title: Ecology and distribution of large branchiopods (Crustacea, Branchiopoda, Anostraca, Notostraca, Laevicaudata, Spinicaudata) of the Eastern Cape Karoo, South Africa.
abstract: A survey of the large branchiopod fauna of the Eastern Cape Karoo region of South Africa was undertaken to provide baseline biodiversity information in light of impending shale gas development activities in the region. Twenty-two waterbodies, including nine dams and thirteen natural depression wetlands, were sampled during November 2014 and April 2015. A total of 13 species belonging to four orders were collected, comprising five anostracans, one notostracan, six spinicaudatans and one laevicaudatan.Cyzicus australiswas most common, occurring in 46% of the waterbodies. Species co-occurred in 87% of the waterbodies, with a maximum number of six species recorded from the same waterbody. Our new distribution records forLynceus truncatus,Streptocephalus spinicaudatusandStreptocephalus indistinctusrepresent substantial expansions of the previously known ranges for these species. Tarkastad is now the westernmost record forStreptocephalus spinicaudatus, while Jansenville now constitutes the southernmost record forStreptocephalus indistinctus. Large branchiopod distribution data from previous Eastern Cape records were combined with our current data, demonstrating that a total of 23 large branchiopod species have been recorded from the region to date. As the Karoo is one of the few major shale basins in the world where the natural baseline is still largely intact, this survey forms a basis for future reference and surface water quality monitoring during the process of shale gas exploration/extraction.
authors.affiliation: DST/NRF Research Chair: Shallow Water Ecosystems, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa; Africa Earth Observatory Network, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa.
authors.forename: Annah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mabidi
authors.affiliation: DST/NRF Research Chair: Shallow Water Ecosystems, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa.
authors.forename: Matthew S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bird
authors.affiliation: DST/NRF Research Chair: Shallow Water Ecosystems, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa.
authors.forename: Renzo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Perissinotto
authors.affiliation: Kansas Biological Survey/Biodiversity Institute, Kansas University, Higuchi Hall, 2101 Constant Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66047-3759, USA.
authors.forename: D Christopher
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Rogers
keywords: Depression wetlands; environmental monitoring; hydraulic fracturing; invertebrate biogeography; wetland invertebrates