Conservation and monitoring of invertebrates in terrestrial protected areas

Abstract

Invertebrates constitute a substantial proportion of terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity and are critical to ecosystem function. However, their inclusion in biodiversity monitoring and conservation planning and management has lagged behind better-known, more widely appreciated taxa. Significant progress in invertebrate surveys, systematics and bioindication, both globally and locally, means that their use in biodiversity monitoring and conservation is becoming increasingly feasible. Here we outline challenges and solutions to the integration of invertebrates into biodiversity management objectives and monitoring in protected areas in South Africa. We show that such integration is relevant and possible, and assess the relative suitability of seven key taxa in this context. Finally, we outline a series of recommendations for mainstreaming invertebrates in conservation planning, surveys and monitoring in and around protected areas.<p><strong>Conservation implications:</strong> Invertebrates constitute a substantial and functionally significant component of terrestrial biodiversity and are valuable indicators of environmental condition. Although consideration of invertebrates has historically been neglected in conservation planning and management, substantial progress with surveys, systematics and bioindication means that it is now both feasible and advisable to incorporate them into protected area monitoring activities.</p><p><strong>How to cite this article:</strong> McGeoch, M.A., Sithole, H., Samways, M.J., Simaika, J.P., Pryke, J.S., Picker, M., <em>et al</em>., 2011, ‘Conservation and monitoring of invertebrates in terrestrial protected areas’, <em>Koedoe</em> 53(2), Art. #1000, 13 pages. doi:10.4102/koedoe.v53i2.1000</p&gt

Uncovering the environmental factors that influence diversity patterns of Mediterranean terrestrial Gastropod communities: a useful tool for conservation

“…In parallel, the environmental factors that influence species distribution are key indicators for understanding the processes that govern their distribution and for anticipating changes linked to natural or anthropological disturbances (Kimberling et al 2001;Andersen et al 2004;Douglas et al 2013). For terrestrial ecosystems, this knowledge is unfortunately biased towards Vertebrate taxa and some Hexapoda groups (Solem 1984;Ward and Larivie`re 2004;McGeoch et al 2011). For other taxa such as terrestrial molluscs, even though they are important components of biodiversity (Cameron and Killeen 2003;Holland and Cowie 2009), the information is very incomplete or anecdotal in most geographic areas (Triantis et al 2008).…”

Bioindicadores ambientais: insetos como um instrumento desta avaliação

“…Dentre os invertebrados, vários organismos têm sido utilizados como bioindicadores dessas transformações (Brown, 1997;Edge, 2005;Uys et al, 2006;Engelbrecht, 2010;McGeoch et al, 2011). Esses organismos podem ser agrupados em três categorias principais: os indicadores ambientais; os indicadores ecoló-gicos e os indicadores de biodiversidade (Hellawell, 1986;Paoletti & Bressan, 1996;Meffe & Carroll, 1997;Flather et al, 1997;Gaston & Blackburn, 1995).…”

“…Atualmente, vários países estão desenvolvendo programas de monitoramento dos ambientes, utilizando bioindicadores, já que muitos empreendimentos exigem informações sobre a qualidade do ambiente para que recursos financeiros sejam liberados (Cohen, 2003;Niemi & McDonald, 2004;McGeoch et al, 2011;Soares-Filho et al, 2012;Gorenflo et al, 2012). A efetivação do uso de bioindicadores nas atividades de monitoramento requer, ainda, estudos, além de uma política e legislação pertinente para a escolha desses organismos (Hellawell, 1991).…”

Fine-scale habitat requirements of the Heidelberg Opal Butterfly (<i>Chrysoritis aureus</i>) in Gauteng and Mpumalanga, South Africa

“…• Monitoring of the vegetation structure, species composition and growth forms to determine the vegetation condition and trends in habitat persistence, possible habitat degradation or habitat improvement after planed fires (McGeoch et al 2011). …”

“…Because of the intimate relationship they form with plants in both their larval and adult forms, and because they are easy to sample and identify, butterflies are frequently used as indicators of ecosystem and habitat quality in monitoring programmes (McGeoch et al 2011;Mecenero et al 2013). In South Africa, protected areas such as national parks and provincial nature reserves play an important role in preserving butterfly species occurring within their boundaries by conserving their habitats (Henning, Terblanche & Ball 2009).…”