Karst-ekologie van die Bakwenagrot (Gauteng)
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Date
Authors
Durand, Francois
Swart, Antoinette
Marais, Werner
Jansen van Rensburg, Candice
Habig, Johan
Dippenaar-Schoeman, Anna S. (Anna Sophia), 1948-
Ueckermann, Edward A.
Jacobs, Riana
De Wet, Louis
Tiedt, Louwrens R.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AOSIS Open Journals
Abstract
Die Bakwenagrot huisves ’n verskeidenheid organismes wat ’n ingewikkelde en verweefde
voedselweb vorm. ’n Kolonie Natalse langvingervlermuise gebruik hierdie grot regdeur die
jaar as blyplek. Die vlermuisguano en dooie plantmateriaal wat van buite in die grot inval,
vorm die basis van die ekologie in die grot wat ook as ’n tipiese detritus-gedrewe ekostelsel
beskryf kan word. Afbrekers soos bakterieë en swamme wat vir die afbraak van die guano
en plantreste verantwoordelik is, word deur ’n verskeidenheid organismes, insluitend
nematode en myte, as voedselbron benut. Hierdie organismes wat die volgende trofiese vlak
vorm, word deur predatoriese artropode as voedselbron benut. Die Bakwenagrot is een van
die weinige dolomietiese grotte in Suid-Afrika wat dit vir ‘n mens moontlik maak om tot by
die grondwatervlak te kom. Die grondwater huisves verskeie tipes organismes waaronder
bakterieë, swamme en diere – hoofsaaklik nematode en krustaseë. Die Bakwenagrot is ook
die hoofvindplek waar varswater-amfipode in Suider-Afrika gevind is. Hierdie besondere en
sensitiewe ekostelsel is hoofsaaklik van guano van die vlermuiskolonie afhanklik. Die grasveld
in die gebied rondom die grot, wat as voedingsarea vir die vlermuiskolonie dien, word tans
deur voorstedelike ontwikkeling en die gevolglike habitatfragmentasie en -vernietiging
bedreig. Indien die vlermuise die grot sou verlaat, sal dit ’n hele domino-effek van uitsterwing
van die grotbewonende organismes tot gevolg hê.
The Bakwena Cave houses a variety of organisms that form an intricate and interdependent food web. This cave is utilised as a permanent roost by a colony of Natal clinging bats. The bat guano and allochthonous plant material that fall into the cave from outside, form the basis of the ecology inside the cave which may be considered a typical example of a detritus ecosystem. Decomposers such as bacteria and fungi are responsible for the decay of the guano and plant detritus which, in turn, are utilised by several organisms, including nematodes and mites, as food source. These animals form the next trophic level which is utilised by predatory arthropods as food source. The Bakwena Cave is one of the few dolomitic caves in South Africa that provide access to the water table. The groundwater houses several types of organisms, including bacteria, fungi and animals – primarily nematodes and crustaceans. The Bakwena Cave is also the type locality for freshwater amphipods in Southern Africa. This unique and sensitive ecosystem is primarily dependent on bat guano. The grassland surrounding the cave is utilised by the bats as foraging area and is currently threatened by urban development and the resulting habitat fragmentation and destruction. A cascade of extinctions of the cave-dwelling organisms will follow if the bats abandon the cave.
The Bakwena Cave houses a variety of organisms that form an intricate and interdependent food web. This cave is utilised as a permanent roost by a colony of Natal clinging bats. The bat guano and allochthonous plant material that fall into the cave from outside, form the basis of the ecology inside the cave which may be considered a typical example of a detritus ecosystem. Decomposers such as bacteria and fungi are responsible for the decay of the guano and plant detritus which, in turn, are utilised by several organisms, including nematodes and mites, as food source. These animals form the next trophic level which is utilised by predatory arthropods as food source. The Bakwena Cave is one of the few dolomitic caves in South Africa that provide access to the water table. The groundwater houses several types of organisms, including bacteria, fungi and animals – primarily nematodes and crustaceans. The Bakwena Cave is also the type locality for freshwater amphipods in Southern Africa. This unique and sensitive ecosystem is primarily dependent on bat guano. The grassland surrounding the cave is utilised by the bats as foraging area and is currently threatened by urban development and the resulting habitat fragmentation and destruction. A cascade of extinctions of the cave-dwelling organisms will follow if the bats abandon the cave.
Description
Keywords
Bakwenagrot, Karst-ekologie, Karst ecology, Bakwena Cave
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Durand, F. Swart, A., Marais, W., Jansen van Rensburg, C., Habig, J., Dippenaar-Schoeman, A., et al., 2012, ‘Die karst-ekologie van die Bakwenagrot (Gauteng)’, Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie 31(1), 17 pages. http://dx.DOI.org/ 10.4102/satnt.v31i1.275