Protected Areas

 

Conservation biologists are starting to recognize the importance of the invertebrate component in the functioning of healthy ecosystems Therefore, any approach to conservation needs to take into account the composition of the invertebrate fauna. As part of SANSA, projects are underway to determine the biodiversity of arachnids present in conserved areas in South Africa. Although spiders constitute an abundant and highly diverse group of invertebrate animals little is still known about their diversity in most conserved areas. Inventories with resulting checklists provide valuable baseline information on species and are the first step for a better understanding of the fauna present. The aim of these inventories is to determine the percentage of species presently protected in South Africa.