Endemic plants and animals are susceptible to extinction in an imperilled alpine hotspot in southern Africa

Background: As global temperatures rise, alpine species at the upper limit of their distribution are at risk of decline and extinction due to shrinking habitats downslope. The alpine (> 2 800 m a.s.l.) biodiversity of the Maloti-Drakensberg is poorly known but may be threatened by climate change. Objectives: Using expert BioBlitzes, we documented species richness and elevational patterns of distribution in 14 plant and animal higher taxa from alpine and upper-montane zones in an unexplored corner of the Maloti-Drakensberg. Methods: Using standardised methods such as Sherman traps, acoustic monitoring, bird timed counts, pitfall traps, sweep nets, aquatic SASS5 kick-nets, timed searches and herbarium collections, we assessed elevational zonation of flowering plant and selected invertebrate and vertebrate diversity in the Witsieshoek Community Conservation Area (WCCA). Results: GBIF records complemented expert BioBlitz data, together enumerating 1 216 plant, vertebrate and invertebrate species along an elevation gradient from 1 760 m to 3 145 m at WCCA. Birds, insects and plants showed concordant beta diversity patterns from BioBlitz and GBIF data: high turnover compared to nestedness in more sedentary insects and plants, and the opposite in more mobile birds (GBIF data not available for bats). Although identifications are ongoing, 17% of species or morphospecies were exclusively recorded in the alpine zone, including 82 species of plants and 92 of animals. Conclusion: Alpine endemics are vulnerable to the ‘escalator to extinction’ process due to climate change. Surveys of under-explored alpine hotspots should be prioritised, drawing on mountain tourism-based citizen science. We advocate an ecotourism- and community-centred, restoration and rewilding approach for this strategic and biodiverse community conservation area.

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Publication Details

Journal
African Biodiversity & Conservation
Published
2025-11-11
DOI
https://doi.org/10.38201/abc.v55.13
Primary Topic
Species Distribution and Climate Change
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Endemic plants and animals are susceptible to extinction in an imperilled alpine hotspot in southern Africa

Thinandavha C. Munyai, Ara Monadjem, J. du G. Harrison, Clinton Carbutt et al.
African Biodiversity & Conservation
Species Distribution and Climate Change
article

Endemic plants and animals are susceptible to extinction in an imperilled alpine hotspot in southern Africa

Thinandavha C. Munyai, Ara Monadjem, J. du G. Harrison, Clinton Carbutt, Stephanie L. Payne, Veli Monday Mdluli, Michelle van As, Alexandra Howard, Nozipho Kheswa, Maria K. Oosthuizen, Abigail P. Kirkaldy, Astrid Jankielsohn, Peter J. Taylor, Gimo M. Daniel, Andrinajoro R. Rakotoarivelo, Onalenna Gwate, Lehlohonolo S. Mofokeng, Toka Mosikidi, Nthatisi Innocentia Molefe, Pindiwe Ntloko, Johann van As, Adrian J. Armstrong, Mpho Ramoejane, Michael Stiller, Sandy‐Lynn Steenhuisen, Dewald Kleynhans, Vincent Ralph Clark, Musa C. Mlambo, Samuel N. Motitsoe, Emile Bredenhand, Charles R. Haddad, Mosiuoa Bereng, Lesego Malekana, Nokubonga F. Thabethe, Karabo Moloi, Nkanyiso Sishange, Serero Modise, Sibusisiwe Moyo
article en

Abstract

Background: As global temperatures rise, alpine species at the upper limit of their distribution are at risk of decline and extinction due to shrinking habitats downslope. The alpine (> 2 800 m a.s.l.) biodiversity of the Maloti-Drakensberg is poorly known but may be threatened by climate change. Objectives: Using expert BioBlitzes, we documented species richness and elevational patterns of distribution in 14 plant and animal higher taxa from alpine and upper-montane zones in an unexplored corner of the Maloti-Drakensberg. Methods: Using standardised methods such as Sherman traps, acoustic monitoring, bird timed counts, pitfall traps, sweep nets, aquatic SASS5 kick-nets, timed searches and herbarium collections, we assessed elevational zonation of flowering plant and selected invertebrate and vertebrate diversity in the Witsieshoek Community Conservation Area (WCCA). Results: GBIF records complemented expert BioBlitz data, together enumerating 1 216 plant, vertebrate and invertebrate species along an elevation gradient from 1 760 m to 3 145 m at WCCA. Birds, insects and plants showed concordant beta diversity patterns from BioBlitz and GBIF data: high turnover compared to nestedness in more sedentary insects and plants, and the opposite in more mobile birds (GBIF data not available for bats). Although identifications are ongoing, 17% of species or morphospecies were exclusively recorded in the alpine zone, including 82 species of plants and 92 of animals. Conclusion: Alpine endemics are vulnerable to the ‘escalator to extinction’ process due to climate change. Surveys of under-explored alpine hotspots should be prioritised, drawing on mountain tourism-based citizen science. We advocate an ecotourism- and community-centred, restoration and rewilding approach for this strategic and biodiverse community conservation area.

African Biodiversity & ConservationVol. 55(1)
University of the Free State (ZA)
Biodiversa+, National Research Foundation, University of Pretoria
Openalex Percentile: Top 81%
Species Distribution and Climate Change
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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