scholarly journals Wildlife-Friendly Livestock Management Promotes Mammalian Biodiversity Recovery on a Semi-Arid Karoo Farm in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew P. E. Schurch ◽  
Jeannine McManus ◽  
Stefan Goets ◽  
Lain E. Pardo ◽  
David Gaynor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Livestock Grazing ◽  
Predator Species ◽  
Livestock Farm ◽  
Number Of Species

Agriculture is an essential production system used to feed the growing human population, but at the same time has become a major driver of biodiversity loss and environmental degradation. Employing production methods that restore degraded landscapes can have a positive impact on biodiversity, whilst improving food production. We assessed how mammalian biodiversity, specifically richness and their relative abundances varied on five Karoo farms in South Africa that had been amalgamated and subjected to a transition from traditional livestock grazing techniques (sporadic rotational grazing and lethal predator control) to wildlife-friendly non-lethal predator management, using human shepherding of livestock under a high-density short-duration grazing regime. We used camera trap data collected over a 4-year period, to measure mammalian species richness, distribution and relative abundance on the wildlife-friendly farm to investigate temporal changes throughout the conversion from traditional farming practices. In the last year of the study (2019) additional cameras were used to provide a spatial comparison of mammalian species on the wildlife-friendly farm to two neighboring farms, a traditional livestock farm using lethal predator controls, and a game farm. We found that mammalian species richness increased year on year resulting in a significant increase of 24% over the duration of the study. Herbivores showed an increase of 33% in the number of species detected over the years, while predator species increased by 8%. The relative abundance and distribution of most species also showed increases as the conversion process took place. For example, 73% of the herbivore species detected throughout the study increased in their relative abundance. Similarly, 67% of all species showed an increase in the number of sites occupied over the years. In the final year of the study the wildlife-friendly farm had more mammalian species compared to the game farm and traditional livestock farm, with the latter two sites having a similar number of species when compared to the commencement of the conversion of the wildlife-friendly site. These broad improvements in mammalian biodiversity demonstrate that livestock production can benefit local mammalian biodiversity through a combination of herder grazing management and wildlife-friendly farming.

scholarly journals Leopards and mesopredators as indicators of mammalian species richness across diverse landscapes of South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 121 ◽  
pp. 107201
Author(s):  
Thulani Tshabalala ◽  
Jeannine McManus ◽  
Adrian Treves ◽  
Vusani Masocha ◽  
Steve Faulconbridge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Mammalian Species

Relative abundance and activity patterns explain method-related differences in mammalian species richness estimates

2019 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 192-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cathleen M Steinbeiser ◽  
John Kioko ◽  
Amani Maresi ◽  
Rehema Kaitilia ◽  
Christian Kiffner
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Activity Patterns

A faunistic study on Carabidae and Scarabaeidae in alfalfa fields from Central Greece

Biologia ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 71 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Evangelos G. Badieritakis ◽  
Argyro A. Fantinou ◽  
Nikolaos G. Emmanouel
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Seasonal Fluctuation ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Agricultural Management ◽  
Density Peak ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
The Family ◽  
Activity Density ◽  
Surface Active

AbstractThis paper presents a study of the composition of Carabidae and Scarabaeidae among other surface-active Coleoptera along with their seasonal fluctuation, species richness and relative abundance in three alfalfa hay fields from Kopais Valley (Greece) over a period of systematic samplings (June 2008 to May 2010). Field A was cut monthly (about 4 times per year) and field B bimonthly (3 times), although no field was sprayed. Field C was cut monthly and sprayed with the insecticide bifenthrin three times during the growing season. In total, 48 species of soil Coleoptera belonging to 11 families (particularly Carabidae and Scarabaeidae) were recorded. The family Carabidae was dominated by autumn breeders, with a spring and autumn activity-density peak. Agricultural management did not cause differences in the estimated number of species.

Montane flora of the southern Langeberg, South Africa: a checklist of the flowering plants and ferns

Bothalia ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Mcdonald
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Endemic Species ◽  
Flowering Plants ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
As Species ◽  
Endemic Genera ◽  
Plant Families ◽  
Annotated Checklist

The flora of the southern Langeberg is rich, w ith 1 228 species and intraspecific taxa (referred to collectively as species) recorded in 361 genera and 105 families. An analysis of the montane flora of the southern Langeberg. Western Cape, South Africa based on an annotated checklist shows that the Asteraceae has the highest number of species per familv (167) and the genus  Erica has the most infrageneric taxa per genus (130) as well as the most endemic species (51). One endemic monotypic family, the Geissolomataceae, two endemic genera Geissoloma and Langebergia (Asteraceae) and a total of 167 endemic species are found on the southern Langeberg The plant families of the southern Langeberg flora are ranked according to species-richness of the families and compared with floras of other areas (mainly montane) in the Fynbos Biome and marginally to the east of this biome (the Amatole Mountains). The greatest similarity of ranking is evident betw een the plant families of the southern Langeberg and those of the Cape Hangklip Area.

scholarly journals Species richness, relative abundance, and habitat of reproduction of terrestrial frogs in the Triângulo Mineiro region, Cerrado biome, southeastern Brazil

2008 ◽  
Vol 98 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ariovaldo A. Giaretta ◽  
Marcelo Menin ◽  
Kátia G. Facure ◽  
Marcelo N. de C. Kokubum ◽  
Júlio C. de Oliveira Filho
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Sampling Effort ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Lower Altitude ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Species Dominance ◽  
Cerrado Biome ◽  
Number Of Species

Based on field observations and pitfall sampling, we determined the species richness, relative abundance, and reproductive habitat of terrestrial frogs in three municipalities in the Triângulo Mineiro region, south Cerrado biome, in southeastern Brazil. We found thirty-two species of terrestrial frogs, belonging to the families Brachycephalidae, Bufonidae, Cycloramphidae, Dendrobatidae, Leiuperidae, Leptodactylidae and Microhylidae. Most of the species were found in open areas and reproduced in human-generated environments, such as artificial lakes (10 species) and ponds (14 species). Dominance was high, with Physalaemus cuvieri Fitzinger, 1826 (Leiuperidae) representing 48% of sampled frogs. A larger number of individuals was captured in the wet season, when most of the species were reproducing. Compared to other areas of Cerrado biome, the Triângulo Mineiro sites presented a larger number of species, which may be attributed to the larger sampled area and greater sampling effort, lower altitude and presence of human generated habitats. The richness of terrestrial frogs was also larger than that in some forested localities in southeastern Brazil, indicating that the number of species cannot be explained only by precipitation and type of vegetation cover. The greater abundance of individuals during the wet season may be related to a greater movement of adults to breeding sites and to juvenile recruitment/dispersion. The heterogeneity of environments in the Cerrado biome, including its several isolated highlands, contributes to its high (local and regional) diversity of frogs.

The first 2 million years after the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary in east Texas: rate and paleoecology of the molluscan recovery

Paleobiology ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 251-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thor A. Hansen ◽  
Benjamin R. Farrell ◽  
Banks Upshaw
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Primary Production ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
Suspension Feeding ◽  
East Texas ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
Deposit Feeders ◽  
Depletion Curve ◽  
Study Interval

Analysis of molluscan collections from a 3+ m.y. interval around the Cretaceous–Tertiary (K–T) interval in east Texas suggests that molluscs suffered an extinction at or near the K–T boundary, followed by a prolonged period of stress which lasted through the P0 and P1a planktic foraminiferal zones. The stressed period was characterized by low species richness, low abundances of individuals, high species turnover and a dominance of deposit feeders. Species richness and the relative abundance of deposit feeders generally track the 13C depletion curve suggesting that the stress was caused by a lack of primary production. A stable, relatively diverse, suspension feeding molluscan community was reestablished less than two million years after the K–T boundary. The total number of species within the habitat did not recover to Cretaceous levels within the study interval.

scholarly journals Floristic composition and structure of the Kibate Forest along environmental gradients in Wonchi, Southwestern Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Misganaw Meragiaw ◽  
Zerihun Woldu ◽  
Vegard Martinsen ◽  
Bal R. Singh
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Livestock Grazing ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
Composition And Structure ◽  
Community Types

AbstractDry evergreen montane forests in Ethiopia are severely threatened. The status of species composition and structure of forest vegetation are important indicators to understand the trends of threats on local plant communities. In the present study, we examined the floristic composition and structure of the Kibate Forest, Wonchi Highland, Ethiopia along environmental gradients. Sixty-six (30 m × 30 m) plots were established every 100 m interval along altitudinal gradients (2811‒3073 m a.s.l.) in five transect lines for vegetation and environmental data collection. In total, 125 vascular plant species belonging to 104 genera and 52 families were identified. Eighteen species (14%) were endemic to Ethiopia and Eritrea. The two most dominant families, Asteraceae (29 species) and Lamiaceae (eight species) accounted for 30% of the total number of species. The highest number of species (54%) was herbs. Four major community types (viz., Olinia rochetiana-Myrsine melanophloeos, Ilex mitis-Galiniera saxifraga, Erica arborea-Protea gaguedi, and Hagenia abyssinica-Juniperus procera) were identified. The highest species richness, evenness, diversity, and importance value index were in community types 2 and 4. About 82% of the species and all endemic taxa except five were recorded in these two community types. The most dominant woody species were O. rochetiana, E. arborea, Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata, Myrica salicifolia, I. mitis var. mitis, and H. abyssinica with different patterns of population structure. The results show that there was a weak correlation between species richness and altitude. Our findings confirm that environmental variables both with interactions (such as altitude) and without interactions (such as livestock grazing) significantly (p < 0.05) affect species richness. Anthropogenic activities and overgrazing by livestock appear to be the main threat in community types 2 and 3. Urgent management practices and conservation measures such as prohibiting forest clearing and overgrazing and planting indigenous trees through community participation should be considered in community types that are rich in endemic species but are highly threatened.

scholarly journals Utilizing bycatch camera-trap data for broad-scale occupancy and conservation: a case study of the brown hyaena Parahyaena brunnea

Oryx ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Kathryn S. Williams ◽  
Ross T. Pitman ◽  
Gareth K. H. Mann ◽  
Gareth Whittington-Jones ◽  
Jessica Comley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Camera Trap ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Fine Scale ◽  
Apex Predators ◽  
Predator Species

Abstract With human influences driving populations of apex predators into decline, more information is required on how factors affect species at national and global scales. However, camera-trap studies are seldom executed at a broad spatial scale. We demonstrate how uniting fine-scale studies and utilizing camera-trap data of non-target species is an effective approach for broadscale assessments through a case study of the brown hyaena Parahyaena brunnea. We collated camera-trap data from 25 protected and unprotected sites across South Africa into the largest detection/non-detection dataset collected on the brown hyaena, and investigated the influence of biological and anthropogenic factors on brown hyaena occupancy. Spatial autocorrelation had a significant effect on the data, and was corrected using a Bayesian Gibbs sampler. We show that brown hyaena occupancy is driven by specific co-occurring apex predator species and human disturbance. The relative abundance of spotted hyaenas Crocuta crocuta and people on foot had a negative effect on brown hyaena occupancy, whereas the relative abundance of leopards Panthera pardus and vehicles had a positive influence. We estimated that brown hyaenas occur across 66% of the surveyed camera-trap station sites. Occupancy varied geographically, with lower estimates in eastern and southern South Africa. Our findings suggest that brown hyaena conservation is dependent upon a multi-species approach focussed on implementing conservation policies that better facilitate coexistence between people and hyaenas. We also validate the conservation value of pooling fine-scale datasets and utilizing bycatch data to examine species trends at broad spatial scales.

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