PROGRESS REPORT: 6 May 2018

Summary by Group - observations:
Listed in order from most complete to least done
Overall statistics here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/karoo-biogaps?tab=stats

PLANTS:

Iridaceae: 259 observations, 79 species
ID efficiency: 75%

• Tribe level: 7
• Genus: 57
• Species: 195

Euphorbiaceae: 145 observations, 29 species
ID efficiency: 74%

• Tribe level: 0
• Genus: 37
• Species: 108

Crassulaceae: 267 observations, 53 species
ID efficiency: 71%

• Tribe level: 24
• Genus: 54
• Species: 189

Aizoaceae: 796 observations, 135 species
ID efficiency: 46%

• Tribe level: 187
• Genus: 262
• Species: 365

Poaceae: 663 observations, 86 species
ID efficiency: 40%

• Tribe level: 312
• Genus: 88
• Species: 263

Asteraceae: 1728 observations, 228 species
ID efficiency: 40%

• Tribe level: 411
• Genus: 622
• Species: 697

ANIMALS: INVERTS

Dragonflies (Odonata): 42 observations, 17 species
ID efficiency: 93%

• Tribe level: 2
• Genus: 1
• Species: 39

Butterflies (Lepidoptera): 462 observations, 126 species
ID efficiency: 55%

• Tribe level: 171
• Genus: 42
• Species: 253

Bees & Ants (Hymenoptera): 290 observations, 57 species
ID efficiency: 54%

• Tribe level: 57
• Genus: 78
• Species: 157

Scorpions: 57 observations, 11 species
ID efficiency: 40%

• Tribe level: 8
• Genus: 26
• Species: 23

Spiders: 80 observations, 23 species
ID efficiency: 24%

• Tribe level: 40
• Genus: 21
• Species: 19

Grasshoppers (Orthoptera): 172 observations, 24 species
ID efficiency: 22%

• Tribe level: 105
• Genus: 30
• Species: 38

ANIMALS: VERTEBRATES

Birds: 843 observations, 203 species
ID efficiency: 96%

• Tribe level: 23
• Genus: 8
• Species: 812

Reptiles: 406 observations, 69 species
ID efficiency: 96%

• Tribe level: 4
• Genus: 11
• Species: 391

Mammals: 526 observations, 64 species
ID efficiency: 93%

• Tribe level: 19
• Genus: 16
• Species: 491

Amphibians: 96 observations, 22 species
ID efficiency: 86%

• Tribe level: 6
• Genus: 7
• Species: 83

Fish: 8 observations, 5 species
ID efficiency: 63%

• Tribe level: 3
• Genus: 0
• Species: 5

We have upgraded this Project to a New iNaturalist Project. The old badges are not needed anymore: any observation will now automatically be added to this project if it falls within the area.

With the help of more than 100 IUCN Species Survival Commission Specialist Groups, Global Wildlife Conservation has compiled the following list of lost species, spanning more than 160 countries, as part of the Search for Lost Species. We welcome additional nominations and encourage conservationists, scientists and naturalists to launch searches for species on this broad list.

more at https://www.lostspecies.org/

Our LOST southern African species are:

INSECTS:
Hoppers:
• South-East African Burrowing Grasshopper Acrotylus mossambicus last seen unknown Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe

• Mt. Coke False Shieldback Acilacris furcatus last seen: 1965 South Africa CR
• Peringueys Seedpod Shieldback Thoracistus peringueyi last seen: 1879 South Africa CR(PE)
• Imperiled Grass False Shieldback Paracilacris periclitatus last seen: 2008 South Africa CR
Katydids:
• Zulu Ambush Katydid Peringueyella zulu last seen: 1922 South Africa CR(PE)
Dragons:
• Elusive Skimmer Orthetrum rubens last seen: 1977 South Africa CR(PE)

CRABS:
• Suspect Rivercrab Potamonautes dubius last seen: 1890 Angola, Namibia DD

MAMMALS:
• Shortridges Rat Thallomys shortridgei last seen: 1932 South Africa DD
• De Wintons Golden Mole Cryptochloris wintoni last seen: 1937 South Africa CR(PE)
• Visagies Golden Mole Chrysochloris visagiei (incertae sedis) Only one specimen South Africa DD
• Karoo Rock Sengi Elephantulus pilicaudus last seen: 2008 South Africa DD
• Dusky Sengi Elephantulus fuscus One specimen from 2005, others pre-date 1968. Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe DD

FISH:
• Small Pipefish Campichthys nanus last seen: 1956? Mozambique DD

PLANTS:
• Watergrass Button Cotula myriophylloides last seen: 1971 South Africa CR(PE) Found by Nick Feb 2014: revised status: CR
• Pretoria Dolldaisy Dicoma pretoriensis last seen: 1925 South Africa CR(PE) [Macledium pretoriense on BODATSA]
• Lost Fingersedge Eleocharis lepta last seen: 1897 South Africa CR(PE)
• Waxen Cycad Encephalartos cerinus last seen: before 2000 South Africa CR(PE)
• Venda Cycad Encephalartos hirsutus last seen: 2004 South Africa CR(PE)
• Pearsons Panicum Panicum pearsonii last seen: 1913 Namibia CR(PE)

Are there any other species that should be included. Tell us and we will nominate them.

LIST TO BE NOMINATED:
• Mini Threadorchid Holothrix micrantha last collected: 1925 - Southern Gauteng endemic CR(PE) - Casper

If you get this notification, please try and find someone who might be able to get an ID quickly.
Use the @ xyz (no space between @ and user name) to alert users to the ID, or get them to subscribe to this project.

Please check your settings on this project: ensure that the "Receive updates from this project" is ticked so that you will be notified. Observations are not notifiable, but if you see an entry, then add a brief comment below that will alert all subscribers.

Love it
15 December 2014 - 4:01PM outramps
Thanks Jen. This will also make it easier for Christopher to help with id's. At least he won't have to troll through the whole of iSpot to get to our postings..

Well done Jenny
18 December 2014 - 10:44AM yvettevanwijk
I must really try to add a project for seeds too! just to find time to do it, mostly to find then get the pics of seeds ready to upload. Looking forward to you adding an Erica project too Jen?

Ericas
18 December 2014 - 2:23PM Outrampsjenny
Thanks Yvette,
I have made an Erica project .Just a pictorial record though.
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/ericas-of-the-southern-cape

Can one add drawings I wonder?
19 December 2014 - 11:50PM yvettevanwijk
your drawings or diAgrams of each Erica would be a help if they could go in as one of the pics for each species in the Erica Project?

I'm sure you can
20 December 2014 - 6:02AM outramps
A great suggestion from Yvette

Holy smoke!!!
22 December 2014 - 3:11PM Outrampsjenny
I am not sure I want to expose the public to my poor art work. Will think about it. A mammoth task. !!

Just scan each drawing
23 December 2014 - 9:53PM yvettevanwijk
then resize it and save as a image just like your photos, really not lots of work!

Oh come on Jen
22 December 2014 - 3:28PM outramps
Be brave. It's a wonderful reference combined with pics.

DrakensbErg
22 December 2014 - 8:02PM Riaan Stals

Oops
29 December 2014 - 2:33PM Outrampsjenny
Thank you Riaan.

I presume that you mean
3 January 2015 - 2:40PM Tony Rebelo
I presume that you mean "High KZN Berg".
cos Drakensberg often continues to Wolfberg in the north to Limpopo and much further south, and often includes much more "middle berg".

Surprisingly
3 January 2015 - 2:37PM Tony Rebelo
Surprisingly few people know the difference between a mountain (-berg) and a town (-burg or -burgh - think Edinburgh).
Of course, many places have both!!

Nice one Jen
29 December 2014 - 4:42PM outramps
Some beautiful pics to start it all up

The aim of this project is to collect representative photographs of vegetation types listed in the VEGMAP project classification system (the latest map and list of types can be found at http://bgis.sanbi.org/vegmap)

Instructions here:

ACCESSING DATA.

.
The Vegetation Type data are stored by Biome. To view species observations in any Biome type, select one of the following fields
ALBANY THICKET https://www.inaturalist.org/observation_fields/7863
FOREST https://www.inaturalist.org/observation_fields/7865
FYNBOS https://www.inaturalist.org/observation_fields/7867
GRASSVELD https://www.inaturalist.org/observation_fields/7869
NAMA KAROO https://www.inaturalist.org/observation_fields/7872
RENOSTERVELD https://www.inaturalist.org/observation_fields/7868
SAVANNA https://www.inaturalist.org/observation_fields/7870
SUCCULENT KAROO https://www.inaturalist.org/observation_fields/7871
SUBANTARCTIC https://www.inaturalist.org/observation_fields/7866
AZONAL https://www.inaturalist.org/observation_fields/7864

Within each biome you can select any veld type to view observations just for this veld type.

To view Vegetation Types in Observation format (for Maps, Thumbnail Views and Lists, you will need to add the field and project to the url of the observation like so:
project: &project_id=vegmaphoto-s-afr
field: &field:SA%20Veg:%20Fynbos%20Types=Swellendam%20Silcrete%20Fynbos%20FFc%201
so:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?subview=grid&place_id=113055&project_id=vegmaphoto-s-afr&field:SA%20Veg:%20Fynbos%20Types=Swellendam%20Silcrete%20Fynbos%20FFc%201

To view species observations tagged with the veld type, leave out the project:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?field:SA%20Veg:%20Fynbos%20Types=Swellendam%20Silcrete%20Fynbos%20FFc%201

SUBMITTING DATA.

Guidelines for submissions:

1. Landscape photographs that represent the characteristics of vegetation described in the vegetation type (i.e communities of plants that define the vegetation type) are preferred.
2. A photograph of a dominant species within the type is needed for compatibility with iNat. But focus on the habitat rather than the species.

How it Works:
1, Load the observation. Include all the information you want under the description. Note that the observation will be "filed" under its dominant species in the second picture. Observations without a dominant species will cause issues, so please always include it.

1. Add this project
2. Select a single veld type from the appropriate Biome - only one - leave all the other Biomes blank. You must load one (and only one) type. (if you accidentally add extras, you can delete them later: on the observation click on the field name to open menu)

3. ADD save the vegetation type
   5.Record the Community. Vegetation types contain many communities. (many even contain communities typical of other biomes!!!). Please record the community: typically this states two of the dominant or typical species (must include one or two grasses in grassveld), and some other community feature. If there is a published community name, then please use that. Vegetation communities are typically done through Braun-Blanquet type surveys, but can also be done via a number of other surveys, but all emphasize the component species rather than some other facet (such as catena or landscape facet or habitat).This is a required field. Use "Unknown" if you dont know. ADD

4. Veld condition. Please record. This can be from transformed, trashed, through to degraded, and even overprotected. "Natural" is typically one of degraded, well utilized or overprotected, depending on the grazing and fire regimes. This is a required field. Select Unknown if you forgot to assess or if you dont know. ADD.
5. and then ADD (save) the project

Note: the location is the location of the photograph - not some other place (such as a centroid or 'type" locality). Similarly the species are those in the photograph at the site photographed, not some wish list, copied off a billboard or a makeshift community.

MORE.

To see the vegetation communities:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observation_fields/8773
To see the Biomes:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observation_fields/7498
To see the Vegetatype type conditions:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observation_fields/8774