Table of Contents - SRK Consulting

Limpopo West Mine: Biodiversity and Impact Assessmentsouthern Africa have been recorded near the Study area: Stretocephaluscafer, S. macrourus, and S. indistinctus (Hamer & Brendonck 1997).Migratory SpeciesThere are several species of fish in the Limpopo River that migrate. These include: Threespot barb Barbus trimaculatus Broadstriped barb Barbus annectens Longbeard barb Barbus unitaeniatus Redeye labeo Labeo cylindricus Leaden labeo Labeo molybdinus Rednose labeo Labeo rosae Bulldog Marcusenius macrolepidotus Silver catfish Schilbe intermedius Brown squeaker Synodontis zambezensisGoods and ServicesThe most important Goods and Services provided by aquatic ecosystems within the studyarea is the supply of water and grazing for livestock and game. The potential for tourism andrecreation along the Limpopo River is also considered high.Maintenance of aquatic biodiversity is generally very low, with the notable exceptions of theLimpopo River and Brakpan (Site P1).There are no known commercial aquatic species in the study area, but all of the largerspecies of fish are certain to be caught for local subsistence consumption when river levelsare high or subside. Consumption of fish by local communities is likely to be very low andirratic because of the ephemeral nature of the river.Water supply for direct human use is likely to be very low because of poor quality.Several pest species are associated with aquatic ecosystems within the study area, andthese are regarded here as negative Goods and Services. This aspect is discussed infurther detail below.Pest SpeciesAquatic ecosystems in the study area provide habitat for a wide range of pest species, whichinclude:Malaria Mosquitoes (Anopheles gambiae complex), which are responsible fortransmitting the parasite that causes malaria, which is endemic in the region. Themost common vector of malaria in the area is A. arabiense, which typically breeds intemporary, shallow, sunlit pools, as well as many other temporary waterbodies, suchas discarded motorcar tyres. The latter is a well-known breeding ground for thesemosquitoes. Other members of the complex, such as A. funestus, prefer marginal134