ACDB assists in BioBlitz — African Centre for DNA Barcoding

ACDB assists conservation efforts through a BioBlitz for the endangered Pickersgill's reed frog

Last week (21 - 25 February 2022) two members of the African Centre for DNA Barcoding (ACDB; Ross Stewart and Johandré van Rooyen) accompanied a large team (ca. 25 members) from several institutions and research backgrounds on a BioBlitz led by the South African National Biodiversity Institute along the eastern coastline of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

The aim of the BioBlitz was to survey the microhabitat of the endangered Pickersgill's reed frog (Hyperolius pickersgilli) within its very narrow distribution range (ca. 20 km2) along the east coast of KwaZulu-Natal. There are currently approximately 40+ known sites of occurrence between St. Lucia in the north, and Sezela in the south of the province. The project expects to document the presence of ca. 1,000 species (encompassing amphibians, fish, insects, birds, mammals and plants) that are associated with the habitat of the Pickersgill's reed frog at five identified study sites. Moreover, identification of plant species used as perches and oviposition sites of this frog will greatly contribute to a growing database spanning 10-years of continued research efforts. The valuable data generated and collected by this project will contribute to the fulfilment of the Pickersgill’s Reed Frog Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP), which was gazetted in 2017 by the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and the Environment. Several partner institutions are actively contributing to this project which include Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the Endangered Wildlife Trust and the Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo.

Based on the ACDB's involvement in the Global Malaise Program (further, the Kruger Malaise Program and the National Botanical Garden Malaise Program: South Africa), has been identified as a key stakeholder to contribute a detailed inventory of insects within the microhabitat under study. The ACDB of course, has been very enthusiastic to contribute to such conservation efforts and assist in the pathway leading to the biomonitoring and protection of key South African species.

Written by Ryan Rattray