PROJECT PERIOD

2018-2020

PROJECT OVERVIEW AND AIMS

The Snapshot Safari-South Africa research project is a large collaboration project including an unprecedented network of camera trap grids in several protected areas in South Africa, aiming to provide continuous monitoring of mammal species population sizes and trends. The project was launched in response to a need of more accurate assessments of mammal occupancy and populations in South Africa and is a continuation of the previous highly successful project ‘Snapshot Serengeti’. With the help of accurate camera trap censuses, and innovative mapping approaches we will be able to identify which sites are being managed successfully – and hence which conservation strategies should be incorporated into a toolbox for effective wildlife management. The project will also use several other scientific methods to ensure an extensive and accurate dataset. The methods include: DNA barcoding of small mammals; traditional mammal surveys; participatory mapping through conducting interviews with locals in the adjacent community; and using DNA to identify prey from scats (i.e. faecal droppings).

Once the project is concluded, the full ‘developed’ data set will be an important resource for future researchers and managers to study or gain information on “environmental change, species dynamics, biodiversity patterns, species red-listing, conservation management, biodiversity planning and protected area monitoring”.

Snapshot Safari-South Africa will enable the public to make a useful contribution to biodiversity science and conservation through the online classification of photographs taken by camera traps. Citizen scientists should create a profile on the ‘Zooniverse’ website and keep their eyes open for the South African parks that will be uploaded. The project’s Facebook and Instagram accounts are already live and broadcasting.

Project objectives:

1. To generate knowledge on mammal occupancy and distribution patterns in a country-wide survey of key protected expansion areas.
2. To supply a baseline set of mammal occupancy and population data of several key protected areas in South Africa.
3. To test novel ways of assessing mammal occupancy and distribution in key biodiversity areas under different land tenure.
4. To develop a methodology to measure protected area effectiveness in protecting mammal biodiversity.
5. To contribute barcodes to the current South African mammal DNA Barcode of Life Data System.

PROJECT LEADER:

Dr Jan Adriaan Venter

Nelson Mandela University

COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS:

Co-investigators: Prof Craig Packer, University of Minnesota(International); Prof Michael Somers, University of Pretoria; Prof Colleen Downs, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg); Prof Rob Slotow, University of KwaZulu-Natal ( (Westville); Dr Mike Peel, Agricultural Research Institution (South Africa); Dr Herve Fritz, Nelson Mandela University / University Lyon (International); Dr Lourens Swanepoel, UNIVEN; Dr Sandi Willows-Munro, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg)

Collaborators: Dr Craig Tambling University of Fort Hare; Dr Mark Keith, University of Pretoria; Dr Nokubonga Mgqatsa (Rhodes University); Prof Dan Parker, University of Mpumalanga; Prof Aliza Le Roux, University of the Free State (Qua-qua)

Research Associate Conservation Authority: Dr Charlene Bissett, SANPARKS; Dr Angela Gaylard, SANPARKS; Mr Piet Nel, North West Parks Board

South Africa is considered to be rich in biodiversity compared to the rest of the world. This wealth of biodiversity plays a significant role in a large proportion of the economy and the livelihoods of many urban and rural South Africans. Human alteration of the global environment has triggered the Anthropocene, a major extinction event, in the history of life, which is causing widespread changes in the global distribution of biodiversity. Biodiversity data is critical in monitoring the effect of change on species and populations. In response to the urgent need for more accurate assessment of mammal occupancy and populations, we will be launching a new research project called Snapshot Safari – South Africa where over 130,000 citizen scientists worldwide will help to classify millions of photographs collected from various camera trap grids all over South Africa. Snapshot Safari-South Africa will include an unprecedented network of camera trap grids in dozens of protected areas and protected area expansion areas in South Africa. We will eventually set out hundreds of cameras to provide continuous monitoring of population sizes and trends of mammal species at each site. Our project will survey 38 different properties covering 16 protected area priority expansion areas and two trans-frontier parks in all the provinces of South Africa. We expect the survey to produce > 2 million usable photographic species records. Our project will cover four important aspects: 1) collection of important foundational biodiversity data; 2) the barcoding of a number of mammal species in BOLD; 3) development and testing of various methodologies of collecting mammal data; and 4) development of methodology on measuring effectiveness in conservation management efforts. All four these aspects could potentially have long term benefits in our efforts to conserve biodiversity in South Africa.

Data sets will be made available once the project is concluded

PROJECT PERIOD

2019-2021

PROJECT OVERVIEW AND AIMS

Agriculture significantly contributes to the South African economy and has been recognized as a sector, which could potentially drive economic growth. However, less than 12% of the country’s land mass is suitable for use as arable land. Alarmingly, substantial proportions of soils are subject to increased desertification, reducing the proportion of productive lands. Given South Africa’s increasing population, increasing the productivity of arable lands is crucial for sustenance.

Over the last few years, there has been a significant demand on the farming sector to alter agricultural practices while simultaneously improving yield. It is increasingly recognized that soil microbiomes play crucial roles in nutrient cycling, soil formation, plant growth and ultimately in the production of food.  Understanding the microbiome has clear and very practical applications. It provides us with a tool to measure and monitor changes. Knowledge of microbiome dynamics, will allow stakeholders to assess practices that may encourage or disrupt these communities. It will allow for precision/smart farming on a micro scale to better manage inputs and practices. Developments in analytical approaches, such as high throughput sequencing and culture methods, helped to reduce the knowledge deficit around microbial diversity and their specific roles. The power of this approach has been evident in the study of the human microbiome, which revolutionized our perception, diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

This study has a direct impact on the bioeconomy as it informs managing inputs and practices, and optimising yields. Working towards sustainable agriculture, will alleviate the effect of global environmental change. This project is novel and in addition to providing key foundational biodiversity data, successful completion of this project is likely to result in a number of publications in reputable international journals, and aid in the development of a measuring tool for soil health

The main objectives of the study are as follows:

1. Determine the taxonomic and functional diversity of the microbial communities in the rhizosphere and bulk soils of wheat and maize under conventional and conservation agriculture, using metabarcoding methods as well as selected gene expression assays.
2. Determine the effect of farming practices such as till and no-till, crop intensification (particularly the increase in fertiliser application) as well as crop rotation and the use of cover crops on the different rhizosphere microbiomes.
3. Isolate selected fungal and bacterial groups which are known to have positive effects on crop production or are implicated in key soil nutrition processes. This will allow for the identification of species that can serve as potential bio-fertilisers or biological applications tailored to the South African system.
4. Determine the keystone species and indicator species associated with each crop, based on bioinformatic analysis of data generated in objective 1.
5. Initiate a national database for the rhizosphere microbial communities of different crop systems, to add value to current tests for biological soil characteristics, including an assessment of current soil health tests in terms of their value added to conservation agriculture. The outputs in this case will be in the form of a popular paper, addressing the different tests and their relative contribution, but also as a set of recommendations to various role players, such a regulatory bodies.

PROJECT LEADER:

Prof Karin Jacobs

Stellenbosch University

COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS:

Co-investigators: Prof Shayne Jacobs, Stellenbosch University; Dr Marcellous Le Roux, Stellenbosch University///; Prof Hugh Patterton, Stellenbosch University; Dr Jan Greyling, Stellenbosch University, Dr Johann Strauss, Elsenburg Agricultural Research Centre, Dr Thulani Makhalanyane, University of Pretoria; Prof Angel Valverde, University of the Free State (Bloemfontein); Dr Riana Jacobs-Venter, Agricultural Research Council; Prof Joanna Dames, Rhodes University, Dr Bronwyn Kirby-McCullough, University of the Western Cape.

Collaborators: Dr Noma Stokwe, Stellenbosch University///; Dr Willem Hoffmann, Stellenbosch University; Prof Sabrina Claassens, North West University; Dr Hendrik Smith, Grain SA; Mr Carel Van Heerden, Stellenbosch University; Mr Casper Brink, Stellenbosch University; Ms Lientjie Visser, Agricultural Research Council.

 

Agriculture significantly contributes to the South African economy and has been recognized as a sector, which could potentially drive economic growth. However, less than 12% of the country’s land mass is suitable for use as arable land. Alarmingly, substantial proportions of soils are subject to increased desertification, reducing the proportion of productive lands. Given South Africa’s increasing population, increasing the productivity of arable lands is crucial for sustenance.

Over the last few years, there has been a significant demand on the farming sector to alter agricultural practices while simultaneously improving yield. It is increasingly recognized that soil microbiomes play crucial roles in nutrient cycling, soil formation, plant growth and ultimately in the production of food. Understanding the microbiome has clear and very practical applications. It provides us with a tool to measure and monitor changes. Knowledge of microbiome dynamics, will allow stakeholders to assess practices that may encourage or disrupt these communities. It will allow for precision/smart farming on a micro scale to better manage inputs and practices. Developments in analytical approaches, such as high throughput sequencing and culture methods, helped to reduce the knowledge deficit around microbial diversity and their specific roles. The power of this approach has been evident in the study of the human microbiome, which revolutionized our perception, diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

This study has a direct impact on the bioeconomy as it informs managing inputs and practices, and optimising yields. Working towards sustainable agriculture, will alleviate the effect of global environmental change. This project is novel and in addition to providing key foundational biodiversity data, successful completion of this project is likely to result in a number of publications in reputable international journals, and aid in the development of a measuring tool for soil health.

Data sets will be made available once the project is concluded