Expedition no. 38: E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Survey 2013, Cheringoma-Muanza Plateau: 17 Apr 2013-05 May 2013

The first Annual Survey in Gorongosa National Park at various locations on the limestone plateau along the Eastern border of the Park.

Photo: Piotr Naskrecki
Site map showing the three camp locations during the survey.

Photo: Bart Wursten
Rim of the Nhagutua limestone gorge, the first site of the survey.

Photo: Bart Wursten
Exploring in Nhagutua Gorge.

Photo: Bart Wursten
One of the smaller limestone gorges at Nhagutua.

Photo: Bart Wursten
Archway Gorge, Mueredzi, the second site of the survey.

Photo: Bart Wursten
Egrets foraging in the shallow waters of the Mueredzi River

Photo: Bart Wursten
Exploring the Archway Gorge, Gorongosa National Park.

Photo: Bart Wursten
Cloud Pool, the third site of the survey

Photo: Bart Wursten
Cloud Pool, Gorongosa National Park, Muanza

Generate a list of species for Expedition no. 38

Description

The primary goal of this survey was to build up an initial collection of plant specimens for the newly set up E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Laboratory at Chitengo. Based on the differences in habitat and geology of the survey areas compared to other parts of the park, it was expected that a considerable number of new taxa would be recorded for its biodiversity database. Three areas were visited for 5-6 days each:

Site 1 Nhagutua River Gorge
Site 2 Mueredzi River - Archway Gorge
Site 3 Mussambizi River - Cloud Pool and Waterfall

Collections were done mainly on the basis of what was in flower or fruit and thus would present a good herbarium specimen and example for future comparison and research. Duplicates were also collected for the herbarium of the National Botanic Garden of Belgium (BR). Everything that could not be identified fully and with certainty on site could afterwards be worked on and compared at BR. Second and third sets of duplicates were collected to be used for exchange purposes with herbaria likely to possess duplicate specimens from Gorongosa National Park or Mt Gorongosa, such as LMA (National Institute of Agronomic Research), LMU (Eduardo Mondlane University), PRE (South African National Biodiversity Institute), SRGH ( Zimbabwe National Herbarium), LISC (Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical) and possibly others. Also, where possible, small leaf samples were preserved in silicagel for future DNA research. These were also sent to BR in Belgium.