TITLE:
Conservation of Quiver Trees in Namibia and South Africa under a Changing Climate
AUTHORS:
Danni Guo, Judith L. Arnolds, Guy F. Midgley, Wendy B. Foden
KEYWORDS:
Climate Change, Conservation, Quiver Tree, Aloe Dichotoma, Karoo, Species Distribution, Arid Region, Namibia, South Africa
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.4 No.7,
July
22,
2016
ABSTRACT: Aloe dichotoma
(Quiver tree) occurs in the arid regions of Namaqualand and Bushman land in
South Africa, and in arid regions of southern Namibia. The Quiver trees are not
only threatened by agricultural expansion, overgrazing, and mining; but also by
climate changes and droughts. Previous studies show that Quiver trees are very
sensitive to environmental changes, and do not respond well to extreme hot and
dry conditions. This study investigates the current status of the Quiver tree
within its existing environment, and also assesses the projected future changes
of the Quiver tree habitat under different climatic scenarios. It provided
evidence regarding the importance of the study to understanding the climate
change impacts on the Quiver tree and its geographical response to climate
changes.