, S. (2012). Sharing the benefits of biodiversity: A regional action plan to nurture and sustain the contribution of biodiversity and ecosystem services to livelihoods and resilient economic development within the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere . Kruger to Canyons Biosphere, Nelspruit. 154 pages.

Cowell, C., Williams, N. , & Tyagana, N. (2012). Assessment of cut flower harvesting at the Waterford Section of Agulhas National Park and future resource use. South African National Parks, Cape Town. 8 pages.

Cowell, C., Alard, G., Le Roux, E., & Msengi, B. (2012). Bontebok Biodiversity Lower Level Plan . South African National Parks, Swellendam. 25 pages.

Cowell, C. (2012). Botanical Report Umoya Energy Site – Hopefield . South African National Parks, Cape Town. 2 pages.

Cowell, C. (2012). Vegetation assessment of proposed office site at Langebaan Entrance Gate. South African National Parks, Cape Town. 3 pages.

Cowell, C., Alard, G., Ferreira, S. M., Nel, P. , & Gagiano, C. (2012). The Postberg Contractual National Park Integrated Biodiversity Plan . West Coast National Park: 2011-2015. South African National Parks, Langebaan. 18 pages.

Cowell, C. (2012). Botanical assessment of the Blombosch Farm for conservation value for inclusion into West Coast National Park. South African National Parks, Cape Town. 9 pages.

Cowell, C., Cheney, C., Prins, P., & Dilgee, C. (2012). Table Mountain National Parks Fire Monitoring and Ecological Burn Programme . South African National Parks, Cape Town. 9 pages.

Cowell, C., Prins, P., Dilgee, C., Fourie, E., Schroder, S., & Fortuin N. (2012). Fire Management Plan Agulhas National Park. South African National Parks, Cape Town. 46 pages.

Cowell, C., Prins, P., Dilgee, C., & Msengi, B. (2012). Fire Management Plan Bontebok National Park. South African National Parks, Cape Town. 43 pages.

Cowell, C., Prins, P., Dilgee, C., & Msengi, B. (2012). Prescribed Burn Plan Bontebok National Park. South African National Parks, Cape Town. 2 pages.

Cowell, C., Prins, P., Dilgee, C., Strauss, C., & Coetzee L. (2012). Fire Management Plan Tankwa Karoo National Park. South African National Parks, Cape Town. 39 pages.

Cowell, C., Prins, P., Dilgee, C., Metsing, P., Nel, P., & Gagiano, C. (2012). Fire Management Plan West Coast National Park. South African National Parks, Cape Town. 42 pages.

Cowell, C., McGeoch, M., Fortuin, N., & Fourie, E. (2012). Agulhas National Park Old Cut Flower Field Rehabilitation Plan. South African National Parks, Cape Town. 7 pages.

Cowell, C., McGeoch, M., & Msengi, B. (2012). Bontebok National Park Old Shooting Range Rehabilitation Plan. South African National Parks, Cape Town. 7 pages. SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 83

Cowell, C., Dreyer, J. B., & Van Lente, B. (2012). Habitat Degradation and Rehabilitation Plan Namaqua National Park: 2012-2017. South African National Parks, Cape Town. 62 pages.

Cowell, C., McGeoch, M., Bell, G., & Hollermann, S. (2012). Habitat Degradation and Rehabilitation Plan Table Mountain National Park, Tokai and Cecelia Park: 2012-2017. South African National Parks, Cape Town. 32 pages.

Cowell, C., De Kock, C., & Nel, P. (2012). West Coast National Park Old Field Rehabilitation Plan. South African National Parks, Cape Town. 7 pages.

Daemane, M. E. (2012). Soil degradation mapping: Mountain Zebra National Park. Scientific Report 04/2012. South African National Parks, Kimberley. 7 pages

Daemane, M. E. (2012). Soil degradation mapping and landscape function analysis survey in the Marakele National Park. Scientific Report 05/2012. South African National Parks, Kimberley. 5 pages.

Daemane, M. E. (2012a). Soil degradation mapping and rehabilitation prioritization in the Camdeboo National Park. Scientific Report 07/2012. South African National Parks, Kimberley. 6 pages.

Daemane, M. E. (2012b). Bush encroachment and densification vegetation mapping: Marakele National Park. Scientific Report 07/2012. South African National Parks, Kimberley. 6 pages.

Daemane, M. E., Sithole, H., & Munyai, L. S. (2012). Landscape function analysis and ant sampling in the three degraded sites undergoing rehabilitation in the Addo Elephant National Park. Scientific Report 08/2012. South African National Parks, Kimberley.

Daemane, M.E. (2012). The Marakele Pty bush thinning project: Field based recommendations. Scientific Report 09/2012. South African National Parks, Kimberley. 5 pages.

Daemane, M. E., & Khosa, S. (2012a). Degradation mapping and rehabilitation prioritisation plan for Mapungubwe National Park. Scientific Report 11/2012. South African National Parks, Kimberley. 7 pages.

Daemane, M. E. (2012b). Habitat Degradation and Rehabilitation Plan: Richtersveld National Park. Report 11/2012. South African National Parks, Kimberley. 16 pages.

Ferreira, S. M. (2012). Assessing the financial implications and evaluating the population risks to Kruger white rhinos imposed by intense localized removals and emerging diseases – 6 th survey. South African National Parks, Skukuza.

Ferreira, S. M., Gaylard, A., Greaver, C., Cowell, C., & Herbst, M. (2012). Animal abundances in parks 2010/2011. South African National Parks, Skukuza.

Ferreira, S. M. , Pfab, M., & Knight, M. H. (2012). Alternative management strategies to address rhino poaching in South Africa. SANParks / SANBI expert workshop 18-19 June 2012. South African National Parks, Skukuza.

Ferreira, S. M., Pienaar, D. J., Magome, H., & Mabunda, D. (2012). Managing elephant effects in South Africa: Implementation and information requirements. South African National Parks, Skukuza.

Ferreira, S. M., Freitag-Ronaldson, S., Pienaar, D. J., & Magome, H. (2012). An update on managing elephant effects in National Parks. South African National Parks, Skukuza.

Ferreira, S. M., Daemane, E. , Wassenaar, T., Gaylard, A., Herbst, M., Greaver, C., Cowell, C., Bezuidenhout, H. , Ernst, Y., Van Wilgen, N. J., & McGeoch, M. A. (2012). SANParks Global Environmental Change Project: Habitat change summary report. # to be assigned, South African National Parks, Skukuza.

Foxcroft, L. C. , Spear, D., Van Wilgen, N. J., Bezuidenhout, H., & McGeoch, M. A. (2012). SANParks Global Environmental Change Project: Alien species summary report , South African National Parks, Cape Town. 84 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

Hofmeyr, M., Govender, D., Van Wilgen, N. J. , de Klerk-Lorist, L., Zimmerman, D. , Van Helden, P., Buss, P. , Michel, A., Lane, E., Burroughs, R., & McGeoch, M. A. (2012). SANParks Global Environmental Change Project: Disease summary report. # to be assigned, South African National Parks, Cape Town.

Kingsford, R. T., & Biggs, H. C. (2012). Strategic adaptive management guidelines for effective conservation of freshwater ecosystems in and around protected areas of the world. IUCN WCPA Freshwater Taskforce, Australian Wetlands and Rivers Centre, Sydney. 43 pages.

Petersen, R. M., Ellis, G., & Strydom, T. (2012). Baseline survey of groundwater levels in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (Kalahari Gemsbok National Park). South African National Parks, Skukuza. 13 pages.

Petersen, R. M., & Ellis, G. (2012). Groundwater quality report for the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (Kalahari Gemsbok National Park). South African National Parks, Skukuza. 22 pages.

Petersen, R. M., & Strydom, T. (2012). Fish deaths along the Sabie River at Kruger Park Lodge. South African National Parks, Skukuza. 7 pages.

Petersen, R. M. (2012). A conceptual understanding of groundwater recharge processes and surface- water/groundwater interactions in the KNP. MSc thesis. University of the Western Cape, Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa.

Roux, D., McGeoch, M. A., & Foxcroft, L. C. (2012). Assessment of selected in-house research achievements for the period 2008-2011. Scientific Report 01/2012. South African National Parks, Skukuza. 84 pages.

Russell, I. A., Roux, D., & Randall, R. M. (2012). Biodiversity Monitoring Programme: Freshwater and estuarine ecosystems. Scientific Report No. 04/2012, South African National Parks, Skukuza. 68 pages.

Sithole, H. , McLoughlin, C., & Grant, R. (2012). Notification of exceeded ecological specifications and TPCs of riverine macroinvertebrates in Crocodile and Sabie Rivers within Kruger National Park. South African National Parks, Skukuza.

Smith, M. K. S. (2012). Garden Route National Park – Wilderness Section Coastal Marine Resource Use Monitoring Programme. Scientific Report Number 05 /2012, South African National Parks, Skukuza. 19 pages.

South African National Parks. (2012). Monitoring for sustainable indigenous forest management in the Garden Route National Park. South African National Parks, Knysna. 30 pages. http://www.sanparks.org/parks/garden_route/about/plan.php .

Van Wilgen, N. J., Holness, S. , Goodall, V., Bradshaw, P., & McGeoch, M. A. (2012). SANParks Global Environmental Change Project: Climate change summary report. South African National Parks, Cape Town.

Van Wilgen, N. J., McGeoch, M. A., Dopolo, M., & Vermeulen, W. J. (2012). SANParks Global Environmental Change Project: Resource use summary report. South African National Parks, Cape Town. SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 85

APPENdIX F Conferences and forums at which SANParks research staﬀ gave presentations (first-authored contributions)

Conference/Forum/Symposium National/ Host Notes No. of International Nation first- author papers Annual Meeting of the Indigenous national South Africa 1 Plant Users Forum (IPUF) Arid Zone Ecology Forum national South Africa 1 Congress of the Grassland national South Africa 2 Society of Southern Africa Ezemvelo Symposium of national South Africa 2 Contemporary Conservation Practice Fynbos Forum national South Africa Organising committee 2 INSAKA: International international Namibia Invited keynote 3 Symposium on Managing Benefit Sharing in changing Social-Ecological Systems International Conference on international South Africa 1 Freshwater Governance for Sustainable Development International EcoSummit on international United States 1 Ecological Sustainability International Wildlife international South Africa 2 Management Congress National Wetlands Indaba national South Africa Invited keynote 1 NEOBIOTA - European Conference international Spain 1 on Biological Invasions New Zealand Biosecurity international New Zealand Invited keynote 2 Institute NETS Conference (2) Savanna Science Network Meeting international South Africa Hosted by 12 SANParks Seafood Symposium national South Africa Invited keynote 1 South African Linefish Symposium national South Africa 1 South African Veterinary national South Africa 1 Association Wildlife Group Congress South African Wildlife national South Africa 1 Management Association Southern African Society of national South Africa 1 Aquatic Scientists The Nature Conservancy international United States Invited keynote 1 Fire Training Exchange Thicket Forum national South Africa 1 TOTAL 38 86 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

APPENdIX G Conference presentations (first author) given by SANParks research staﬀ (Note: SANParks research staﬀ indicated in bold)

Annecke, W. J. From footprints in the sand to a carbon footprint – whose history is evident in our protected areas and how can we develop a shared notion of ‘our cultural heritage’? Ezemvelo Symposium of Contemporary Conservation Practice, Howick, 22-29 October 2012.

Annecke, W., Bezuidenhout H., Ellis, G., Ferreira, H., Herbst, M., Isaks, A., & Symonds, A. Collaborative monitoring of medicinal plant species by the Khomani San and SANParks in the !Ai! Hai Heritage Park. 10 th Annual Savanna Science Network Meeting, Skukuza, South Africa, 5-9 March 2012.

Barendse, J. , & Burgener, M. South African seafood market trade dynamics and supply chain analysis (invited speaker). Seafood Symposium co-hosted by the Marine Stewardship Council and WWF South Africa, Cape Town, 4 December 2012.

Biggs, D. The science of what pays for conservation: A tourism research agenda for South African National Parks. 10 th Annual Savanna Science Network Meeting, Skukuza, South Africa, 5-9 March 2012.

Biggs, H. C. Essential network and process linkages required for polycentric environmental governance – two heuristics which help achieve Integrated Water Resources Management. International Conference on Freshwater Governance for Sustainable Development, Champagne Sports Resort (Drakensberg), 5-7 November, 2012.

Biggs, H. C. (keynote address). Understanding and influencing mindsets in government ecosystem and natural resource management settings. INSAKA Symposium, Windhoek, Namibia, 5-7 June 2012.

Cowell, C. Role of the Habitat Degradation and Rehabilitation Monitoring Programme in Namaqua and Tankwa Karoo National Parks. Arid Zone Forum, Worcester, South Africa, 16-19 October 2012.

Cowell, C. SANParks fynbos biome and fire management (invited keynote). The Nature Conservancy Fire Training Exchange, Gothenburg, Nebraska, USA, 18-31 March 2012.

Dopolo, M. T. Reconciling conservation and fisheries (livelihoods) objectives in Langebaan Lagoon marine protected area, West Coast National Park. Contemporary Conservation Practice Conference. Howick, KwaZulu Natal, 21-26 October 2012.

Ferreira, S. M. Veterinarians in biodiversity conservation – friends or foe? SAVA Wildlife Group Congress 2012, Stone Cradle, South Africa,

Ferreira, S. M. International effects at local scales – anthropogenic influences on conservation values of white rhinos. 4th International Wildlife Management Congress. Durban, 9-12 July 2012.

Ferreira, S. M. The risks of qualified non-specialist advice in biodiversity conservation. South African Wildlife Management Association Conference 2012, Klein Kariba, 16-19 September 2012.

Foxcroft, L. C. , Spear, D., Van Wilgen, N. J., & McGeoch, M. A. Potential pathways and impacts of alien plant invasions in South African National Parks. 10 th Annual Savanna Science Network Meeting, Skukuza, South Africa, 5-9 March 2012.

Foxcroft, L. C. Biological invasions in South Africa and its national parks (invited keynote) . New Zealand Biosecurity Institute NETS Conference, Taupo, New Zealand, 18-20 July 2012. SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012 87

Foxcroft, L. C. The Kruger Experience: Problems & solutions to biological invasions (invited keynote). New Zealand Biosecurity Institute NETS Conference, Taupo, New Zealand, 18-20 July 2012.

Foxcroft, L. C. , Jarošík, V., Pyšek, P., Richardson, D. M., Rouget, M., & MacFadyen, S. Plant invasions in Kruger National Park, South Africa: The role of boundaries, general predictors and species-specific factors. NEOBIOTA - 7 th European Conference on Biological Invasions, Pontevedra, Spain, 12-14 September 2012.

Gaylard, A. , & Rogers, K. H. Implications of heterogeneity for moving elephant science beyond the “Strategy of Hope” in complex systems. 10 th Annual Savanna Science Network Meeting, Skukuza, 5-9 March 2012.

Grant, C. C. Managing elephant in large conservation areas: A wicked problem with no definitive solution. 47 th Congress of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa, Langebaan, Western Cape 16-20 July 2012.

Grant, C. C. Healthy Parks-Healthy People: The role of ecosystem services. INSAKA: International Symposium on Managing Benefit Sharing in Changing Social Ecological Systems. Windhoek, Namibia, 4-8 June 2012.

Grant, R., Biggs D. , & Biggs, O. Healthy Parks-Healthy People: The role of ecosystem services. 10 th Annual Savanna Science Network Meeting, Skukuza, 5-9 March 2012.

Kraaij, T. Fire regimes in eastern coastal fynbos. Fynbos Forum – East meets West: Transcending Political, Ecological and Social Boundaries in the Fynbos, Cape St. Francis Resort, 17-19 July 2012.

Petersen, R. M. A conceptual understanding of groundwater recharge processes and surface- water/groundwater interactions in the KNP. 10 th Annual Savanna Science Network Meeting, Skukuza, 5-9 March 2012.

Petersen, R. M. Prioritising wetland ecosystems in SANParks (invited keynote). National Wetlands Indaba, Bela-Bela Resort, Conference Centre, Pretoria, South Africa, 24-26 October 2012.

Philips, G. An overview of the development of tourism in SANParks – and the critical need for tourism research to inform both adaptive management and sound business decision making. 10 th Annual Savanna Science Network Meeting, Skukuza, 5-9 March 2012.

Roux, D. J. Freshwater ecosystems are in a poor state. How should SANParks respond? 10 th Annual Savanna Science Network Meeting, Skukuza, South Africa, 5-9 March 2012.

Roux, D. J, Nel, J. L., Stirzaker, R. J., & Breen, C. M. Conservation planning as a transdisciplinary process: Framework for reflecting on broad accountability. 4th International EcoSummit on Ecological Sustainability – Restoring the Planet’s Ecosystem Services, Columbus, Ohio, 30 September to 5 October 2012.

Seydack, A. H. W., Grant, R., Smit, I. P. J., & Vermeulen, W. J. Regulation of large herbivore population performance in the Kruger National Park: The role of climate effects. 10 th Annual Savanna Science Network Meeting, Skukuza, 5-9 March 2012.

Sithole, H. The riverine ecological specifications of macroinvertebrates within rivers of Kruger National Park, and their present status. Southern African Society of Aquatic Scientists, Cape St. Francis, South Africa, 1-5 July 2012.

Smit, I. P. J. , & Asner, G. P. Roads increase woody cover under varying geological, rainfall and fire regimes in African savannas. 10 th Annual Savanna Science Network Meeting, Skukuza, 5-9 March 2012.

Smit, I. P. J. , Landman, M., Cowling, R., & Gaylard, A. Expert opinion on desired state of Sundays spekboom thicket in Addo Elephant National Park. 9th Thicket Forum, Grahamstown, 10-12 September 2012. (Awarded best non-student presentation)

Smith, M. K. S. The recreational and subsistence line fisheries in the Knysna and Swartvlei Estuaries – some concerns and management challenges. 4th South African Linefish Symposium, Langebaan, 16-19 April 2012. 88 SANPARKS RESEARCH REPORT 2012

Smith, M. K. S. A side of fish with a plate of fish. INSAKA: International Symposium on Managing Benefit Sharing in changing Social Ecological Systems, Windhoek, Namibia, 4-8 June 2012.

Swemmer L. K, Biggs H. C, Annecke W., Freitag-Ronaldson S., Grant-Biggs C. C., & Mahlongo E. Towards effective benefit sharing in SANParks. 10 th Annual Savanna Science Network Meeting, Skukuza, 5-9 March 2012.

Swemmer L. K., Symonds A. , Mnisi P., & Mmethe H. Direct benefits from ecosystem services in SANParks – a case study of extractive resource use in the Kruger National Park . 47 th Congress of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa, Langebaan, Western Cape, 16-20 July 2012.

Swemmer L. K. , Swemmer A. M., Bezuidenhout H., Hofmeyer M., Zambatis N., Lumbe A., Mbokota T., & Thompson D. The conservation of Warburgia salutaris, Kruger National Park. Annual Meeting of the Indigenous Plant Users Forum (IPUF), UniVen, Thohoyandou, 2-5 July 2012.

Van Wilgen, N. J., Goodall, V., & McGeoch, M. A. Changing climates in fynbos national parks. Fynbos Forum, Cape St. Francis, 16-19 July 2012.

Van Wilgen, N. J., Annecke, W., Dopolo, M., Vermeulen, W. J., & McGeoch, M. A. Sustainable resource use? A case study from South African National Parks. 4th International Wildlife Management Congress. Durban, 9-12 July 2012.

Varghese, G. Commercialisation and public private partnerships in SANParks – a critical role for research. 10 th Annual Savanna Science Network meeting, Skukuza, 5-9 March 2012.

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: p a M ( Research across the 19 South African national parks is centralised through three research nodes: Cape Research Centre, Garden Route Research Centre, and the Savanna & Arid Research Unit. coNtAct: Cape Research Centre Tokai +27 (0)21 713 7500 Garden Route Research Centre Rondevlei +27 (0)44 343 1302 Savanna & Arid Research Unit Kimberley +27 (0)53 832 5488 Phalaborwa +27 (0)13 735 3451 Skukuza +27 (0)13 735 4402 coNtRIBUtoRS

Wendy Annecke ~ Johan Baard ~ Jaco Barendse ~ Hugo Bezuidenhout ~ Harry Biggs ~ Judith Botha ~ Chad Ch - eney ~ Ben Child ~ Carly Cowell ~ Mbulelo Dopolo ~ Graham Durrheim ~ Zishan Ebrahim ~ Graeme Ellis ~ Inês Ferreira ~ Sam Ferreira ~ Ruth-Mary Fisher ~ Llewellyn Foxcroft ~ Stefanie Freitag-Ronaldson ~ Angela Gaylard ~ Danny Govender ~ Rina Grant ~ Cathy Greaver ~ Nick Hanekom ~ Jessica Hayes ~ Marna Herbst ~ Michele Hofmeyr ~ Tineke Kraaij ~ Nerina Kruger ~ Sandra MacFayden ~ Witness Mamatho ~ Adolf Manganyi ~ Patience Mdungasi ~ Lufuno Munyai ~ Danie Pienaar ~ Rod Randall ~ Kirsty Redman ~ Dirk Roux ~ Ian Russel ~ Rhein - hardt Scholtz ~ Armin Seydack ~ Daniel Shibambu ~ Purvance Shikwambana ~ Izak Smit ~ Kyle Smith ~ Louise Swemmer ~ Alexis Symonds ~ Sharon Thompson ~ Nicola van Wilgen ~ Wessel Vermeulen ~ Guin Zambatis.

Project team: Stefanie Freitag-Ronaldson, Izak Smit, Inês Ferreira, Dirk Roux Editing team: Inês Ferreira, Marina Joubert, Kim Trollip Design, layout and print production: Loretta Steyn Graphic Design Studio, Pretoria | August 2013 Conserving diversity for the future