Health assessment of wild speckled dwarf tortoises, CHERSOBIUS SIGNATUS

Background In free-ranging reptile populations, bacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic pathogens may affect hosts through impairment in movements, thermoregulation, reproduction, survival, and population dynamics. The speckled dwarf tortoise (Chersobius [Homopus] signatus) is a threatened species that is mostly restricted to the Succulent Karoo biome in South Africa, and little information on pathogens of this species is available yet. We derived baseline parameters for five males and five females that were captured to genetically enhance a conservation breeding program in Europe. Upon collection of the tortoises, ticks were removed and identified. Immediately upon arrival in Europe, ocular, nasal, oral and cloacal swabs were taken for viral, bacteriological and mycological examinations. Fecal samples were collected before and 1 month after fenbendazole treatment, and analyzed for parasites. A panel of PCR, aiming to detect herpesviruses, adenoviruses and iridoviruses, was carried out. Results Samples were negative for viruses, while bacteriological examination yielded detectable growth in 82.5% of the swabs with a mean load of 16 × 107 ± 61 × 108 colony forming units (CFU) per swab, representing 34 bacterial species. Cloacal and oral swabs yielded higher detectable growth loads than nasal and ocular swabs, but no differences between sexes were observed. Fungi and yeasts (mean load 5 × 103 ± 13 × 103 CFU/swab) were detected in 25% of the swabs. All pre-treatment fecal samples were positive for oxyurid eggs, ranging from 200 to 2400 eggs per gram of feces, whereas after the treatment a significantly reduced egg count (90–100% reduction) was found in seven out of 10 individuals. One remaining individual showed 29% reduction, and two others had increased egg counts. In five tortoises, Nycthocterus spp. and coccidian oocysts were also identified. Soft ticks were identified as Ornithodoros savignyi. Conclusions Our baseline data from clinically healthy individuals will help future studies to interpret prevalences of microorganisms in speckled dwarf tortoise populations. The study population did not appear immediately threatened by current parasite presence.

Crassula ×mortii (Crassulaceae subfam. Crassuloideae), a new natural hybrid between C. perforata and C. rubricaulis from South Africa’s southern Cape

In terms of species-level diversity, the genus Crassula Linnaeus (1753: 282) is by far the most diverse in the Crassulaceae within the Flora of Southern Africa region [Namibia, Botswana, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Lesotho, South Africa] (Tölken 1977a, b, 1985). In this region diversity is highest in the Fynbos and Succulent Karoo Biomes, both of which straddle the southern Cape, an area represented in the Western and Eastern Cape provinces.

Rates and patterns of habitat loss across AUTHORS: South Africa’s vegetation biomes

The loss of natural habitat resulting from human activities is the principal driver of biodiversity loss in terrestrial ecosystems globally. Metrics of habitat loss are monitored at national and global scales using various remote sensing based land-cover change products. The metrics go on to inform reporting processes, biodiversity assessments, land-use decision-making and strategic planning in the environmental and conservation sector. We present key metrics of habitat loss across South Africa at national and biome levels for the first time. We discuss the spatial patterns and trends, and the implications and limitations of the metrics. Approximately 22% of the natural habitat of South Africa has been lost since the arrival of European settlers. The extent and the rate of habitat loss are not uniform across South Africa. The relatively mesic Grassland, Fynbos and Indian Ocean Coastal Belt biomes have lost the most habitat, while the arid Nama-Karoo, Succulent Karoo and Desert have lost the least. Rates of loss increased across all biomes in recent years (2014–2018), indicating that the historical drivers of change (i.e. expansion of croplands, human settlements, plantation forestry and mining) are intensifying overall. We should caution that the losses we report are conservative, because the land-cover change products do not capture degradation within natural ecosystems. Preventing widespread biodiversity losses and securing the benefits we derive from biodiversity requires slowing and preventing further habitat degradation and loss by using existing land-use planning and regulatory tools to their full potential.

A review of Capezoum Adlbauer, 2003 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) with the description of two new species from the Succulent Karoo ecosystem in South-Africa

Capezoum Adlbauer, 2003 is known only from male specimens. Herein, we describe two new species: Capezoum richardi sp. nov. and C. brunneopunctatus sp. nov., from the Northern Cape region in South-Africa. The discovery of these new species, one of them represented by both sexes, allowed us to describe the hitherto unknown female. Moreover, the genus is transferred to the tribe Xystrocerini and a key to the species of the genus is provided. Lastly, the position of Mythozoum Thomson, 1878 in Cerambycidae is discussed.