Taxonomic and nomenclatural notes on the monotypic genus Xymalos and general information on the family

No abstract available.http://www.sanbi.org/products/publications/bothalia.htmam201

Landscape connectivity of the grassland biome in Mpumalanga, South Africa

The South African grassland biome is one of the most threatened biomes in South Africa. Approximately 45% of the grassland biome area is transformed, degraded or severely invaded by alien plants and the remaining natural areas are highly fragmented. In this fragmented landscape, the connectivity between habitat patches is very important to maintain viable populations. In this study we aimed to quantify connectivity of the grassland biome in Mpumalanga using graph theory in order to identify conservation priorities and to direct conservation efforts. Graph theory-based connectivity indices have the ability to combine spatially explicit habitat data with species specific dispersal data and can quantify structural and functional connectivity over large landscapes.We used these indices to quantify the overall connectivity of the study area, to determine the influence of abandoned croplands on overall connectivity, and to identify the habitat patches and vegetation types most in need of maintaining overall connectivity.Natural areas were identified using 2008 land cover data for Mpumalanga. Connectivity within the grassland biome of Mpumalanga was analysed for grassland species with dispersal distances ranging from 50 to 1000 m. The grassland habitat patches were mostly well connected, with 99.6% of the total habitat area connected in a single component at a threshold distance of 1000 m. The inclusion of abandoned croplands resulted in a 33% increase in connectivity at a threshold distance of 500 m. The habitat patches most important for maintaining overall connectivity were the large patches of continuous habitat in the upper and lower centres of the study area and the most important vegetation types were theWakkerstroom Montane Grassland and the EasternTemperate FreshwaterWetlands.These results can be used to inform management decisions and reserve design to improve and maintain connectivity in this biome.University of Pretoria and the National Research Foundation of South Africa.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1442-99932016-02-03hb201

Synergies between the key biodiversity area and systematic conservation planning approaches

Systematic conservation planning and Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) are the two most widely used approaches for identifying important sites for biodiversity. However, there is limited advice for conservation policy makers and practitioners on when and how they should be combined. Here we provide such guidance, using insights from the recently developed Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs and the language of decision science to review and clarify their similarities and differences. We argue the two approaches are broadly similar, with both setting transparent environmental objectives and specifying actions. There is however greater contrast in the data used and actions involved, as the KBA approach uses biodiversity data alone and identifies sites for monitoring and vigilance actions at a minimum, whereas systematic conservation planning combines biodiversity and implementation‐relevant data to guide management actions. This difference means there is much scope for combining approaches, so conservation planners should use KBA data in their analyses, setting context‐specific targets for each KBA type, and planners and donors should use systematic conservation planning techniques when prioritizing between KBAs for management action. In doing so, they will benefit conservation policy, practice and research by building on the collaborations formed through the KBA Standard's development

The bii4africa dataset of faunal and floral population intactness estimates across Africa’s major land uses

Sub-Saharan Africa is under-represented in global biodiversity datasets, particularly regarding the impact of land use on species’ population abundances. Drawing on recent advances in expert elicitation to ensure data consistency, 200 experts were convened using a modified-Delphi process to estimate ‘intactness scores’: the remaining proportion of an ‘intact’ reference population of a species group in a particular land use, on a scale from 0 (no remaining individuals) to 1 (same abundance as the reference) and, in rare cases, to 2 (populations that thrive in human-modified landscapes). The resulting bii4africa dataset contains intactness scores representing terrestrial vertebrates (tetrapods: ±5,400 amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals) and vascular plants (±45,000 forbs, graminoids, trees, shrubs) in sub-Saharan Africa across the region’s major land uses (urban, cropland, rangeland, plantation, protected, etc.) and intensities (e.g., large-scale vs smallholder cropland). This dataset was co-produced as part of the Biodiversity Intactness Index for Africa Project. Additional uses include assessing ecosystem condition; rectifying geographic/ taxonomic biases in global biodiversity indicators and maps; and informing the Red List of Ecosystems

Une nouvelle espèce d'<i>Uvaria</i> L. (Annonaceae) du nord du Mozambique

Uvaria rovumae Deroin &amp; Lötter, sp. nov. est décrite comme nouvelle espèce de la province de Cabo Delgado (Nord du Mozambique), illustrée et cartographiée. Sa morphologie, ainsi que ses affinités systématiques, son habitat et son statut de conservation sont brièvement discutés. Proche, par son port, de Uvaria tanzaniae Verdc., U. rovumae Deroin &amp; Lötter, sp. nov. en diffère principalement par ses sépales libres, ses pétales internes un peu onguiculés et ses carpelles plus nombreux (&gt;35). Ce taxon n’est représenté que par un petit nombre d’individus sur une seule dition près de Nangade, et peut être considéré « en danger critique d’extinction » (CR) selon les catégories et critères de la Liste rouge de l’UICN.A new species Uvaria rovumae Deroin &amp; Lötter, sp. nov. is described, illustrated and mapped from Cabo Delgado Province in northern Mozambique. Its morphology, as well as systematic affinities, habitat and conservation status are briefly discussed. Very similar to U. tanzaniae Verdc. by its habit, it differs mainly by its free sepals, inner petals slightly unguiculate and a high carpel number (&gt;35). Uvaria rovumae Deroin &amp; Lötter, sp. nov. is known only from a handful of individual plants in one location near Nangade, making it "Critically Endangered" (CR) following IUCN Red List categories and criteria.</p

Eucomis sonnetteana

Eucomis sonnetteana N.R.Crouch, Mart.-Azorín & J.E.Burrows sp. nov. differs from E. zambesiaca Baker in its extremely short peduncle, shorter and fewer-flowered raceme, shorter leaves, and its unpleasant rather than sweet floral scent

Eucomis sonnetteana

Eucomis sonnetteana N.R.Crouch, Mart.-Azorín & J.E.Burrows sp. nov. differs from E. zambesiaca Baker in its extremely short peduncle, shorter and fewer-flowered raceme, shorter leaves, and its unpleasant rather than sweet floral scent

National Wetland Map 5: An improved spatial extent and representation of inland aquatic and estuarine ecosystems in South Africa

The improved representation of freshwater and estuarine ecosystems and associated data was a key component of the 2018 National Biodiversity Assessment, and is an essential step in enhancing defensible land use planning and decision making. This paper reports on the enhancement of the National Wetland Map (NWM) version 5 for South Africa and other data layers associated with the South African Inventory of Inland Aquatic Ecosystems. Detail is provided on (i) the extent of wetlands mapped in NWM5, compared to previous versions of the NWMs; (ii) the improved extent of inland wetlands mapped in focus areas in NWM5 relative to NWM4; (iii) the type of cover associated with the wetlands (inundated, vegetated or arid); (iv) the ecotone between rivers and estuaries; and (v) level of confidence for the inland wetlands in terms of how well the extent and hydrogeomorphic units were captured for each sub-quaternary catchment of South Africa. A total of 4&nbsp;596&nbsp;509 ha (3.8% of South Africa) of inland aquatic ecosystems and artificial wetlands have now been mapped, with NWM5 delineating 23% more inland wetlands (2&nbsp;650&nbsp;509&nbsp;ha or 2.2% of SA) compared with NWM4. The estuarine functional zone, which encapsulates all estuarine processes, and associated habitats and biota, was refined for 290 systems totalling 200&nbsp;739 ha, with the addition of 42 micro-estuaries totalling 340&nbsp;ha. Nearly 600&nbsp;000 ha (0.5% of SA) of artificial wetlands were mapped in SA. Inland wetlands are predominantly palustrine (55%), with some arid (34%) and a few inundated systems (11%). Ecotones between rivers and estuaries, ecotones where biota and processes continuously vary from freshwater to estuarine, formed a small fraction (&lt;1.5%) of river total extent (164&nbsp;018 km). Most inland wetlands (~70%) had a low confidence ranking for designation of extent and typing, because they were not mapped by a wetland specialist and not verified in the field. Future improvements of the map should be focused on catchment-based improvements, particularly in strategic water-source areas, areas of high development pressure and those with low confidence designation

Practical actions for applied systematic conservation planning

Systematic conservation planning is intended to inform spatially explicit decision making. Doing so requires that it be integrated into complex regulatory and governance processes, and there are limited instances where this has been achieved effectively. South Africa is a global leader in the application of conservation plans, the outputs of which are widely used for spatial planning and decision making in many spheres of government. We aimed to determine how conservation planning in the country progressed from theory to implementation, and to identify practical actions that enabled this transition, by assessing temporal trends in the characteristics of conservation plans (1990–2017, n = 94). Since 2010 conservation planning has entered an operational period characterized by government leadership of plans, administrative rather than ecological planning domains, decreasing size of planning units, increasing emphasis on end-user products, and scheduled revision of plans. Key actions that enabled this progression include transitioning leadership of plans from scientists to practitioners, building capacity within implementing agencies, creating opportunities to integrate plans in legislative processes, establishing a strong community of practice, adopting implementation-focused methods, and balancing standardization with innovation. Learning from this model will allow other countries, particularly those with a similar megadiverse, developing context, to operationalize conservation planning into spatial planning and decision making