The Wild Cycad Conservancy
Protecting the world’s most threatened plant species from extinction in South Africa
Research and publications
The WCC currently supports one student in South Africa.
The research focusses on the pollination of Encephalartos species and the insects associated with these plants.
Latest NEWS
New study: Cycad poaching impacts on insect abundance
Congratulations to Paul Janse van Rensburg, who completed his doctoral studies at North-West University earlier this year, under the guidance of Prof Johnnie van den Berg. Paul was recruited by Tommie Steyn and Hugo Bezuidenhout and was the first bursar of Wild Cycad Conservancy. Paul did excellent work and will continue to work on insect-cycad mutualisms as a postdoctoral fellow. See below for a short overview of his work.
Global Conservation Consortium for Cycads, Southern African launch
A Conservation Action workshop hosted by the Global Conservation Consortium for Cycads (GCCC) and the Wild Cycad Conservancy (WCC) was held 10-13 January 2023. This event convened 25 stakeholders from South Africa and Zimbabwe to discuss regional cycad conservation and explore ways in which the GCCC can support these efforts.
PROJECT
Population and reproductive ecology of Encephalartos species in South Africa,
by P J van Rensburg
Insects associated with plants are one of the most diverse groups of species on earth. Through their contribution to multiple ecosystem services, they have a widely recognised impact on the ecology and evolution of their host plants. During this project, we will be studying the population and reproductive ecology of Encephalartos eugene-maraisii, E. middelburgensis and E. lebomboensis. This study aims to document the arthropod species associated with these cycads as well as providing insights into the complex associations they have with their hosts.
Studies within the African cycad genus Encephalartos is particularly interesting since there is a high diversity of insects associated with this genus of which several are species-specific. Insects play an important role in the ecology of cycads, most notably in their reproductive ecology. These insects and the services they provide are under increasing threat from anthropogenic sources, including fragmentation of habitat, changes in land use and decline of their cycad host. Of particular concern is the lack of new seedlings in some species (e.g., E. eugene-maraisii) and it has even been suggested that the lack of fertile seeds in some species may be due to the absence of pollinators, because of pollinator extinctions.
Wild populations of E. eugene-maraisii, E. middelburgensis and E. lebomboensis were visited during the start of 2021 and, encouragingly, our field surveys revealed there are still several insect species associated with these plants. During these visits, plant size and life history stage demographics and levels of herbivory on individuals were recorded from a representative sample of E. eugene-maraisii populations.
In later years we will investigate whether arthropods are involved in pollination and identify the most important pollinators. Also, whether there are any other arthropod mutualists and the importance of maintaining these mutualists.
This study will provide insight into several vital attributes and ecological processes of Encephalartos species as well as provide new information for arthropods associated with cycads. This will ultimately help conservation authorities to determine priorities for conservation, assess the threats to different cycad populations and develop management practices to ensure the long-term survival of wild cycad populations.
Paul Janse van Rensburg is supported by the WCC to complete his doctoral degree in Environmental Sciences at North-West University, Potchefstroom.
NEW PROJECTS
• Conservation genetics of Encephalartos spp to support assurance colonies and recovery programmes