Pub Date : 2020-04-02DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2020.1741447
Rowan K. Jordaan, M. Somers, G. Hall, T. McIntyre
Human-wildlife conflict is likely to increase as urbanisation increases. African clawless otters, Aonyx capensis, and spotted-necked otters, Hydrictis maculicollis, are illegally persecuted for their perceived role in reducing trout in artificially stocked habitats in South Africa. The diet of African clawless otters has been investigated, but little is known about the diet of spotted-necked otters in these habitats. Using stable isotope techniques, we investigated the diet of spotted-necked otters occupying habitats artificially stocked with trout. Stable isotope analyses revealed that the diet of spotted-necked otters included equal proportions of crab and trout followed by frog. Diet was found to vary between, as well as within, individuals suggesting individual dietary plasticity. Temporal variation in foraging areas was evident for some otters. These results suggest that individual animals specialise on trout when available. However, this was not consistent between individuals. The resulting conflict with freshwater fisheries may, therefore, be primarily due to individual animals adapting to diets consisting largely of farmed trout. The extent of spotted-necked otter influence on stocked trout, however, needs further investigation.
{"title":"The Diet of Spotted-Necked Otters Foraging in Trout-Stocked Waters in Mpumalanga, South Africa","authors":"Rowan K. Jordaan, M. Somers, G. Hall, T. McIntyre","doi":"10.1080/15627020.2020.1741447","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2020.1741447","url":null,"abstract":"Human-wildlife conflict is likely to increase as urbanisation increases. African clawless otters, Aonyx capensis, and spotted-necked otters, Hydrictis maculicollis, are illegally persecuted for their perceived role in reducing trout in artificially stocked habitats in South Africa. The diet of African clawless otters has been investigated, but little is known about the diet of spotted-necked otters in these habitats. Using stable isotope techniques, we investigated the diet of spotted-necked otters occupying habitats artificially stocked with trout. Stable isotope analyses revealed that the diet of spotted-necked otters included equal proportions of crab and trout followed by frog. Diet was found to vary between, as well as within, individuals suggesting individual dietary plasticity. Temporal variation in foraging areas was evident for some otters. These results suggest that individual animals specialise on trout when available. However, this was not consistent between individuals. The resulting conflict with freshwater fisheries may, therefore, be primarily due to individual animals adapting to diets consisting largely of farmed trout. The extent of spotted-necked otter influence on stocked trout, however, needs further investigation.","PeriodicalId":55548,"journal":{"name":"African Zoology","volume":"55 1","pages":"141 - 148"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2020-04-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/15627020.2020.1741447","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46309952","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-04-02DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2020.1762512
C. Matthee
The dispersal and subsequent gene flow within parasite species is the result of a complex interaction between parasite life history, host life history and abiotic environmental factors. To gain more insights into the drivers responsible for parasite dispersal, COI mtDNA genetic data derived from six southern African generalist parasite species, including fleas, mites and ticks were compared with four specialist species from the same geographic region. Generalist tick species represented by Amblyomma hebraeum, Hyalomma truncatum and H. rufipes all occur temporarily on highly mobile ungulate hosts and showed high levels of haplotypic genetic diversity and high levels of dispersal with an average intraspecific global Fst (population differentiation index) value of 0.27 (±0.13). Generalist parasites, such as fleas, Listropsylla agrippinae and Chiastopsylla rossi, and one mite species, Laelaps muricola, that are all semi-permanent on the host and restricted to less mobile hosts species, showed a similar high level of genetic diversity, but an intermediate average Fst value of 0.67 (±0.11). Highly specialised semi-permanent parasites, such as the mite L. giganteus and the permanent lice Polyplax praomydis, Hoplopleura patersoni and P. arvicanthis recorded the lowest level of genetic diversity and a low level of gene flow among geographic sampling localities with an average Fst value of 0.95 (±0.05). This study provides strong support for the Specialist Generalist Variation Hypothesis (SGVH) and highlights the role that host dispersal and host specialisation by parasites play in the dispersal and evolution of ectoparasites.
{"title":"The Influence of Host Dispersal on the Gene Flow and Genetic Diversity of Generalist and Specialist Ectoparasites‡","authors":"C. Matthee","doi":"10.1080/15627020.2020.1762512","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2020.1762512","url":null,"abstract":"The dispersal and subsequent gene flow within parasite species is the result of a complex interaction between parasite life history, host life history and abiotic environmental factors. To gain more insights into the drivers responsible for parasite dispersal, COI mtDNA genetic data derived from six southern African generalist parasite species, including fleas, mites and ticks were compared with four specialist species from the same geographic region. Generalist tick species represented by Amblyomma hebraeum, Hyalomma truncatum and H. rufipes all occur temporarily on highly mobile ungulate hosts and showed high levels of haplotypic genetic diversity and high levels of dispersal with an average intraspecific global Fst (population differentiation index) value of 0.27 (±0.13). Generalist parasites, such as fleas, Listropsylla agrippinae and Chiastopsylla rossi, and one mite species, Laelaps muricola, that are all semi-permanent on the host and restricted to less mobile hosts species, showed a similar high level of genetic diversity, but an intermediate average Fst value of 0.67 (±0.11). Highly specialised semi-permanent parasites, such as the mite L. giganteus and the permanent lice Polyplax praomydis, Hoplopleura patersoni and P. arvicanthis recorded the lowest level of genetic diversity and a low level of gene flow among geographic sampling localities with an average Fst value of 0.95 (±0.05). This study provides strong support for the Specialist Generalist Variation Hypothesis (SGVH) and highlights the role that host dispersal and host specialisation by parasites play in the dispersal and evolution of ectoparasites.","PeriodicalId":55548,"journal":{"name":"African Zoology","volume":"55 1","pages":"119 - 126"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2020-04-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/15627020.2020.1762512","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42395392","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-04-02DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2020.1717377
A. Prinsloo, D. Pillay, M. O'Riain
This study provides preliminary data on predictors of Hippopotamus amphibius (Linnaeus, 1758; hippo) distribution in St Lucia Estuary, the largest estuarine system in Africa and a key habitat for one of South Africa's largest hippo populations. We use binary logistic regression models to evaluate selected habitat features as predictors of hippo occurrence at two spatial scales and a negative binomial model with log-link function to evaluate predictors of frequency of use at a fine spatial scale. At the scale of the whole estuary, models indicate that hippos preferentially select diurnal refuge sites that are closer to river inlets and farther from human settlements. At a fine scale (within the Narrows in which more than 50% of the population resides), occurrence and frequency of use models suggested that hippos preferentially settle in sites with water depths between 0.5 and 1.49 m, that are farther from human settlements, closest to natural wetland vegetation and near neighbouring groups. Preliminary data on habitat variables influencing hippo distribution highlights the necessity to manage water levels, restore wetland floodplains, protect wetland vegetation and halt human settlement encroachment in order to ensure the viability of this UNESCO site and its hippo population.
{"title":"Multiscale Drivers of Hippopotamus Distribution in the St Lucia Estuary, South Africa","authors":"A. Prinsloo, D. Pillay, M. O'Riain","doi":"10.1080/15627020.2020.1717377","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2020.1717377","url":null,"abstract":"This study provides preliminary data on predictors of Hippopotamus amphibius (Linnaeus, 1758; hippo) distribution in St Lucia Estuary, the largest estuarine system in Africa and a key habitat for one of South Africa's largest hippo populations. We use binary logistic regression models to evaluate selected habitat features as predictors of hippo occurrence at two spatial scales and a negative binomial model with log-link function to evaluate predictors of frequency of use at a fine spatial scale. At the scale of the whole estuary, models indicate that hippos preferentially select diurnal refuge sites that are closer to river inlets and farther from human settlements. At a fine scale (within the Narrows in which more than 50% of the population resides), occurrence and frequency of use models suggested that hippos preferentially settle in sites with water depths between 0.5 and 1.49 m, that are farther from human settlements, closest to natural wetland vegetation and near neighbouring groups. Preliminary data on habitat variables influencing hippo distribution highlights the necessity to manage water levels, restore wetland floodplains, protect wetland vegetation and halt human settlement encroachment in order to ensure the viability of this UNESCO site and its hippo population.","PeriodicalId":55548,"journal":{"name":"African Zoology","volume":"55 1","pages":"127 - 140"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2020-04-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/15627020.2020.1717377","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43247422","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-04-02DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2019.1704632
Ndivhuwo Maligana, R. S. Julius, Tinyiko C. Shivambu, C. Chimimba
Although synanthropic invasive murid rodents are freely traded in pet shops in South Africa, their taxonomic identities, however, remain largely unknown. Twenty-four murid rodents were sampled from pet shops in four of the five municipalities in Gauteng Province, South Africa for genetic identification using mitochondrial cytochrome b (mtDNA) sequence data. Distance-based Neighbour-Joining (NJ), character-based maximum likelihood (ML) and model-based Bayesian inference (BI) were used to infer the relationship between the pet murid rodents. Brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) and house mice (Mus musculus) were the most dominant species in the pet shops. The results demonstrated that pet shop owners lacked the taxonomic expertise to identify murid rodent species they trade in. For example, the juveniles of brown rats were misidentified as adults of the house mouse. The murid rodents sampled in the current study were genetically affiliated to both wild and laboratory strains of R. norvegicus and M. musculus. The results of the BI showed that the pet murid rodents were in the terminal clades as those of conspecifics in NCBI GenBank reference sequences. The molecular data used in the current study may be useful for developing national policies and regulations for synanthropic invasive murid rodents in the pet trade industry in South Africa.
{"title":"Genetic Identification of Freely Traded Synanthropic Invasive Murid Rodents in Pet Shops in Gauteng Province, South Africa","authors":"Ndivhuwo Maligana, R. S. Julius, Tinyiko C. Shivambu, C. Chimimba","doi":"10.1080/15627020.2019.1704632","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2019.1704632","url":null,"abstract":"Although synanthropic invasive murid rodents are freely traded in pet shops in South Africa, their taxonomic identities, however, remain largely unknown. Twenty-four murid rodents were sampled from pet shops in four of the five municipalities in Gauteng Province, South Africa for genetic identification using mitochondrial cytochrome b (mtDNA) sequence data. Distance-based Neighbour-Joining (NJ), character-based maximum likelihood (ML) and model-based Bayesian inference (BI) were used to infer the relationship between the pet murid rodents. Brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) and house mice (Mus musculus) were the most dominant species in the pet shops. The results demonstrated that pet shop owners lacked the taxonomic expertise to identify murid rodent species they trade in. For example, the juveniles of brown rats were misidentified as adults of the house mouse. The murid rodents sampled in the current study were genetically affiliated to both wild and laboratory strains of R. norvegicus and M. musculus. The results of the BI showed that the pet murid rodents were in the terminal clades as those of conspecifics in NCBI GenBank reference sequences. The molecular data used in the current study may be useful for developing national policies and regulations for synanthropic invasive murid rodents in the pet trade industry in South Africa.","PeriodicalId":55548,"journal":{"name":"African Zoology","volume":"55 1","pages":"149 - 154"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2020-04-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/15627020.2019.1704632","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43416071","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-01-02DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2019.1681295
A. L. Schoeman, Tracy-Lee Joubert, L. D. du Preez, R. Svitin
The effect of invasive species on local parasite dynamics is often overlooked. The African Clawed Frog Xenopus laevis (Daudin, 1802) (Anura: Pipidae) is a global invader, with established populations on four continents and is a domestic exotic in southern Africa. Despite a century of parasitological surveys, the current study reports seven previously unrecorded nematode species parasitising X. laevis across South Africa. These are adult Capillaria sp. and Falcaustra sp. from the intestine, third stage larvae of Contracaecum sp. encysted in the body cavity, third stage larvae of Paraquimperia sp. and Tanqua sp. from the intestine and two different species of second stage nematode larvae from the lungs and kidneys, respectively. Morphological descriptions, photomicrographs and molecular data of the 18S and 28S rRNA and COI genes are provided to aid future investigations. We propose that these nematodes could well be using X. laevis as a definitive, paratenic and intermediate host, probably involving native fish, piscivorous birds, semi-aquatic reptiles and invertebrates in their life cycles. All recovered nematodes are recorded for the first time herein in association with X. laevis, except for the genus Contracaecum, members of which have previously been recorded from invasive X. laevis from California and Chile. The current study illustrates that X. laevis is an important parasite reservoir in its native range, with implications for its role in the invasive range. The fact that none of these nematodes could be identified to species level underscores the importance of providing morphological descriptions and molecular data when reporting on parasitological surveys, especially those of known invasive species.
{"title":"Xenopus laevis as UberXL for Nematodes","authors":"A. L. Schoeman, Tracy-Lee Joubert, L. D. du Preez, R. Svitin","doi":"10.1080/15627020.2019.1681295","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2019.1681295","url":null,"abstract":"The effect of invasive species on local parasite dynamics is often overlooked. The African Clawed Frog Xenopus laevis (Daudin, 1802) (Anura: Pipidae) is a global invader, with established populations on four continents and is a domestic exotic in southern Africa. Despite a century of parasitological surveys, the current study reports seven previously unrecorded nematode species parasitising X. laevis across South Africa. These are adult Capillaria sp. and Falcaustra sp. from the intestine, third stage larvae of Contracaecum sp. encysted in the body cavity, third stage larvae of Paraquimperia sp. and Tanqua sp. from the intestine and two different species of second stage nematode larvae from the lungs and kidneys, respectively. Morphological descriptions, photomicrographs and molecular data of the 18S and 28S rRNA and COI genes are provided to aid future investigations. We propose that these nematodes could well be using X. laevis as a definitive, paratenic and intermediate host, probably involving native fish, piscivorous birds, semi-aquatic reptiles and invertebrates in their life cycles. All recovered nematodes are recorded for the first time herein in association with X. laevis, except for the genus Contracaecum, members of which have previously been recorded from invasive X. laevis from California and Chile. The current study illustrates that X. laevis is an important parasite reservoir in its native range, with implications for its role in the invasive range. The fact that none of these nematodes could be identified to species level underscores the importance of providing morphological descriptions and molecular data when reporting on parasitological surveys, especially those of known invasive species.","PeriodicalId":55548,"journal":{"name":"African Zoology","volume":"55 1","pages":"24 - 7"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2020-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/15627020.2019.1681295","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49318697","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-01-02DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2020.1731331
L. de Necker, A. Manfrin, Y. Ikenaka, M. Ishizuka, L. Brendonck, J. van Vuren, B. Sures, V. Wepener, N. Smit
Southern Africa has one of the highest densities of temporary pools and some of the most understudied temporary wetlands in the world. Additionally, the eastern African annual killifishes (Nothobranchius spp.) are rare in southern Africa and found exclusively in temporary habitats. There is a notable lack of literature regarding the diet of these fish, as well as the foodweb structures of temporary ecosystems. The current study aimed to address this paucity in literature by assessing the foodweb of a temporary pool located in the Ndumo Game Reserve (NGR) in northern Kwa-Zulu Natal using stable isotopes analysis. In addition, Bayesian mixing models were used to assess the diet of the spotted killifish Nothobranchius orthonotus over two seasons (dry and wet seasons). The foodweb consisted of only three trophic levels and comprised different foodweb items between the two seasons. Stable isotope analysis indicated significant increases in δ 15N from the dry to wet season. It further revealed the diet of N. orthonotus to be more varied and omnivorous with primary producers contributing a much greater percentage toward their diet than previous studies have reported. This study contributes valuable information to the paucity of knowledge regarding foodweb structure and food-chain length of temporary pools in South Africa, as well as new insights into the extended diet of N. orthonotus. The analytical techniques used in this study could also be utilised as part of future research in ecological assessments of temporary pools and other aquatic ecosystems in Africa and globally.
{"title":"Using Stable δ13C and δ15N Isotopes to Assess Foodweb Structures in an African Subtropical Temporary Pool","authors":"L. de Necker, A. Manfrin, Y. Ikenaka, M. Ishizuka, L. Brendonck, J. van Vuren, B. Sures, V. Wepener, N. Smit","doi":"10.1080/15627020.2020.1731331","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2020.1731331","url":null,"abstract":"Southern Africa has one of the highest densities of temporary pools and some of the most understudied temporary wetlands in the world. Additionally, the eastern African annual killifishes (Nothobranchius spp.) are rare in southern Africa and found exclusively in temporary habitats. There is a notable lack of literature regarding the diet of these fish, as well as the foodweb structures of temporary ecosystems. The current study aimed to address this paucity in literature by assessing the foodweb of a temporary pool located in the Ndumo Game Reserve (NGR) in northern Kwa-Zulu Natal using stable isotopes analysis. In addition, Bayesian mixing models were used to assess the diet of the spotted killifish Nothobranchius orthonotus over two seasons (dry and wet seasons). The foodweb consisted of only three trophic levels and comprised different foodweb items between the two seasons. Stable isotope analysis indicated significant increases in δ 15N from the dry to wet season. It further revealed the diet of N. orthonotus to be more varied and omnivorous with primary producers contributing a much greater percentage toward their diet than previous studies have reported. This study contributes valuable information to the paucity of knowledge regarding foodweb structure and food-chain length of temporary pools in South Africa, as well as new insights into the extended diet of N. orthonotus. The analytical techniques used in this study could also be utilised as part of future research in ecological assessments of temporary pools and other aquatic ecosystems in Africa and globally.","PeriodicalId":55548,"journal":{"name":"African Zoology","volume":"55 1","pages":"79 - 92"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2020-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/15627020.2020.1731331","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41359940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-01-02DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2020.1724827
T. Dube, L. de Necker, V. Wepener, N. Smit, T. Pinceel, GN Mwaijengo, P. Lemmens, L. Brendonck
Although temporary wetlands are often biodiversity hotspots that deliver multiple ecosystem services, they are also threatened by human exploitation. We conducted a comparative field study to investigate the impact of reserve protection on the diversity and community structure of aquatic macroinvertebrates of temporary wetlands (pans) in South Africa. Specifically, we compared the diversity and community composition of macroinvertebrates with a special focus on large branchiopod crustaceans in pans of a protected nature reserve (Ndumo Game Reserve) with that of pans in the surrounding anthropogenically disturbed area (Ndumo Communal Area). Our results show that reserve protection has a significant positive effect on the diversity and community structure of the aquatic macroinvertebrates. The taxon diversity for macroinvertebrates in general and large branchiopods in particular was significantly higher in the Ndumo Game Reserve, compared with the Ndumo Communal Area. Overall, our results illustrate the need for continued protection of reserve areas and pans in this tropical region in South Africa for the conservation of macroinvertebrate species.
{"title":"A Comparison of Aquatic Macroinvertebrate and Large Branchiopod Community Composition between Temporary Pans of a Conservation Area and Surrounding Communal Area in South Africa","authors":"T. Dube, L. de Necker, V. Wepener, N. Smit, T. Pinceel, GN Mwaijengo, P. Lemmens, L. Brendonck","doi":"10.1080/15627020.2020.1724827","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2020.1724827","url":null,"abstract":"Although temporary wetlands are often biodiversity hotspots that deliver multiple ecosystem services, they are also threatened by human exploitation. We conducted a comparative field study to investigate the impact of reserve protection on the diversity and community structure of aquatic macroinvertebrates of temporary wetlands (pans) in South Africa. Specifically, we compared the diversity and community composition of macroinvertebrates with a special focus on large branchiopod crustaceans in pans of a protected nature reserve (Ndumo Game Reserve) with that of pans in the surrounding anthropogenically disturbed area (Ndumo Communal Area). Our results show that reserve protection has a significant positive effect on the diversity and community structure of the aquatic macroinvertebrates. The taxon diversity for macroinvertebrates in general and large branchiopods in particular was significantly higher in the Ndumo Game Reserve, compared with the Ndumo Communal Area. Overall, our results illustrate the need for continued protection of reserve areas and pans in this tropical region in South Africa for the conservation of macroinvertebrate species.","PeriodicalId":55548,"journal":{"name":"African Zoology","volume":"55 1","pages":"67 - 77"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2020-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/15627020.2020.1724827","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42589526","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-01-02DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2020.1755595
K. A. Hadfield
{"title":"The North-West University (NWU) Zoology Centennial Special Issue","authors":"K. A. Hadfield","doi":"10.1080/15627020.2020.1755595","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2020.1755595","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55548,"journal":{"name":"African Zoology","volume":"55 1","pages":"i - iv"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2020-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/15627020.2020.1755595","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47425306","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-01-02DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2020.1724826
B. McGuirk, P. Theron, M. Maboeta
The mining industry plays a key role in the economic development of South Africa as one of the largest exporters of valuable resources, such as gold, platinum group metals and other metals and minerals. Unfortunately, mining produces large volumes of solid waste in the form of tailing disposal facilities (TDFs), which contain a variety of metals that are hazardous to the soil environment. The aim of this study was to use earthworm bioassays and avoidance-behaviour tests to assess the effects of gold mine tailings on soil organisms. Six random soil samples were taken from four different sites on a gold mine viz. two different TDFs and two grassy pasture sites. Earthworms (Eisenia andrei) were exposed for a period of 28 days to the soils from these different sites. Soil from the TDFs was also diluted to 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%, respectively. Soil chemical analysis showed that the TDFs had the lowest pH levels and that only Cr concentrations were higher than proposed benchmarks in two of the sites. Earthworms exposed to the TDF material showed significantly lower earthworm biomass, allied with a very low cocoon production. The avoidance-behaviour test showed similar results, where earthworms generally preferred natural and control soils over the TDF material. It can be concluded, that even though the gold mine was inactive for a long period of time, it still remains a highly contaminated area.
{"title":"The Effects of Different Gold Mine Tailings on Growth, Reproduction and Avoidance-Behaviour of Earthworms","authors":"B. McGuirk, P. Theron, M. Maboeta","doi":"10.1080/15627020.2020.1724826","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2020.1724826","url":null,"abstract":"The mining industry plays a key role in the economic development of South Africa as one of the largest exporters of valuable resources, such as gold, platinum group metals and other metals and minerals. Unfortunately, mining produces large volumes of solid waste in the form of tailing disposal facilities (TDFs), which contain a variety of metals that are hazardous to the soil environment. The aim of this study was to use earthworm bioassays and avoidance-behaviour tests to assess the effects of gold mine tailings on soil organisms. Six random soil samples were taken from four different sites on a gold mine viz. two different TDFs and two grassy pasture sites. Earthworms (Eisenia andrei) were exposed for a period of 28 days to the soils from these different sites. Soil from the TDFs was also diluted to 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%, respectively. Soil chemical analysis showed that the TDFs had the lowest pH levels and that only Cr concentrations were higher than proposed benchmarks in two of the sites. Earthworms exposed to the TDF material showed significantly lower earthworm biomass, allied with a very low cocoon production. The avoidance-behaviour test showed similar results, where earthworms generally preferred natural and control soils over the TDF material. It can be concluded, that even though the gold mine was inactive for a long period of time, it still remains a highly contaminated area.","PeriodicalId":55548,"journal":{"name":"African Zoology","volume":"55 1","pages":"35 - 42"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2020-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/15627020.2020.1724826","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44422169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-01-02DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2019.1677497
K. Kyle, LH du Preez
This communication details the maternal care of Hemisus marmoratus and Hemisus guttatus. A Hemisus mother stays with the eggs, protecting them during their time in the nest chamber, and ensures their ultimate arrival in a body of water, at varying stages of development, via a variety of different techniques, ranging from nest placement and slide construction to tadpole transportation. We confirm that a sticky glue-like substance is used during inguinal amplexus of H. guttatus, with only the hands of the male being glued to the female. Field observations indicate that H. marmoratus females carry their offspring to the water, gluing her hind legs together to increase the surface area for the tadpoles to adhere to during the journey.
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