Lichen flora of Žumberak-Samoborsko gorje Nature Park, NW Croatia

Lichen flora of Žumberak-Samoborsko gorje Nature Park, NW Croatia During 2007 and 2008 epiphytic and terrestrial lichen communities were surveyed in the Žumberak-Samoborsko gorje Nature Park (NW Croatia); 84 taxa were recorded including, Lecanora thysanophora, which was new to Croatia, and four, Bryoria fuscescens, Lobaria pulmonaria, Usnea subfloridana and Usnea hirta, which are red data species in Croatia.

A floristic analysis of the vegetation of Platberg, eastern Free State, South Africa

A checklist of vascular plants of Platberg was compiled to determine species richness, rarity and endemism. The floristic analysis is part of the Department of Economic, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Free State biodiversity assessment programme and conservation management plan for Platberg. The analysis identified a total of 669 species belonging to 304 genera and 95 families, with 214 species belonging to the Monocotyledoneae and 438 species to the Dicotyledoneae. The largest family is Asteraceae with 126 species, followed by Poaceae with 73 species, Cyperaceae with 39 species, Fabaceae with 33 species, and Scrophulariaceae with 27 species. Various fynbos species were found, as well as 26 endemic/near-endemic species belonging to the Drakensberg Alpine Centre or Eastern Mountain Region. The results of this study revealed that Platberg shares inselberg floral richness and endemism that can be tracked via the Afromontane archipelago-like string of inselbergs and mountains, which stretch north through the Chimanimani Mountains, into Malawi, the Eastern Arc Mountains via Tanzania and north through Ethiopia, into Eurasia.Conservation implications: Platberg, as an inselberg, is a site of significant biological diversity, with high species richness, vegetation selection and ecosystem complexity. It shares floral richness and endemism via inselbergs and mountains throughout Africa. The high species richness, Red Data species and ecosystems make this area an important conservation site that should be legislated and protected.

Floristic analysis of the Mountain Zebra National Park, Eastern Cape

As part of a larger project to assess the vegetation dynamics and conservation potential of the enlarged Mountain Zebra National Park, a checklist was produced to determine the plant species richness for this area. Six hundred and eighty species, represented by 333 genera and 87 families were identified. One hundred and eighty species belong to the Monocotyledoneae and 479 species to the Dicotyledoneae. By far the largest families are the Asteraceae with 129 and the Poaceae with 82 species. Thirteen Red Data species were recorded. A number of fynbos elements were encountered, the most noteworthy being two families endemic to the Cape Floristic Region, the Penaeaceae and Grubbiaceae. A very high species to square kilometre ratio of 5.05 supports the area’s rich floristic composition.

Mammals recorded in the QwaQwa National Park (1994-1995)

Distribution, relative abundance, and habitat preferences of mammals were studied in the newly proclaimed QwaQwa National Park (QQNP) and compared with those of the adjacent 33 year-old Golden Gate Highlands National Park, a nearby protected area in the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg, Lesotho, and the rest of the Free State Province. In total, 53 mammal species were recorded inside the park and the probability of another 14 likely inhabitants, discussed. The fact that the QQNP contains ca. 70 of mammalian fauna recorded in the Free State and between five and 10 Red Data species stresses the importance of this park and the necessity for correct management of this ca. 21 000 ha conservation area. The low small mammal numbers, variety, and mean diversity found on 17 transects in the QQNP is attributed to previous human habitation and activities@some of which are still present in the park.