YOU'VE MISSED A SPOT: THE KAROO BIOGAPS PROJECT FROM A HERPETOLOGY PERSPECTIVE.

Over 50% of South African reptile species are endemic, with at least 35% of these species found in the semi-arid Karoo region. The research attraction of the Karoo however, has been eclipsed by megadiverse areas within South Arica, resulting in a lack of baseline biodiversity data for the region. Shale gas development (fracking) in the Karoo has been proposed as a benefit for South Africa in terms of economy, job creation and the current energy crisis. However, the potential impacts on biodiversity could be substantial. Without sufficient biodiversity data, decisions relating to infrastructure development will be poorly informed, and monitoring future impacts on species diversity and ecosystem function will not be possible. Here we discuss the outcomes of the Karoo BioGaps Project, with particular interest in the contributions to reptiles in the region. From 2016-2018, 36 sites were surveyed in the Karoo, where over 2,000 new records were collected for 84 reptile species. Our surveys have doubled the number of individual records from the region. At some survey sites, we validated the presence of a large percentage of expected species, but we also found a number of unexpected species at several sites. DNA barcoding was an integral part of the project, and results suggests that some taxa are in need of revision. These findings demonstrate that biodiversity patterns can shift and change given improved survey data. Poor data therefore, can result in poor land use management decisions and emphasis should be placed on improving data in data deficient areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]