Abstract
The Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany (MPA) biodiversity hotspot (~274 316 km 2 ) was primarily recognised based on its high plant endemism. Here we present the results of a qualitative biogeographical study of the endemic vertebrate fauna of south-eastern Africa, in an exercise that (1) refines the delimitation of the MPA hotspot, (2) defines zoogeographical units and (3) identifies areas of vertebrate endemism. Initially we listed 62 vertebrate species endemic and 60 near endemic to the MPA hotspot, updating previous checklists. Then the distributions of 495 vertebrate taxa endemic to south-eastern Africa were reviewed and 23 endemic vertebrate distributions (EVDs: distribution ranges congruent across several endemic vertebrate taxa) were recognised, amongst which the most frequently encountered were located in the Eastern Escarpment, central KwaZulu-Natal, Drakensberg and Maputaland. The geographical patterns illustrated by the EVDs suggest that an expansion of the hotspot to incorporate sections of the Great Escarpment from the Amatola-Winterberg-Sneeuberg Mountains through the Drakensberg to the Soutpansberg would be justified. This redefinition gives rise to a Greater Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany (GMPA) region of vertebrate endemism adding 135% more endemics with an increase of only 73% in surface area to the MPA hotspot. The GMPA region has a more natural boundary in terms of EVDs as well as vegetation units. An accurate delimitation of this hotspot, as well as a better understanding of biogeography in the region, would greatly benefit conservation planning and implementation. Towards these aims, we used EVDs to delimit non-overlapping zoogeographical units (including 14 areas of vertebrate endemism), facilitating numerical biogeographical analyses. More importantly, this study opens up possibilities of refining hotspot delimitation and identifying local conservation priorities in regions of the world where data do not allow numerical analyses.
Highlights
Despite criticism over their selection and delimitation, biodiversity hotspots[1,2] have undeniably become a popular approach for prioritising conservation efforts globally,[3] as well as in South Africa.[4]
Endemic and nearendemic vertebrates of the MPA hotspot are listed in Appendix 1, whilst a complete checklist of all vertebrates occurring in the hotspot is available as online supplementary material to this paper
The ichthyofauna of the MPA hotspot includes narrowrange endemics such as the Amatola barb, Barbus amatolicus and the Border barb, B. trevelyani of the Amatola Mountains, the Eastern Cape rocky, Sandelia bainsii of Albany, the redtail barb, Barbus gurneyi and Tugela labeo, Labeo rubromaculatus of KwaZulu-Natal and the pennant-tailed suckermouth, Chiloglanis anoterus of Maputaland, together with the secondary freshwater endemics Sibayi goby, Silhouettea sibayi in Maputaland and the golden sleeper, Hypseleotris dayi along the coast of Maputaland and KwaZulu-Natal
Summary
Despite criticism over their selection and delimitation, biodiversity hotspots[1,2] have undeniably become a popular approach for prioritising conservation efforts globally,[3] as well as in South Africa.[4]. Southern Africa, defined as the area south of the Cunene, Okavango and Zambezi Rivers,[5] fully encompasses these three hotspots together with the southern parts of the Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa hotspot.[1] The major biological criterion for the designation of biodiversity hotspots is floristic endemism, that is, the area must contain at least 0.5% of the world’s vascular plant species (1500 species) as endemics.[1,2] This means that animal endemism per se is not critical for hotspot selection, vertebrates are most likely to become hotspot flagship species.[6]. The hotspot has not yet been well documented in terms of its animal endemism, except for the species accounts given by Mittermeier et al.[2], those in the terrestrial vertebrate species database of Conservation International[9] and in the draft ecosystem profile of the hotspot.[10]
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