Biodiversity (1 - SRK Consulting

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9. RESULTS: AVIFAUNA 9.1 General The habitat at the site occurs within the Nama Karoo biome (with Succulent Karoo just to the west) as identified for bird distributions (Allan et al. in Harrison et al. 1997) and more specifically the Bushmanland Sandy Grassland vegetation unit (NKb 4), with patches of Aggeneys Gravel Vygieveld (SKr 19, Mucina & Rutherford 2006). Most of the study site comprises natural habitats, subject to relatively low stocking levels of livestock (sheep, goats, cattle, horses), with the most disturbed areas around water points, farm houses, access tracks and along the old road and water pipeline servitudes north of and more or less parallel to the N14. The aerial mobility of birds also demands attention to the principal habitats surrounding the study site and their conservation status, not just those along the immediate borders but also more distant habitats that might provide sources for species visiting the site and sinks for those breeding on site. In this context, the study site is situated in wide expanses of similar habitat, while more distant sources, such as the Gariep River gorges are of different habitat and less likely to influence the Aggeneys area. 9.2 On-site Bird Habitat Assessment The four principal habitat types detected on and/or adjacent to the site, and considered most relevant to bird ecology and community structure, were: • Grassy plains. This habitat was most the most extensive on site, recognized by the flat topography and red sandy surface, but differing in a mosaic of patches by the amount of grass and/or gravel that was present. Most of it was found in the broad and ill-defined washes of the Koa River drainage system, but also extending up slopes to the feet of the various mountains and hills scattered across the landscape. It appeared dominated by Aristida spp., Stipagrostis uniplumis and Scmidtia kalahariensis grasses in the more grazed and/or disturbed areas, and by St. obtusa and St. ciliata in the deeper and more productive soils. Various herbs and a few woody shrubs were also present in the more variable and disturbed substrates. 90
Figure 31. View north down the Koa River drainage where the deepest part passes under the N14, about where the eastern boundary of Zuurwater meets the road. Note the good but patchy stands of grasses, few woody plants, and the mountains, Hoedkop (left) around Aggeneys in the background (right). Figure 32. View west from the east boundary of Zuurwater, with Hoedkop on the centre and Skelemberg on the left horizon, showing the open flats of the Koa wash with the Springbok powerline on the right side of the proposed northeast end of the PV arrays. 91
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A vegetation and vertebrate fauna d
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Some of the rare or beautiful succu
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6.3.3 Field Survey ................
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12.1 Specific mitigation measures .
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Figure 25. The vegetation sensitivi
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Figure 54. An easterly view from Bo
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Vegetation Althou
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designated sensitive areas and excl
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Holdings (SHE, Pty Ltd). The main c
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2. ASSIGNMENT Eco-Agent Ecological
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3. RATIONALE It is widely recognise
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4. SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUD
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Figure 3. Satellite image showing t
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Topography and drainage The topogra
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Figure 6. Close-up satellite image
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6. METHODS Prior to the field visit
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6.1.3 Sensitivity Only High and Low
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• Low probability of occurrence w
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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 92 and 93: Figure 33. View east from the Zuurw
Page 94 and 95: Figure 36. View north from the sout
Page 96 and 97: Figure 39. View west towards Hoedko
Page 98 and 99: Figure 42. Patch of green vegetatio
Page 100 and 101: Table 1: Rating of recognised on-si
Page 102 and 103: Burchell’s Coucal Centropus burch
Page 104 and 105: Karoo Eremomela Eremomela gregalis
Page 106 and 107: 9.4. Threatened and Red-Listed Bird
Page 108 and 109: The remaining four threatened speci
Page 110 and 111: Department of Environmental Affairs
Page 112 and 113: 10. RESULTS: HERPETOFAUNA 10.1. Her
Page 114 and 115: Figure 46. A view of red dunes and
Page 116 and 117: Figure 50. Man-made quarry on the w
Page 118 and 119: In the western corner of the study
Page 120 and 121: Very few trees occur on the study s
Page 122 and 123: Table 1: Reptile and Amphibian spec
Page 124 and 125: ? Prosymna bivittata Two-striped Sh
Page 126 and 127: Psammophis notostictus Karoo Whip o
Page 128 and 129: 10.6 Conclusions The main conservat
Page 130 and 131: 11. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Page 132 and 133: assuming that the water does not ha
Page 134 and 135: Vegetation Deficient plant -5 Mediu
Page 136 and 137: Impact Table 2a:: Impact on biodive
Page 138 and 139: 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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