Showing papers in "Transactions of The Royal Society of South Africa in 1999"
TL;DR: The paper gives an overview of known diversity of cartilaginous fishes in the area and discusses their classification, distribution, habitats and ecomorphotypes, and discusses future directions for research.
Abstract: SUMMARY Southern Africa, including South Africa, Namibia, and Mozambique, has a highly diverse fauna of cartilaginous fishes (Class Chondrichthyes), including sharks, rays or ‘flat sharks’, and chimaeras or ‘silver sharks’. All orders, most families, and approximately 210 species of cartilaginous fishes occur in the area, of which 54 are endemics. The paper gives an overview of known diversity of cartilaginous fishes in the area and discusses their classification, distribution, habitats and ecomorphotypes. It also gives a history of chondrichthyan systematics in southern Africa from Linnaeus to the present, analyses the systematic status of the fauna, and discusses future directions for research.
52 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the estuaries on the south coast of South Africa from Cape Agulhas to Cape St Blaize were surveyed during the period September/October 1994 and the ichthyofaunal and physico-chemical characteristics of each system are presented and their suitability as estuarine nursery areas is discussed.
Abstract: SUMMARY The estuaries on the south coast of South Africa from Cape Agulhas to Cape St Blaize were surveyed during the period September/October 1994. The ichthyofaunal and physico-chemical characteristics of each system are presented and their suitability as estuarine nursery areas is discussed. Eight systems drain this area and, apart from a small coastal stream which does not serve any estuarine nursery function, range from estuaries which are permanently open with a strong marine influence to small estuaries which occasionally open to the sea. All these systems are dominated by estuarine and estuarine-dependent marine species and thus serve as important nursery areas. Dominant estuarine species included Caffrogobius multifasciatus, Gilchristella aestuaria and Psammogobius knysnaensis while the dominant estuarine-dependent marine taxa were Argyrosomus japonicus, Galeichthys feliceps, Lithognathus lithognatus, Liza dumer-ilii, Liza richardsonii, Liza tricuspidens and Mugil cephalus.
19 citations
TL;DR: The history of seaweed systematics in South Africa may be divided into three phases: from the 18th century until 1930 collections were made primarily by visiting plant collectors, and were studied by European phycologists, and since 1980 there has been a major revival.
Abstract: SUMMARY The history of seaweed systematics in South Africa may be divided into three phases. From the 18th century until 1930 collections were made primarily by visiting plant collectors, and were studied by European phycologists. The initiation of detailed ecological studies on rocky shores from 1932 necessitated the naming of species. G.F. Papenfuss, a South African who was trained in the U.S.A. and Sweden, was a major catalyst, supervising many students who included South African algae in their research. Pocock, Simons and Seagrief were prominent locally in documenting the flora in this period. Since 1980 there has been a major revival with, among others, Richard Norris from the USA producing a large body of work on Natal seaweeds, and Herre Stegenga from the Netherlands collaborating with local phycologists to produce a detailed flora of west coast seaweeds. More than 800 species of red, green and brown seaweeds have been recorded, making up one of the richest marine floras in the world, with a high l...
16 citations
TL;DR: Palynological analyses of sediments dating from somewhat before 2790 BP to the present suggest that only limited environmental changes occurred in the pollen spectra as discussed by the authors, probably correlating with an increase in human occupation in the Eastern Cape (Southern) Drakensberg following the possible abandonment of that area during the dry phase(s) of preceding millennia.
Abstract: SUMMARY Analyses of organic-rich deposits from Tiffindell Ski Resort indicates that organic accumulation began somewhat before 4720 BP. This correlates well with the moister conditions known to have existed in the north eastern uplands of Eastern Cape Province (and in upland eastern Lesotho) in the later as compared with the earlier part of the Holocene. Palynological analyses of sediments dating from somewhat before 2790 BP to the present suggests that only limited environmental changes occurred in the pollen spectra. The wettest conditions apparently existed around 2700 BP, probably correlating with an increase in human occupation in the Eastern Cape (Southern) Drakensberg following the possible abandonment of that area during the dry phase(s) of preceding millennia.
14 citations
TL;DR: A review of the former distribution and abundance of Cape fur seals, Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus, off the Eastern Cape coast of South Africa based on available historical records is provided in this paper.
Abstract: SUMMARY The present paper provides a review of the former distribution and abundance of Cape fur seals, Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus, off the Eastern Cape coast of South Africa based on available historical records. It identifies the distribution of Eastern Cape seals before commercial sealing began; documents sealing activities off the Eastern Cape coast during the 19th and 20th centuries, and discusses current population trends in relation to past exploitation regimes. The importance of the Eastern Cape population is discussed in relation to the total population. Cape fur seals were valued primarily for their fine quality furs. Other products included oil from the blubber; leather from skins of old seals; and vitamin A from the liver. Exploitation by Europeans began near the Cape of Good Hope in 1610. By the end of the 19th century more than 20 colonies had been extirpated. On the Eastern Cape coast, Cape fur seals inhabited six islands in Algoa Bay (Stag, Seal, Black Rocks, St. Croix, Jahleel and Br...
12 citations
TL;DR: Shark bitten seals were observed throughout the year, with coastal records peaking in the autumn/winter period, and adult animals were observed with shark bite wounds more often than young.
Abstract: SUMMARY Shark predation on Cape fur seals, Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus, from the Eastern Cape coast of South Africa was investigated. Observations were made on an opportunistic basis over a five year period from 1991 to 1996. Evidence of shark predation was obtained from: (1) incidental observations of shark attacks on live Cape fur seals, and (2) counts of shark bite wounds on the bodies of live and dead seals. In Eastern Cape waters, potential shark predators include the white, Carcharodon carcharias; broadnose sevengill, Notorynchus cepedianus; bluntnose sixgill, Hexanchus griseus; shortfin mako, Isurus oxyrinchus; bull, Carcharhinus leucas; tiger, Galeocerdo cuvier; and dusky, Carcharhinus obscurus. Only the white and broadnose sevengill shark have been observed actively feeding on Cape fur seals. Shark bitten seals (n = 33) were observed throughout the year, with coastal records peaking in the autumn/winter period. Adult animals were observed with shark bite wounds more often than young. Wounds w...
12 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the estuaries of the south-west coast of South Africa from Cape Hangklip to Cape Agulhas were surveyed during the period September 1994 to identify the fish fauna of the region and their suitability as estuarine nursery areas.
Abstract: SUMMARY The estuaries of the south-west coast of South Africa from Cape Hangklip to Cape Agulhas were surveyed during the period September 1994. The ichthyofaunal and physico-chemical characteristics of each system are presented and their suitability as estuarine nursery areas is discussed. Eight systems drain this area and, apart from a small coastal stream which does not appear to have any estuarine characteristics, range from estuaries which are permanently open to small and large systems which occasionally open to the sea. All these systems have variable temperatures, salinities, water levels and water currents which are linked to the seasonal nature of rainfall and runoff in the region. The fish fauna of the estuaries in this region were dominated by estuarine and estuarine-dependent marine taxa. The dominant estuarine species were Atherina breviceps, Gilchristella aestuaria and Psammogobius knysnaensis while important estuarine-dependent marine fishes included Liza richardsonii, Mugil cephalus and G...
12 citations
TL;DR: The first paper devoted entirely to South African Crustacea was published by Ferdinand Krauss in 1843 and from 1910 onwards the focus shifted to local specialists, notably the extraordinarily prolific Keppel Barnard, who provided the inspiration and groundwork for many later workers.
Abstract: SUMMARY A brief history of crustacean systematics in South Africa is provided. The first paper devoted entirely to South African Crustacea was published by Ferdinand Krauss in 1843. This set a pattern for the rest of the 19th century in which material was sent to Europe and analysed by the great taxonomists of the time, notably G.O. Sars and T.R.R. Stebbing. From 1910 onwards the focus shifted to local specialists, notably the extraordinarily prolific Keppel Barnard, who provided the inspiration and groundwork for many later workers. The current crustacean fauna of the region comprises 2979 species, of which 2360 are marine, 436 freshwater and 183 terrestrial. The most diverse groups are the Decapoda (718 species) in the marine environment, the Ostracoda (ca. 150 species) in freshwater systems and the Isopoda (176 species) on land. Endemicity rates increase with the transition from marine (30%) through freshwater (51%) to terrestrial (84%) habitats. At present there are no full-time professional crustacea...
9 citations
TL;DR: Southern Africa has the richest reptile diversity in Africa, with a fauna that currently exceeds 490 species, and present rates of discovery indicate that the fauna may approach, if not exceed, 600 species.
Abstract: SUMMARY Southern Africa has the richest reptile diversity in Africa, with a fauna that currently exceeds 490 species. Present rates of discovery, which for lizards are still comparable to those in the early phases of exploration, indicate that the fauna may approach, if not exceed, 600 species. Lizards form the dominant component (60.9%) of the reptile fauna. The 578 recognised taxa (species and subspecies) were described by 101 authors, of which 12 authors were responsible for 12 or more taxa and together named 68.9% of the total taxa. The five most productive authors were, in order: A. Smith, W. Peters, D. Broadley, J. Hewitt, and V. FitzSimons. The contributions of these authors, the growth in herpetological studies in the last 25 years, and the importance of regional surveys in the development of biogeographic models, are summarised. Over 50 species of reptile have very restricted distributions (less than 3 quarter-degree grid squares) and may be of conservation concern. Despite national rhetoric evin...
8 citations
TL;DR: Three clear phases can be discerned in the development of plant systematics in South Africa: the Linnaean Phase, the modelled on Carl Linnaeus' Philosophia Botanica, the Victorian period and beyond and the post-Victorian period, which was entirely dominated by talented, untrained amateurs.
Abstract: SUMMARY Three clear phases can be discerned in the development of plant systematics in South Africa: (1) The Linnaean Phase in which Carl Linnaeus and C.P. Thunberg, two Swedish university academics, published the first methodically organised accounts of the Cape flora, 1753–1823, their work being based largely on the philosophical principles set out in Linnaeus's Philosophia Botanica (1751). (2) Apart from early attempts to publish locally by C.F. Ecklon and W.H. Harvey, the second phase, which continued throughout the Victorian period and beyond, was entirely dominated by talented, untrained amateurs like H. Bolus, J. Medley Wood and F. Guthrie (Angiosperms) as well as T.R. Sim (Bryophytes and Pteridophytes). Louisa Bolus continued the amateur tradition into the mid 1960s, describing 4¼% of the currently recognised species of Angiosperms in South Africa. Explicit theoretical and philosophical considerations were non-existent during this phase, their aim being to produce practical taxonomies. (3) The mod...
8 citations
TL;DR: The improvement in computers and software following the rediscovery of Hennig's Phylogenetic Systematics has started to make significant changes to the way systematics is practised, permitting data-rich analyses to replace arrangements based on the opinion of the experts.
Abstract: SUMMARY There are 196 amphibian species in southern Africa. I review the major periods in the discovery, naming and systematic arrangement of the taxa. The earliest workers were based in European museums, working with specimens submitted by missionaries, explorers and government officials in the colonies. A shift to more field-work is followed by a period of extensive work by scientists based in Africa. The data used by taxonomists have changed as the branches of zoology developed. External morphology is supported later by comparative anatomy of both skeletal elements and soft tissue. The rapid rise of technology in the last two decades has enabled data from sound analysis, chromosomes, proteins and DNA sequences to be used to distinguish taxa. The improvement in computers and software following the rediscovery of Hennig's Phylogenetic Systematics has started to make significant changes to the way systematics is practised, permitting data-rich analyses to replace arrangements based on the opinion of the w...
TL;DR: Developments since 1977 in terms of the taxonomy, nomenclature and mycobiotic surveys of all groups of fungi, including human and animal pathogens are briefly summarised.
Abstract: SUMMARY Fungi were first collected for scientific study in southern Africa only in the late 1700s. In the monumental catalogue: “South African Fungi and Lichens to the end of 1945”, Doidge summarised the earliest mycological history of this country. To supplement her work Gorter compiled a bibliography of South African mycological publications for the period 1946 to 1977. The present paper briefly summarises developments since 1977 in terms of the taxonomy, nomenclature and mycobiotic surveys of all groups of fungi, including human and animal pathogens. It pays particular attention to specific habitats such as soil, fresh water, composts and animal dung as well as mycorrhizas. Although we have amassed valuable information about fungi that have an obvious economic impact, the majority remains undiscovered. Non-morphological taxonomy, including molecular and biochemical characters, will help us to expand our knowledge and understanding of the local mycobiota.
TL;DR: In this article, the concentration of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn) and organochlorine contaminants (PCBs, DDT, DDE and DDD) in the blubber of 12 adult male Cape fur seals, inadvertently caught in trawl nets off the Eastern Cape coast of South Africa during commercial fishing operations between May 1993 and October 1994, was investigated.
Abstract: SUMMARY The concentration of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn) and organochlorine contaminants (PCBs, DDT, DDE and DDD) in the blubber of 12 adult male Cape fur seals, Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus, inadvertently caught in trawl nets off the Eastern Cape coast of South Africa during commercial fishing operations between May 1993 and October 1994, was investigated. The median and range of concentrations for each metal were, in μg/g wet weight: Cd, 0.4 (<0.04–0.53); Cu, 2.6 (2.17–7.43); Pb, 0.7 (0.54–0.99); Ni, 17.7 (9.39–23.18) and Zn, 11.5 (3.14–16.65). Dry weights were: Cd, 0.5 (<0.04–0.59); Cu, 2.9 (2.47–8.45); Pb, 0.6 (0.54–1.14); Ni, 17.0 (10.79–28.22) and Zn, 12.8 (3.61–20.26). Concentrations of Cd, Pb and Zn were in the limits of reported values; however Cu and Ni levels were considerably higher. There is no evidence that the elevated levels of Cu and Ni reported in this study would pose a serious threat to the health of individual animals; however, high concentrations of these metals may be su...
TL;DR: Southern Africa is endowed with a rich insect fauna of roughly 44000 known or described species in 7700 genera belonging to 570 families, however, the species estimate is thought to represent less than half of the actual species richness.
Abstract: SUMMARY Southern Africa is endowed with a rich insect fauna of roughly 44000 known or described species in 7700 genera belonging to 570 families. However, the species estimate is thought to represent less than half of the actual species richness. It has taken about 250 years to reach the current level of taxonomic knowledge of the fauna, but with the loss of species through human-induced habitat transformation and the shortage of human and financial resources, the prospect of documenting the remaining fauna in the foreseeable future appears slim. Most of the pre-20th century taxonomy was done in Europe, where much of the early material and types are still housed. During the 20th century much of the descriptive taxonomy was done by local taxonomists and rich collections are housed in the country. Foreign researchers and collections, however, have continued to contribute significantly to documenting the fauna. The current situation is a gradual attrition in the number of local taxonomists (since the majorit...
TL;DR: For 150 years, from the 17th century onward, South African marine invertebrate taxonomy was in the hands of overseas specialists, specimens typically reaching them via “cabinets of curiosities”.
Abstract: SUMMARY For 150 years, from the 17th century onward, South African marine invertebrate taxonomy was in the hands of overseas specialists, specimens typically reaching them via “cabinets of curiosities”. A more rigorous approach was adumbrated with the establishment of the South African Museum in 1825, the arrival of professional and semi-professional collectors and, in the second half of the 19th century, the great marine exploratory expeditions. A signal event was the appointment of John D.F. Gilchrist, as South Africa's first resident marine biologist, in 1895, followed by Keppel Barnard's arrival in 1911. Barnard monographed the crustaceans and molluscs, as well as some minor groups, and this was later to be accomplished for the polychaetes by John Day and for the hydroids by Naomi Millard. Few other groups have received such rigorous treatment and some (e.g. bryozoans and subtidal sponges) remain little known. Despite much invertebrate biogeographical work, the key investigator remains Alan Stephenson...
TL;DR: The history of South African marine malacology began in 1688, when several Cape molluscs were illustrated by Martin Lister, but it was not until the last decade of the 19th century that there was a major surge in local interest, when amateur shell collectors began to send collections to overseas malacologists.
Abstract: SUMMARY The history of South African marine malacology began in 1688, when several Cape molluscs were illustrated by Martin Lister. Knowledge of the Cape molluscan fauna developed slowly during the early binomial period, for reasons here discussed. The first major step in inventorying the molluscan fauna was the publication of Krauss's Die sudafrikanischen Mollusken in 1848. based on his own fieldwork. It was not until the last decade of the 19th century that there was a major surge in local interest, when amateur shell collectors began to send collections (mainly from the eastern Cape and Natal) to overseas malacologists. Of these amateurs, W.H. Turton was responsible for the discovery of nearly half of the eastern Cape species now known, although his own published work continues to generate problems. The molluscs of the continental shelf and slope were first scientifically sampled by the Deutsche Tiefsee-Expedition (1898–1899) and by the Cape and Natal governments using the Pieter Faure (1897–1901). The...
TL;DR: Systematic studies on South African insects of medical importance have been mainly the preserve of the departments of Medical Entomology at the South African Institute for Medical Research and the National Institute for Virology in Johannesburg, resulting in the production of the definitive standard works on the Anophelinae, Simuliidae and Siphonaptera of Africa.
Abstract: SUMMARY Systematic studies on South African insects of medical importance have been mainly the preserve of the departments of Medical Entomology at the South African Institute for Medical Research (SAIMR) and the National Institute for Virology (NIV) in Johannesburg. Very few such studies have emanated from universities or museums. From 1927–1960, these systematic studies resulted in the production of the definitive standard works on the Anophelinae, Simuliidae and Siphonaptera of Africa that are still in use today. After 1960, further books were produced on mites, myiasis and biting flies, lice and sandflies. Revisions of some of these works have been undertaken by SAIMR and NIV staff in recent times, in particular on the Siphonaptera and Culicinae of southern Africa and the Anophelinae of the Afrotropical Region. Because of the presence of species complexes, current systematic studies of the Anophelinae are obliged to use genetical data. Despite their importance for the health of the people of southern ...
TL;DR: Until recent years, few African ornithologists have been involved in systematics as a biological discipline, but this historical overview considers the contribution of particular individuals from Andrew Smith to Phillip Clancey.
Abstract: SUMMARY Avian systematics in southern Africa has been heavily dependent on a small number of museum-based specialists. They produced bird checklists which prescribed the names to be used by other scientists. After an initial phase of cataloguing the avifauna, a major preoccupation was the description of geographical variation, which was documented in an extensive subspecific nomenclature. Until recent years, few African ornithologists have been involved in systematics as a biological discipline. This historical overview considers the contribution of particular individuals from Andrew Smith to Phillip Clancey.