An historic account of the extinct high rainfall grasslands of the Soutpansberg, South Africa

Abstract

It has been estimated that approximately 30% of the grassland biome of South Africa has been permanently transformed. An account of the demise of these high rainfall grasslands of the Soutpansberg, which occurred on soils derived from weathered basalt using historic accounts and photographic records, is given. This article also strives to quantify the extent of these extinct high rainfall grasslands using the concept of a climatic N-value in correlation with the underlying geology of the area. Historic as well as photographic records show the rapid demise of these grasslands with the main period of transformation occurring between the 1920s and 1950s. Modelling the extent of the extinct grasslands using a combination of basalt distribution and climatic N-value has shown that they covered approximately 10% of the Soutpansberg. Regional habitat change in combination with overexploitation has led to the localised extinction of 14 mammalian herbivore species, nine of which were specialised grazers. The contributing factors to the demise of these grasslands are complex and usually entail an interaction of various influences. Most of these contributing factors are as a direct result of anthropogenic activities.

Keywords:

• basalt
• climatic N-value
• mammalian grazers
• photographic records

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

It would be impossible to mention all those who have assisted me with my research over the years. I am especially in debt to Hermien Roux, Jabu Linden Prof. Peter Taylor for their invaluable comments and editing the manuscript. To all those who have contributed to this article whom I have failed to mention, I would like to bestow a special word of thanks.

The author acknowledges the financial and logistic support of the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Department of Science & Technology (DST) through the Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology and the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) Chair on Biodiversity Value and Change in the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, hosted and supported by the University of Venda.

ORCID

Norbert Hahn http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1186-7713

Archives and Individuals

The following is a list of individuals and or organisations that have generously helped or supplied the author with information:

• Pierre Cuénod, for allowing me access to his family archive and giving me permission to reproduce some of their photographs.

• Helga Giesekke, for allowing me access to their family archive and giving me permission to reproduce their photographs.

• Staff of the Hugh Exton Collection, Polokwane Museum.

• Louis Trichardt Municipal Archive, Louis Trichardt, Burgersentrum, Krogh Street.

• The South African National Biodiversity Institute Pretoria, to all its staff for their continued assistance over the years.

• Robert Hart, McGregor Museum Kimberly for allowing me access to the Duggan Cronin photographic collection.

• Kathy Brookes, MuseuMAfricA, Johannesburg, for allowing me access to the H.F. Gros photographic collection.

• Staff of the National Archive of South Africa, Pretoria for help and assistance given in accessing their archive.

• Staff of the Merensky Library, University of Pretoria, especially those concerned with the Africana section, for assistance given.

• Sarah Venter (née Bristow), for allowing me access to her family photographs and giving me permission to reproduce some of them.

Additional information

Funding

The author acknowledges the financial and logistic support of the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Department of Science & Technology (DST) through the Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology and the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) Chair on Biodiversity Value and Change in the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, hosted and supported by the University of Venda.