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Expedition no. 42: E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Survey 2016: 27 Mar 2016-23 Apr 2016
This years survey focuses on Coutada 12, currently a hunting concession to the Northeast of the Park. The area is as yet not under its protection but will be included into its sphere of protection and conservation in the near future.
Photo: Bart Wursten
The vegetation mosaic of Coutada 12.
Generate a list of species for Expedition no. 42
Description
The 4th annual biodiversity survey, organised by the EO Wilson Biodiversity Lab, was a short survey lasting only for 7 days in the field. It took place in Coutada 12, an area that is currently still outside the Gorongosa National Park. Coutada 12 is designated as a hunting concession. The survey took place before 2016 hunting season began. The camp that served as our base during the survey is a hunting camp called Nyago. It has apparently not been used for the last two years. It has fallen somewhat into disrepair but certainly served us well.
Vegetation
The vegetation of the area surveyed consists of an interesting mosaic of grassland, woodland and coastal forest, all on sandy soils. Changes from one habitat type to another were remarkably frequent and abrupt. Several smaller streams were present, which encouraged fringes of more riverine vegetation. Some of the larger areas of grassland contained seasonal or even semi-permanently wet pans. The vegetation appeared mostly intact and the presence of large and ancient specimens of hardwood trees such as Pterocarpus angolensis (Mukwa), Millettia stuhlmannii (Panga Panga) and Afzelia quanzensis (Pod Mahogany or Chamfute) indicates no substantial logging has taken place in recent times. Some disturbance was visible around the camp and along roads and particularly along well used pathways leading to a small settlement with some areas cleared for subsistence agriculture. The actual fields and the settlement were located in the adjacent Coutada 10 and were not part of the surveyed area. During the survey as many species as possible were recorded, photographed or collected.
Vegetation
The vegetation of the area surveyed consists of an interesting mosaic of grassland, woodland and coastal forest, all on sandy soils. Changes from one habitat type to another were remarkably frequent and abrupt. Several smaller streams were present, which encouraged fringes of more riverine vegetation. Some of the larger areas of grassland contained seasonal or even semi-permanently wet pans. The vegetation appeared mostly intact and the presence of large and ancient specimens of hardwood trees such as Pterocarpus angolensis (Mukwa), Millettia stuhlmannii (Panga Panga) and Afzelia quanzensis (Pod Mahogany or Chamfute) indicates no substantial logging has taken place in recent times. Some disturbance was visible around the camp and along roads and particularly along well used pathways leading to a small settlement with some areas cleared for subsistence agriculture. The actual fields and the settlement were located in the adjacent Coutada 10 and were not part of the surveyed area. During the survey as many species as possible were recorded, photographed or collected.
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