Biodiversity (1 - SRK Consulting

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6.2.1. Field Survey During the site visits mammals were identified by visual sightings through random transect walks and patrolling with a vehicle. No trapping or mist netting was conducted, as the terms of reference did not require such intensive work. In addition, mammals were also identified by means of spoor, droppings, burrows or roosting sites. Three criteria were used to gauge the probability of occurrence of vertebrate species on the study site. These include known distribution range, habitat preference and the qualitative and quantitative presence of suitable habitat. 6.2.2. Desktop Survey As many mammals are either secretive, nocturnal, hibernators and/or seasonal, distributional ranges and the presence of suitable habitats were used to deduce the presence or absence of these species based on authoritative tomes, scientific literature, field guides, atlases and data bases. This can be done with a high level of confidence irrespective of season. The probability of occurrences of mammal species was based on their respective geographical distributional ranges and the suitability of on-site habitats: • High probability would be applicable to a species with a distributional range overlying the study site as well as the presence of prime habitat occurring on the study site. Another consideration for inclusion in this category is the inclination of a species to be common, i.e. normally occurring at high population densities. • Medium probability pertains to a mammal species with its distributional range peripherally overlapping the study site, or required habitat on the site being sub-optimal. The size of the site as it relates to its likelihood to sustain a viable breeding population, as well as its geographical isolation is also taken into consideration. Species categorized as medium normally do not occur at high population numbers, but cannot be deemed as rare. SATO Aggeneys July 2011 34
• Low probability of occurrence will mean that the species’ distributional range is peripheral to the study site and habitat is sub-optimal. Furthermore, some mammals categorized as low are generally deemed to be rare. 6.2.3. Specific Requirements During the site visits, the site was surveyed and assessed for the potential occurrence of Red Data and/or wetland-associated species such as: Juliana’s golden mole (Neamblosomus juliana), Highveld golden mole (Amblysomus septentrionalis), Rough-haired golden mole (Chrysospalax villosus), African marsh rat (Dasymys incomtus), Angoni vlei rat (Otomys angoniensis), Vlei rat (Otomys irroratus), Whitetailed rat (Mystromys albicaudatus), Forest shrew (Myosorex varius), Short-eared trident bat (Cloeotis percivali), African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis), Spottednecked otter (Lutra maculicollis) and Marsh mongoose (Atilax paludinosus). 6.3. Birds I made a 2-day site visit on 27-28 June 2011 as part of an EcoAgent team, led by Prof G.J. Bredenkamp (botanist), comprising Dr I.L. Rautenbach (mammalogist) and Mr J.C.P. van Wyk (herpetologist), and in the company of the farm owner Mr Deon Maasdorp. The visit was made in mid-winter, after Palaearctic and intra-African migrant bird species had departed. The weather during the visit was cold at night and cool during the day, under clear mild clear conditions and with only a slight breeze. Good rains had fallen the previous summer, after a 3-year drought, and unusually heavy rains of 30 mm had fallen two weeks before the survey, inducing some unexpected plant growth and flowering. During a site visit, selected roads and tracks on the site were driven, with regular stops made to record plant and vertebrate diversity and habitat types by walking random transects. Coordinates were taken at localities of note, and attention was also paid to the biological conditions and diversity within at least 500 meters on adjoining properties. SATO Aggeneys July 2011 35
Page 1 and 2: A vegetation and vertebrate fauna d
Page 3 and 4: Some of the rare or beautiful succu
Page 5 and 6: 6.3.3 Field Survey ................
Page 7 and 8: 12.1 Specific mitigation measures .
Page 9 and 10: Figure 25. The vegetation sensitivi
Page 11 and 12: Figure 54. An easterly view from Bo
Page 13 and 14: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Vegetation Althou
Page 15 and 16: designated sensitive areas and excl
Page 17 and 18: Holdings (SHE, Pty Ltd). The main c
Page 19 and 20: 2. ASSIGNMENT Eco-Agent Ecological
Page 21 and 22: 3. RATIONALE It is widely recognise
Page 23 and 24: 4. SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUD
Page 25 and 26: Figure 3. Satellite image showing t
Page 27 and 28: Topography and drainage The topogra
Page 29 and 30: Figure 6. Close-up satellite image
Page 31 and 32: 6. METHODS Prior to the field visit
Page 33: 6.1.3 Sensitivity Only High and Low
Page 37 and 38: The biodiversity significance of an
Page 39 and 40: oth by reference to the comprehensi
Page 41 and 42: 6.4. Herpetofauna 6.4.1. Field Surv
Page 43 and 44: • Armadillo Girdled Lizard (Cordy
Page 45 and 46: 7.2 Description of the plant commun
Page 47 and 48: Figure 12. Stipagrostis namaquensis
Page 49 and 50: is low, 70-110 mm per annum, mostly
Page 51 and 52: Figure 14. Grassland on sandy hummo
Page 53 and 54: This plant community with its speci
Page 55 and 56: Crassula sericea Dicoma capensis Cu
Page 57 and 58: Figure 17. A scree slope 4.2.2 Stee
Page 59 and 60: species also occur on the mountain
Page 61 and 62: Schmidtia kalahariensis d Stipagros
Page 63 and 64: 5.2 Washes The drainage lines withi
Page 65 and 66: in a population going extinct elsew
Page 67 and 68: 7.4 Fine Scale Biodiversity Fine sc
Page 69 and 70: The SKEP (2005) biodiversity map fo
Page 71 and 72: National Herbarium. This is therefo
Page 73 and 74: Figure 26. A map indicating the Bla
Page 75 and 76: 7.10 References Acocks, J.P.H. 1988
Page 78 and 79: 8. RESULTS: MAMMALS Acocks (1988),
Page 80 and 81: Figure 27. A south-westerly view ov
Page 82 and 83: 8.2 Observed and Expected Mammal Sp
Page 84 and 85:
√ Otocyon megalotis Bat-eared fox
Page 86 and 87:
8.4 Discussion Four pertinent matte
Page 88 and 89:
Knobel, J. & Bredenkamp, G. 2005. T
Page 90 and 91:
9. RESULTS: AVIFAUNA 9.1 General Th
Page 92 and 93:
Figure 33. View east from the Zuurw
Page 94 and 95:
Figure 36. View north from the sout
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Figure 39. View west towards Hoedko
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Figure 42. Patch of green vegetatio
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Table 1: Rating of recognised on-si
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Burchell’s Coucal Centropus burch
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Karoo Eremomela Eremomela gregalis
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9.4. Threatened and Red-Listed Bird
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The remaining four threatened speci
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Department of Environmental Affairs
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10. RESULTS: HERPETOFAUNA 10.1. Her
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Figure 46. A view of red dunes and
Page 116 and 117:
Figure 50. Man-made quarry on the w
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In the western corner of the study
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Very few trees occur on the study s
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Table 1: Reptile and Amphibian spec
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? Prosymna bivittata Two-striped Sh
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Psammophis notostictus Karoo Whip o
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10.6 Conclusions The main conservat
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11. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
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assuming that the water does not ha
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Vegetation Deficient plant -5 Mediu
Page 136 and 137:
Impact Table 2a:: Impact on biodive
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Substrate repair 1 2 2 1 2 15 Very
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maintenance, with designated passin
Page 142 and 143:
M6: Control of plant diversity/stru
Page 144 and 145:
Some Red Data plants and animals oc
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Flora Some areas of infrastructure
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(increasing or decreasing with time
Page 150 and 151:
Table 2: Significance Rating Matrix
Page 152 and 153:
APPENDIX 2: CURRICULII VITAE Abridg
Page 154 and 155:
- >150 papers at national and inter
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Visits to Israel, Italy, Germany, U
Page 158 and 159:
Abridged Curriculum Vitae: Ignatius
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Abridged Curriculum Vitae: Alan Cha
Page 162 and 163:
- 15 contributions in or as books
Page 164 and 165:
Abridged Curriculum Vitae: Jacobus
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Biodiversity (1 - SRK Consulting

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