Southwestern South Africa Research Articles

Phylogeographic structuring in a widespread southern African grass snake (Psammophiinae: Psammophylax rhombeatus)

ABSTRACT The structural and environmental heterogeneity within southern Africa has given rise to many morphological forms of Psammophylax rhombeatus distributed throughout the country, with previous studies neglecting the associated molecular significance of these forms. The species’ widespread, generalist ecology coupled with the substantial phylogenetic structuring previously acknowledged within the species, makes P. rhombeatus the ideal candidate for phylogeographic analyses. Using 103 samples, representing the full distribution of the species, phylogenetic analyses retrieved four well-supported clades: south-eastern South Africa, south-western South Africa, north-eastern South Africa and western South Africa. Although not variable enough to warrant taxonomic re-evaluation, the clades are phylogenetically distinguishable, with relatively high intraspecific genetic divergence values separating them, irrespective of the small geographic distances separating populations. This is likely a product of the taxon’s habitat-generalist lifestyle, enabling them to bypass vicariant barriers that might otherwise cause speciation in less versatile species. The clades are also geographically distinct, with little overlap, indicating previous vicariance, a finding that is supported by the split of P. rhombeatus from P. ocellatus in the mid-Pliocene, followed by the diversification of P. rhombeatus into four clades throughout the Pleistocene. The genetic structuring observed in P. rhombeatus may be a product of population expansion following ancient refugial isolation (potentially Last Glacial Maximum). The morphological groupings highlighted in previous studies are loosely attributable to the molecular clades identified in the phylogenetic reconstruction, highlighting the complex interplay of genetic and morphological characteristics in the process of speciation, and their representation in systematic accounts.

Biome variability in southernmost Africa since the last deglaciation recorded in marine sediments

From a climate perspective, the southern Cape of South Africa is a particularly dynamic region because it occupies the transition between warm-temperate and subtropical circulation systems. However, in terms of understanding the longer-term dynamics of these systems, palaeoenvironmental data, especially marine records from offshore the southern coast are limited. To better understand the history of climate in the region, and its associated vegetation impacts, we present here terrestrial proxies including palynological and charcoal data and marine proxies (non-pollen palynomorph data) for marine sediment core GeoB20628-1 retrieved from offshore the southern Cape coast. Applying a chronology based on radiocarbon dating, the sediments of the core allow a detailed reconstruction of biome and climate variations in southwestern South Africa since the last deglaciation, spanning the last 13,900 years. The record clearly indicates a shift from non-marine to marine influence due to sea level rise during the transition from the last deglaciation to the Holocene. The region was evidently dominated by two major biomes (fynbos and renosterveld) throughout the record, with apparent shifts in domination during different periods. The fynbos taxa, particularly Restionaceae, that dominate the pollen record correspond well with variations in the Southern Hemisphere winter latitudinal insolation gradient. The associated charcoal record reveals the ongoing prevalence of fire in the fynbos and renosterveld biomes throughout the sequence. During the last 1300 years, a marked shift is evident, represented by a decline in Restionaceae-rich fynbos elements together with an increase in Stoebe/Elytropappus-type-rich renosterveld elements. The associated occurrence of neophyte taxa (Pinus spp.) combined with increased evidence for fire suggests that late Holocene vegetation responded to the influence of both climate and anthropogenic activities on the landscape.

A review of the assassin-fly genus Anypodetus Hermann, 1907 with the description of a new species (Insecta, Diptera, Asilidae)

The genus Anypodetus Hermann, 1907 (Diptera, Asilidae, Laphriinae) is reviewed. Currently, eight species are recognized from Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and southern-most Zambia, i.e., Anypodetus arachnoides Oldroyd, 1974 widespread, Anypodetus fasciatus Hermann, 1907 widespread, Anypodetus fascipennis Engel, 1924 widespread, Anypodetus leucothrix Londt, 2000 restricted to southern Namibia and south-western South Africa, Anypodetus macroceros Londt, 2000 restricted to west-central Namibia, Anypodetus nigrifacies Ricardo, 1925 restricted to eastern-most South Africa and southern Mozambique, Anypodetus phalaros Londt, 2000 Namibia and South Africa, and Anypodetus unicolor Oldroyd, 1974 Namibia, eastern South Africa, adjacent Mozambique, and southern Zimbabwe. One new species, Anypodetus londtisp. nov. from Mozambique and Zimbabwe, is described for a total of nine species in the genus. Study of the secondary type specimens of A. unicolor from Namibia revealed that these specimens do not represent this species, reducing the number of species recorded from Namibia to six. Anypodetus leucothrix is recorded with several additional collecting events in central and northern Namibia extending its range significantly. Distribution, biology, occurrence in biodiversity hotspots sensu Conservation International, and seasonal imago flight activity are discussed. Diagnoses, photographs, specimen occurrence data, and an identification key to species are provided with the new species described in detail. The sexual dimorphism in the development of the mystax and wing vein variation in regard to the alignment of M2 and M3 are discussed and illustrated.

Continuous vegetation record of the Greater Cape Floristic Region (South Africa) covering the past 300 000 years (IODP U1479)

Abstract. The Greater Cape Floristic Region (GCFR) of South Africa is a biodiversity hotspot of global significance, and its archeological record has substantially contributed to the understanding of modern human origins. For both reasons, the climate and vegetation history of southwestern South Africa is of interest to numerous fields. Currently known paleoenvironmental records cover the Holocene, the last glacial–interglacial transition and parts of the last glaciation but do not encompass a full glacial–interglacial cycle. To obtain a continuous vegetation record of the last Pleistocene glacial–interglacial cycles, we studied pollen, spores and micro-charcoal of deep-sea sediments from IODP Site U1479 retrieved from SW of Cape Town. We compare our palynological results of the Pleistocene with previously published results of Pliocene material from the same site. We find that the vegetation of the GCFR, in particular fynbos and afrotemperate forest, responds to precessional forcing of climate. The micro-charcoal record confirms the importance of fires in the fynbos vegetation. Ericaceae-rich and Asteraceae-rich types of fynbos could extend on the western part of the Paleo-Agulhas Plain (PAP), which emerged during periods of low sea level of the Pleistocene.

Propagating uncertainty from catchment experiments to estimates of streamflow reduction by invasive alien plants in southwestern South Africa

AbstractLong‐term catchment experiments from South Africa have demonstrated that afforestation of grasslands and shrublands significantly reduces surface‐water runoff. These results have guided the country's forestry policy and the implementation of a national Invasive Alien Plant (IAP) control programme for the past few decades. Unfortunately, woody IAP densities continue to increase, compounding existing threats to water security from population growth and climatic change. Decision makers need defensible estimates of the impacts of afforestation or invasions on runoff to weigh up alternative land use options, or guide investment of limited resources into ecosystem restoration through IAP clearing versus engineering‐based water‐augmentation schemes. Existing attempts to extrapolate the impacts observed in catchment afforestation experiments to broad‐scale IAP impacts give no indication of uncertainty. Globally, the uncertainty inherent in the results from paired‐catchment experiments is seldom propagated into subsequent analyses making use of these data. We present a fully reproducible Bayesian model that propagates uncertainty from input data to final estimates of changes in streamflow when extrapolating from catchment experiments to broader landscapes. We apply our model to South Africa's catchment experiment data, estimating streamflow losses to plantations and analogous plant invasions in the catchments of southwestern South Africa, including uncertainty. We estimate that regional streamflow is reduced by 304 million m3 or 4.14% annually as a result of IAPs, with an upper estimate of 408 million m3 (5.54%) and a lower estimate of 267 million m3 (3.63%). Our model quantifies uncertainty associated with all parameters and their contribution to overall uncertainty, helping guide future research needs. Acknowledging and quantifying inherent uncertainty enables more defensible decisions regarding water resource management.

Evolution of Tandem Repeats Is Mirroring Post-polyploid Cladogenesis in Heliophila (Brassicaceae).

The unigeneric tribe Heliophileae encompassing more than 100 Heliophila species is morphologically the most diverse Brassicaceae lineage. The tribe is endemic to southern Africa, confined chiefly to the southwestern South Africa, home of two biodiversity hotspots (Cape Floristic Region and Succulent Karoo). The monospecific Chamira (C. circaeoides), the only crucifer species with persistent cotyledons, is traditionally retrieved as the closest relative of Heliophileae. Our transcriptome analysis revealed a whole-genome duplication (WGD) ∼26.15–29.20 million years ago, presumably preceding the Chamira/Heliophila split. The WGD was then followed by genome-wide diploidization, species radiations, and cladogenesis in Heliophila. The expanded phylogeny based on nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) uncovered four major infrageneric clades (A–D) in Heliophila and corroborated the sister relationship between Chamira and Heliophila. Herein, we analyzed how the diploidization process impacted the evolution of repetitive sequences through low-coverage whole-genome sequencing of 15 Heliophila species, representing the four clades, and Chamira. Despite the firmly established infrageneric cladogenesis and different ecological life histories (four perennials vs. 11 annual species), repeatome analysis showed overall comparable evolution of genome sizes (288–484 Mb) and repeat content (25.04–38.90%) across Heliophila species and clades. Among Heliophila species, long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons were the predominant components of the analyzed genomes (11.51–22.42%), whereas tandem repeats had lower abundances (1.03–12.10%). In Chamira, the tandem repeat content (17.92%, 16 diverse tandem repeats) equals the abundance of LTR retrotransposons (16.69%). Among the 108 tandem repeats identified in Heliophila, only 16 repeats were found to be shared among two or more species; no tandem repeats were shared by Chamira and Heliophila genomes. Six “relic” tandem repeats were shared between any two different Heliophila clades by a common descent. Four and six clade-specific repeats shared among clade A and C species, respectively, support the monophyly of these two clades. Three repeats shared by all clade A species corroborate the recent diversification of this clade revealed by plastome-based molecular dating. Phylogenetic analysis based on repeat sequence similarities separated the Heliophila species to three clades [A, C, and (B+D)], mirroring the post-polyploid cladogenesis in Heliophila inferred from rDNA ITS and plastome sequences.

Increasing risk of another Cape Town "Day Zero" drought in the 21st century.

Three consecutive dry winters (2015-2017) in southwestern South Africa (SSA) resulted in the Cape Town "Day Zero" drought in early 2018. The contribution of anthropogenic global warming to this prolonged rainfall deficit has previously been evaluated through observations and climate models. However, model adequacy and insufficient horizontal resolution make it difficult to precisely quantify the changing likelihood of extreme droughts, given the small regional scale. Here, we use a high-resolution large ensemble to estimate the contribution of anthropogenic climate change to the probability of occurrence of multiyear SSA rainfall deficits in past and future decades. We find that anthropogenic climate change increased the likelihood of the 2015-2017 rainfall deficit by a factor of five to six. The probability of such an event will increase from 0.7 to 25% by the year 2100 under an intermediate-emission scenario (Shared Socioeconomic Pathway 2-4.5 [SSP2-4.5]) and to 80% under a high-emission scenario (SSP5-8.5). These results highlight the strong sensitivity of the drought risk in SSA to future anthropogenic emissions.

Characterisation of seafloor substrate using advanced processing of multibeam bathymetry, backscatter, and sidescan sonar in Table Bay, South Africa

A method to map seafloor substrates using machine learning, based on geophysical data including multibeam bathymetry, backscatter, and side-scan sonar, is currently being developed. Results from a case study in Table Bay, southwestern South Africa, are presented here, showing a method of physical seafloor classification that uses a number of statistical algorithms and software programs. In the first step of the process, a customised tool was created within ArcGIS using python scripting language to classify seafloor bathymetry, which can be applied to areas beyond South Africa. The tool created by the authors was based on pioneering work done by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on a benthic terrain modelling toolbox. In step two, multibeam bathymetry, backscatter and side-scan sonar data processed using Qimera, Fledermaus Geocoder Toolbox, and Navlog processing software, were classified using machine learning techniques including Decision Trees, Random Forests, and k-means clustering computer algorithms. The results from these algorithms were compared to classify the seafloor substrate distribution. Our results have allowed a comparison of advantages and disadvantages of each machine learning technique and we found that the k-means clustering techniques were the simplest to implement and understand and worked best based on their seafloor segmentation capabilities in Table Bay, with all three data sets (multibeam bathymetry, backscatter and side-scan sonar). In future research, ground-truthing methods (for example underwater video and grab samples) will be used to validate the interpreted data to create accurate seafloor substrate maps. This work provides the initial steps to develop a holistic predictive tool that classifies geophysical data into substrate maps using machine-learning techniques. The maps can be used to model biological communities and to produce benthic habitat maps for use in marine science and management.

Emissions and Marine Boundary Layer Concentrations of Unregulated Chlorocarbons Measured at Cape Point, South Africa.

Unregulated chlorocarbons, here defined as dichloromethane (CH2Cl2), perchloroethene (C2Cl4), chloroform (CHCl3), and methyl chloride (CH3Cl), are gases not regulated by the Montreal Protocol. While CH3Cl is the largest contributor of atmospheric chlorine, recent studies have shown that growth in emissions of the less abundant chlorocarbons could pose a significant threat to the recovery of the ozone layer. Despite this, there remain many regions for which no atmospheric monitoring exists, leaving gaps in our understanding of global emissions. Here, we report on a new time series of chlorocarbon measurements from Cape Point, South Africa for 2017, which represent the first published high-frequency measurements of these gases from Africa. For CH2Cl2 and C2Cl4, the majority of mole fraction enhancements were observed from the north, consistent with anthropogenically modified air from Cape Town, while for CHCl3 and CH3Cl, we found evidence for both oceanic and terrestrial sources. Using an inverse method, we estimated emissions for south-western South Africa (SWSA). For each chlorocarbon, SWSA accounted for less than 1% of global emissions. For CH2Cl2 and C2Cl4, we extrapolated using population statistics and found South African emissions of 8.9 (7.4-10.4) Gg yr-1 and 0.80 (0.64-1.04) Gg yr-1, respectively.

Increasing temperatures increase the risk of reproductive failure in a near threatened alpine ground‐nesting bird, the Cape Rockjumper Chaetops frenatus

A major cause of reproductive failure in birds is nest predation. Predation risk depends on predator type, as predators vary in their ecology and sensory modalities (e.g. visual vs. olfactory). Snakes (generally olfactory predators) are a major nest predator for small birds, with predation strongly associated with higher temperatures. We investigated nest survival in a ground‐nesting alpine species, the Cape Rockjumper Chaetops frenatus, endemic to alpine fynbos in southwestern South Africa. We collected 3 years of nest data, testing whether nest survival was related to (1) habitat stage (early post‐fire vs. late post‐fire habitat, ≤ 3 and > 3 years since fire respectively), (2) nest concealment and (3) temperature. We found that nests had better survival at lower temperatures, with snake predation (our main source of predation) increasing in higher temperatures.

Lead and strontium isotopes as palaeodietary indicators in the Western Cape of South Africa

We analysed the isotopic compositions of bioavailable strontium (Sr) and lead (Pb) in 47 samples of animals and plants derived from the various geological substrates of southwestern South Africa, to explore the utility of these isotope systems as dietary tracers. Measurements were made using high-resolution multi-collector inductively-coupled-plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS). 87Sr/86Sr could efficiently discriminate between geologically recent sediments of marine origin in near-coastal environments and older geologies further inland. However, 87Sr/86Sr was not able to distinguish between the Cape Granite Suite and the Cape System (Table Mountain sandstones), whereas Pb isotopes could, demonstrating the utility of this hitherto underused isotope system. Bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr in near-coastal terrestrial environments is influenced by marine input, whereas Pb isotopic ratios are not, because of low concentrations of Pb in seawater. There is considerable potential to use Pb isotopes as a dietary and palaeodietary tracer in near-coastal systems in fields as diverse as archaeology, palaeontology, wildlife ecology and forensics.
 Significance:
 
 This study is the first investigation of the potential of Pb isotopes as a dietary tracer in southwestern South Africa.
 Pb isotopes are a valuable dietary tracer; used in combination with 87Sr/86Sr, they can extend our knowledge of landscape usage in coastal-marine environments.
 Pb isotopes have also shown to be useful in samples from the 1980s, collected during the time when leaded petrol was in use in South Africa; however, these samples were from remote areas with low motor vehicle emissions.

Peritectic assemblage entrainment as the main compositional driver in the I-type Vredenburg Granite, north-western Pan-African Saldania Belt, South Africa: A whole-rock chemical perspective

The late- to post-collisional Cape Granite Suite (CGS), located in the ~560–520 Ma Pan-African Saldania Belt of south-western South Africa, comprises S-, I-, and A-type granites, mafic intrusive rocks, and pyroclastic rocks. The CGS formed during the closing of the Adamastor Ocean during the Neoproterozoic to Early-Cambrian, related to Gondwana construction. The S-type granites of the suite have received much attention concerning their petrogenesis and sources. The I-type granites, however, remain largely little studied. Whole rock geochemical and isotopic data are used to assess the petrogenesis and sources of the I-type Vredenburg Granite in the north-western Saldania Belt.The Vredenburg Granite is weakly peraluminous, ferroan, and calc-alkalic to alkali-calcic. Associated with the granite are weakly peraluminous, magnesian, and calc-alkalic magmatic enclaves (ME), of which two major varieties are present, a granodioritic variety (ME1) and a biotite- and plagioclase-rich variety (ME2). The former has a similar composition to the host granite, whereas the latter is more mafic and dioritic in nature.The εNd(t) values, Sm–Nd model ages and geochemical characteristics of the enclaves and host granite reflect melting of heterogeneous crustal sources of Mesoproterozoic-age. Biotite-, and subordinate amounts of amphibole-bearing rocks, dominantly metagreywackes and psammites, were the likely sources; minor amounts of basalts likely also played a role. These rock types are typical of a continental arc setting. Previously, the granites were interpreted to have formed by fractionation. However, such processes are incompatible with the full chemical variation displayed by the granites and enclaves. They exhibit positive linear trends between whole-rock major and trace elements vs. maficity (molar Fe + Mg), which can be best explained by entrainment of a peritectic assemblage comprising plagioclase, garnet, an Fe-Ti-oxide (ilmenite or Ti-magnetite) and, potentially, orthopyroxene. An amphibolitic source component may have contributed clinopyroxene and ilmenite, the former, along with plagioclase, contributing to the Ca content of the magma. These, and the co-entrainment of such accessory minerals as zircon, apatite and allanite, can largely explain the major-, minor- and trace-element variations found in the granites and enclaves. Fractional crystallisation may have acted as a minor compositional driver in the granites and enclaves, and then only at high SiO2 content.

<p><strong>Notes on the phytogeography and conservation status of the genus <em>Acanthopsis</em> (Acantheae, Acanthaceae)</strong></p>

Acanthopsis is a genus endemic to southern Namibia and southwestern South Africa. Until recently the taxonomy of the group was poorly understood. As a result of a new taxonomic framework (recognising 20 species), the risk of extinction of each taxon could be reassessed and updated. This contribution presents an overview of the distribution and conservation status of the species, as well as the patterns and possible processes involved in the phytogeography of the genus. Specimen localities for all examined specimens were georeferenced and these values were used for mapping and conservation assessments. Phylogenetic relationships within Acanthopsis were studied by using sequence data from the following six gene regions: nrITS, matK, rbcL, rps16, rpl32-trnL and trnS-trnG-trnG. The group appears to have diversified in the arid mountainous semi-desert of the Richtersveld, Northern Cape, South Africa, with the vast majority (96%) of Acanthopsis taxa endemic or near-endemic to the Succulent Karoo Region (more or less congruent with the Succulent Karoo Biome). Twenty of the 23 taxa are range-restricted and have an Extent of Occurrence ≤10000 km2, with at least eight of these known from only one or two subpopulations each. Fourteen (61%) of the taxa are Red Listed as Least Concern, while 39% are Red Listed as Threatened (Vulnerable, Endangered and Critically Endangered)—mainly as a result of habitat loss due to overgrazing and trampling by domestic livestock. Although the distribution ranges of most members of Acanthopsis coincide with protected areas, the effectiveness of conservation in these regions is questionable as some protected areas are prone to overgrazing and trampling by domestic livestock. The lack of phylogenetic resolution, complex taxonomy and the high numbers of range-restricted and habitat-specific species implies recent speciation in Acanthopsis due to topography, ecological gradients and climatic conditions prevailing in the arid northwestern parts of South Africa’s Northern Cape and adjacent arid parts of southern Namibia.

The effects of aridity on land use, biodiversity and dietary breadth in leopards

Global distributions of most terrestrial large mammals have been dramatically reduced through the loss and fragmentation of natural habitat. These impacts are likely to be intensified by the effects of global climate change. Here we use two free roaming leopard (Panthera pardus) populations to explore the intersecting influences of climatic conditions and land use on the feeding ecology of a large carnivore. We predicted that greater aridity would influence land use, and that this would in turn influence species richness and consequently leopard diet. We compared diet, mammal species richness and land use patterns in two topographically similar regions of south-western South Africa, the Boland, a mesic temperate region and the Little Karoo, a semi-arid region located approximately 200 km to the east. The Boland has retained only ∼33% of natural land at low elevations, compared to over 90% in the Little Karoo. Extensive camera trap surveys in both regions revealed far lower mammal species richness in the Boland (22 species) than the Little Karoo (51 species). Leopard diet differed significantly between the two regions; leopards in the Boland fed on fewer (n = 15), smaller prey species (ranging from 3–25 kg) associated specifically with mountain habitat. By contrast, leopards in the Little Karoo had a broader prey range (n = 21), and were able to access larger prey (up to 138 kg). These results suggest that aridity has a significant influence on anthropogenic land use patterns, and that these changes are reflected both in the richness of the mammal community, and the diet of a large carnivore. However, the less intensive land use in the Little Karoo also increased the potential for conflict between leopards and people. Increased aridity as a result of global climate change may thus present opportunities to enhance the conservation status of free-roaming carnivores, but may also increase the potential for human-wildlife conflict as carnivores recolonize previously transformed areas.

Atmospheric HCFC-22, HFC-125, and HFC-152a at Cape Point, South Africa.

One hydrochlorofluorocarbon and two hydrofluorocarbons (HCFC-22, HFC-125, and HFC-152a) were measured in air samples at the Cape Point observatory (CPT), South Africa, during 2017. These data represent the first such atmospheric measurements of these compounds from southwestern South Africa (SWSA). Baseline atmospheric growth rates were estimated to be 8.36, 4.10, and 0.71 ppt year-1 for HCFC-22, HFC-125, and HFC-152a, respectively. The CPT measurements were combined with an inverse model to investigate emissions from SWSA. For all three halocarbons, Cape Town was found to be the dominant source within SWSA. These estimates were extrapolated, based on population statistics, to estimate emissions for the whole of South Africa. We estimate South Africa's 2017 emissions to be 3.0 (1.6-4.4), 0.8 (0.5-1.2), and 1.1 (0.6-1.6) Gg year-1 for HCFC-22, HFC-125, and HFC-152a, respectively. For all three halocarbons, South Africa's contribution to global emissions is small (<2.5%), but future monitoring is needed to ensure South Africa's compliance with regulation set out by the Montreal Protocol and its Amendments.

A new leafhopper genus Discolopeus and nine new species (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Deltocephalinae) associated with shrubs, trees and poisonous plants in South Africa.

Nine new species in a new genus, Discolopeus gen. n. are described from south-western South Africa, with some species associated with plants that are medicinal or toxic or harmful to ungulates, such as Antizoma miersiana (Menispermaceae), Galenia africana (Aizoaceae), Hyaenanche globosa (Euphorbiaceae) and Zygophyllum foetidum (Zygophyllaceae). New species are as follows: Discolopeus arctus, D. colopeus, D. copeus, D. diacaenus, D. lissus, D. tetracaenus, D. thigmacaenus, D. triacaenus and D. viraktamathi. This new genus is allied to the Bonaspeiini, and distinguished by a paired aedeagal, preatrial process. Cladistic analyses of morphology with parsimony, Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood examined species relationships and showed the monophyly of Discolopeus. Historical biogeographic analyses examined hypotheses of dispersal and vicariance to explain distributions. Niche modelling showed narrow distribution in south-western parts of South Africa.

Migratory patterns and settlement areas revealed by remote sensing in an endangered intra-African migrant, the Black Harrier (Circus maurus).

Annual movements have been widely described for birds migrating across the Americas and between Eurasia and Africa, yet relatively little information exists for intra-African migrants. Identifying the areas used throughout a species annual cycle by understanding migratory patterns and settlement areas during breeding and non-breeding seasons is essential for conservation initiatives. Here, we describe for the first time, the migratory patterns and settlement areas of an endangered raptor endemic to Southern Africa, the Black Harrier (Circus maurus). From 2008 to 2015, thirteen breeding adult Black Harriers were trapped in south-western South Africa and fitted either with a GPS-GSM or with a PTT tracker device. Adults were monitored for 365 ± 198 days (range: 56–819 days) revealing great individual variability in annual movements. Most Black Harriers performed an unusual West-East migration from their breeding areas, but routes of all migrating individuals covered the entire southern land area of South Africa and Lesotho. The distance travelled averaged 814 ± 324 km, but unlike many other species, migrants travelled faster during post-breeding (i.e. austral summer) (207.8 ± 113.2 km.day-1) than during pre-breeding (i.e. austral winter/spring) migrations (143.8 ± 32.2 km.day-1). Although most marked individuals displayed movements similar to those that bred following pre-breeding migrations, only two of thirteen were confirmed as breeders the year after being tagged. This suggests that individuals may sometimes take a sabbatical year in reproduction, although this requires confirmation. Most tagged birds died on migration or during the non-breeding season. Adults frequently returned to the same non-breeding settlement areas, and often used up to 3 different locations an average of about 200 km apart. On the other hand, there was wide variation in distance between subsequent reproductive events. We discuss the implications of our study for the conservation of Black Harriers and more broadly for intra-African bird migrants.

Revision of the Polynemadikobraz species-group with description of a remarkable new species from South Africa (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Mymaridae).

A new Afrotropical species of Polynema Haliday, 1833 (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), Polynema (Polynema) sagittaria van Noort & Triapitsyn, sp. n., is described and illustrated based on specimens collected in the Cape Floral region in south-western South Africa. This species is morphologically closely related to the recently described Polynema (Polynema) dikobraz Triapitsyn, 2017 from Madagascar, both species possessing enlarged spine-like microtrichia on the fore wing disc that are unique among all the known world fairyflies. This new species belongs to the informal dikobraz species-group of the nominate subgenus of Polynema, which previously was only known from Madagascar. In addition, P.sagittaria has the ovipositor extending ventrally under the mesosoma to well in front of the head, in a bow-like curve, and housed in a narrow, anterior elongation of the metasoma, the basal sac. Occurrence and possible significance of such a bizarre ovipositor in other Mymaridae is discussed. All images and online keys are available on www.waspweb.org

Gendered livelihoods and social change in post-apartheid South Africa

This article employs gendered livelihoods analysis and participatory methods to examine the politics of development among small-scale rooibos tea farmers in a rural coloured area of southwestern South Africa. Differentiating between sources of conflict and cohesion, I discuss how communities navigated resource scarcity, unstable markets, and shifting relations. While patriarchal dynamics informed livelihoods, with males and elders enjoying greater access than females and young adults, women took advantage of relatively fluid female roles to enter into agriculture and commerce. In contrast, rigid male roles and unattainable expectations of manhood isolated men, engendering destructive behaviors among young men in particular. Communities maintained social cohesion through democratic arrangements, and a politics of identification enabled research participants to relate to differential interests. In addition to providing situated and relational insight into the identitarian aspects of rural development, participatory gendered livelihoods analysis offers a critical means for deconstructing power and decolonizing knowledge.

Environmental and ecological implications of strontium isotope ratios in mid-Pleistocene fossil teeth from Elandsfontein, South Africa

The well-known South African mid-Pleistocene site of Elandsfontein has yielded an abundance of fossil fauna and artifacts (ca. 1 to 0.6 million years ago) and has produced hominin fossils, specifically a calvarium and mandibular fragment often assigned to the species Homo heidelbergensis. Elandsfontein is located within the Greater Cape Floristic Region of South Africa, in an area that is today dry, hot, and covered by marine-derived sand dunes. It is primarily vegetated by woody shrubs and sedges of the fynbos biome with minimal amounts of grass. In contrast, the Elandsfontein faunal assemblage from the mid-Pleistocene is rich in large mammalian grazing herbivores, indicating that past environment and ecology was substantially different from that of today. It is unknown whether these animals survived on local vegetation, suggesting a substantially different landscape and ecology from today, or if they migrated to nonlocal, nutrient-rich areas to obtain food, such as to the shale substrates ~20 to 30km inland from Elandsfontein, where palatable grass and shrubs grow today. The strontium isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) of fossil teeth provide insights into the ranges of the animals recovered from Elandsfontein because they reflect the 87Sr/86Sr of plants consumed by these animals, which in turn reflect the 87Sr/86Sr of the substrates (or soils) in which those plants grew. We measured 87Sr/86Sr in 24 fossilized teeth (158 measurements) from Elandsfontein and compared these ratios with the bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr from major substrates in the region to determine if the large mammalian herbivores obtained sufficient resources locally (i.e., teeth reflect local 87Sr/86Sr) or if they traveled inland to find food. The distribution of bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr for coastal marine sands range from 0.709380 to 0.711690; most of this range is lower than the bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr for granite, sandstone, and shale substrates in the region which range from 0.711421 to 0.723563. 87Sr/86Sr of fossil teeth of carnivores, large herbivores, and rodents from Elandsfontein fall within the 87Sr/86Sr range of the marine sands. Our results indicate localized habitation patterns for a diversity of large African mammals, including communities of grazing herbivores, and a resource-rich environment that made mid-Pleistocene Elandsfontein and coastal southwestern South Africa attractive to hominins for which there is no modern analogue.