Ansie Dippenaar-Schoeman

Agricultural Research Council, South Africa | ARC · Plant Protection Research Institute

BACKGROUND: The Eastern Cape province of South Africa has a rich floral diversity, with seven of the country's eight floral biomes represented in the province. The non-acarine arachnid fauna of the province is largely understudied and considerable gaps exist in our knowledge of the distribution, diversity and levels of endemism of the arachnid faun...

We present the first records of the butterfly theridiid Episinus marignaci (Lessert, 1933) beyond its type locality, resulting in an extension of its geographic range from Angola to South Africa. Images of live specimens and a dis-tribution map are provided. Episinus marignaci is rare locally but has a relatively large geographical distribution in...

A Guide that includes descriptions, conservation status, distribution records and maps, photos, and images of diagnostic characteristics, for all the known hersiliid species in South Africa

The Afrotropical spider genus Parabomis Kulczyński, 1901 is revised. Members of Parabomis are some of the smallest thomisids known, and occur from Eritrea in the north of Africa to South Africa in the south, but are absent from Madagascar. Prior to this study, three species were known, namely P. levanderi Kulczyński, 1901 (Eritrea, ♂), P. martini L...

Triage in conservation biology necessitates the prioritization of species and ecosystems for conservation. Although highly diverse, ecologically important, and charismatic, spiders are rarely considered. With 2,253 known species, South Africa’s spider diversity is among the highest in the world. A 22-year initiative culminating in a national assess...

The knowledge of spiders in the Eastern Cape province lags behind that of most other South African provinces. The Eastern Cape province is renowned for its conservation areas, as the largest part of the Albany Centre of Endemism falls within this province. This article provides a checklist for the spider fauna of the Addo Elephant National Park, on...

Background: The north-eastern mountainous region of South Africa has been identified as a spider diversity hotspot and centre of endemisim. The Blouberg is an isolated inselberg that forms part of the Soutpansberg geological complex, the northernmost mountain in South Africa. Objectives: This article provides an updated species list of the Blouber...

Predators play a disproportionately positive role in ensuring integrity of food webs, influencing ecological processes and services upon which humans rely. Predators tend to be amongst the first species to be affected by anthropogenic disturbance, however. Spiders impact invertebrate population dynamics and stabilise food webs in natural and agricu...

One of the aims of South African National Survey of Arachnida (SANSA) is to survey protected areas to obtain species-specific information and compile inventories to determine species distribution patterns and evaluate their conservation status for Red Data assessments. The aim of this study, the first in a series of surveys of the Diamond Route Res...

Human-dominated landscapes comprise the bulk of the world’s terrestrial surface and Africa is predicted to experience the largest relative increase over the next century. A multi-scale approach is required to identify processes that maintain diversity in these landscapes. Here we identify scales at which animal diversity responds by partitioning re...

List of bat species, families and foraging groups recorded from manual identifications of a random subset of four sites (two nights each) per village, and the codes given to species-groups defined for subsequent automated identification with minimal overlap in call parameters using scans and filters in Analook v. 4.1t, 2015 (Titley Electronics, www...

Proportion of total richness contributed by alpha and beta components for all seven taxa based on individual- and sample-based partitioning respectively. (DOCX)

Response of animal communities to three land use types: Croplands, settlements, and rangelands in a rural landscape using two response variables, (a) abundance and (b) richness. All values were standardized for comparison to represent standard deviations from the mean. Whiskers represent the range, boxes the first and third quartiles, dark lines th...

R-script and associated R output of PERMANOVA analyses for acoustically-obtained (SM2 bat detectors, Wildlife Acoustics) abundance data for 13 species-groups of bats using Bray-Curtis distance. Analyses were conducted in R using the “vegan”, “car” and “MASS” packages. Species group codes and foraging associations (open-air, clutter and clutter-edge...

The aim of the South African National Survey of Arachnida (SANSA) is to document the Arachnida fauna of South Africa. One of the focus areas of SANSA is to survey protected areas to obtain species-specific information, and species distribution patterns for Red Data assessments. Here, we provide the first checklist of the spider species of Lekgalame...

The aim of the South African National Survey of Arachnida (SANSA) is to document the Arachnida fauna of South Africa. One of the focus areas of SANSA is to survey protected areas to obtain species-specific information, and species distribution patterns for Red Data assessments. Here, we provide the first checklist of the spider species of Lekgalame...

Aim Our aim is to test if long-term patterns in α alpha and β beta diversity along an elevational transect on two aspects of a mountain are consistent through time using spiders as model organisms, quantify the role of elevation and time (seasonal and inter-annual) in explaining these patterns and partition the relative contribution of nestedness,...

Fire is widely used as a management strategy in grasslands to maintain vegetation structure and improve grazing quality for large herbivores. The impacts of burning on invertebrates in South Africa remain poorly understood. A study was initiated in spring 2005 to determine the impact of a fast hot burn on ground-dwelling spider assemblages in a gra...

Biodiversity is one of the most important concepts in contemporary biology, with a broad range of applications. In November 1995, South Africa ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Signatories are obligated to develop a strategic plan for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. To meet the requirements of the CBD, the...

As part of the second phase of the South African National Survey of Arachnida (SANSA), field surveys were conducted in many degree-square grids throughout the country using a standardised rapid sampling protocol. This study reports on the arachnid diversity of the Ophathe Game Reserve (OGR) in northern KwaZulu-Natal, as found during a preliminary s...

Aspects of the ecology and life history of the little known theraphosid Nesiergus insulanus are determined on Frégate Island in the Seychelles archipelago. The general behaviour of this species is revealed to be comparable to that of other theraphosids, with field and captive observations establishing that they are a generalist and opportunistic sp...

The burrow structure and microhabitat variables of the little known theraphosid Nesiergus insulanus Simon 1903 were determined on Frégate Island, Seychelles. The species constructed burrows in fossorial substrates, including rocks, leaf litter and bare soil as well as on the trunks of decaying trees, both recumbent and standing. The majority of bur...

The spider genera Mystaria Simon, 1895 and Paramystaria Lessert, 1919 are revised (Mystarini: Thomisidae). About 400 individuals were studied. The approach followed was classical taxonomy using illustrated sexual dimorphic copulatory characters and described morphological characters, photographed or measured. Paramystaria is considered a junior syn...

Some aspects of the biology of the wasp Chalybion spinolae are documented. This includes behaviour relating to life cycles, nesting, mating, oviposition and prey interaction of this wasp. The physical appearance of the wasps and their prey are described and some measurements are given. The prey of C. spinolae are two species of spiders, Latrodectus...

The theraphosid Nesiergus insulanus is a member of a genus endemic to the Seychelles archipelago. Very little is known 􀁄􀁅􀁒􀁘􀁗􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀂿􀁑􀁈􀁕􀀐􀁖􀁆􀁄􀁏􀁈􀀃􀁇􀁌􀁖􀁗􀁕􀁌􀁅􀁘􀁗􀁌􀁒􀁑􀀏􀀃􀁇􀁈􀁑􀁖􀁌􀁗􀁜􀀏􀀃􀁄􀁑􀁇􀀃􀁗􀁒􀁗􀁄􀁏􀀃􀁓􀁒􀁓􀁘􀁏􀁄􀁗􀁌􀁒􀁑􀀃 size of the species, knowledge of which is essential for conservation purposes. We used transect sampling to estimate these variables on Frégate Island. We show that...

The genus Heriaeus Simon, 1875 is revised in the Afrotropical Region. Ten new species are described: H. allenjonesi (♂♀ South Africa), H. antoni (♀♂ Yemen), H. copricola (♂♀ South Africa), H. foordi (♂♀ South Africa), H. madagascar (♂ Madagascar), H. muizenberg (♂ South Africa), H. peterwebbi (♂♀ South Africa), H. sossusvlei (♀ Namibia), H. xanderi...

The genus Heriaeus Simon, 1875 is revised in the Afrotropical Region. Ten new species are described: H. allenjonesi (♂♀ South Africa), H. antoni (♂♀ Yemen), H. copricola (♂♀ South Africa), H. foordi (♂♀ South Africa), H. madagascar (♂ Madagascar), H. muizenberg (♂ South Africa), H. peterwebbi (♂♀ South Africa), H. sossusvlei (♀ Namibia), H. xanderi...

Frequent and extensive burning practices coupled with intensive grazing management are known to impact negatively on the vegetation diversity of grassland ecosystems. Few studies have investigated the impacts on spider diversity and community structure as a result of these management practices, and no studies have been conducted in high mountain gr...

As part of the South African National Survey of Arachnida (SANSA), all available information on spider species distribution in the South African Grassland Biome was compiled. A total of 11 470 records from more than 900 point localities were sampled in the South African Grassland Biome until the end of 2011, representing 58 families, 275 genera and...

The inclusion of spiders in conservation planning initiatives is confounded by several factors. Surrogates could facilitate their incorporation. In this paper we investigate the performance of a number of surrogate measures, such as higher taxa (genus, family), cross-taxon surrogates that are subsets of the spider assemblages (certain spider famili...

Forty-three (43) Cyrtophora species are known throughout the world whereas only Cyrtophora citricola is suspected to occur in South Africa. Earlier investigations of South African representatives of the genus revealed a wide range of morphological features including colour and abdominal shapes, thus raising the need for a thorough investigation of...

The male of Nesiergus insulanus Simon, 1903 is described for the first time, and both sexes are illustra ted. The presence of the species on the two Seychelles islands of Frégate and L'Îlot Frégate is confirmed, and observation evidence suggests that its range extends to Cousine Island.

The male of Nesiergus insulanus Simon, 1903 is described for the first time, and both sexes are illustra ted. The presence of the species on the two Seychelles islands of Frégate and L'Îlot Frégate is confirmed, and observation evidence suggests that its range extends to Cousine Island.

part of the South African National Survey of Arachnida in the Grassland Biome, foliagedwelling and grass-dwelling spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) were collected in the Erfenis Dam Nature Reserve in the central Free State Province from November 2005 to August 2007. Foliage-dwelling spiders were collected from three common tree or shrub species (Acacia...

As part of the South African National Survey of Arachnida in the Grassland Biome, foliage-dwelling and grass-dwelling spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) were collected in the Erfenis Dam Nature Reserve in the central Free State Province from November 2005 to August 2007. Foliage-dwelling spiders were collected from three common tree or shrub species (Aca...

The first arachnid survey from the North-West Province: The Kgaswane Mountain Reserve. Spiders have been collected monthly over a period of four years from the Kgaswane Mountain Reserve. The aim of this study was to compile the first species list of the spiders of the reserve and it contributes to our knowledge of the spider's diversity of the Nort...

Spider diversity of the Kalahari: Adaptation to survive. The Kalahari is a unique landscape extending over 2.5 million km2 of the interior of central Southern Africa. To date 344 species in 41 families of spiders have been collected in the Kalahari. Spiders have developed unique means of surviving in areas such as these.

Die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Opname van Arachnida (SANSA) is in 1997 deur die Landbounavorsingsraad (LNR) geïnisieer met die primêre doelwit om die Arachnidafauna van Suid-Afrika op nasionale vlak te dokumenteer. Tydens die tweede fase van die projek, genaamd SANSA II, het die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Biodiversiteitsinstituut (SANBI) deur hul pro...

As part of the South African National Survey of Arachnida in the Grassland Biome, foliage-dwelling and grass-dwelling spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) were collected in the Erfenis Dam Nature Reserve in the central Free State Province from November 2005 to August 2007. Foliage-dwelling spiders were collected from three common tree or shrub species (Aca...

Spiders are one of the most abundant predator groups found in agroecosystems and they have special adaptations towards a predatory way of life. The aim of this paper is to review our present knowledge of spider diversity in different agroecosystems of South Africa, as well as their potential prey. This paper provides a measure of what has been achi...

Frequent and extensive burning practices coupled with intensive grazing management are known to impact negatively on the vegetation diversity of grassland ecosystems. Few studies have investigated the impacts on spider diversity and community structure as a result of these management practices, and no studies have been conducted in high mountain gr...

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...

Die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Opname van Arachnida (SANSA), met die hoof doel om die Arachnida fauna van Suid-Afrika op ‘n nasionale vlak te dokumenteer, is in 1997 begin.

The spider diversity found in theSavanna Biome are discussed. A total of 1207 species from 62 families are known from thisBiome alone, of which 36% are endemic to the savanna.

Spinnekoppe van die genusCyrtophoravorm deel van die familieAraneidaeen staan algemeenbekend as tent-web spinnekoppe te danke aan die unieke vorm van hul web. ‘n Totaal van 41Cyrtophora spp.is in die hele wêreld bekend en vyf van hulle is uit Afrika aangeteken, maar geen formeel in Suid-Afrika nie.

Signatories of the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) are obligated to develop a strategic plan for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. To meet the requirement of the CBD, the South African National Survey of Arachnida (SANSA) was initiated in 1997 by the Agricultural Research Council (ARC). The South African National Biodiv...

There is a paucity of studies examining direct impacts of introduced alien species on biodiversity, a key need for motivating for alien species control in conservation areas. The introduced prickly pear (Opuntia stricta) has invaded some 35 000 ha of Kruger National Park. We investigated the effect of O. stricta on beetle and spider species assembl...

Invertebrates include more than 80% of all animals, yet they are severely under-represented in studies of southern African diversity. Site biodiversity estimates that ignore invertebrates, not only omit the greatest part of what they are attempting to measure, but also neglect major contributors to essential ecosystem processes. All available infor...

There is a paucity of studies examining direct impacts of introduced alien species on biodiversity, a key need for motivating for alien species control in conservation areas. The introduced prickly pear (Opuntia stricta) has invaded some 35 000 ha of Kruger National Park. We investigated the effect of O. stricta on beetle and spider species assembl...

Invertebrates constitute a substantial proportion of terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity and are critical to ecosystem function. However, their inclusion in biodiversity monitoring and conservation planning and management has lagged behind better-known, more widely appreciated taxa. Significant progress in invertebrate surveys, systematics and...

Invertebrates constitute a substantial proportion of terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity and are critical to ecosystem function. However, their inclusion in biodiversity monitoring and conservation planning and management has lagged behind better-known, more widely appreciated taxa. Significant progress in invertebrate surveys, systematics and...

A semi-quantitative inventory of spider diversity was done in the Blouberg Nature Reserve (BNR) and Western Soutpansberg Conservancy (WSC) situated in the Savanna Biome of the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Two hundred and ninety-six samples of one person-hour work each, comprised of five methods (vegetation beating, sweep netting, aerial hand col...

The Pondoland region of the Eastern Cape province, South Africa is very poorly studied with regard to invertebrate diversity, particularly in the case of arachnids. Accordingly, and in view of proposed infrastructural and mining developments in this ecologically sensitive area of high plant endemism, baseline data are provided on spiders (Araneae)...

Elephant impacts on spider assemblages, and the potential use of spiders as indicators of habitat changes was assessed in central Maputaland, South Africa. Three habitats, namely undisturbed sand forest, elephant disturbed sand forest and mixed woodland, were sampled. To ensure a thorough representation of all spider guilds, spiders were collected...

The present study is a firstrecord of spider occurrence on Robben Island, South Africa. Some habitats were rich in lichens. As we know, lichens enhance wildlife habitat in less direct ways. The objective of the study was to examine the potential importance of lichens in enriching spider diversity and abundance. A total of 260 spiders (170 from lich...

Centenary Congress of the Society To commemorate the Centenary of receiving its Royal Charter, the Royal Society of South Africa held a Centenary Congress on 17 and 18 April 2008 at the Breakwater Lodge in Cape Town. The theme of the Congress was The Value of Science: looking Back and Looking Forward. The idea was to celebrate the achievements of...

The GOGGOGuide is a practical full colour guide dealing with the biology, behaviour and ecology of a group of fascinating invertebrates excluding the insects. Some of the groups discussed are velvet worms myriapods scorpions mites and ticks romans false scorpions and spiders.

This book is the first attempt to provide information on the spiders of a specific area – The Kalahari. The area covered by Kalahari sands extends over 2.5 million km² of the interior of central southern Africa. These wind-blown sands are the largest continuous stretch of sand in the world. It is regarded as one of Africa’s last wilderness areas wh...

A semi-quantitative inventory of spider diversity was done in the Blouberg Nature Reserve (BNR) and Western Soutpansberg Conservancy (WSC) situated in the Savanna Biome of the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Two hundred and ninety-six samples of one person-hour work each, comprised of five methods (vegetation beating, sweep netting, aerial hand col...

Among other activities, the South African National Survey of Arachnida (SANSA) aims to survey the biodiversity of arachnids in protected areas of South Africa. The study presented here documents the diversity of spiders and scorpions collected from the Nylsvley Nature Reserve (NNR), South Africa over a 30-year period. The spider fauna of NNR contai...

As part of the South African National Survey of Arachnida (SANSA) in conserved areas, arachnids were collected in the De Hoop Nature Reserve in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. The survey was carried out between 1999 and 2007, and consisted of five intensive surveys between two and 12 days in duration. Arachnids were sampled in five broad h...

Members of genus Ammoxenus are known predators of harvester termites (Hodotermes mossambicus). An A. amphalodes female was observed catching and paralyzing a termite in the field. The paralyzed termite was deposited in a silk sac with other paralyzed termites. This confirms that Ammoxenus spp. use different methods of catching and utilizing prey. T...