The Wynberg Cave System, the most important site for cave fauna in South Africa at risk

Ferreira, Rodrigo Lopes; Giribet, Gonzalo; Preez, Gerhard Du; Ventouras, Oresti; Janion, Charlene; Souza‐Silva, Marconi

doi:10.3897/subtbiol.36.60162

Cited by 15 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Freshwater springsnails are particularly vulnerable because of their typically narrow ranges, often just a single spring or spring complex (Ponder & Clark, 1990 ; Hershler, Liu & Howard, 2014 ), as are amphipods (Murphy, Adams & Austin, 2009 ) and other taxa including plants (Rossini et al ., 2018 ) of artesian springs in Australian deserts. Cave faunas in many parts of the world harbour highly endemic invertebrate faunas, with some species restricted to single caves, for example in Romania (Moldovan et al ., 2020 ) and South Africa (Ferreira et al ., 2020 ). Fish species in isolated Chinese plateau lakes exhibit high levels of single‐lake endemism (Ding et al ., 2017 ), as do freshwater snails endemic to one or a few of these lakes (Zhang et al ., 2015 ).…”

Section: Islands and Other Insular Habitatsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Sixth Mass Extinction: fact, fiction or speculation?

2022

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There have been five Mass Extinction events in the history of Earth's biodiversity, all caused by dramatic but natural phenomena. It has been claimed that the Sixth Mass Extinction may be underway, this time caused entirely by humans. Although considerable evidence indicates that there is a biodiversity crisis of increasing extinctions and plummeting abundances, some do not accept that this amounts to a Sixth Mass Extinction. Often, they use the IUCN Red List to support their stance, arguing that the rate of species loss does not differ from the background rate. However, the Red List is heavily biased: almost all birds and mammals but only a minute fraction of invertebrates have been evaluated against conservation criteria. Incorporating estimates of the true number of invertebrate extinctions leads to the conclusion that the rate vastly exceeds the background rate and that we may indeed be witnessing the start of the Sixth Mass Extinction. As an example, we focus on molluscs, the second largest phylum in numbers of known species, and, extrapolating boldly, estimate that, since around AD 1500, possibly as many as 7.5–13% (150,000–260,000) of all ~2 million known species have already gone extinct, orders of magnitude greater than the 882 (0.04%) on the Red List. We review differences in extinction rates according to realms: marine species face significant threats but, although previous mass extinctions were largely defined by marine invertebrates, there is no evidence that the marine biota has reached the same crisis as the non‐marine biota. Island species have suffered far greater rates than continental ones. Plants face similar conservation biases as do invertebrates, although there are hints they may have suffered lower extinction rates. There are also those who do not deny an extinction crisis but accept it as a new trajectory of evolution, because humans are part of the natural world; some even embrace it, with a desire to manipulate it for human benefit. We take issue with these stances. Humans are the only species able to manipulate the Earth on a grand scale, and they have allowed the current crisis to happen. Despite multiple conservation initiatives at various levels, most are not species oriented (certain charismatic vertebrates excepted) and specific actions to protect every living species individually are simply unfeasible because of the tyranny of numbers. As systematic biologists, we encourage the nurturing of the innate human appreciation of biodiversity, but we reaffirm the message that the biodiversity that makes our world so fascinating, beautiful and functional is vanishing unnoticed at an unprecedented rate. In the face of a mounting crisis, scientists must adopt the practices of preventive archaeology, and collect and document as many species as possible before they disappear. All this depends on reviving the venerable study of natural history and taxonomy. Denying the crisis, simply accepting it and doing nothing, or even embracing it for the ostensible benefit of humanity, are not ...

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Section: Islands and Other Insular Habitatsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Sixth Mass Extinction: fact, fiction or speculation?

2022

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“…25 of 1999], the majority of caves are not reported to be culturally significant and are therefore not included under this act [ 71 ]. Increased uncontrolled visitation, graffiti, trampling and cave destruction has led to a visible reduction in the size of R. aegyptiacus colonies at a cave roost in the Western Cape Province, with many dead bats observed by researchers throughout the cave [ 26 ], even though this cave is located in a protected area. Roosts within protected areas do not automatically guarantee effective conservation protection (as seen with other habitats, see [ 63 ]) and cave-specific conservation and protection actions are essential.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the extent of land-use change around important bat-inhabited caves

Pretorius¹,

Markotter²,

Keith³

2021

BMC Zool

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Background Modification and destruction of natural habitats are bringing previously unencountered animal populations into contact with humans, with bats considered important zoonotic transmission vectors. Caves and cave-dwelling bats are under-represented in conservation plans. In South Africa, at least two cavernicolous species are of interest as potential zoonotic hosts: the Natal long-fingered bat Miniopterus natalensis and the Egyptian fruit bat Rousettus aegyptiacus. Little information is available about the anthropogenic pressures these species face around important roost sites. Both bats are numerous and widespread throughout the country; land-use changes and urban expansions are a rising concern for both conservation and increased bat-human contact. Results Our study addressed this shortfall by determining the extent of land-cover change around 47 roosts between 2014 and 2018 using existing land cover datasets. We determined the land-cover composition around important roost sites (including maternity, hibernacula and co-roosts), distances to urban settlements and assessed the current protection levels of roost localities. We detected an overall 4% decrease in natural woody vegetation (trees) within 5 km buffer zones of all roost sites, with a 10% decrease detected at co-roost sites alone. Agricultural land cover increased the most near roost sites, followed by plantations and urban land-cover. Overall, roosts were located 4.15 ± 0.91 km from urban settlements in 2018, the distances decreasing as urban areas expand. According to the South African National Biodiversity Institute Ecosystem Threat Status assessment, 72% of roosts fall outside of well-protected ecosystems. Conclusions The current lack of regulatory protection of cavernicolous bats and their roosts, increasing anthropogenic expansions and proximity to human settlements raises concerns about increased human-bat contact. Furthermore, uncontrolled roost visitation and vandalism are increasing, contributing to bat health risks and population declines, though the extent of roosts affected is yet to be quantified. In an era where pandemics are predicted to become more frequent and severe due to land-use change, our research is an urgent call for the formal protection of bat-inhabited caves to safeguard both bats and humans.

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“…The Wynberg Cave, along with other caves (such as Bats, Climbers, Giants, Hangman, Metro, and Smugglers caves), forms the largest cave system in the Cape Peninsula region (with more than 1.2 km in length), which is referred to as the Wynberg Cave System (WCS; Ferreira et al 2020) (Fig. 7).…”

Section: Habitatmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The WCS presents a remarkable cave-restricted fauna, especially if we consider the endemicity and rarity of some species. Ferreira et al (2020) listed 19 cave-restricted species occurring in the WCS and is one step closer to becoming a subterranean biodiversity hotspot (Ferreira et al 2020). Sharratt (1998) morphological similarities with eyeless earwigs (Ferreira et al 2020).…”

Section: Habitatmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life in darkness: an overview of cave-adapted japygids (Hexapoda, Diplura)

Sendra,

Sánchez-García,

Hoch

et al. 2023

EJT

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Few species of Japygidae (Diplura) have been discovered in cave ecosystems despite their importance as large predators. A small collection of rare specimens of this hexapod group has allowed to explore the taxonomy of japygids from caves in New Zealand, Morocco and South Africa, and to describe one new genus: Imazighenjapyx Sendra & Sánchez-García gen. nov., as well as four new species: Austrjapyx wynbergensis Sendra & Sánchez-García sp. nov., Imazighenjapyx marocanus Sendra & Sánchez-García gen. et sp. nov., Opisthjapyx naledi Sendra & Sánchez-García sp. nov. and Teljapyx aotearoa Sendra & Sánchez-García sp. nov. For each of the new taxa we give a comprehensive description of their habitats. These new findings resulted in a revision of the distribution and allowed to re-evaluate the morphological traits of the fifteen cave-adapted japygids species already known worldwide. The functional morphology of the remarkable abdominal pincers of Japygidae and their adaptation to predation are discussed, as well as their potential role in mating behaviour.

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The Wynberg Cave System, the most important site for cave fauna in South Africa at risk

Cited by 15 publications

References 12 publications

The Sixth Mass Extinction: fact, fiction or speculation?

The Sixth Mass Extinction: fact, fiction or speculation?

Assessing the extent of land-use change around important bat-inhabited caves

Life in darkness: an overview of cave-adapted japygids (Hexapoda, Diplura)

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