Biodiversity (1 - SRK Consulting

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• High probability: Applies to a species with a distributional range overlying the study site plus the presence of prime habitat on site. Another consideration for inclusion in this category is the tendency for the species to be ‘common’, i.e. to occur normally at a high population density. • Medium probability: Applies to a species with a distributional range that peripherally overlaps the study site and/or the required habitat on site being sub-optimal. The extent of suitable habitat on site, related to its likelihood to sustain a viable breeding or non-breeding population, and its geographical isolation are also taken into consideration. Species categorized as ‘medium’ normally do not occur at high population densities, but cannot be deemed rare. • Low probability: Means that the species’ distributional range is peripheral to the study site and the habitats are sub-optimal. Furthermore, some bird species categorized as ‘low’ are generally deemed rare. Due to the considerable aerial mobility of birds, one might expect a number of additional species as either infrequent nomads or rare vagrants, some of which may even be recorded by chance during the site visit. For these Unlikely species, I judged that the habitats available would offer no significant material support or conservation assistance to them, other than a temporary stopover, and that even if they did occur it would only be briefly and in insignificant numbers. I made no objective assessment of the carrying capacity of the habitat for any species, since this varies through time, birds being capable of arriving or departing as conditions change, and our ability to detect them varying seasonally. Such an assessment would require a much longer time and greater expense. However, I did pay special attention to species considered as threatened internationally or nationally, so-called Red Data or Red-listed species (Birdlife International website www.birdlife.org; DEAT 2007; Barnes, 2000), and so for any threatened species expected even to visit the area I elevated the category assigned to them based on the Precautionary Principle. SATO Aggeneys July 2011 40
6.4. Herpetofauna 6.4.1. Field Surveys The study site visit was conducted on 27-28 June 2011. During the site visits, reptiles and amphibians were identified by visual sightings through random transect walks. Amphibian diversity was also established by means of acoustic identification. No trapping was conducted, as the terms of reference did not require such intensive work. The observed and derived presence of reptiles and amphibians (herpetofauna) associated with the recognised habitat types of the study site, was recorded. This was done with due regard to the well-recorded global distributions of Southern African vertebrates, coupled with the qualitative and quantitative nature of recognised habitats. Where possible, the adjoining properties were scanned for important fauna habitats. Three criteria were used to gauge the probability of occurrence of reptiles and amphibian species on the study site. These include known distribution range, habitat preference and the qualitative and quantitative presence of suitable habitat. 6.4.2. Desktop Surveys As the majority of reptiles and amphibians are either secretive, nocturnal, poikilothermic 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 accuracy irrespective of season. The probability of the occurrence of reptile and amphibian 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 to the area, i.e. normally occurring at high population densities. Medium probability pertains to a reptile or amphibian 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 SATO Aggeneys July 2011 41
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 and 34: 6.1.3 Sensitivity Only High and Low
Page 35 and 36: • Low probability of occurrence w
Page 37 and 38: The biodiversity significance of an
Page 39: oth by reference to the comprehensi
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
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Figure 33. View east from the Zuurw
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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
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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
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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
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M6: Control of plant diversity/stru
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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
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Table 2: Significance Rating Matrix
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APPENDIX 2: CURRICULII VITAE Abridg
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- >150 papers at national and inter
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Visits to Israel, Italy, Germany, U
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Abridged Curriculum Vitae: Ignatius
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Abridged Curriculum Vitae: Alan Cha
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- 15 contributions in or as books
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Abridged Curriculum Vitae: Jacobus
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Biodiversity (1 - SRK Consulting

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