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Theme 4. Comparison with another bioarea (Samothraki in Greece)

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Theme 5. Comparison with another bioarea (Samothraki in Greece)

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Theme 5. Comparison with another bioarea (Samothraki in Greece)

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We both recognised the importance of educating the public, be it students, stakeholders or people in general, about the importance of herpetofauna conservation and the services it provides to humans and ecosystems alike. I also included a couple of fundraising ideas, since, for better or worse, having a budget can help a lot in protection of the environment.

(https://el.padlet.com/roulan73/70j12mkzl95g)

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Business plan "Design the business plan of a local voluntary organisation which aims to protect the local herpetofauna"

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Business plan "Design the business plan of a local voluntary organisation which aims to protect the local herpetofauna"

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Public awareness
-> Talks about the importance of herpetofauna, the dangers it faces, its ecosystem services, how it affects human well-being and how to live harmonically with reptiles and amphibians. In schools and also for the general public.
-> Volunteer reqruitment.
-> Museum or exhibitions that will familiarise people with their area's biodiversity
Policy makers
-> Motivation talks so that they take actions to protect the area's biodiversity
-> Intervention whenever some new activity is harmful for herpetofauna
Fundraising
-> Guided walks in nature where it is possible to meet herpetofauna species (or others)
-> Sponsors

->Guard the area and report any illegal activities.

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http://southafrica.co.za/climate-change-south-africa.html

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https://psmag.com/environment/deforestation-is-happening-in-southern-africa-much-faster-than-previously-thought

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Theme 4: threats to biodiversity in South Africa

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Theme 4: threats to biodiversity in South Africa

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Loss of natural habitat due to

overpopulation
sprawling development patterns
deforestation

alien species invasions

hunting of (endangered) species

scarce water resources

Climate change effects
warming
drying
greater frequency and intensity of extreme weather events (heat waves, flooding, drought)

According to computer-generated climate modelling produced by the South African National Biodiversity Institute, parts of southern Africa will see an increase in temperature by about 1 °C (1.8 °F) along the coast to more than 4 °C (7.2 °F) in the already hot hinterland such as the Northern Cape in late spring and summertime by 2050. Drought, increased intensity and frequency of fire, and climbing temperatures are expected to push many rare species towards extinction.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa

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An important aspect of the biodiversity loss problem is the non-implementation of existing environmental policies. Many laws in most countries are only in effect in papers, and no actions are ever taken in favour of ecosystems.
I believe this is mainly a matter of economical or political interest, as people are no longer blind to the major threats facing the world's species. That of course does not mean that education is not important as well. But my priority would be to ensure that measures are actually enacted by every country.
A very primitive idea would be to either create an international organisation or empower an already existing one, that will have the authority to punish non-complying nations or individuals but will also by liable to an international committee, perhaps the International Court of Justice.

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Theme 3. Comparison with another bioarea (Samothraki in Greece)

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Theme 3. Comparison with another bioarea (Samothraki in Greece)

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Samothrace has less habitat types and a smaller species richness, but that is to be expected given its size compared to an entire country. Reptiles seem to be more prevalent than amphibians, maybe due to the place's environmental conditions. Endangered species are encountered in both BioAreas.

(https://el.padlet.com/roulan73/70j12mkzl95g)

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Herping Durban: In Search of Kloof and Cascade Frogs

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An endemic amphibian, the Natal diving frog (Natalobatrachus bonebergi)

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An endemic amphibian, the Natal diving frog (Natalobatrachus bonebergi)

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Description
small- to medium-sized frog
females reach 37 mm and males 25 mm in length

Habitat

*SE South Africa
*found up to 900 m above sea level
*ground-coastal bush and gallery bush: especially afforestation strips along rivers

Reproduction

mates in streams
eggs attached to branches hanging over the water, in egg clutches that looks like bales of foam
after hatching, the tadpoles fall down into the water

Threats

Deterioration of reproduction water
habitat pollution
habitat decline due to sugarcane plantations, forestry and cultivation

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So glad to know about all these wonderful species and habitats I never had the chance to study about! You have done a great job with presentic African herpetofauna and habitats! Your herpetoare is looking excellent!!!

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A critically endangered reptile -the geometric tortoise (Psammobates geometricus)

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A critically endangered reptile -the geometric tortoise (Psammobates geometricus)

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Appearance
*strong, black and yellow patterned carapace, patterns arranged in ray-like markings
*very small, adult 5 to 6 inches in diameter.
one of the rarest species of tortoise of earth, only about 2,000 to 3,000 alive today

Habitat

SW corner of Western Cape
Habitat type: renosterveld (part of the Fynbos Biomes, a vegetation zone characterized by a Mediterranean climate)

Habitat decline due to agriculture utilization and urban development (less than 3% of its original size)

Diet

*leaves, geophytes, flowers, and shoots of indigenous fynbos and renosterveld plant and grass species.

Behaviour

*aestivation June through September
*female digs a hole in the ground and covers it with grass to lay eggs

Conservation

*CE in IUCN Red List
*Appendix I of CITES (international trade prohibition)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geometric_tortoise
https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/18398/111553007

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Effects of climate change on organisms in Europe:
* extinction
* movements to warmer areas for food
* insulation
* movement to warmer ecosystems

Personally, I hold that effects 2 and 4 are the most probable for species able to disperse, whereas insulation mechanisms or extinction re more probable for the rest.

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https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1475-4983.2011.01051.x

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Species  Eunotosaurus africanus
Horizon Middle Permian

(https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130530132431.htm)

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Also source of picture in amphibian ID

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14772019.2010.492664

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Species Pneumatostega potamia
Locality  Middelburg, Cape Province of South Africa. Lystrosaurus Assemblage Zone, Beaufort Series
Horizon Early Triassic
Holotype dorsal mould of a skull roof

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Endemic in SA

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Giant Dragon Lizard Smaug giganteus

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/5336/115650269

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Namaqua Chameleon Chamaeleo namaquensis

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/176311/7215782

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Endemic in SA

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Horstock's Reed Frog Hyperolius horstockii

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/56142/18374911

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Extremely varied topography and geology => wide variety of habitats => high biodiversity
DESERT in the extreme northwest (southernmost end of the Namib desert)
KAROO semi-arid (overgrazing of grassland => small shrubs & succulents) covers: Northern Cape & parts of Western Cape, Eastern Cape and the Free State
KALAHARI semi-arid woodland to the north and east of these biomes
BUSHVELD savanna and open woodlands covering the north-east and eastern parts of South Africa. Supports the widest variety of wildlife in the country.
HIGHVELD grassland, trees only along water courses where fires are rare
THICKET AND NOORSVELD shrubs towards the southern coast
FYNBOS Mediterranean shrubland to the west. Sclerophyllous plants which do not support much mammal or bird life.
FOREST only covers 1% of South Africa

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fauna_of_South_Africa)

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Many reptiles inhabit South Africa, including snakes, lizards, tortoises and turtles, and crocodiles.

Largest snake: African rock python, non-venomous
Venomous snakes: black mamba (one of the most deadly snakes in the world), eastern green mamba, boomslang, Cape cobra and rinkhals.
Snakes are important for rat population control.

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Only frogs and toads (order Anura); no salamanders or caecilians.

Amphibian families in South Africa

Rain frogs

Unable to swim.

River or 'typical' frogs

From super small to super big frogs.

Cacos, puddle frogs, African torrent frogs

Ghost frogs

Endemic to Southern Africa. They inhabit fast-moving streams.

'Typical' toads

Family Bufonidae.

Clawed frogs

Sedge and bush frogs

Moss frogs

Squeakers

Shovelnose frogs

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SA is 6th of the megadiverse countries (refers to any one of a group of nations that harbor the majority of Earth's species and high numbers of endemic species)

Mega diversity means exhibiting great diversity. The main criteria for megadiverse countries is endemism at the level of species, genera and families. A megadiverse country must have at least 5,000 species of endemic plants and must border marine ecosystems.

(from wikipedia)

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The southernmost country of Africa
Coastal area in both the Indian and Atlantic Ocean
Various climate zones (picture)

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Theme 4. Comparison with another bioarea (Samothraki in Greece)

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Theme 4. Comparison with another bioarea (Samothraki in Greece)

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There exist common threats between our bioareas, especially man-caused (urbanization, agriculture), between the two areas. Humans appear to be destructive for the environment around them when they are thoughtlessly expanding their settlement and activities. On the other hand, invasions, which play a major negative role in South African ecosystems, are not reported as a big threat on the island of Samothrace.

(https://el.padlet.com/roulan73/70j12mkzl95g)