An innovative South African approach to mentoring novice professionals in Biodiversity Management

The impact of invasive alien species is a global concern. In South Africa there are a limited number of trained and experienced Biodiversity professionals therefore mentoring of young scientists is crucial to address the effective management of the country‟s rich resources and combatting the impact of invasive alien species. In 2008 the South African National Biodiversity Institute established an Early Detection and Rapid Response Programme to manage invasive plant species. As South Africa still has a legacy of under-development of young scientists from communities disenfranchised under Apartheid, this programme has had to employ many inexperienced staff. An innovative mentoring initiative was embedded into the programme to develop staff capacity and to provide access to established networks of experienced scientists in invasion biology and environmental sciences to transform and diversify the demographics in these fields. This article discusses this programme, its outcomes, monitoring and evaluation after the first year

New species of <i>Geissorhiza</i> (Iridaceae: Crocoideae) from the southern African winter rainfall zone, range extensions, taxonomic changes, and notes on pollen morphology and floral ecology

Field work during the past 15 years has resulted in the discovery of 12 new species of the western southern African genus Geissorhiza Ker Gawl. and range extensions for several more. Following a survey of pollen morphology in the genus, we describe new pollen types in one section each of the two subgenera: five species of section  Ciliatae Goldblatt and two of  section Weihea Eckl. ex Baker have more complex apertures than the plesiomorphic single aperture with a 2-banded oper­culum found in other species. In addition, populations currently referred to the typical white (cream)-flowered  G. inflexa (D.Delaroche) Goldblatt with larger, pink, red or purple flowers, have a third pollen type and are recognized as  G. erosa (Salisb.) R.C.Foster. The new species are G. altimontana from the high Langeberg near Grootvadersbos; G. helmei from the Piketberg; G. lupidosa from the Du Toits Kloof Mtns; G. monticola from the Swartberg; G. platystigma from Darling, north of Cape Town; G. sufflava from the Piketberg; G. tricolor from Riversdale (all subgenus Weihea (Eckl. ex Baker) Goldblatt); and G. cantharophila from the Klein Roggeveld; G. demissa from the Kamiesberg. Gitberg and Cold Bokkeveld; G. exilis from the Waaihoek Mtns in the Worcester District;  G. reclinata from the Swartberg: and G. saxicola from the northern Cedarberg-Pakhuis Mountain complex (all subgenus Geissorhiza). We also report range extensions and provide morphological notes for several species, including  G. monanthos Eckl.. new collections o f w hich show that the inclusion of G. leuisiae R.C.Foster in that species was incorrect and we resurrect the species. The addition of 12 new species and recognition of G. erosa and G. lewisiae bring to 99 the number of species in the genus. New identification keys for Geissorhiza are provided that include all new species. We have also accumulated observations of floral ecology in the genus and integrate them with what is known about this aspect of the biology of Geissorhiza. Unusual strategies include deceptive pollination in G. tulhagh- ensis F.Bolus by tabanid flies and in two species, pollination using empid flies in combination w ith halictid bee

The Role of Beetle Marks and Flower Colour on Visitation by Monkey Beetles (Hopliini) in the Greater Cape Floral Region, South Africa

Background and Aims: A deviation from the classical beetle pollination syndrome of dull-coloured flowers with anunpleasant scent is found in the Greater Cape Floral Region of South Africa. Here, monkey beetles (Scarabaeidae)visit brightly coloured, odourless flowers with conspicuous dark spots and centres (beetle marks). The role of flowercolour and markings in attracting monkey beetles is still poorly understood.Methods: Artificial model flowers with different marking patterns were used to test the effect of beetle marks onvisitation by monkey beetles. To test whether monkey beetles are conditioned to the colour of the local matrixspecies, model flowers of different colours were placed in populations of three differently coloured species ofIridaceae.Key Results: Among all three matrix species the presence of dark markings of some kind (either centres or spots)increased visitation rates but the different matrix species differed in whether the effect was due to a dark centre or to dark spots. Monkey beetles were not conditioned for the colour of the matrix species: model colour was not significant in the Hesperantha vaginata and in the Romulea monadelpha matrices, whereas yellow model flowers werepreferred over orange ones in the orange-flowered Sparaxis elegans matrix.Conclusions: This study is the first to demonstrate that beetle marks attract pollinating monkey beetles in theGreater Cape Floral Region. In contrast to plants with the classical beetle pollination syndrome that use floralscent as the most important attractant of pollinating beetles, plants with the monkey beetle pollination syndromerely on visual signals, and, in some areas at least, monkey beetles favour flowers with dark beetle markings overunmarked flowers