Rationale (Changed due to Same category and criteria)

This high-altitude endemic is listed as Least Concern because it has a relatively wide distribution within the assessment region, occurs in several protected areas, including the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area, and because it generally occurs in inaccessible habitats unlikely to be transformed. There are no known threats that could cause rapid population decline. Climate change is not suspected to be an emerging threat. Conversely, density has been estimated to have increased threefold in the Lesotho Drakensberg between 1994 and 2006 possibly due to warmer temperatures. Thus, we list as Least Concern. However, continuing habitat degradation from overgrazing, as well as any other identified minor threats, must be monitored.

Distribution

Sloggett's Vlei Rat is found at high elevations (>2,000 m) in the Drakensberg Mountains of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa as well as Lesotho (Lynch 1994, Monadjem et al. 2015), with isolated subpopulations from mountains in the Karoo, such as in the Sneeuberg Mountain Complex (Kok et al. 2012), or in dry, semi-desert habitats around inselbergs and mountain ranges at >1,500 m asl. In the Drakensberg Range, O. angoniensis occurs on the lower slopes in savannah habitats, O. auratus and O. laminatus at mid-elevation in grasslands and O. sloggetti at the highest elevations in alpine heath habitats (Monadjem et al. 2015).

Habitat View more ecological information

Population trend

Trend

Threats

There are no major identified threats to the species. Unlike other Otomys species threatened by climate change (Taylor et al. 2016), population increases in Lesotho are the result of better overwintering of O. sloggetti as a consequence of warmer minimum temperatures over the past two decades (Mokotjomela et al. 2010). Overgrazing the vegetation by domestic livestock and O. sloggetti themselves around wetlands reduces habitat suitability.

This species inhabits high-altitude areas that are unlikely to be transformed significantly. However, overgrazing may reduce habitat quality and this should be monitored. Another important consideration is that the increasing population sizes contribute greatly to habitat change through vegetation loss and consequent soil erosion (Grab and Deschamps 2004). Experimental plots erected in the Sani Valley to investigate the single or combined effects of O. sloggetti and domestic livestock on soil erosion and loss showed that the damage caused by O. sloggetti exceeds that of livestock (Mokotjomela et al. 2009). Therefore, while low temperature and prolonged snowfall are density independent regulators of O. sloggetti populations in Lesotho, diminishing resources (food and suitable nest sites) are possible density-dependent regulators. Correspondingly, an increase in population densities may accelerate soil erosion rates through their feeding and burrowing habits (Mokotjomela et al. 2009).

Uses and trade

There is anecdotal information of herdsman in Lesotho hunting O. sloggetti. However, this threat remains to be quantified.

Conservation

It occurs in many protected areas across its range such as the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area (Monadjem et al. 2015) and Mountain Zebra National Park (Kok et al. 2012). Although no specific interventions are necessary at present, wetland conservation and restoration is likely to benefit this species.

Recommendations for land managers and practitioners:

• Land managers should maintain a vegetation buffer around wetlands to reduce impacts of land-use practices.
• Land managers should practice holistic management of ranchlands, including de-stocking and rotational grazing.
• Further long-term, systematic monitoring is needed to establish subpopulation trends and threat levels.

• Fine scale studies on habitat loss and inferred impact on the species
• Effects of overgrazing on the density and viability of this species.
• Population fluctuations in response to climate change.