Karoo Region Research Articles

Scratching Our Heads: Rethinking Social Anxiety in Vervets (Chlorocebus aethiops)

Numerous conflicting results exist in the primate literature regarding the role of dominant individuals in creating conditions of social anxiety. Self-directed behaviors (SDB) have been used as an indicator of increased anxiety in primates to examine the effects of social stimuli such as dominance and association. This study recorded SDB from 11 free-ranging female vervets in the semi-arid Klein Karoo region of South Africa for a total of 468 focal hours to determine whether anxiety was influenced by the hierarchical rank of, and degree of association with, neighboring monkeys. Associates were dyads that spent long periods of time together, i.e., proximity sociality index scores in the top 40% of all scores, and nonassociate dyads spent very little time together, i.e., scores within the bottom 40% of all scores. Rates of SDB were significantly higher when dominant neighbors were nonassociates vs. associates. The rate of SDB when neighbors were dominant associates vs. subordinate associates did not differ. These findings indicate that anxiety is influenced to a greater extent by the degree of association with neighboring monkeys than by hierarchical rank. Measurement of multiple social variables can elucidate the relative contributions of the variables to changes in SDB and demonstrate how the variables interact, thereby providing a more comprehensive understanding of conditions leading to changes in social anxiety.

A ‘Creative Class’ in South Africa’s Arid Karoo Region

There is an increasing number and variety of creative small enterprises in South Africa’s desert Karoo region. The Karoo has come to acquire considerable cachet in recent years and is being rebranded as a desirable tourist destination. It has also attracted many well-qualified and experienced migrants from urban areas. This paper draws on mainstream ‘lifestyle media’ coverage to describe this phenomenon and examines it through a lens informed by Richard Florida’s influential work, The Rise of the Creative Class. The concept of the ‘creative class’ refers to those people who make a living from creative pursuits, including artists, designers and knowledge-based professionals. The paper analyses a sample of entrepreneurs in-migrants to the Karoo, and speculates on what informs the recent re-visioning of the region. It posits the new rural ‘creative class’ as a form of social capital and explores some of the implications of this for the socio-economic upliftment of the Karoo.

Variation in seed set amongst populations of a rodent pollinated geophyte, Colchicum coloratum

Agricultural activities around the rural village of Nieuwoudtville in the Succulent Karoo region of South Africa has lead to the confinement of many plant and animal species to fragmented patches of relatively untransformed habitat. The geophyte Colchicum coloratum subsp. coloratum (Colchicaceae) was studied in five patches of variable size in and around Nieuwoudtville. This species is dependent on rodent visitation for seed production. The influence of variation in population size and plant size on seed set was investigated, as well as whether there is pollen limitation in this species. A pollen-supplementation experiment indicates that there is pollen limitation in C. coloratum, and that much of the natural seed set could be the result of pollinator-mediated selfing. The five populations appeared to have different rodent abundances, however, neither population size nor the abundance of rodents in the area have an effect on seed set. This suggests that the mutualism between C. colchicum and its rodent pollinators is robust, and that habitat fragmentation in Nieuwoudtville has not yet affected the seed production of this geophyte.

Ecosystem Services, Land-Cover Change, and Stakeholders: Finding a Sustainable Foothold for a Semiarid Biodiversity Hotspot

Reyers, B., P. J. O’Farrell, R. M. Cowling, B. N. Egoh, D. C. Le Maitre and J. H. J. Vlok 2009. Ecosystem services, land-cover change, and stakeholders: finding a sustainable foothold for a semiarid biodiversity hotspot. Ecology and Society 14(1): 38. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-02867-140138

Chronology and dynamics of Later Stone Age herders in the upper Seacow River valley, South Africa

The prehistory of sheep and cattle herding in South Africa's semi-arid Karoo region remains poorly documented. Yet the upper Karoo plays a key gateway role in one competing model of pastoralist expansion into the extreme south of the continent. Direct-dated prehistoric livestock remains from local rock shelters are too few to build an adequate chronology. An alternative is the direct dating of fiber temper in potsherds collected at livestock enclosures (kraals) built of low, dry-stone walling. Seventeen such 14C dates are reported, along with comparable thermoluminescence dates including three from pottery associated with Khoekhoe pastoralists in the ethnohistoric record. The earliest dated kraal in the upper Seacow valley is ∼Cal AD 1000 and the youngest is ∼Cal AD 1750, so it is likely that all of them are of pre-European (∼AD 1780) date. There was a continuous herder presence, buffered by local Bushman hunter-foragers who also took up herding but retained their own ceramic tradition. The dates are spread too thinly to verify gaps in the record that might signal short-term collapses in herding practice, like the one that preceded the Dutch trekboer invasion. Resident foragers first made fiber-tempered pottery here a full millennium before the advent of herding.

The role of private conservation areas in biodiversity representation and target achievement within the Little Karoo region, South Africa

It is becoming increasingly difficult to manage and expand statutory conservation areas (i.e., parks and formally protected areas). Therefore, alternative opportunities for land conservation merit closer attention. This paper examines the extent to which privately owned conservation areas contribute to biodiversity representation. Gap analyses were performed for a large semi-arid region in South Africa with a comprehensive database of private conservation areas. The distribution of private conservation areas was compared to statutory conservation areas using several landscape characteristics: biome and vegetation variant, elevation class, ecological process area, total area, and threat status (endangerment). Conservation target achievement for the vegetation variants was also assessed, as was the degree to which private conservation areas complemented statutory conservation areas by representing different landscape characteristics. The number of targets achieved nearly tripled if private conservation areas were considered in addition to statutory conservation areas. Further, private conservation areas significantly complemented statutory conservation areas in the types of biomes, elevation classes, and threat status classes conserved. Private conservation areas were especially important in conserving lower elevation habitat, and by association, endangered vegetation. This particular relationship is expected to be common worldwide. Our results indicate that private lands conservation deserves an increased allocation of resources for both research and implementation.

Algaria nataliei (Pottiaceae), a new moss genus and species from the Western Cape Province of South Africa

We describe Algaria nataliei, a new genus and species from the Worcester-Robertson Karoo region, Western Cape Province, South Africa. Particularly distinctive features of the new genus are the strongly dimorphic leaves with the upper toothed to laciniate-margined, apically notched on one side, and long-awned and the lower entire, weakly but distinctly cucullate and with the costa ending in the apex, the laminal cells bulging ventrally and smooth to weakly papillose but flattened dorsally and strongly papillose, the immersed macrostomous eperistomate capsules with flat to umbonate opercula and flattened or indented bases, and long-conic to mitrate, prorate-papillose calyptrae.

Pollination Systems of Colchicum (Colchicaceae) in Southern Africa: Evidence for Rodent Pollination

Plants adapted for pollination by rodents tend to exhibit a distinct floral syndrome that includes dull coloured and geoflorous inflorescences and nocturnal anthesis and nectar production. On the basis of their floral traits, it was predicted that two African Colchicum species (C. scabromarginatum and C. coloratum) are rodent-pollinated. Field studies were carried out in the semi-arid Succulent Karoo region of South Africa. Live trapping of rodents was conducted and pollen loads on the rodents were quantified. The daily periodicity of nectar production was determined. Selective exclusion and controlled pollination experiments were also conducted. Live-trapped rodents were found to carry large amounts of Colchicum pollen on the fur of their snouts, and in their faeces. Birds were occasional pollinators of flowers of C. coloratum. During the evening, nectar volume and concentration increased for both species. When vertebrates were excluded from C. scabromarginatum and C. coloratum plants, there was a significant decrease in seed set compared with open control plants. By contrast, vertebrate exclusion did not significantly affect seed production of a congener, C. hantamense, which has floral traits associated with insect pollination. Breeding system experiments revealed that both C. scabromarginatum and C. coloratum require pollinators for seed production. Colchicum scabromarginatum is strictly self-incompatible, whereas C. coloratum is partially self-compatible. Pollination by rodents occurs in two African Colchicum species. C. scabromarginatum appears to depend exclusively on rodents for seed production, while birds and autonomous selfing may contribute to seed production in C. coloratum. These are the first records of rodent pollination in the Colchicaceae.

‘The Fertile Brain and Inventive Power of Man’: Anthropogenic Factors in the Cessation of Springbok Treks and the Disruption of the Karoo Ecosystem, 1865–1908

The demise of springbok treks, the irruptive migration patterns of the species in South Africa's Karoo region, has long been attributed to the rinderpest epizootic understood to have coincided in both time and space with the last of the great springbok treks. This is incorrect. Instead the cessation of springbok treks can be attributed to a variety of anthropogenic factors. This article first examines and then rejects the case for rinderpest, before introducing alternative causal factors such as the increase in livestock and human populations, the effects of fencing and the double impact of hunting and concomitant drought. These factors, it is argued, acted in concert to effectively remove the conditions necessary for springbok treks and thereby end the phenomenon. It is suggested that the local extinction of this phenomenon – a keystone species and process – is an important and heretofore unconsidered element in the decline of the Karoo ecosystem.

Characterisation of 14 blue crane Grus paradisea (Gruidae, AVES) microsatellite loci for use in detecting illegal trade

Forty-two unique microsatellite loci were isolated from an unenriched and a tetranucleotide-enriched blue crane (Grus paradisea) genomic library. Fourteen polymorphic loci were characterised in 20 unrelated wild blue crane individuals from the Karoo region, South Africa, and displayed 4–27 alleles with observed heterozygosities ranging between 0.50 and 0.95. All 14 loci were also polymorphic in the grey-crowned crane (Balearica regulorum) and the wattled crane (Grus carunculatus). These markers are aimed at assisting the identification of illegal trade in the blue crane but have wider population and conservation applications for most, if not all, crane species.

'The Fertile Brain and Inventive Power of Man': Anthropogenic Factors in the Cessation of Springbok Treks and the Disruption of the Karoo Ecosystem, 1865–1908

The demise of springbok treks, the irruptive migration patterns of the species in South Africa's Karoo region, has long been attributed to the rinderpest epizootic understood to have coincided in both time and space with the last of the great springbok treks. This is incorrect. Instead the cessation of springbok treks can be attributed to a variety of anthropogenic factors. This article first examines and then rejects the case for rinderpest, before introducing alternative causal factors such as the increase in livestock and human populations, the effects of fencing and the double impact of hunting and concomitant drought. These factors, it is argued, acted in concert to effectively remove the conditions necessary for springbok treks and thereby end the phenomenon. It is suggested that the local extinction of this phenomenon – a keystone species and process – is an important and heretofore unconsidered element in the decline of the Karoo ecosystem.

Conservation priorities for the Blue Crane (Anthropoides paradiseus) in South Africa — the effects of habitat changes on distribution and numbers

Detailed knowledge on population numbers, habitat preferences and threats is lacking for the Blue Crane (Anthropoides paradiseus), which is endemic to southern Africa and is South Africa's national bird. Using the South African Bird Atlas Project Blue Crane distribution as the accepted distribution of the species, this analysis has shown three distinct core areas for the population determined by a core index value. The largest of these core areas occurs in the central Karoo region covering 153 153km2. The next largest core area was in the Eastern Grassland region covering 137 838km2. The final core area is located in the areas known as the Overberg and Swartland of the Western Cape province, encompassing 23 440km2. The annual National Crane Census in South Africa, which covered 40% of the Blue Crane's distribution, has resulted in the determination of the actual minimum population size of 25 520 individuals. An assessment of the Blue Crane's distribution in relation to the vegetation composition of the three core areas shows that it has experienced a dramatic decline in population numbers in the Eastern Grasslands core area, where a significant degree of grassland transformation and fragmentation has occurred. The Central Karoo population has remained stable and comprises 42.4% of the current national population estimate. More than 42% of this core area comprises Nama Karoo vegetation with little habitat transformation. The most significant change has occurred in the Western Cape, which historically consisted of unsuitable Blue Crane habitat. The conversion of Fynbos and Renosterveld to 'artificial grasslands' through agricultural developments has created a favourable habitat for Blue Cranes, with this core area, comprising only 7.6% of the total core area in the country, having 47.4% of the national population. The conservation of the Blue Crane in these core areas relies on private landowners implementing management plans that allow the Blue Crane to coexist in an agricultural landscape. Knowledge through applied research will allow the identification of preferred habitats, breeding locations and suitable management activities. The landscape approach of conservation allows the benefits of ecosystem management to be realised for both people and the biodiversity elements.

The distribution and biology of Bittacus tjederi Londt, 1970 (Mecoptera: Bittacidae)

Bittacus tjederi Londt, 1970, together with B. capensis (Thunberg, 1784), B. smithersi Londt, 1972, and B. milleri Londt, 1978, constitute a distinctive species-group of hangingflies which is distributed between Grahamstown and Citrusdal in the southern parts of South Africa (Londt 1978). The recent capture of some B. tjederi specimens prompts this short report. Londt described B. tjederi from a relatively long series collected by a South African Museum expedition (Londt 1970), and later added a second record (Londt 1972). Londt (1978), in describing B. milleri, briefly discussed the interesting distribution of this species-group. A list of all known specimens of B. tjederi follows – exact label data being provided (lines of information separated by the symbol ‘/ ’). The exact coordinates of previously published localities are not known, and quarterdegree grid references are all that can safely be provided (in square brackets after the relevant place names). Published records. SOUTH AFRICA: 218 (including holotype), 169 (including allotype), ‘Goedehoop/Heidelberg [3420BB] Distr., /C.P.’, ‘Mus., Exped., /Oct. 1951’. Primary types and most of the paratypes are housed in the Iziko South African Museum, Cape Town. Two pairs of paratypes, originally stated as being in my personal collection, now form part of the Natal Museum’s collection in Pietermaritzburg (NMSA); 18, 29, ‘South Africa/Swellendam [3420AB]/14.11.1964/F. Honiball’ (18, 19 in Stellenbosch University collection, 19 in NMSA). New record: 48, 59, ‘South Africa: W Cape/Pat Busch Nature Reserve/33°46’17”S: 19°59’55”E/ 18-20.x.2005 JGH Londt / 317m Renosterbos / and rocky road verges’ (NMSA – pinned except for 18 preserved in ethanol for molecular analysis). A map of the distribution of species within the B. capensis group was published by Londt (1978). Bittacus smithersi is known only from the vicinity of Grahamstown, B. capensis has a wider distribution between Port Elizabeth and Knysna, B. tjederi is now known to occur between Heidelberg and Robertson, and finally B. milleri is found between Citrusdal and Clanwilliam. The species are accordingly allopatric, their combined distributions extending as a narrow band across the southern tip of South Africa, between c. latitude 32–34°S and c. longitude 19–27°E. Far more data are needed before it will be possible to establish the exact limits of each species so that the factors responsible for maintaining their separation can be understood. As far as B. tjederi is concerned, the new locality is of special interest as it is situated on the southern slopes of the Langeberg mountain range. While the exact coordinates of the collection sites involved in the ‘Goedehoop’ and ‘Swellendam’ material are not known, both centres (i.e. Heidelberg and Swellendam) also lie south of the Langeberg and within 15 km of the mountains. It is tempting to suggest that all three collecting localities probably lie in the southern foothills of the Langeberg which are relatively cooler and better vegetated than surrounding areas. This extensive mountain range effectively separates the Cape Floristic Region to the south from the Succulent Karoo Region to the north. It is possible that B. tjederi is confined to a relatively narrow area along the northern boundary of the Cape Floristic Region, well known internationally for its rich floral diversity (Van Wyk & Smith 2001). The Cape Floristic Region receives winter rainfall, while the more arid Succulent Karoo receives low summer rainfall. Bittacus tjederi, like the other species in the B. capensis group, has been collected mainly during October and November. This relatively short period of adult activity coincides with the end of the local rainy season and the beginning of warmer summer weather. Without exception, all the Pat Busch Nature Reserve specimens of B. tjederi were found hanging from the twigs of a group of bushes, identified as Ortholobium candicans (Eckl. & Zeyh.) C.H. Stirt, found growing along the verges of a sandy farm road (Fig. 1). These plants reach a height of about 2 m and have small c. 15 mm long, narrow, trifoliolate leaves borne on rather straight branches (Fig. 2). The c. 10 mm wide creamy white flowers were much in evidence at the time of the collec-

Lycium hantamense (Solanaceae), a new species from the Hantam–Roggeveld Centre of Plant Endemism, South Africa

Lycium hantamense, a new species is described. This species was discovered in the Hantam–Roggeveld Centre of Plant Endemism of the Succulent Karoo Region, South Africa. L. hantamense belongs to a unique group of seven polyploid, functionally dioecious species in a genus of normally diploid, hermaphrodite species. This new species resembles L. strandveldense most closely.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: The Greater Cape Floristic Region

AbstractAim The Cape Floristic Region (CFR) (Cape Floristic Kingdom) is currently narrowly delimited to include only the relatively mesic Cape fold mountains and adjacent intermontane valleys and coastal plains. We evaluate the floristic support for expanding the delimitation to include the whole winter‐rainfall area (arid and mesic climates) into a Greater CFR.Location Southern Africa, particularly the south‐western tip.Methods The initial divisive hierarchical classification analysis twinspan used the presence/absence of vascular plant genera to obtain major floristic groupings in southern Africa. For the more detailed analyses, we scored the flora as present/absent within a set of centres, among which the floristic relationships were investigated (agglomerative methods, upgma and minimum spanning trees). These analyses were conducted with species, genera and families separately. The centres were grouped into five regions. The species richness and endemism was calculated for the centres, regions and combination of regions. The dominant floristic components of each region were sought by calculating the percentage contribution of each family to the flora.Results The divisive method showed that the winter‐rainfall areas are floristically distinct from the rest of southern Africa. The species‐ and generic‐level analyses revealed five regions: CFR, Karoo Region, Hantam‐Tanqua‐Roggeveld Region, Namaqualand Region and Namib‐Desert Region. The CFR has the highest endemism and richness. However, the combination of the CFR, the Hantam‐Tanqua‐Roggeveld Region and the Namaqualand Region results in a higher total endemism. Combined, these three regions almost match the region delimited by the twinspan analysis, and together constitute the Greater CFR.Main conclusions The CFR constitutes a valid floristic region. This is evident from the endemism and the distinctive composition of the flora. However, the total endemism is higher for the whole winter‐rainfall area, and this supports the recognition of the larger unit. If floristic regions are to be delimited only on endemism, then the Greater CFR is to be preferred. If floristic regions are delimited on the composition of their floras at family level, then the support for such a grouping is weaker.

Water and the human culture of appropriation: the Vaal River up to 1956

There is discernable evidence of the human presence having historically appropriated the 1300 kilometer long Vaal River of South Africa as it extends itself from the Drakensberg Plateau into the arid Karoo region. This hard-working tributary of the Orange River, which was instrumental as a supply of water to the Witwatersrand, in the era of the region’s gold mines, has been used by humans in a variety of ways. First it was used as a route of communications, then as a borderline demarcating the territorial spaces of states and colonies. Later it was used for purposes of economic development. In the study the objective is to point towards the manner in which humans have influenced the river and its hinterland, particularly from the nineteenth century, up to the 1950s. The process of appropriation, it is argued, has had a different effect when humans laid claim to the river and its environment for social, economic and political purposes.

Streptomyces pharetrae sp. nov., isolated from soil from the semi-arid Karoo region

An actinomycete, strain CZA14 T, was isolated from Worcester in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Based on rapid genus identification, 16S-rDNA sequence similarities and chemotaxonomy, strain CZA14 T was identified as a member of the genus Streptomyces. It exhibited weak antibiosis against Bacillus coagulans ATCC 7050 T, Mycobacterium aurum A+ and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus C91. The results of physiological tests and analysis of the 16S-rDNA sequence allowed for the differentiation of strain CZA14 T from other species of the genus Streptomyces. Strain CZA14 T therefore represents a new species for which the name Streptomyces pharetrae is proposed, with the type strain CZA14 T (=DSM 41856 T=NRRL 24333 T).

Comparison of productive and reproductive efficiency of Afrino, Dorper and Merino sheep in the False Upper Karoo

The productive and reproductive performance of, as well as income generated by Afrino, Dorper and Merino sheep at two localities in the False Upper Karoo region were evaluated. A total of 1242 ewe reproductive records was available, while data of respectively 772 and 405 lambs were analysed for the growth traits and slaughter traits. Percentage of lambs weaned per ewe in the flock was 132.0%, 100.0% and 93.7% for Afrino, Dorper and Merino ewes at Grootvlei, respectively. Corresponding values for Twistkraal were 153.3%, 114.7% and 96.4%, respectively. Body weights of 52.3 ± 1.4 kg, 56.6 ± 1.4 kg and 43.4 ± 1.4 kg were recorded for Afrino, Dorper and Merino ewes, respectively. Merino ewes produced on average 1.3 kg more clean wool, of a 0.6 μm stronger diameter than Afrino ewes. At each locality Dorper lambs were the heaviest at weaning, followed by Afrino and then by the Merino lambs. Dorper lambs were slaughtered earlier than Afrino lambs, with Merino lambs taking the longest interval to reach slaughter weight. A definite seasonal effect was also evident, where the autumn-born lambs reached slaughter weight earlier than spring-born lambs in all breeds. With the current wool and mutton prices, Afrino sheep had the highest gross income per ewe, followed by Merino and Dorper ewes respectively. However, Merino sheep had the highest gross income per hectare at both localities, followed by Afrino and then Dorper sheep. The combination of low ewe body weights, high wool production and a relatively high reproductive rate, resulted in Merino sheep generating the highest income per hectare, compared to Afrino and Dorper sheep. Reproductive rate, mature body weight and fibre production are the primary factors determining profitability of a specific sheep enterprise. These parameters should thus be considered when changing from one breed or commodity to another. Keywords : Body weight; wool production; slaughter traits; income South African Journal of Animal Sciences Vol. 35 (2) 2005: pp.98-108

A qualitative study on the determinants of smoking behaviour among adolescents in South Africa.

Increasing adolescent smoking rates have highlighted the need for smoking cessation programmes for adolescents. The aim of this study was to explore adolescent opinions' on the determinants of smoking, with a focus on smoking cessation. Nine focus group discussions were conducted with grade 8 and 9 school-going smokers and ex-smokers in the Southern Cape Karoo Region, South Africa. Six schools were purposively selected based on their locality (urban or rural) and ethnicity ("black", "white", and "coloured"). The groups were homogenous in terms of gender and ethnicity. Data was analysed thematically. The majority of the participants declared their intention to stop smoking in the future. They reported multiple quit attempts of short duration. They perceived quitting as a difficult process and that only a few of their friends wanted to stop smoking. Participants believed that they were not addicted to nicotine even though they reported nicotine withdrawal symptoms. While "coloured" and "black" participants reported their smoking peers as obstacles to quitting, their "white" counterparts emphasized that they smoked by choice and that they would support friends who wanted to stop smoking. This study shows that the psychosocial determinants of tobacco use may vary substantially between ethnic groups and cultural contexts. A long-term strategy of poverty reduction that would create greater perceived future prospects is an important consideration for interventions in developing countries. The manifestation of withdrawal symptoms, indicative of nicotine addiction, is a common and significant hindrance for smoking cessation among these adolescents.

A New Species of Cacosternum Boulenger, 1887 (Anura: Ranidae) from the Karoo Region of South Africa

A new ranid frog of the genus Cacosternum Boulenger, 1887 is described from the semiarid Karoo region of South Africa. This species is the putative sister species of Cacosternum namaquense Werner, 1910, but differs in that the two characteristic longitudinal dorsal glands of the latter species are absent and the musculus cutaneous pectoris is present. The two species differ further in their advertisement calls and substratum preferences. A discussion of the ecology and breeding biology of the two species is presented and their distributions mapped. Observational data suggest that growth to metamorphosis is rapid in these arid-adapted frogs, which are cued to breed primarily by rainfall events, not temperature or seasonality.