Pub Date : 2022-10-21DOI: 10.38201/btha.abc.v53.i1.1
K. Kashe, D. Teketay, M. Mmusi, Meleko Khululo Galelebalwe
Background and objectives: Deforested and degraded areas can be cheaply and conveniently restored through establishment of exclosures. An area exclosure excludes animals and humans from accessing an area to promote natural regeneration of plants and rehabilitate ecological condition of the area. The study was aimed at: (1) determining the diversity (species richness, diversity and evenness); (2) assessing the stand structure (densities); and (3) assessing regeneration status of woody species inside and outside exclosed Maun International Airport, northern Botswana. Methods: Vegetation sampling was conducted from April to May 2018. A total of 48 and 37 quadrats of 20 × 20 m were laid down at 50 m intervals along transect lines inside and outside Maun International Airport, respectively. Identity, number of all live individuals and height of all woody species were recorded in all the quadrats. The diversity of all woody species was analysed by using the Shannon Diversity Index (H’) and regeneration status of each woody species was assessed using frequency distribution of height class. Results: The diversity, evenness and species richness were significantly higher inside than outside Maun International Airport. Colophospermum mopane was the most abundant species both inside (75% of all woody species) and outside (96% of all woody species) Maun International Airport. More species showed more regeneration inside than outside Maun International Airport. The inside of Maun International Airport recorded more alien invasive woody species compared with the outside, owing to its original use as a residential area. The local communities might have introduced these species as ornamental trees. Conclusion: This study, while limited in scale, contributes to understanding of the role of exclosures in enhancing woody species richness, diversity and evenness as well as facilitating regeneration of woody species. Degraded woodlands and other similar ecosystems could be cheaply and conveniently restored through establishment of exclosures, but more research and monitoring are required to fully understand the processes and impacts.
{"title":"Restoration of diversity and regeneration of woody species through area exclosure: the case of Maun International Airport in northern Botswana","authors":"K. Kashe, D. Teketay, M. Mmusi, Meleko Khululo Galelebalwe","doi":"10.38201/btha.abc.v53.i1.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.38201/btha.abc.v53.i1.1","url":null,"abstract":"Background and objectives: Deforested and degraded areas can be cheaply and conveniently restored through establishment of exclosures. An area exclosure excludes animals and humans from accessing an area to promote natural regeneration of plants and rehabilitate ecological condition of the area. The study was aimed at: (1) determining the diversity (species richness, diversity and evenness); (2) assessing the stand structure (densities); and (3) assessing regeneration status of woody species inside and outside exclosed Maun International Airport, northern Botswana.\u0000Methods: Vegetation sampling was conducted from April to May 2018. A total of 48 and 37 quadrats of 20 × 20 m were laid down at 50 m intervals along transect lines inside and outside Maun International Airport, respectively. Identity, number of all live individuals and height of all woody species were recorded in all the quadrats. The diversity of all woody species was analysed by using the Shannon Diversity Index (H’) and regeneration status of each woody species was assessed using frequency distribution of height class.\u0000Results: The diversity, evenness and species richness were significantly higher inside than outside Maun International Airport. Colophospermum mopane was the most abundant species both inside (75% of all woody species) and outside (96% of all woody species) Maun International Airport. More species showed more regeneration inside than outside Maun International Airport. The inside of Maun International Airport recorded more alien invasive woody species compared with the outside, owing to its original use as a residential area. The local communities might have introduced these species as ornamental trees.\u0000Conclusion: This study, while limited in scale, contributes to understanding of the role of exclosures in enhancing woody species richness, diversity and evenness as well as facilitating regeneration of woody species. Degraded woodlands and other similar ecosystems could be cheaply and conveniently restored through establishment of exclosures, but more research and monitoring are required to fully understand the processes and impacts.","PeriodicalId":55336,"journal":{"name":"Bothalia","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2022-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85183746","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-10-21DOI: 10.38201/btha.abc.v53.i1.2
D. Iamonico, R. El Mokni
Background: The genus Amaranthus is taxonomically complex because of its high morphological variability, which led to nomenclatural confusion, misapplication of names and misidentifications. Unfortunately, floristic and taxonomic studies on this genus are still incomplete. A population of Amaranthus crassipes subsp. warnockii was discovered in Monastir Governorate, Tunisia, representing the first record for both the Tunisian and the African floras, as well as the first one outside of its American native distribution area. Objectives: The main aim of the present study was to record Amaranthus crassipes subsp. warnockii (I.M.Johnst.) N.Bayón in Tunisia and Africa for the first time. Morphological characters and ecological data were provided. Clarification about the typification of the names Amaranthus crassipes, A. warnockii and Scleropus amaranthoides was also presented. Methods: The work was based on field surveys, analysis of relevant literature and examination of specimens preserved in the herbaria GH, HAL, P, RO, NY, US and the Herbarium of the Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir (Monastir University). Results: Nomenclatural notes were provided for Schlechtendal’s A. crassipes (lectotype at HAL, designated by Henrickson in 1999 but here corrected according to Art. 9.10 of the ICN); Schrader’s Scleropus amaranthoides [a superfluous and illegitimate name (Arts. 52.1 and 52.2 of the ICN) and regarded as a homotypic synonym of A. crassipes s.str.]; and Moquin-Tandon’s Scleropus amaranthoides [an invalid name (Art. 36.1a of the ICN)]. Conclusion: Amaranthus crassipes subsp. warnockii is an alien species in Tunisia, growing in human-made habitat on clayey and sandy substrates within ruderal vegetation where it can be considered a casual. We hope that in the future continuous monitoring of the population will take place, to verify the possible naturalisation and spread of this taxon in Tunisia. If the latter happens, actions for eradication of the plants are needed.
{"title":"First record of Amaranthus crassipes subsp. warnockii (I.M.Johnst.) N.Bayón (Amaranthaceae) outside of the Americas, with nomenclatural notes","authors":"D. Iamonico, R. El Mokni","doi":"10.38201/btha.abc.v53.i1.2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.38201/btha.abc.v53.i1.2","url":null,"abstract":"Background: The genus Amaranthus is taxonomically complex because of its high morphological variability, which led to nomenclatural confusion, misapplication of names and misidentifications. Unfortunately, floristic and taxonomic studies on this genus are still incomplete. A population of Amaranthus crassipes subsp. warnockii was discovered in Monastir Governorate, Tunisia, representing the first record for both the Tunisian and the African floras, as well as the first one outside of its American native distribution area.\u0000Objectives: The main aim of the present study was to record Amaranthus crassipes subsp. warnockii (I.M.Johnst.) N.Bayón in Tunisia and Africa for the first time. Morphological characters and ecological data were provided. Clarification about the typification of the names Amaranthus crassipes, A. warnockii and Scleropus amaranthoides was also presented.\u0000Methods: The work was based on field surveys, analysis of relevant literature and examination of specimens preserved in the herbaria GH, HAL, P, RO, NY, US and the Herbarium of the Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir (Monastir University).\u0000Results: Nomenclatural notes were provided for Schlechtendal’s A. crassipes (lectotype at HAL, designated by Henrickson in 1999 but here corrected according to Art. 9.10 of the ICN); Schrader’s Scleropus amaranthoides [a superfluous and illegitimate name (Arts. 52.1 and 52.2 of the ICN) and regarded as a homotypic synonym of A. crassipes s.str.]; and Moquin-Tandon’s Scleropus amaranthoides [an invalid name (Art. 36.1a of the ICN)].\u0000Conclusion: Amaranthus crassipes subsp. warnockii is an alien species in Tunisia, growing in human-made habitat on clayey and sandy substrates within ruderal vegetation where it can be considered a casual. We hope that in the future continuous monitoring of the population will take place, to verify the possible naturalisation and spread of this taxon in Tunisia. If the latter happens, actions for eradication of the plants are needed.","PeriodicalId":55336,"journal":{"name":"Bothalia","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2022-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88282470","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-07-18DOI: 10.38201/btha.abc.v52.i1.11
J. Manning, C. Klak
New infrageneric taxa are described in Leucospermum R.Br. (Proteaceae) and Tetragonia L. (Aizoaceae) to accommodate species that are currently unplaced in the respective generic classifications. Leucospermum section Hamata J.C.Manning is described to accommodate the relatively recently described L. hamatum Rourke and L. harpagonatum Rouke, and L. section Secundifolia J.C.Manning for L. secundifolium Rourke, which was unplaced following the transfer of the type of L. section Xericola Rourke to the genus Vexatorella Rourke. In Tetragonia L., T.series Echinatae J.C.Manning & Klak is described for three species that were leftunplaced following their exclusion from subgenus Tetragonoides DC.. In addition, the three series T. series Chenopodinae, series Pedunculares and series Macranthae are incorrectly attributed to Fenzl and are shown to be combinations by Adamson of unranked taxa published by Fenzl. In Aizoon L., we replace the illegitimate name, A. procumbens (L.f.) Klak, with the new name A. flavescens Klak.
{"title":"New infrageneric taxa in Leucospermum (Proteaceae) and Tetragonia L. (Aizoaceae) in southern Africa","authors":"J. Manning, C. Klak","doi":"10.38201/btha.abc.v52.i1.11","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.38201/btha.abc.v52.i1.11","url":null,"abstract":"New infrageneric taxa are described in Leucospermum R.Br. (Proteaceae) and Tetragonia L. (Aizoaceae) to accommodate species that are currently unplaced in the respective generic classifications. Leucospermum section Hamata J.C.Manning is described to accommodate the relatively recently described L. hamatum Rourke and L. harpagonatum Rouke, and L. section Secundifolia J.C.Manning for L. secundifolium Rourke, which was unplaced following the transfer of the type of L. section Xericola Rourke to the genus Vexatorella Rourke. In Tetragonia L., T.series Echinatae J.C.Manning & Klak is described for three species that were leftunplaced following their exclusion from subgenus Tetragonoides DC.. In addition, the three series T. series Chenopodinae, series Pedunculares and series Macranthae are incorrectly attributed to Fenzl and are shown to be combinations by Adamson of unranked taxa published by Fenzl. In Aizoon L., we replace the illegitimate name, A. procumbens (L.f.) Klak, with the new name A. flavescens Klak. ","PeriodicalId":55336,"journal":{"name":"Bothalia","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2022-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81912227","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-06-02DOI: 10.38201/btha.abc.v52.i1.10
McKenzie Robert, N. Helme
Background: A taxonomic revision of Arctotis L. (Asteraceae) is ongoing. A previous botanical survey of the Avontuur Nature Reserve on the Bokkeveld Plateau, Northern Cape, located a potentially unnamed Arctotis taxon associated with seasonally wet sites.Objectives: To compare the morphology of the Arctotis from the Avontuur Nature Reserve with morphologically comparable species of Arctotis and to determine its taxonomic status.Method: The morphology of fresh collections, herbarium specimens, and relevant type material was examined. All relevant literature was consulted.Results: The Avontuur Arctotis is morphologically distinct from A. acaulis L. var. acaulis, A. acaulis var. undulata DC. and A. verbascifolia Harv.Conclusion: Arctotis gazanioides R.J.McKenzie & Helme is described as a new species distinguished by its branching rhizomatous root system with abundant fibrous adventitious roots, and discolorous leaves that are simple lanceolate, lanceolate-ovate to lanceolate-elliptic, or pinnatisect with a lanceolate to lanceolate-elliptic terminal lobe.
背景:牛蒡草(Asteraceae)的分类修订正在进行中。先前对北开普省Bokkeveld高原上的Avontuur自然保护区进行的植物学调查发现了一个与季节性潮湿地点有关的潜在未命名的狐猴分类群。目的:将Avontuur自然保护区的小狐猴与形态相近的小狐猴进行比较，确定其分类学地位。方法:对新鲜标本、标本馆标本及相关类型资料进行形态学检查。查阅了所有相关文献。结果:在形态上不同于金针桃(a acaulis L. var. acaulis)、金针桃(a acaulis var.波状金针桃)。和紫檀。结论:Arctotis gazanioides r.j.m enzzie & Helme是一个新种，其特征是其分枝根状根系具有丰富的纤维不定根，叶片为单披针形、披针形卵形至披针形椭圆形或羽状，具披针形至披针形椭圆形的顶叶。
{"title":"Arctotis gazanioides (Asteraceae: Arctotideae), a new species from the Bokkeveld Plateau, Northern Cape Province, South Africa","authors":"McKenzie Robert, N. Helme","doi":"10.38201/btha.abc.v52.i1.10","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.38201/btha.abc.v52.i1.10","url":null,"abstract":"Background: A taxonomic revision of Arctotis L. (Asteraceae) is ongoing. A previous botanical survey of the Avontuur Nature Reserve on the Bokkeveld Plateau, Northern Cape, located a potentially unnamed Arctotis taxon associated with seasonally wet sites.Objectives: To compare the morphology of the Arctotis from the Avontuur Nature Reserve with morphologically comparable species of Arctotis and to determine its taxonomic status.Method: The morphology of fresh collections, herbarium specimens, and relevant type material was examined. All relevant literature was consulted.Results: The Avontuur Arctotis is morphologically distinct from A. acaulis L. var. acaulis, A. acaulis var. undulata DC. and A. verbascifolia Harv.Conclusion: Arctotis gazanioides R.J.McKenzie & Helme is described as a new species distinguished by its branching rhizomatous root system with abundant fibrous adventitious roots, and discolorous leaves that are simple lanceolate, lanceolate-ovate to lanceolate-elliptic, or pinnatisect with a lanceolate to lanceolate-elliptic terminal lobe.","PeriodicalId":55336,"journal":{"name":"Bothalia","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2022-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73523402","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-05-31DOI: 10.38201/btha.abc.v52.i1.9
P. Meerts
Background: The Lamiaceae family is one of the largest still not covered by the Flore d’Afrique centrale (except Premnoideae and Viticoideae) and many specimens are left unidentified in collections.Objectives: To prepare the treatment of subfamilies Lamioideae and Scutellarioideae, herbarium materials have been revised.Methods: Herbarium material from BR, BRLU and POZG was studied.Results: Ten taxa (9 species and 1 variety) are reported as new to The DemocraticRepublic of the Congo (D.R. Congo) and Burundi: Achyrospermum africanum, A. axillare, A. oblongifolium, A. tisserantii, Leucas deflexa var. kondowensis, L. fulvipila,L. songeana, Stachys pseudohumifusa subsp. minutiflora, S. pseudonigricans, Tinneagracilis. For several species, the new localities are remarkably distant from the species’ previously known distribution area. New localities of five rare taxa are also included (Achyrospermum micranthum, Leucas nyassae, L. stormsii var. parviflora, Tinnea coerulea var. linearifolia, T. platyphylla). Many new localities are situated in regions subject to strong anthropogenic pressure.Conclusion: The new records increase the number of accepted species of Lamioideae and Scutellarioideae in Central Africa by 27%.
{"title":"New records of Lamiaceae (Lamioideae and Scutellarioideae) for D.R. Congo, Rwanda and Burundi","authors":"P. Meerts","doi":"10.38201/btha.abc.v52.i1.9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.38201/btha.abc.v52.i1.9","url":null,"abstract":"Background: The Lamiaceae family is one of the largest still not covered by the Flore d’Afrique centrale (except Premnoideae and Viticoideae) and many specimens are left unidentified in collections.Objectives: To prepare the treatment of subfamilies Lamioideae and Scutellarioideae, herbarium materials have been revised.Methods: Herbarium material from BR, BRLU and POZG was studied.Results: Ten taxa (9 species and 1 variety) are reported as new to The DemocraticRepublic of the Congo (D.R. Congo) and Burundi: Achyrospermum africanum, A. axillare, A. oblongifolium, A. tisserantii, Leucas deflexa var. kondowensis, L. fulvipila,L. songeana, Stachys pseudohumifusa subsp. minutiflora, S. pseudonigricans, Tinneagracilis. For several species, the new localities are remarkably distant from the species’ previously known distribution area. New localities of five rare taxa are also included (Achyrospermum micranthum, Leucas nyassae, L. stormsii var. parviflora, Tinnea coerulea var. linearifolia, T. platyphylla). Many new localities are situated in regions subject to strong anthropogenic pressure.Conclusion: The new records increase the number of accepted species of Lamioideae and Scutellarioideae in Central Africa by 27%.","PeriodicalId":55336,"journal":{"name":"Bothalia","volume":"22 5 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2022-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77874870","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-05-27DOI: 10.38201/btha.abc.v52.i1.8
J. Manning, R. Govaerts
Polydora Fenzl (1844) is recognised to be a nomen nudum that was only validly published by Robinson (1999). The inclusion by Robinson (1999) of the earlier validly published Crystallopollen Steetz ([in Peters] 1864) as a synonym however, rendered Polydora Fenzl ex H.Rob. (1999) superfluous and so illegitimate. Crystallopollen Steetz ([in Peters] 1864) is therefore the correct name for the genus as circumscribed by Robinson (1999) and later authors. Only one of the namescurrently accepted in Polydora has a combination in Crystallopollen and the necessary additional combinations are provided here for C. bainesii (Oliv. & Hiern) J.C.Manning, C. chloropappum (Baker) J.C.Manning, C. jelfiae (S.Moore) J.C.Manning, C. mbalense (G.V.Pope) J.C.Manning, C. rhodesiana (S.Moore) J.C.Manning, C. serratuloides (DC.) J.C.Manning and C. sylvicola (G.V.Pope) J.C.Manning.
{"title":"New combinations in Crystallopollen Steetz (Asteraceae: Vernonieae), the correct name for the illegitimate Polydora Fenzl ex H.Rob.","authors":"J. Manning, R. Govaerts","doi":"10.38201/btha.abc.v52.i1.8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.38201/btha.abc.v52.i1.8","url":null,"abstract":"Polydora Fenzl (1844) is recognised to be a nomen nudum that was only validly published by Robinson (1999). The inclusion by Robinson (1999) of the earlier validly published Crystallopollen Steetz ([in Peters] 1864) as a synonym however, rendered Polydora Fenzl ex H.Rob. (1999) superfluous and so illegitimate. Crystallopollen Steetz ([in Peters] 1864) is therefore the correct name for the genus as circumscribed by Robinson (1999) and later authors. Only one of the namescurrently accepted in Polydora has a combination in Crystallopollen and the necessary additional combinations are provided here for C. bainesii (Oliv. & Hiern) J.C.Manning, C. chloropappum (Baker) J.C.Manning, C. jelfiae (S.Moore) J.C.Manning, C. mbalense (G.V.Pope) J.C.Manning, C. rhodesiana (S.Moore) J.C.Manning, C. serratuloides (DC.) J.C.Manning and C. sylvicola (G.V.Pope) J.C.Manning.","PeriodicalId":55336,"journal":{"name":"Bothalia","volume":"210 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2022-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74957897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-03-30DOI: 10.38201/btha.abc.v52.i1.6
L. Ruddle, E. van Zyl, Jacobus Johannes Jordaan
Background: Cyrtanthus nutans R.A.Dyer is a range-restricted species occurring in northwestern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and in Eswatini, and is currently classified as Vulnerable in accordance with the IUCN criteria. Land transformation and disturbance of natural habitats have resulted in an ever-increasing fragmentation of the species’ range.Objectives: This manuscript provides a description of some of the abiotic and biotic factors associated with the remaining natural populations of C. nutans in the Sour Sandveld and Moist Tall Grassland Bioresource Groups of northwestern KwaZulu-Natal.Methods: An investigation was conducted in the northwestern KwaZulu-Natal region to determine the effect that key ecological and anthropological determinants have in influencing the distribution and survival of the species. Data collected included sites of occurrence, estimated population numbers, elevation, ecological factors (soils/geology, climate, veld composition), and human/animal activities.Results: The northwestern KwaZulu-Natal C. nutans populations were found to occur primarily in untransformed veld within the Moist Tall Grassveld, Dry Highland Sourveld and Sour Sandveld Bioresource Groups. It occurs largely on gradients of < 10% on mid- to lower terrain slopes and predominantly within an altitude range of between 1 100 and 1 300 m a.m.s.l.Conclusion: C. nutans occurs in a narrow altitudinal range and has a preference for soils with high nitrogen and organic carbon and low phosphorus and acidity levels.
{"title":"Ecological factors determining the distribution patterns of Cyrtanthus nutans in North -Western KwaZulu-Natal","authors":"L. Ruddle, E. van Zyl, Jacobus Johannes Jordaan","doi":"10.38201/btha.abc.v52.i1.6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.38201/btha.abc.v52.i1.6","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Cyrtanthus nutans R.A.Dyer is a range-restricted species occurring in northwestern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and in Eswatini, and is currently classified as Vulnerable in accordance with the IUCN criteria. Land transformation and disturbance of natural habitats have resulted in an ever-increasing fragmentation of the species’ range.Objectives: This manuscript provides a description of some of the abiotic and biotic factors associated with the remaining natural populations of C. nutans in the Sour Sandveld and Moist Tall Grassland Bioresource Groups of northwestern KwaZulu-Natal.Methods: An investigation was conducted in the northwestern KwaZulu-Natal region to determine the effect that key ecological and anthropological determinants have in influencing the distribution and survival of the species. Data collected included sites of occurrence, estimated population numbers, elevation, ecological factors (soils/geology, climate, veld composition), and human/animal activities.Results: The northwestern KwaZulu-Natal C. nutans populations were found to occur primarily in untransformed veld within the Moist Tall Grassveld, Dry Highland Sourveld and Sour Sandveld Bioresource Groups. It occurs largely on gradients of < 10% on mid- to lower terrain slopes and predominantly within an altitude range of between 1 100 and 1 300 m a.m.s.l.Conclusion: C. nutans occurs in a narrow altitudinal range and has a preference for soils with high nitrogen and organic carbon and low phosphorus and acidity levels.","PeriodicalId":55336,"journal":{"name":"Bothalia","volume":"58 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2022-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77194430","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-03-18DOI: 10.38201/btha.abc.v52.i1.5
Luvo Magoswana, S. Boatwright, A. Magee, J. Manning
A taxonomic revision is presented for the two geophytic species of Othonna L. (Asteraceae: Senecioneae: Othonninae) distinguished by a condensed caudex without evident internodes. These species are morphologically and phylogenetically distinct from the remaining geophytic species. This account includes descriptions, complete nomenclature and typification, illustrations and geographical distribution. We recognise the following two species: O. auriculifolia with radiate capitula and mature pappus 3–25 mm long, and O. taraxacoides (DC.) Sch. Bip. with disciform capitula and mature pappus 3–8 mm long. Both species are vegetatively variable.
{"title":"A taxonomic revision of the Othonna auriculifolia Less. group (Asteraceae: Senecioneae: Othonninae)","authors":"Luvo Magoswana, S. Boatwright, A. Magee, J. Manning","doi":"10.38201/btha.abc.v52.i1.5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.38201/btha.abc.v52.i1.5","url":null,"abstract":"A taxonomic revision is presented for the two geophytic species of Othonna L. (Asteraceae: Senecioneae: Othonninae) distinguished by a condensed caudex without evident internodes. These species are morphologically and phylogenetically distinct from the remaining geophytic species. This account includes descriptions, complete nomenclature and typification, illustrations and geographical distribution. We recognise the following two species: O. auriculifolia with radiate capitula and mature pappus 3–25 mm long, and O. taraxacoides (DC.) Sch. Bip. with disciform capitula and mature pappus 3–8 mm long. Both species are vegetatively variable.","PeriodicalId":55336,"journal":{"name":"Bothalia","volume":"20 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2022-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80871715","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-03-18DOI: 10.38201/btha.abc.v52.i1.4
A. Blackmore
Background: On 15 January 2021, a South African Member of the Executive Committee (MEC) for the Environment amended the Mabola Protected Environment’s (MPE) boundaries to remove legal impediments preventing coal mining in this protected area. This decision came in the wake of the MPE being declared a protected area and a series of court cases ending at the Constitutional Court.Objective: The objectives of this paper were: (1) evaluate the potential consequences of the MEC’s decision for South African protected areas; (2) speculate on the possible impact on South Africa’s reputation in terms of its commitment to safeguarding its protected areas; (3) identify possible weaknesses in the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act 57 of 2003 (NEMPAA); and (4) make recommendations to strengthen this Act so that it can reduce the vulnerability of protected areas to arbitrary and prejudicial decision-making.Methods: This study involved an evaluation of NEMPAA and the notice in the Provincial Gazette declaring and giving effect to the MEC’s decision, and of the various High Court judgments leading up to and following the publication of this notice.Conclusion: The decision by the MEC highlights the vulnerability of protected areas and the importance of the conservation of biodiversity, particularly in a context of parochial or partisan objectives and profit-vested interests that are of alimited (at least in the medium- to long-term) public benefit. It is concluded that the discretionary clauses in NEMPAA may need to be amended to limit or refine the discretion politicians may apply.
{"title":"To be or not to be a protected area: A perverse political threat","authors":"A. Blackmore","doi":"10.38201/btha.abc.v52.i1.4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.38201/btha.abc.v52.i1.4","url":null,"abstract":"Background: On 15 January 2021, a South African Member of the Executive Committee (MEC) for the Environment amended the Mabola Protected Environment’s (MPE) boundaries to remove legal impediments preventing coal mining in this protected area. This decision came in the wake of the MPE being declared a protected area and a series of court cases ending at the Constitutional Court.Objective: The objectives of this paper were: (1) evaluate the potential consequences of the MEC’s decision for South African protected areas; (2) speculate on the possible impact on South Africa’s reputation in terms of its commitment to safeguarding its protected areas; (3) identify possible weaknesses in the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act 57 of 2003 (NEMPAA); and (4) make recommendations to strengthen this Act so that it can reduce the vulnerability of protected areas to arbitrary and prejudicial decision-making.Methods: This study involved an evaluation of NEMPAA and the notice in the Provincial Gazette declaring and giving effect to the MEC’s decision, and of the various High Court judgments leading up to and following the publication of this notice.Conclusion: The decision by the MEC highlights the vulnerability of protected areas and the importance of the conservation of biodiversity, particularly in a context of parochial or partisan objectives and profit-vested interests that are of alimited (at least in the medium- to long-term) public benefit. It is concluded that the discretionary clauses in NEMPAA may need to be amended to limit or refine the discretion politicians may apply.","PeriodicalId":55336,"journal":{"name":"Bothalia","volume":"41 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2022-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72999114","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-03-16DOI: 10.38201/btha.abc.v52.i1.3
B. Lind, V. Uys, P. Eggleton, N. Hanan
Background: Termites are important ecosystem engineers in the tropics and sub-tropics, so understanding their diversity, particularly their functional diversity, across biogeographical scales is important for understanding where they alter theenvironment and deliver ecological services. Feeding groups combine phylogeneticand dietary information about termites into ecologically significant functional categories.Objectives: To characterise termite feeding group prevalence, distribution and diversity in southern Africa and assess the effect of precipitation on termite diversity and assemblage composition.Method: Termite genus and species-level occurrence data were acquired from the South African Termite Database and classified into one of five feeding groups. We evaluated the prevalence of each feeding group and assessed species and feeding group richness and dominance. Linear regressions were performed to determine the relationship between 1) species richness and precipitation; and 2) feeding group richness and precipitation.Results: We find that southern Africa 1) is dominated by FG-IIw (feeding group – II, wood feeding) termites; 2) is occupied by multiple feeding groups across the entirety of the rainfall gradient; and that precipitation 3) influences feeding group species diversity variably; and 4) causes notable shifts in termite community structure.Conclusion: Our results indicate that termites likely make substantial contributionsto plant material decomposition across southern Africa and that while shifts in feeding group dominance are associated with rainfall gradients, the services unique to individual feeding groups are not isolated to certain regions, but ratherare widespread regardless of the amount of precipitation received.
{"title":"Precipitation mediates termite functional diversity and dominance in southern Africa","authors":"B. Lind, V. Uys, P. Eggleton, N. Hanan","doi":"10.38201/btha.abc.v52.i1.3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.38201/btha.abc.v52.i1.3","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Termites are important ecosystem engineers in the tropics and sub-tropics, so understanding their diversity, particularly their functional diversity, across biogeographical scales is important for understanding where they alter theenvironment and deliver ecological services. Feeding groups combine phylogeneticand dietary information about termites into ecologically significant functional categories.Objectives: To characterise termite feeding group prevalence, distribution and diversity in southern Africa and assess the effect of precipitation on termite diversity and assemblage composition.Method: Termite genus and species-level occurrence data were acquired from the South African Termite Database and classified into one of five feeding groups. We evaluated the prevalence of each feeding group and assessed species and feeding group richness and dominance. Linear regressions were performed to determine the relationship between 1) species richness and precipitation; and 2) feeding group richness and precipitation.Results: We find that southern Africa 1) is dominated by FG-IIw (feeding group – II, wood feeding) termites; 2) is occupied by multiple feeding groups across the entirety of the rainfall gradient; and that precipitation 3) influences feeding group species diversity variably; and 4) causes notable shifts in termite community structure.Conclusion: Our results indicate that termites likely make substantial contributionsto plant material decomposition across southern Africa and that while shifts in feeding group dominance are associated with rainfall gradients, the services unique to individual feeding groups are not isolated to certain regions, but ratherare widespread regardless of the amount of precipitation received.","PeriodicalId":55336,"journal":{"name":"Bothalia","volume":"59 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2022-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84234802","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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