SANBI

Rationale

A recently described species endemic to South Africa and known from the Mpumalanga Escarpment, and from a few records in the south east of Limpopo Province with an estimated extent of occurrence of 15,640 km². There are inferred to be fewer than 1,000 mature individuals (and certainly fewer than 10,000) in the population. Colonies are usually small, numbering only a few individuals. The greatest number of mature individuals counted at a single site was ± 40. All recorded colonies are suspected to comprise the same subpopulation. An ongoing decline is inferred to be taking place as a result of loss of habitat due to poor land-use management practices, mining activities, agricultural intensification as well as infestation by alien invasive plant species. Further field surveys and vetting of museum records are needed to more accurately delimit the distribution range of the species. Currently, we list the species as Vulnerable C2a(ii) and D1.

Distribution

This newly described species has been recorded so far only from the two northernmost provinces of South Africa. Known from the Mpumalanga escarpment from Mariepskop, Abel Erasmus Pass to Barberton with the southernmost known locality between Badplaas and Machadodorp, its distribution falls within an elevational range of 457 m to 1,698 m asl. As such, the main centre of its geographical range currently lies in the Mpumalanga Province with distribution just crossing into the Limpopo Province. The type locality for this species is from the Barberton Mountainlands Nature Reserve in Barberton, Mpumalanga Province at an elevation of 690 m asl (Taylor et al. 2012). This species appears to inhabit the Grassland and Savannah Biomes and further surveys and specimen reappraisal of existing museum material, previously referred to as R. hildebrandtii (ACR 2013), will probably reveal a wider distribution range.

Habitat View more ecological information

Population trend

Trend

In total, 240 individuals have been counted in surveys but this is an underestimate. The total population is thus inferred to be fewer than 1,000 mature individuals and thus certainly fewer than 10,000 mature individuals, as this species is encountered in small groups of which around 40 individuals was the highest number counted at a single site. All recorded colonies are suspected to be part of one subpopulation.

Threats

The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) mapped all development applications received at a cadastral scale over a 14-year period (2000-2014), which showed that greatest pressure for land-use change has come from prospecting applications (54% of the land surface area) and mining (25% of land surface area) (Lötter et al. 2014). A major threat within this species’ range is mining (legal, illegal and recommissioning of old mines). Future developments at the above rates or even higher are likely to cause further detriment towards natural ecosystems and processes and in particular, disturb or destroy foraging grounds and roosting and maternity sites, or alter key micro-climates needed by the species. Additionally, loss of natural habitat around roost sites through poor land-use management practices, (such as inappropriate burning regimes, overgrazing and alteration of vegetation structure negatively affect foraging areas and prey base), land development activities including agricultural intensification (Driver et al. 2012), and alien invasive plant infestations are causing a decline in available habitat for foraging.

Climate change may also influence micro-climate distribution. This species is very dependent on suitable subterranean environments for roosting and maternity requirements and associated natural habitats for foraging. These sites are limited throughout its distribution range and beyond. The effects of climate change can severely impact on the survival of this species if the above is not provided for and not adequate for habitation any more.

Uses and trade

This species is not known to be utilised or traded in any form.

Conservation

The species occurs in the Mariepskop Primary Conservation Area and Barberton Mountainlands Nature Reserve. No specific conservation actions directed towards this species at the moment. The MTPA has developed the Mpumalanga Biodiversity Sector Plan (MBSP) that indicates areas of high conservation value and is based on a systematic conservation plan which considers the distribution of all species and their habitat, sets quantitative targets for these and tries to find the most sufficient selection of areas to meet these targets. A few R. cohenae's localities fall within the boundaries of protected areas but most are situated on private land. The MBSP has categorised areas in term of. its biodiversity value and R. cohenae localities located within the Protected Area and Critical Biodiversity and Ecological Support Areas will potentially receive the best protection measures from a land development perspective where certain activities will not be allowed or be restricted. With regards to all other areas, the MBSP land-use guidelines should also be followed and Environmental Impact Assessment legislative tools applied.

References

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