Pub Date : 2022-04-03DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2022.2085063
C. Simon, Alheit du Toit, S. Lamberth, G. Branch
Polychaete worms are used widely as bait in South Africa, but common names are not used consistently among fishers or in the literature. This can have implications for conservation, since different polychaete species will not be equally vulnerable to exploitation, and uncertainties about the names of species make it difficult to monitor harvests to assess catch rates. This study develops a consensus view of English and Afrikaans common names for known bait species, building on names already used by fishers and in the literature. The greatest (but not complete) consensus in use of names among fishers and in the literature was for species in the families Arenicolidae, Eunicidae and Nereididae. However, most species are known by multiple common names, some common names are used for multiple species in different families, and the use of at least one name has changed. By applying principles like those used to develop scientific names, we propose a binomial naming system that includes a collective common name that applies to the family or genus, and which, for most species, is already used by fishers, as well as qualifying names that apply to the individual species. The qualifying names may refer to a morphological character that can be observed in the field, its distribution, ecology or the specific name. Research is needed to develop consensus names in isiXhosa.
{"title":"Standardising English and Afrikaans Common Names for Polychaetes Harvested as Bait in South Africa","authors":"C. Simon, Alheit du Toit, S. Lamberth, G. Branch","doi":"10.1080/15627020.2022.2085063","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2022.2085063","url":null,"abstract":"Polychaete worms are used widely as bait in South Africa, but common names are not used consistently among fishers or in the literature. This can have implications for conservation, since different polychaete species will not be equally vulnerable to exploitation, and uncertainties about the names of species make it difficult to monitor harvests to assess catch rates. This study develops a consensus view of English and Afrikaans common names for known bait species, building on names already used by fishers and in the literature. The greatest (but not complete) consensus in use of names among fishers and in the literature was for species in the families Arenicolidae, Eunicidae and Nereididae. However, most species are known by multiple common names, some common names are used for multiple species in different families, and the use of at least one name has changed. By applying principles like those used to develop scientific names, we propose a binomial naming system that includes a collective common name that applies to the family or genus, and which, for most species, is already used by fishers, as well as qualifying names that apply to the individual species. The qualifying names may refer to a morphological character that can be observed in the field, its distribution, ecology or the specific name. Research is needed to develop consensus names in isiXhosa.","PeriodicalId":55548,"journal":{"name":"African Zoology","volume":"57 1","pages":"75 - 89"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2022-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44516127","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 : 2022-04-03DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2022.2087478
Muluneh Dansa, W. Tekalign
Information on animal diversity and distribution is essential for designing management plans for conservation. This study aimed to investigate primate diversity and species' distributions in the Maze National Park, southern Ethiopia. The study was conducted during the dry season (January–March) and wet season (June–August) in 2020. Fourteen line transects in four stratified habitats were followed, and 613 individual primates belonging to three species [olive baboon Papio anubis (Lesson, 1827), mantled guereza Colobus guereza (Rüppell, 1835), and vervet monkey Chlorocebus pygerythrus (F. Cuvier, 1821)] were identified. Papio anubis was the most frequently observed primate species in both the dry and wet season in the riverine forest (n = 99 and n = 97, respectively) and in woodland (n = 43 and n = 40, respectively), whereas fewer C. pygerythrus were observed in the riverine forest in both seasons (n = 38 and n = 34 in the dry and wet season, respectively). The highest numbers of primates were recorded in the wet and dry season in the riverine forest (n = 194 and n = 204, respectively), followed by woodland (n = 78 and n = 80, respectively), open grassland (n = 10 and n = 17, respectively), and wooded grassland (n = 8 and n = 18, respectively). During the dry season, the riverine forest habitat had the highest diversity index (H′ = 1.25). These findings will be useful for the urgent prioritisation of primate conservation programmes in the park.
{"title":"Primate Diversity and Species' Distributions in Maze National Park, Southern Ethiopia","authors":"Muluneh Dansa, W. Tekalign","doi":"10.1080/15627020.2022.2087478","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2022.2087478","url":null,"abstract":"Information on animal diversity and distribution is essential for designing management plans for conservation. This study aimed to investigate primate diversity and species' distributions in the Maze National Park, southern Ethiopia. The study was conducted during the dry season (January–March) and wet season (June–August) in 2020. Fourteen line transects in four stratified habitats were followed, and 613 individual primates belonging to three species [olive baboon Papio anubis (Lesson, 1827), mantled guereza Colobus guereza (Rüppell, 1835), and vervet monkey Chlorocebus pygerythrus (F. Cuvier, 1821)] were identified. Papio anubis was the most frequently observed primate species in both the dry and wet season in the riverine forest (n = 99 and n = 97, respectively) and in woodland (n = 43 and n = 40, respectively), whereas fewer C. pygerythrus were observed in the riverine forest in both seasons (n = 38 and n = 34 in the dry and wet season, respectively). The highest numbers of primates were recorded in the wet and dry season in the riverine forest (n = 194 and n = 204, respectively), followed by woodland (n = 78 and n = 80, respectively), open grassland (n = 10 and n = 17, respectively), and wooded grassland (n = 8 and n = 18, respectively). During the dry season, the riverine forest habitat had the highest diversity index (H′ = 1.25). These findings will be useful for the urgent prioritisation of primate conservation programmes in the park.","PeriodicalId":55548,"journal":{"name":"African Zoology","volume":"57 1","pages":"121 - 125"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2022-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45222193","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 : 2022-04-03DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2022.2086020
Jarryd P. Streicher, M. Streicher, T. Ramesh, C. Downs
Anthropogenic habitat conversion through urban sprawl is driving mesocarnivores to modify their behaviour and ecology. Thorough knowledge of their feeding ecology is fundamental in understanding the pressures imposed on mesocarnivores by urbanisation. The diet of the water mongoose Atilax paludinosus has been studied in natural habitats of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. However, its urban conspecifics have been mostly overlooked. We used scat analysis to investigate the feeding ecology of water mongooses in the urban greenspace matrix of the Upper Highway Area of eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal Province. We analysed dietary intake trends using relative percentage of occurrence, based on 105 scat samples collected in 2018–2019. Urban water mongooses opportunistically consumed a wide array of prey items. Their diet was dominated by three main categories: crustaceans 35.9%, rodents 19.6%, and invertebrates 18.4%. Seasonal variation was only detected for crustaceans and rodents. We found chicken bones, plastic particulates and cigarette butts in the scat samples. This indicated that water mongooses in an urban landscape were supplementing their diet by foraging on anthropogenic waste. Our study highlights the generalist and flexible feeding habits of water mongooses in an urban matrix.
{"title":"Diet of a Generalist Mammalian Mesocarnivore in an Urban Matrix","authors":"Jarryd P. Streicher, M. Streicher, T. Ramesh, C. Downs","doi":"10.1080/15627020.2022.2086020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2022.2086020","url":null,"abstract":"Anthropogenic habitat conversion through urban sprawl is driving mesocarnivores to modify their behaviour and ecology. Thorough knowledge of their feeding ecology is fundamental in understanding the pressures imposed on mesocarnivores by urbanisation. The diet of the water mongoose Atilax paludinosus has been studied in natural habitats of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. However, its urban conspecifics have been mostly overlooked. We used scat analysis to investigate the feeding ecology of water mongooses in the urban greenspace matrix of the Upper Highway Area of eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal Province. We analysed dietary intake trends using relative percentage of occurrence, based on 105 scat samples collected in 2018–2019. Urban water mongooses opportunistically consumed a wide array of prey items. Their diet was dominated by three main categories: crustaceans 35.9%, rodents 19.6%, and invertebrates 18.4%. Seasonal variation was only detected for crustaceans and rodents. We found chicken bones, plastic particulates and cigarette butts in the scat samples. This indicated that water mongooses in an urban landscape were supplementing their diet by foraging on anthropogenic waste. Our study highlights the generalist and flexible feeding habits of water mongooses in an urban matrix.","PeriodicalId":55548,"journal":{"name":"African Zoology","volume":"57 1","pages":"126 - 132"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2022-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49333569","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 : 2022-04-03DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2022.2078671
N. M. Rindoria, Q. D. Dos Santos, Shimaa E. Ali, M. Ibraheem, A. Avenant‐Oldewage
Lamproglena monodi Capart, 1944 adult females were first described from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and have been redescribed seven times from different cichlid species in Egypt, Burkina Faso and Brazil, all showing morphological variation. The adult male was first described from Lake Victoria and the Victoria Nile in Uganda. Copepods from the present study were collected from the gills of Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) from Kibos Fish Farm, Kenya (between December 2017 and April 2018) and Sharqia Governorate (June 2019) and El-Minia (between July and December 2018) in Egypt. They were identified as L. monodi based on morphology and genetic data. Parasites were studied morphologically with the aid of light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and female infection levels calculated. Genetically, the specimens were studied using fragments of 18S and 28S rDNA. SEM analyses revealed additional diagnostic morphological features for the three adult males (elusive) and 249 females. These data were used to update the identification key for male Lamproglena species. Prevalence, mean intensity and mean abundance of the females were calculated as 13.5%, 8.6 and 1.2 respectively. Both 18S and 28S rDNA fragments confirmed the distinctness of L. monodi from previously characterised Lamproglena species, with distances of 1.22–1.94% (17–27 bp) for 18S rDNA and 15.66–18.1% (111–128 bp) for 28S rDNA. Haplotypes obtained from male and female specimens were identical, confirming the identity of the male specimens. This is the first genetic study of Lamproglena from Africa, the first SEM and genetic study of male L. monodi, and the first geographical report of this parasite from Kenya. The male and molecular data reported herein provide a useful point of reference for future Lamproglena studies.
{"title":"Lamproglena monodi Capart, 1944 Infecting Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758): Additional Information on Infection, Morphology and Genetic Data","authors":"N. M. Rindoria, Q. D. Dos Santos, Shimaa E. Ali, M. Ibraheem, A. Avenant‐Oldewage","doi":"10.1080/15627020.2022.2078671","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2022.2078671","url":null,"abstract":"Lamproglena monodi Capart, 1944 adult females were first described from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and have been redescribed seven times from different cichlid species in Egypt, Burkina Faso and Brazil, all showing morphological variation. The adult male was first described from Lake Victoria and the Victoria Nile in Uganda. Copepods from the present study were collected from the gills of Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) from Kibos Fish Farm, Kenya (between December 2017 and April 2018) and Sharqia Governorate (June 2019) and El-Minia (between July and December 2018) in Egypt. They were identified as L. monodi based on morphology and genetic data. Parasites were studied morphologically with the aid of light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and female infection levels calculated. Genetically, the specimens were studied using fragments of 18S and 28S rDNA. SEM analyses revealed additional diagnostic morphological features for the three adult males (elusive) and 249 females. These data were used to update the identification key for male Lamproglena species. Prevalence, mean intensity and mean abundance of the females were calculated as 13.5%, 8.6 and 1.2 respectively. Both 18S and 28S rDNA fragments confirmed the distinctness of L. monodi from previously characterised Lamproglena species, with distances of 1.22–1.94% (17–27 bp) for 18S rDNA and 15.66–18.1% (111–128 bp) for 28S rDNA. Haplotypes obtained from male and female specimens were identical, confirming the identity of the male specimens. This is the first genetic study of Lamproglena from Africa, the first SEM and genetic study of male L. monodi, and the first geographical report of this parasite from Kenya. The male and molecular data reported herein provide a useful point of reference for future Lamproglena studies.","PeriodicalId":55548,"journal":{"name":"African Zoology","volume":"57 1","pages":"98 - 110"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2022-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42753117","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 : 2022-04-03DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2022.2079386
Tinyiko C. Shivambu, Ndivhuwo Shivambu, C. Downs
The Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri (Scopoli, 1769) has become invasive in several countries, including South Africa, mainly through the pet trade releases and escapees. We conducted an online questionnaire survey targeting the residents in Durban, eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. We aimed to determine the distribution, habitat and diet of the Rose-ringed Parakeet. We also determined if the public perceived parakeets as pests and if control measures were supported. We found that many parakeet sightings were reported in Durban North, primarily in and around shopping centres. Approximately 64.5% of respondents provided feeding stations for parakeets, with most providing seeds and grains. A total of 173 (55.4%) respondents considered parakeets as a pest. Rose-ringed parakeets were reported to chase nine bird species, of which seven were native and two non-natives. Most respondents stated that parakeets should not be controlled. However, most of those who supported their control suggested shooting and destruction of eggs. We concluded that the distribution of parakeets is likely expanding and associated with anthropogenic activities in this urban landscape. However, public perceptions may make invasive Rose-ringed Parakeet management difficult.
{"title":"Citizen Science Survey of Non-Native Rose-Ringed Parakeets Psittacula krameri in the Durban Metropole, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa","authors":"Tinyiko C. Shivambu, Ndivhuwo Shivambu, C. Downs","doi":"10.1080/15627020.2022.2079386","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2022.2079386","url":null,"abstract":"The Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri (Scopoli, 1769) has become invasive in several countries, including South Africa, mainly through the pet trade releases and escapees. We conducted an online questionnaire survey targeting the residents in Durban, eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. We aimed to determine the distribution, habitat and diet of the Rose-ringed Parakeet. We also determined if the public perceived parakeets as pests and if control measures were supported. We found that many parakeet sightings were reported in Durban North, primarily in and around shopping centres. Approximately 64.5% of respondents provided feeding stations for parakeets, with most providing seeds and grains. A total of 173 (55.4%) respondents considered parakeets as a pest. Rose-ringed parakeets were reported to chase nine bird species, of which seven were native and two non-natives. Most respondents stated that parakeets should not be controlled. However, most of those who supported their control suggested shooting and destruction of eggs. We concluded that the distribution of parakeets is likely expanding and associated with anthropogenic activities in this urban landscape. However, public perceptions may make invasive Rose-ringed Parakeet management difficult.","PeriodicalId":55548,"journal":{"name":"African Zoology","volume":"57 1","pages":"90 - 97"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2022-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42184944","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 : 2022-03-09eCollection Date: 2022-01-01DOI: 10.1155/2022/2103151
Amal Brahimi, Mohamed El Ouardi, Amal Kaouachi, Abdelhakim Boudboud, Lhoussain Hajji, Hassan Hajjaj, Hamid Mazouz
Allium cepa L. remains the most cultivated Allium species in Morocco and around the world. With the purpose of making the first biochemical characterization of Moroccan onions, several biochemical components have been measured in eleven onion ecotypes. Onions were collected as seeds from different geographical origins and cultivated in the same environment, to eliminate the influence of the environment on biochemical expression. Moisture, total phenols, flavonoids, antioxidant activity, total and reducing sugars, and sulfur dioxide were the biochemical properties of interest. Except for moisture, the eleven onion ecotypes revealed a highly significant variation in terms of the studied biochemical characters. The total phenol and flavonoid content ranged from 5.94 to 11.22 mg equivalent gallic acid/g dry weight and 0.67 to 1.52 mg equivalent quercetin/g dry weight, respectively. The antioxidant activity of the studied onions showed a strong correlation with the polyphenols (R2 = 0.7189), especially with the flavonoids (R2 = 0.8063). The sulfur dioxide content parted from 85.60 to 30.43 ppm when measured using the Monier-Williams distillation method. The current results show that there is no correlation between total sugars and reducing sugars. In conclusion, these findings present a clear biochemical profile of Moroccan onion ecotypes, as well as confirm, for the first time, the presence of a clear variation between the biochemical profiles of Moroccan onion ecotypes, which could be useful for future valorization programs.
{"title":"Characterization of the Biochemical Potential of Moroccan Onions (<i>Allium cepa</i> L.).","authors":"Amal Brahimi, Mohamed El Ouardi, Amal Kaouachi, Abdelhakim Boudboud, Lhoussain Hajji, Hassan Hajjaj, Hamid Mazouz","doi":"10.1155/2022/2103151","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2022/2103151","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Allium cepa</i> L. remains the most cultivated <i>Allium</i> species in Morocco and around the world. With the purpose of making the first biochemical characterization of Moroccan onions, several biochemical components have been measured in eleven onion ecotypes. Onions were collected as seeds from different geographical origins and cultivated in the same environment, to eliminate the influence of the environment on biochemical expression. Moisture, total phenols, flavonoids, antioxidant activity, total and reducing sugars, and sulfur dioxide were the biochemical properties of interest. Except for moisture, the eleven onion ecotypes revealed a highly significant variation in terms of the studied biochemical characters. The total phenol and flavonoid content ranged from 5.94 to 11.22 mg equivalent gallic acid/g dry weight and 0.67 to 1.52 mg equivalent quercetin/g dry weight, respectively. The antioxidant activity of the studied onions showed a strong correlation with the polyphenols (<i>R</i> <sup>2</sup> = 0.7189), especially with the flavonoids (<i>R</i> <sup>2</sup> = 0.8063). The sulfur dioxide content parted from 85.60 to 30.43 ppm when measured using the Monier-Williams distillation method. The current results show that there is no correlation between total sugars and reducing sugars. In conclusion, these findings present a clear biochemical profile of Moroccan onion ecotypes, as well as confirm, for the first time, the presence of a clear variation between the biochemical profiles of Moroccan onion ecotypes, which could be useful for future valorization programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":55548,"journal":{"name":"African Zoology","volume":"10 1","pages":"2103151"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2022-03-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8926551/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81003806","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-01-02DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2022.2034040
Aenea Saanya, A. Massawe, R. Makundi
Threats to ecosystems are ever increasing from different drivers mostly being linked to anthropogenic activities. This has brought about various measures to restore/protect the wildlife in these areas. Considering the background of most protected areas in East Africa, small mammals have been given least attention, compared with large mammals, although they play a fundamental role in maintaining ecosystem health. It is therefore necessary to understand how small mammals are distributed in any given ecosystem as a baseline information to enable holistic and informed management. We investigated the diversity and distribution of small mammals in the Selous ecosystem, Tanzania. Two methods were used; Capture Mark Recapture (CMR) using grids of 70 m × 70 m and random placement of havahart traps in the selected habitats. Between July 2018 and June 2020, a total of 887 individuals belonging to 20 species were captured in 28 224 trap nights with 3% trap success. The small mammal species captured consisted of rodents (91.8%), Macroscelidea (3.9%), Carnivores (2.4%) Eulipotyphla (1.6%), and Primates (0.3%). Acomys ngurui (36%) and Aethomys chrysophilus (17%) were the most captured species, whereas Atilax paludinosus (0.23%), Helogale pervula (0.23%), Rattus rattus (0.23%) and Galerella sanguinea (0.11%) were the least contributing species. Acomys ngurui and Lemniscomys rosalia were the most distributed species occurring in all four habitats, whereas Cricetomys ansorgei, Rattus rattus, Mungos mungo and Genetta genetta had low occurrence. Grammomys selousi is reported for the first time in the northern part of the Rufiji River. Acomys ngurui abundance differed significantly (χ2 = 12, df = 3, p = 0.007) between the four habitats being higher in the seasonal riverine forest and across seasons (χ2 = 6, df = 2, p = 0.049), with more individuals occurring in the wet season. The Sable Forest habitat had the highest species diversity (H′ = 2.065) and the lowest diversity (H′ = 1.506) was recorded in perennial riverine forest/thickets. The highest species diversity (H′ = 1.65) was recorded in the dry season and the lowest diversity in the wet season (H′ = 1.445). Most small mammals were associated with seasonal riverine forest than other habitats. Overall, the results from this study show that, the park is rich in small mammal fauna. Therefore, considerations in updating the General Management Plan (GMP) and other plans to include the small mammals in the park management actions is recommended.
{"title":"Small Mammal Species Diversity and Distribution in the Selous Ecosystem, Tanzania","authors":"Aenea Saanya, A. Massawe, R. Makundi","doi":"10.1080/15627020.2022.2034040","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2022.2034040","url":null,"abstract":"Threats to ecosystems are ever increasing from different drivers mostly being linked to anthropogenic activities. This has brought about various measures to restore/protect the wildlife in these areas. Considering the background of most protected areas in East Africa, small mammals have been given least attention, compared with large mammals, although they play a fundamental role in maintaining ecosystem health. It is therefore necessary to understand how small mammals are distributed in any given ecosystem as a baseline information to enable holistic and informed management. We investigated the diversity and distribution of small mammals in the Selous ecosystem, Tanzania. Two methods were used; Capture Mark Recapture (CMR) using grids of 70 m × 70 m and random placement of havahart traps in the selected habitats. Between July 2018 and June 2020, a total of 887 individuals belonging to 20 species were captured in 28 224 trap nights with 3% trap success. The small mammal species captured consisted of rodents (91.8%), Macroscelidea (3.9%), Carnivores (2.4%) Eulipotyphla (1.6%), and Primates (0.3%). Acomys ngurui (36%) and Aethomys chrysophilus (17%) were the most captured species, whereas Atilax paludinosus (0.23%), Helogale pervula (0.23%), Rattus rattus (0.23%) and Galerella sanguinea (0.11%) were the least contributing species. Acomys ngurui and Lemniscomys rosalia were the most distributed species occurring in all four habitats, whereas Cricetomys ansorgei, Rattus rattus, Mungos mungo and Genetta genetta had low occurrence. Grammomys selousi is reported for the first time in the northern part of the Rufiji River. Acomys ngurui abundance differed significantly (χ2 = 12, df = 3, p = 0.007) between the four habitats being higher in the seasonal riverine forest and across seasons (χ2 = 6, df = 2, p = 0.049), with more individuals occurring in the wet season. The Sable Forest habitat had the highest species diversity (H′ = 2.065) and the lowest diversity (H′ = 1.506) was recorded in perennial riverine forest/thickets. The highest species diversity (H′ = 1.65) was recorded in the dry season and the lowest diversity in the wet season (H′ = 1.445). Most small mammals were associated with seasonal riverine forest than other habitats. Overall, the results from this study show that, the park is rich in small mammal fauna. Therefore, considerations in updating the General Management Plan (GMP) and other plans to include the small mammals in the park management actions is recommended.","PeriodicalId":55548,"journal":{"name":"African Zoology","volume":"57 1","pages":"20 - 31"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2022-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44028475","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 : 2022-01-02DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2022.2051737
Eshetu Esatu, Abebayehu Desalegn Hailemariam
The common bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus decula) is a widely distributed antelope species in Africa that utilises a variety of habitat types. A study was conducted on the population status and diurnal activity pattern of T. s. decula in Maze National Park, Ethiopia, from January to July 2020 during the wet and dry seasons. Data were collected using randomly sampled blocks covering a total area of 34 km2. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and compared with Chi-square and one-way ANOVA tests. The average population size throughout both the wet and the dry season was 21 ± 8, of which 10.5 ± 3.5, 4.0 ± 2.0 and 6.5 ± 2.5 were adults, subadults and juveniles. There was a significant difference ( χ2 = 3.4, df = 4, p < 0.05) in the T. s. decula population between the two seasons. The sex ratio of adult males to adult females was 0.56:1 and 0.75:1 in the dry and the wet seasons, respectively, indicating a population predominated by females. The mean group size was x̄ = 2.16 and 2.00 for the dry and wet seasons, respectively. The riverine forest had the greatest number of individuals and hence highest density and population distribution per square kilometre; however, distribution between the habitats did not vary significantly (F = 2.71, df = 4, p = 0.16). The overall density of the population was very low in the sampled blocks, with the population density not exceeding one per 1.7 km2. The dominant activity pattern of T. s. decula was feeding followed by resting and running/fighting. Even though its population was predominantly female, a good indicator for future breeding success, the low numbers and density of common T. s. decula due to the high impact of illegal hunting and predation, especially of subadults, indicates a vulnerable population requiring enhanced conservation efforts.
普通羚羊(Tragelaphus scriptus decula)是非洲广泛分布的羚羊物种，利用各种栖息地类型。在埃塞俄比亚Maze国家公园，对2020年1 - 7月旱季和湿季的地盲蝽(T. s. decula)种群状况和日活动模式进行了研究。数据收集采用随机抽样的块，覆盖总面积为34平方公里。资料分析采用描述性统计，比较采用卡方检验和单因素方差分析。干湿季节平均种群数为21±8只，其中成虫、亚成虫和幼虫分别为10.5±3.5、4.0±2.0和6.5±2.5只。两季间小蠹蛾种群数量差异有统计学意义(χ2 = 3.4, df = 4, p < 0.05)。干季和湿季成虫雌雄性别比分别为0.56:1和0.75:1，以雌虫为主。干季和湿季平均种群大小分别为x′= 2.16和2.00。河流森林的个体数量最多，因此每平方公里的密度和种群分布最高;不同生境间的分布差异不显著(F = 2.71, df = 4, p = 0.16)。样本区总体人口密度很低，每1.7 km2人口密度不超过1人。斑胸衣绦虫的主要活动模式是进食后休息，再跑/斗。尽管它的种群以雌性为主，这是未来繁殖成功的一个很好的指标，但由于非法狩猎和捕食的严重影响，特别是对亚成虫的影响，普通斑胸虫的数量和密度都很低，这表明它是一个脆弱的种群，需要加强保护工作。
{"title":"Preliminary Assessment of the Population Status and Diurnal Activity Pattern of Common Bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus decula Rüppell, 1835) in Maze National Park, Ethiopia","authors":"Eshetu Esatu, Abebayehu Desalegn Hailemariam","doi":"10.1080/15627020.2022.2051737","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2022.2051737","url":null,"abstract":"The common bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus decula) is a widely distributed antelope species in Africa that utilises a variety of habitat types. A study was conducted on the population status and diurnal activity pattern of T. s. decula in Maze National Park, Ethiopia, from January to July 2020 during the wet and dry seasons. Data were collected using randomly sampled blocks covering a total area of 34 km2. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and compared with Chi-square and one-way ANOVA tests. The average population size throughout both the wet and the dry season was 21 ± 8, of which 10.5 ± 3.5, 4.0 ± 2.0 and 6.5 ± 2.5 were adults, subadults and juveniles. There was a significant difference ( χ2 = 3.4, df = 4, p < 0.05) in the T. s. decula population between the two seasons. The sex ratio of adult males to adult females was 0.56:1 and 0.75:1 in the dry and the wet seasons, respectively, indicating a population predominated by females. The mean group size was x̄ = 2.16 and 2.00 for the dry and wet seasons, respectively. The riverine forest had the greatest number of individuals and hence highest density and population distribution per square kilometre; however, distribution between the habitats did not vary significantly (F = 2.71, df = 4, p = 0.16). The overall density of the population was very low in the sampled blocks, with the population density not exceeding one per 1.7 km2. The dominant activity pattern of T. s. decula was feeding followed by resting and running/fighting. Even though its population was predominantly female, a good indicator for future breeding success, the low numbers and density of common T. s. decula due to the high impact of illegal hunting and predation, especially of subadults, indicates a vulnerable population requiring enhanced conservation efforts.","PeriodicalId":55548,"journal":{"name":"African Zoology","volume":"57 1","pages":"64 - 69"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2022-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44066785","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 : 2022-01-02DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2021.2016073
N. Mashele, Lindy J. Thompson, C. Downs
Raptors have crucial functions, both ecologically and as environmental indicators. Currently, many raptor species worldwide are threatened, and the potential loss of functional groups will yield dire consequences. We identified the trends and causes of raptor admissions to the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, Limpopo province, South Africa, using information from the case files of 629 individual raptors from 44 species that were admitted between 1996 (month unspecified) and February 2018. The most frequently admitted raptor species were the Western Barn Owl Tyto alba (n = 130), Spotted Eagle-owl Bubo africanus (n = 81) and White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus (n = 53). Raptors came from as far away as Ghana, although most of the birds were from Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, South Africa. In 48% of cases (n = 304), the causes of injuries were not documented. Of the 252 cases in which the causes of injury were recorded, the most frequent causes of injury (for all raptor species combined) were poisoning (23%, n = 59), followed by motor vehicle collisions (17%, n = 43), falls from nests (10%, n = 25), and collisions with fences (8%, n = 20). For the 516 individuals for which the outcome was known, the most common outcome was ‘release’ (37%, n = 193). Our results highlight the impact of poisoning on raptors and underpin the need for increased public education about the ecological and cultural importance of raptors, and the threats that raptors face.
{"title":"Trends in the Admission of Raptors to the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, Limpopo Province, South Africa","authors":"N. Mashele, Lindy J. Thompson, C. Downs","doi":"10.1080/15627020.2021.2016073","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2021.2016073","url":null,"abstract":"Raptors have crucial functions, both ecologically and as environmental indicators. Currently, many raptor species worldwide are threatened, and the potential loss of functional groups will yield dire consequences. We identified the trends and causes of raptor admissions to the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, Limpopo province, South Africa, using information from the case files of 629 individual raptors from 44 species that were admitted between 1996 (month unspecified) and February 2018. The most frequently admitted raptor species were the Western Barn Owl Tyto alba (n = 130), Spotted Eagle-owl Bubo africanus (n = 81) and White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus (n = 53). Raptors came from as far away as Ghana, although most of the birds were from Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, South Africa. In 48% of cases (n = 304), the causes of injuries were not documented. Of the 252 cases in which the causes of injury were recorded, the most frequent causes of injury (for all raptor species combined) were poisoning (23%, n = 59), followed by motor vehicle collisions (17%, n = 43), falls from nests (10%, n = 25), and collisions with fences (8%, n = 20). For the 516 individuals for which the outcome was known, the most common outcome was ‘release’ (37%, n = 193). Our results highlight the impact of poisoning on raptors and underpin the need for increased public education about the ecological and cultural importance of raptors, and the threats that raptors face.","PeriodicalId":55548,"journal":{"name":"African Zoology","volume":"57 1","pages":"56 - 63"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2022-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47100577","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 : 2022-01-02DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2022.2057818
Alexander Edward Botha, A. Bruns, A. le Roux
An animal's ability to traverse a landscape and utilise available resources is vital for its survival. The movement patterns of an animal provide insight into space use, activity patterns and ecological requirements that are imperative for successful farming and wildlife management practices. Home ranges are often used as a measurement of space use, which provides a quantitative value of an animal's movement patterns in relation to various biological factors. A factor that is often overlooked in the analysis of movement patterns is the effect of moon phase, despite its known impact on the activity and hunting success of nocturnal predators. We live-trapped, radio-collared and monitored five black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, South Africa, between 2018 and 2019 to determine the impact of various environmental factors on movement patterns. Annual home ranges varied between individuals, were larger in subadults and overlapped between three jackals. Space use and travel velocity suggested a crepuscular activity pattern with a reliance on nocturnal activity and limited diurnal activity. Individual space use suggested variation between moon phases, although overall variation was negligible. Jackals travelled farther during new moon, compared with full moon, with the most notable difference between 23:00 and 04:00. Our results suggest that jackal behaviour does not align with the predation risk hypothesis. Space use and travel velocities varied between seasons, possibly because of differences in activity during mating and pupping periods. Our study confirms the flexibility in jackal space use and suggests a possible relationship with moon phase. To properly understand movement patterns at an individual and population level, we encourage additional research about jackals and various environmental factors via multidisciplinary collaborations.
{"title":"The Spatial Ecology of Black-Backed Jackals (Canis mesomelas) in a Protected Mountainous Grassland Area","authors":"Alexander Edward Botha, A. Bruns, A. le Roux","doi":"10.1080/15627020.2022.2057818","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2022.2057818","url":null,"abstract":"An animal's ability to traverse a landscape and utilise available resources is vital for its survival. The movement patterns of an animal provide insight into space use, activity patterns and ecological requirements that are imperative for successful farming and wildlife management practices. Home ranges are often used as a measurement of space use, which provides a quantitative value of an animal's movement patterns in relation to various biological factors. A factor that is often overlooked in the analysis of movement patterns is the effect of moon phase, despite its known impact on the activity and hunting success of nocturnal predators. We live-trapped, radio-collared and monitored five black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, South Africa, between 2018 and 2019 to determine the impact of various environmental factors on movement patterns. Annual home ranges varied between individuals, were larger in subadults and overlapped between three jackals. Space use and travel velocity suggested a crepuscular activity pattern with a reliance on nocturnal activity and limited diurnal activity. Individual space use suggested variation between moon phases, although overall variation was negligible. Jackals travelled farther during new moon, compared with full moon, with the most notable difference between 23:00 and 04:00. Our results suggest that jackal behaviour does not align with the predation risk hypothesis. Space use and travel velocities varied between seasons, possibly because of differences in activity during mating and pupping periods. Our study confirms the flexibility in jackal space use and suggests a possible relationship with moon phase. To properly understand movement patterns at an individual and population level, we encourage additional research about jackals and various environmental factors via multidisciplinary collaborations.","PeriodicalId":55548,"journal":{"name":"African Zoology","volume":"57 1","pages":"43 - 55"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2022-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44121322","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}
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