Shale gas group

10th Inkaba yeAfrica/!Khure Africa (AEON) Conference/Workshop Lord Milner Hotel, Matjiesfontein - Karoo 29 September – 3 October 2014 Diversity of Invertebrates in temporary wetlands of the Eastern Cape Karoo Region earmarked for shale gas exploration Annah Mabidi, Renzo Perissinotto and Matthew Bird SARChI Chair: Shallow Water Ecosystems Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

Outline of the presentation Study’s relation to fracking Significance of invertebrates Aims of the study Study area Field and laboratory methodology Summary

Significance of invertebrates survival to humans

Fracking in relation to the spineless wonders (invertebrates) Traffic disturbance, possible sedimentation to the water body Wastewater disposal Fracking well pad Primary risks to surface water bodies sediment runoff from deforestation leakage and spillage of chemicals unsustainable water withdrawal landscape fragmentation contamination from insufficiently treated wastewater

Invertebrates as bioindicators Aquatic invertebrates are sensitive to organic and various other toxic compounds. have capacity to integrate these effects during their lifetime, thus any alteration is reflected in changes of the species present and their abundances

- possibility of endemism - future monitoring of environmental change. Aim of the study Baseline Survey: Inventory of the invertebrates - possibility of endemism - future monitoring of environmental change. Understand patterns and processes structuring the communities

Study Area

A sweep net will be used to catch the invertebrates Field Methods Sweep net Zooplankton nets swept through all microhabitats and the water column from bottom to the surface for collection of invertebrate samples Night trap Materials and Methods Physico-chemical parameters of the water bodies will be measured, using probes A sweep net will be used to catch the invertebrates Sediment from the water bodies will be collected and crustaceans hatched after exposure to saline water approximating fracking waste water quality quality

A sweep net will be used to catch the invertebrates Water quality testing Dissolved oxygen meter Probes: Temperature, Conductivity, Dissolved oxygen, pH, Turbidity Physical characteristics of the wetland HACH DR 2010 Spectrophotometer Total phosphorus Orthophosphate Nitrate Ammonia Total nitrogen Materials and Methods Physico-chemical parameters of the water bodies will be measured, using probes A sweep net will be used to catch the invertebrates Sediment from the water bodies will be collected and crustaceans hatched after exposure to saline water approximating fracking waste water quality quality

Laboratory Methodology Centrifuge and Fluorometer for Chlorophyll-a Laboratory Total Dissolved Solids measurements Stereo microscope Materials and Methods Physico-chemical parameters of the water bodies will be measured, using probes A sweep net will be used to catch the invertebrates Sediment from the water bodies will be collected and crustaceans hatched after exposure to saline water approximating fracking waste water quality quality

Laboratory Methodology Salinity threshold experiments in the greenhouse Materials and Methods Physico-chemical parameters of the water bodies will be measured, using probes A sweep net will be used to catch the invertebrates Sediment from the water bodies will be collected and crustaceans hatched after exposure to saline water approximating fracking waste water quality quality

Summary

Summary

FRACKING IN THE KAROO: EFFECTS ON VEGETATION 10th Inkaba yeAfrica/!Khure Africa (AEON) Conference/Workshop Lord Milner Hotel, Matjiesfontein - Karoo 29 September – 3 October 2014 FRACKING IN THE KAROO: EFFECTS ON VEGETATION K. Ellis1, E.E. Campbell1 , M. De Wit2 1: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Botany Department, South Campus, Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth 2: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Geology Department, South Campus, Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth logo here…

Objectives of this study Introduction Shell’s application area - Aberdeen, Beaufort-West, Carnarvon, Graaff-Reinet, Middelburg, Murraysburg, Noupoort, Richmond and Victoria-West = approx. 30 000 km2 Biomes most affected - Nama-Karoo and Albany Thicket Preliminary research indicates a number of Species of Conservation Concern at risk in these areas should fracking go ahead Objectives of this study Survey the proposed fracking areas & evaluate the flora highlighting Species of Conservation Concern Investigate ecophysiological responses of Karoo plants to exposure to fracking fluid, with particular emphasis on phreatophytes.

Eco-physiological responses to fracking Methodology Vegetation Surveys Braun-Blanquet method of assessing total floristic compositions will be used Quadrat size of 25-100 m2 for Nama-Karoo and 100-400 m2 for Albany Thicket Samples of each species present in a quadrat will be collected, identified and recorded A species list for the areas most likely to be affected by fracking will be compiled, highlighting any Species of Conservation Concern Eco-physiological responses to fracking Species to be used: all the major life forms represented in each of the biomes. Boscia albitrunca (Burch.) Gilg & Gilg-Ben. already selected as a representative phreatophyte. Seeds will be planted in the greenhouse at NMMU & treated with a solution containing the most commonly used fracking chemicals Percentage seed germination will be assessed (radicle emerged >1 mm = successful germination) Biomass will be measured and mortality rate recorded. Condition (leaf condition, leaf colour, leaf fall) will be visually observed A Plant Efficiency Analyzer will be used to measure stress in the treated plants Boscia albitrunca

The end Thank you Materials and Methods Physico-chemical parameters of the water bodies will be measured, using probes A sweep net will be used to catch the invertebrates Sediment from the water bodies will be collected and crustaceans hatched after exposure to saline water approximating fracking waste water quality quality