Box 12.1 (continued)
As alien sport fishes are widely dispersed within the country, demand for
new species for fishing is low, and as a result no new alien fish have been
introduced to South Africa for fishing since the 1980s. Due to this and as
legislation exists to regulate their introduction, new alien fish are unlikely to be
introduced to South Africa for fishing in the future. However, and despite the
legislation in place, alien fish are still intentionally dispersed within the
country for angling.
12.2.2.1 Pre-colonial Period (Before 1650)
The first known deliberate introductions to South Africa occurred around 2000 years
ago when small groups of hunter-herders infiltrated the country from further north in
Africa (Deacon 1986; Sadr 2015). At the time, there were few pathways of introduction, and most of the alien taxa known to have been introduced during this time
were intentionally transported into the country from elsewhere in Africa for agricultural and medicinal purposes (Deacon 1986; Henderson 2006; Sadr 2015). The first
taxa known to be introduced to South Africa included Ovis aries (Sheep), Bos taurus
(Cattle), Capra hircus (Goats) and Canis familiaris (Dogs), however, as farmed
animals were highly valued and were targeted by predators, these organisms were
unlikely to escape and establish (Deacon 1986; Thompson 2000). Cereals and other
food crops (like Sorghum and Millet) were introduced around 250 AD (Deacon
1986), while other early intentional introductions included plants for medicinal
purposes like Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar Periwinkle) (Henderson 2006)
and Ricinus communis (Castor-oil Plant), which was possibly introduced more
than 1200 years ago (Henderson 2006; but see Deacon 1986). The movement of
people and animals during this period also facilitated accidental introductions.
Medicago polymorpha (Bur Clover), for example, has a long association with
humans in Africa with archaeological evidence of the species in South Africa from
around 760 AD (Deacon 1986; Henderson 2006). As the prickly burs of this plant
(Fig. 12.4) get entangled in wool it is possible that the plant was introduced along
with sheep (Deacon 1986). Accidental introductions were also facilitated by early
trade, and Rattus rattus (House Rat) was likely introduced in 700–800 AD by Arab
traders moving along the east coast of Africa (Deacon 1986; Richardson et al. 2003;
Measey et al. 2020, Chap. 5, Sect. 5.3.1).
Although during this period some introduced organisms could have dispersed
unaided within the country, the dispersal of most introduced taxa would have largely
depended on human movements and, therefore, would have been limited. It is
therefore unlikely that major invasions occurred and although some of the taxa
introduced during this period have become invasive (e.g. R. communis and
R. rattus), these invasions may have been driven or influenced by processes that
have subsequently occurred. For example, R. rattus has been introduced multiple
times to the country, including through shipping (Aplin et al. 2011; Bastos et al.
324
K. T. Faulkner et al.
As alien sport fishes are widely dispersed within the country, demand for
new species for fishing is low, and as a result no new alien fish have been
introduced to South Africa for fishing since the 1980s. Due to this and as
legislation exists to regulate their introduction, new alien fish are unlikely to be
introduced to South Africa for fishing in the future. However, and despite the
legislation in place, alien fish are still intentionally dispersed within the
country for angling.
12.2.2.1 Pre-colonial Period (Before 1650)
The first known deliberate introductions to South Africa occurred around 2000 years
ago when small groups of hunter-herders infiltrated the country from further north in
Africa (Deacon 1986; Sadr 2015). At the time, there were few pathways of introduction, and most of the alien taxa known to have been introduced during this time
were intentionally transported into the country from elsewhere in Africa for agricultural and medicinal purposes (Deacon 1986; Henderson 2006; Sadr 2015). The first
taxa known to be introduced to South Africa included Ovis aries (Sheep), Bos taurus
(Cattle), Capra hircus (Goats) and Canis familiaris (Dogs), however, as farmed
animals were highly valued and were targeted by predators, these organisms were
unlikely to escape and establish (Deacon 1986; Thompson 2000). Cereals and other
food crops (like Sorghum and Millet) were introduced around 250 AD (Deacon
1986), while other early intentional introductions included plants for medicinal
purposes like Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar Periwinkle) (Henderson 2006)
and Ricinus communis (Castor-oil Plant), which was possibly introduced more
than 1200 years ago (Henderson 2006; but see Deacon 1986). The movement of
people and animals during this period also facilitated accidental introductions.
Medicago polymorpha (Bur Clover), for example, has a long association with
humans in Africa with archaeological evidence of the species in South Africa from
around 760 AD (Deacon 1986; Henderson 2006). As the prickly burs of this plant
(Fig. 12.4) get entangled in wool it is possible that the plant was introduced along
with sheep (Deacon 1986). Accidental introductions were also facilitated by early
trade, and Rattus rattus (House Rat) was likely introduced in 700–800 AD by Arab
traders moving along the east coast of Africa (Deacon 1986; Richardson et al. 2003;
Measey et al. 2020, Chap. 5, Sect. 5.3.1).
Although during this period some introduced organisms could have dispersed
unaided within the country, the dispersal of most introduced taxa would have largely
depended on human movements and, therefore, would have been limited. It is
therefore unlikely that major invasions occurred and although some of the taxa
introduced during this period have become invasive (e.g. R. communis and
R. rattus), these invasions may have been driven or influenced by processes that
have subsequently occurred. For example, R. rattus has been introduced multiple
times to the country, including through shipping (Aplin et al. 2011; Bastos et al.
324
K. T. Faulkner et al.