scholarly journals Species turnover in plants does not predict turnover in flower-visiting insects

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e6139 ◽  
Author(s):  
John P. Simaika ◽  
Michael Samways ◽  
Sven M. Vrdoljak
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Conservation Planning ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Cape Floristic Region ◽  
Biodiversity Hotspot ◽  
Insect Diversity ◽  
Geographical Distance ◽  
Distribution Shape ◽  
Flower Visiting

Congruence between plant and insect diversity is considered possibly useful in conservation planning, as the better known plants could be surrogates for the lesser known insects. There has been little quantification of congruence across space, especially in biodiversity rich areas. We compare here species richness, and turnover relationships between plants and flower-visiting insects across space (0.5–80 km) in natural areas of a biodiversity hotspot, the Greater Cape Floristic Region, South Africa. A total of 22,352 anthophile individuals in 198 species and 348 plant species were sampled. A comparison between the plants and anthophiles suggest significant concordance between the two assemblages. However, turnover was weaker in plants than in anthophiles. Plant turnover decreased with greater geographical distance between plot pairs. In contrast, insect turnover remained high with increasing geographical distance between plot pairs. These findings suggest that while patterns of plant diversity and distribution shape flower-visiting insect assemblages, they are not reliable surrogates. The conservation significance of these results is that specialist mutualisms are at greatest risk, and that set-asides on farms would help improve the functional connectivity leading to the maintenance of the full range of mutualisms.

scholarly journals The distribution of the dwarf succulent genus Conophytum N.E.Br. (Aizoaceae) in southern Africa

Bothalia ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Young ◽  
Philip G. Desmet
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Conservation Planning ◽  
Cape Floristic Region ◽  
Geographical Range ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Succulent Karoo ◽  
Winter Rainfall ◽  
Rainfall Region

Background: The dwarf succulent genus Conophytum N.E.Br. is one of the most species rich in the Aizoceae. The genus is most closely associated with a region of high floral endemism and biodiversity, the Succulent Karoo biome in south-western Africa.Objectives: To examine the distribution of Conophytum in south-western Namibia and in the Northern and Western Cape Provinces of South Africa.Method: A database comprising 2798 locality records representing all known species and subspecies of the genus Conophytum has been constructed.Results: The genus is primarily restricted to the arid winter-rainfall region of the Northern and Western Cape Provinces of South Africa and south-western Namibia, within the Greater Cape Floristic Region. Whilst taxa are found across all the main biomes in the region (the Succulent Karoo, Nama Karoo, Desert and Fynbos biomes), 94% of Conophytum taxa are found only in the Succulent Karoo biome and predominantly (88% of taxa) within South Africa. Endemism within specific bioregions is a feature of the genus and ~60% of taxa are endemic to the Succulent Karoo. Approximately 28% of all taxa could be considered point endemics. Whilst the genus has a relatively wide geographical range, we identify a pronounced centre of endemism in the southern Richtersveld.Conclusion: The genus Conophytum can be used as a good botanical model for studying patterns of diversity and speciation in the Succulent Karoo biome, the effects of climate change on dwarf succulents, and for informing conservation planning efforts.

SYSTEMATIC CONSERVATION PLANNING IN THE CAPE FLORISTIC REGION AND SUCCULENT KAROO, SOUTH AFRICA: ENABLING SOUND SPATIAL PLANNING AND IMPROVED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

2005 ◽  
Vol 07 (02) ◽  
pp. 201-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
SUSIE BROWNLIE ◽  
CHARL DE VILLIERS ◽  
AMANDA DRIVER ◽  
NANCY JOB ◽  
AMREI VON HASE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Environmental Assessment ◽  
Conservation Planning ◽  
Spatial Planning ◽  
Significant Contribution ◽  
Cape Floristic Region ◽  
Systematic Conservation Planning ◽  
Environmental Legislation ◽  
Succulent Karoo ◽  
Biodiversity Convention

The Cape Floristic Region (CFR) and Succulent Karoo are global biodiversity hotspots. The CFR is one of six plant kingdoms worldwide. The CFR and most of the Succulent Karoo lie within South Africa. South Africa has ratified the Biodiversity Convention, and must accordingly safeguard its biodiversity. Environmental assessment (EA) can help to achieve this end. Environmental legislation in South Africa requires EA for activities at project, not strategic level. However, strategic environmental assessment has been mandatory since 2000 for preparing municipal spatial development frameworks (SDFs). By setting targets for ecosystem conservation and providing thresholds of significance, systematic conservation planning can make a significant contribution to the sound preparation of SDFs, and effective EA at planning and project levels. In South Africa, the integration of systematic conservation planning with spatial planning and EA is recent. Based on examples, the main challenges for the future are identified.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORKS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO FARM-LEVEL EIA IN A GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT: A PROPOSAL FROM THE CAPE FLORISTIC REGION, SOUTH AFRICA

2008 ◽  
Vol 10 (04) ◽  
pp. 333-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHARL C. DE VILLIERS ◽  
RICHARD C. HILL
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Environmental Management ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Cape Floristic Region ◽  
Biodiversity Hotspot ◽  
Habitat Transformation ◽  
Primary Driver ◽  
Global Biodiversity ◽  
Large Scale Land

Cultivation has been the primary driver of habitat transformation in South Africa. This paper explores the effectiveness of agricultural and, latterly, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) authorisation procedures in stemming biodiversity loss resulting from cultivation in the lowlands of the Cape Floristic Region, a global biodiversity hotspot. Owing to an activity-based focus, agri-environmental regulation has been largely unable to mitigate the cumulative effects of large-scale land clearance in threatened ecosystems. Case studies in the Sandveld and Slanghoek districts are used to argue that revised EIA regulations published in 2006 partly perpetuate the structural shortcomings of activity-based EIA. An ecosystem-based strategy for agri-environmental screening in biodiversity hotspots is introduced, drawing on conservation plans, the agricultural LandCare programme and the provision for Environmental Management Frameworks (EMF) in the 2006 EIA regulations. "Agri-EMFs", as a collaborative initiative that involves government, agricultural and non-governmental representatives, may present an effective alternative to the inefficiencies of project-level EIA.

scholarly journals A conservation plan for a global biodiversity hotspot—the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa

2003 ◽  
Vol 112 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 191-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.M Cowling ◽  
R.L Pressey ◽  
M Rouget ◽  
A.T Lombard
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Cape Floristic Region ◽  
Biodiversity Hotspot ◽  
Conservation Plan ◽  
Global Biodiversity

Estimating the costs of conserving a biodiversity hotspot: a case-study of the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa

2003 ◽  
Vol 112 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 275-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.R. Frazee ◽  
R.M. Cowling ◽  
R.L. Pressey ◽  
J.K. Turpie ◽  
N. Lindenberg
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Cape Floristic Region ◽  
Biodiversity Hotspot
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