Pub Date : 2021-07-03DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2021.1975560
MA Petford, G. Alexander
Measures of activity patterns in relation to environmental conditions provide insights into ecologically driven requirements and climate preferences of species, particularly for ectotherms, due to the strong relationship between body temperature (Tb) and environmental temperatures. Lygodactylus incognitus (cryptic dwarf gecko) and Lygodactylus soutpansbergensis (Soutpansberg dwarf gecko) are range-restricted endemics to the Soutpansberg Mountains, South Africa, and have recently been shown to be potentially vulnerable to the effects of climate change. This prompted us to study the relationship between the thermoregulatory characteristics and environmental temperatures for these syntopic species. Active geckos (i.e. those outside of a refuge) and environmental variables were recorded during scan surveys across two seasons. Binomial logistic regressions were used to predict and explain activity based on presence/absence measures and environmental variables for each species. Of the variables measured, air temperature (Ta) was the main predictor of activity for both species. Cryptic dwarf geckos were active in cooler Ta than warmer temperatures in comparison to Soutpansberg dwarf geckos. Cryptic dwarf geckos are thus well adapted to temperate conditions. Soutpansberg dwarf geckos appear well adapted for warmer conditions, as they were more likely to be active at higher Ta. Our findings suggest that both species will alter their daily activity times in response to changing climate, but that the cryptic dwarf gecko is likely to be more negatively impacted than the Soutpansberg dwarf gecko, due to their affinity for cooler temperatures and avoidance of the hottest temperatures exhibited during the study period. Therefore, although these broadly sympatric, syntopic, range-restricted species are closely related and have similar life histories, they occupy different thermal niches and are likely to respond to climate change idiosyncratically. Our findings caution against the overuse of proxy species in predicting species geographic distribution changes in response to climate change.
{"title":"Diel Activity Patterns of Two Syntopic Range-Restricted Geckos Suggest Idiosyncratic Responses to Climate Change","authors":"MA Petford, G. Alexander","doi":"10.1080/15627020.2021.1975560","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2021.1975560","url":null,"abstract":"Measures of activity patterns in relation to environmental conditions provide insights into ecologically driven requirements and climate preferences of species, particularly for ectotherms, due to the strong relationship between body temperature (Tb) and environmental temperatures. Lygodactylus incognitus (cryptic dwarf gecko) and Lygodactylus soutpansbergensis (Soutpansberg dwarf gecko) are range-restricted endemics to the Soutpansberg Mountains, South Africa, and have recently been shown to be potentially vulnerable to the effects of climate change. This prompted us to study the relationship between the thermoregulatory characteristics and environmental temperatures for these syntopic species. Active geckos (i.e. those outside of a refuge) and environmental variables were recorded during scan surveys across two seasons. Binomial logistic regressions were used to predict and explain activity based on presence/absence measures and environmental variables for each species. Of the variables measured, air temperature (Ta) was the main predictor of activity for both species. Cryptic dwarf geckos were active in cooler Ta than warmer temperatures in comparison to Soutpansberg dwarf geckos. Cryptic dwarf geckos are thus well adapted to temperate conditions. Soutpansberg dwarf geckos appear well adapted for warmer conditions, as they were more likely to be active at higher Ta. Our findings suggest that both species will alter their daily activity times in response to changing climate, but that the cryptic dwarf gecko is likely to be more negatively impacted than the Soutpansberg dwarf gecko, due to their affinity for cooler temperatures and avoidance of the hottest temperatures exhibited during the study period. Therefore, although these broadly sympatric, syntopic, range-restricted species are closely related and have similar life histories, they occupy different thermal niches and are likely to respond to climate change idiosyncratically. Our findings caution against the overuse of proxy species in predicting species geographic distribution changes in response to climate change.","PeriodicalId":55548,"journal":{"name":"African Zoology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42740397","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 : 2021-07-03DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2021.1958056
F. Chibwana, Jestina Katandukila
Most migratory aquatic birds are regarded as reservoir hosts for many parasitic diseases, including digenetic trematodes that cause significant losses to farmed fish. However, in Tanzania, studies of birds focus more on their species diversity and patterns of speciation than their parasites. The current study attempted to use molecular methods, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COX-1) in particular, and ribosomal DNA (rDNA) i.e. 28S rRNA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) regions, to investigate the occurrence of intestinal echinostomatoid species recovered from fish-eating birds, i.e. Grey Herons (Ardea cinerea) and Great Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo), from Mwanza Gulf in Lake Victoria. Both morphology and molecular markers revealed the presence of three echinostomatoid species: Stephanoprora amurensis and Petasiger phalacrocoracis in P. carbo, and the Patagifer vioscai in A. cinerea. The present species are reported for the first time in African bird species.
{"title":"Occurrence of Echinostomatoids (Platyhelminthes: Digenea) in Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) and Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea): First Insights into the DNA Barcodes from Lake Victoria, Tanzania","authors":"F. Chibwana, Jestina Katandukila","doi":"10.1080/15627020.2021.1958056","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2021.1958056","url":null,"abstract":"Most migratory aquatic birds are regarded as reservoir hosts for many parasitic diseases, including digenetic trematodes that cause significant losses to farmed fish. However, in Tanzania, studies of birds focus more on their species diversity and patterns of speciation than their parasites. The current study attempted to use molecular methods, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COX-1) in particular, and ribosomal DNA (rDNA) i.e. 28S rRNA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) regions, to investigate the occurrence of intestinal echinostomatoid species recovered from fish-eating birds, i.e. Grey Herons (Ardea cinerea) and Great Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo), from Mwanza Gulf in Lake Victoria. Both morphology and molecular markers revealed the presence of three echinostomatoid species: Stephanoprora amurensis and Petasiger phalacrocoracis in P. carbo, and the Patagifer vioscai in A. cinerea. The present species are reported for the first time in African bird species.","PeriodicalId":55548,"journal":{"name":"African Zoology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44683553","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 : 2021-07-03DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2021.1949389
FP Cuozzo, A. Halajian, ML Sauther, KM Rampedi, JB Millette
To date, there have been few published reports of Caracal spp. (or other non-domestic carnivores) preying upon nocturnal strepsirrhine primates anywhere in continental Africa. However, in South Africa, most studies of caracal diet have been conducted outside of the known geographic range of South Africa's nocturnal primates. Here we report Otolemur crassicaudatus (the greater or thick-tailed bushbaby/galago) remains recovered from the stomach of a caracal, collected in Limpopo province, South Africa, in 2018, which included portions of the limbs, tail, skull and dentition, allowing confident taxonomic assignment. Sixty-seven carnivores (equal in size or larger than O. crassicaudatus), including one other caracal, also had stomach contents examined between 2012 and 2019 in northern South Africa. None included O. crassicaudatus remains, making this the first documented example of this non-human primate species being preyed upon by an endemic carnivore; kills of O. crassicaudatus by domestic dogs, though not being consumed, have previously been documented. These data expand the knowledge of the diet of caracal in southern Africa and may signal an expanding caracal dietary regime and possible behavioural changes in O. crassicaudatus, such as increased terrestrial movement, with increasing human actions and reduction of endemic forests and habitats.
{"title":"First Report of the Thick-Tailed Bushbaby (Otolemur crassicaudatus) being Preyed Upon by an Endemic Carnivore (Caracal caracal) in South Africa","authors":"FP Cuozzo, A. Halajian, ML Sauther, KM Rampedi, JB Millette","doi":"10.1080/15627020.2021.1949389","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2021.1949389","url":null,"abstract":"To date, there have been few published reports of Caracal spp. (or other non-domestic carnivores) preying upon nocturnal strepsirrhine primates anywhere in continental Africa. However, in South Africa, most studies of caracal diet have been conducted outside of the known geographic range of South Africa's nocturnal primates. Here we report Otolemur crassicaudatus (the greater or thick-tailed bushbaby/galago) remains recovered from the stomach of a caracal, collected in Limpopo province, South Africa, in 2018, which included portions of the limbs, tail, skull and dentition, allowing confident taxonomic assignment. Sixty-seven carnivores (equal in size or larger than O. crassicaudatus), including one other caracal, also had stomach contents examined between 2012 and 2019 in northern South Africa. None included O. crassicaudatus remains, making this the first documented example of this non-human primate species being preyed upon by an endemic carnivore; kills of O. crassicaudatus by domestic dogs, though not being consumed, have previously been documented. These data expand the knowledge of the diet of caracal in southern Africa and may signal an expanding caracal dietary regime and possible behavioural changes in O. crassicaudatus, such as increased terrestrial movement, with increasing human actions and reduction of endemic forests and habitats.","PeriodicalId":55548,"journal":{"name":"African Zoology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/15627020.2021.1949389","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46197682","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 : 2021-07-03DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2021.1962737
T. de Haas, L. Connell, R. Greenfield
Anthropogenic activities have propelled the exploitation of natural environments, which along with climate change have resulted in salinity intrusion to freshwater ecosystems worldwide. To determine the extent the hypersalinity stressor has on freshwater ecosystems, physiological cardiac responses in the freshwater gastropod Melanoides tuberculata were analysed during an acute exposure to varying salinity concentrations. A non-invasive method was used to monitor the cardiac activity of the organisms. The mean heart rate (bpm) of M. tuberculata declined significantly between 20 ppt and 30 ppt. Melanoides tuberculata exhibited a hypersalinity threshold of 25 ppt and tolerated salinity concentrations up to 50 ppt. Data collected provide background data for the use of M. tuberculata as a bioindicator organism to assess the effects of hypersalinity on cardiac response of organisms in a freshwater ecosystem.
{"title":"Investigating the Effects of Hypersalinity on the Cardiac Performance of the Invasive Gastropod Melanoides tuberculata (Müller, 1774)","authors":"T. de Haas, L. Connell, R. Greenfield","doi":"10.1080/15627020.2021.1962737","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2021.1962737","url":null,"abstract":"Anthropogenic activities have propelled the exploitation of natural environments, which along with climate change have resulted in salinity intrusion to freshwater ecosystems worldwide. To determine the extent the hypersalinity stressor has on freshwater ecosystems, physiological cardiac responses in the freshwater gastropod Melanoides tuberculata were analysed during an acute exposure to varying salinity concentrations. A non-invasive method was used to monitor the cardiac activity of the organisms. The mean heart rate (bpm) of M. tuberculata declined significantly between 20 ppt and 30 ppt. Melanoides tuberculata exhibited a hypersalinity threshold of 25 ppt and tolerated salinity concentrations up to 50 ppt. Data collected provide background data for the use of M. tuberculata as a bioindicator organism to assess the effects of hypersalinity on cardiac response of organisms in a freshwater ecosystem.","PeriodicalId":55548,"journal":{"name":"African Zoology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47344247","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 : 2021-04-03DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2021.1933591
Stephanie L. Payne, C. Symes, E. Witkowski
Floral nectar is an important attractant and reward for visitors, and is often produced in synchrony with peak activity of pollinators. Aloe peglerae flowers in winter, and previous studies have shown that it is pollinated primarily by diurnal generalist birds, with small mammals making additional contributions to pollination at night. Nectar produced during the day is the main attractant and reward for birds, but the nectar rewards available to small mammals are unknown. This paper investigates nectar availability in Aloe peglerae, because small mammals may be feeding on remaining, or freshly produced, nectar at night. Nectar availability over a 24-hour period was measured in screened and unscreened plants (n = ten plants per treatment), and the associated partitioning of visits by diurnal birds and nocturnal small mammals assessed. Nectar is constantly available over 24-hours, but in different quantities. Nectar volume of screened (nectar availability) and unscreened (standing crop) plants, is significantly higher early in the morning after sunrise, compared with all other sampling periods during the 24-hour period. Nectar concentration did not vary over 24-hours, averaging 11.5 ± 0.4% w/w (unscreened) across the entire 24-hour period. Peaks in visits by different guilds occurred at periods (i.e. diurnal birds and nocturnal small mammals) when nectar availability was high. Aloe peglerae has higher daytime nectar production, when its primary pollinators are most active, but the continual, albeit reduced, nectar availability at night attracts small mammals. Mobile diurnal birds, and less-mobile nocturnal small mammals, both rely on this nectar resource during dry and cold South African winters and, in turn, are important pollinators for this Critically Endangered Aloe species.
{"title":"Temporal Partitioning of Diurnal Bird and Nocturnal Small Mammal Visitors to a Winter Flowering Endemic Succulent","authors":"Stephanie L. Payne, C. Symes, E. Witkowski","doi":"10.1080/15627020.2021.1933591","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2021.1933591","url":null,"abstract":"Floral nectar is an important attractant and reward for visitors, and is often produced in synchrony with peak activity of pollinators. Aloe peglerae flowers in winter, and previous studies have shown that it is pollinated primarily by diurnal generalist birds, with small mammals making additional contributions to pollination at night. Nectar produced during the day is the main attractant and reward for birds, but the nectar rewards available to small mammals are unknown. This paper investigates nectar availability in Aloe peglerae, because small mammals may be feeding on remaining, or freshly produced, nectar at night. Nectar availability over a 24-hour period was measured in screened and unscreened plants (n = ten plants per treatment), and the associated partitioning of visits by diurnal birds and nocturnal small mammals assessed. Nectar is constantly available over 24-hours, but in different quantities. Nectar volume of screened (nectar availability) and unscreened (standing crop) plants, is significantly higher early in the morning after sunrise, compared with all other sampling periods during the 24-hour period. Nectar concentration did not vary over 24-hours, averaging 11.5 ± 0.4% w/w (unscreened) across the entire 24-hour period. Peaks in visits by different guilds occurred at periods (i.e. diurnal birds and nocturnal small mammals) when nectar availability was high. Aloe peglerae has higher daytime nectar production, when its primary pollinators are most active, but the continual, albeit reduced, nectar availability at night attracts small mammals. Mobile diurnal birds, and less-mobile nocturnal small mammals, both rely on this nectar resource during dry and cold South African winters and, in turn, are important pollinators for this Critically Endangered Aloe species.","PeriodicalId":55548,"journal":{"name":"African Zoology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/15627020.2021.1933591","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44438743","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 : 2021-04-03DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2021.1908845
E. C. Mungall, S. Cooper
Dama gazelles (Nanger dama Pallas, 1766) are critically endangered within their native habitat of northern Africa's Sahelo-Saharan Zone. However, several Texas ranches maintain populations that provide a hedge against extinction and that can provide suitable stock for conservation projects, including reintroduction. For these initiatives, there is a critical need for information on spatial requirements of male dama gazelles. This is especially the case, because population increase is hindered by aggressive behaviour of males kept within limited areas. Adult males kill other males. We report on the spatial distribution and interaction potential (interanimal distances) of male eastern dama gazelles (N. dama ruficollis) from a population living on 8 996 ha of fenced rangeland in West Texas, USA. We fitted five males with GPS-radio collars and tracked their positions every 3 h for one year. Adult males (n = 3) maintained annual 95% Kernel Home Ranges (KHR) averaging 1 783 ha with 50% core areas averaging 440 ha. Average distance between adults with adjacent home ranges was 2.8 to 4.6 km, with only four contacts within 20 m recorded. Subadult males (n = 2) had more diffuse home ranges and a common core area. They only associated in a loose bachelor group for part of the time. Their space use can overlap with that of adult males. When spatial requirements are met, problems caused by aggression can be minimised. Small sample size prevents definite recommendations, but results point to productive avenues for additional study to enhance management of other ex situ populations.
{"title":"Home Range Size of Male Dama Gazelles, Nanger dama, in an ex situ Population in West Texas","authors":"E. C. Mungall, S. Cooper","doi":"10.1080/15627020.2021.1908845","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2021.1908845","url":null,"abstract":"Dama gazelles (Nanger dama Pallas, 1766) are critically endangered within their native habitat of northern Africa's Sahelo-Saharan Zone. However, several Texas ranches maintain populations that provide a hedge against extinction and that can provide suitable stock for conservation projects, including reintroduction. For these initiatives, there is a critical need for information on spatial requirements of male dama gazelles. This is especially the case, because population increase is hindered by aggressive behaviour of males kept within limited areas. Adult males kill other males. We report on the spatial distribution and interaction potential (interanimal distances) of male eastern dama gazelles (N. dama ruficollis) from a population living on 8 996 ha of fenced rangeland in West Texas, USA. We fitted five males with GPS-radio collars and tracked their positions every 3 h for one year. Adult males (n = 3) maintained annual 95% Kernel Home Ranges (KHR) averaging 1 783 ha with 50% core areas averaging 440 ha. Average distance between adults with adjacent home ranges was 2.8 to 4.6 km, with only four contacts within 20 m recorded. Subadult males (n = 2) had more diffuse home ranges and a common core area. They only associated in a loose bachelor group for part of the time. Their space use can overlap with that of adult males. When spatial requirements are met, problems caused by aggression can be minimised. Small sample size prevents definite recommendations, but results point to productive avenues for additional study to enhance management of other ex situ populations.","PeriodicalId":55548,"journal":{"name":"African Zoology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/15627020.2021.1908845","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49036703","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 : 2021-04-03DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2021.1901605
Venuste Nsengimana, A. Vanderheyden, S. Gombeer, N. Smitz, K. Meganck, M. De Meyer, T. Backeljau, B. Fisher, W. Dekoninck
We present the first record of the ant Pheidole megatron Fischer and Fisher, 2013 in Rwanda, a species thought to be endemic to the Malagasy region. Specimens were collected in July 2019, in one of the houses located at Kivumu, in the center of Rwanda. They were first morphologically identified as Pheidole megatron using a recent identification key. Molecular identification through mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) confirmed the morphological identification. The Rwanda sample clustered with samples from the Comoros, and it belongs to the group megacephala. Future studies may focus on the biology and ecology of this ant species in Africa. Moreover, we suggest the screening of other African populations of Pheidole megacephala using finer genetic markers with higher mutation rates to clarify the identification and spread of the species.
{"title":"First Record of the Ant Pheidole megatron Fischer and Fisher, 2013 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Rwanda","authors":"Venuste Nsengimana, A. Vanderheyden, S. Gombeer, N. Smitz, K. Meganck, M. De Meyer, T. Backeljau, B. Fisher, W. Dekoninck","doi":"10.1080/15627020.2021.1901605","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2021.1901605","url":null,"abstract":"We present the first record of the ant Pheidole megatron Fischer and Fisher, 2013 in Rwanda, a species thought to be endemic to the Malagasy region. Specimens were collected in July 2019, in one of the houses located at Kivumu, in the center of Rwanda. They were first morphologically identified as Pheidole megatron using a recent identification key. Molecular identification through mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) confirmed the morphological identification. The Rwanda sample clustered with samples from the Comoros, and it belongs to the group megacephala. Future studies may focus on the biology and ecology of this ant species in Africa. Moreover, we suggest the screening of other African populations of Pheidole megacephala using finer genetic markers with higher mutation rates to clarify the identification and spread of the species.","PeriodicalId":55548,"journal":{"name":"African Zoology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/15627020.2021.1901605","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43652675","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 : 2021-04-03DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2021.1932588
Manfothang Dongmo Ervis, Bakwo Fils Eric-Moise, Mongombe Manga Aaron, Atagana Patrick Jules, T. F. Fernand-Nestor
The western region of Cameroon is one of the leading agricultural production areas in sub-Saharan Africa, and this ongoing anthropogenic perturbation has led to the replacement of natural forests with agroecosystems. Such anthropogenic landscape transformations may have affected bat species composition and abundance in the area. Our study assessed the response of bat assemblages to these changes, by comparing species diversity and abundance across four distinct habitat types within the region: cultivated farms (transformed landscape), savannah and gallery forest (both representing degraded areas), and secondary forest. A total of 442 individuals assigned to 25 species were captured using ground-level mist nets. The cultivated farms recorded the highest bat species richness (13 species) and abundance (145 individuals), whereas the gallery forest had the lowest species richness (six species) and abundance (62 individuals). Myonycteris angolensis had the highest relative abundance in the region, with large numbers captured in cultivated farms. According to the rank-frequency diagram, bat assemblages in cultivated farms (Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC) = 53.7), gallery forest (AIC = 27.7), and secondary forest (AIC = 48.5) are distributed according to the pre-emption model, whereas the distribution in the savannah (AIC = 40.0) follow the null model. Generalised linear models revealed significant differences in species and relative abundance across the four habitat types.
{"title":"Diversity Pattern of Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in a Modified Tropical Environment in the Western Region of Cameroon","authors":"Manfothang Dongmo Ervis, Bakwo Fils Eric-Moise, Mongombe Manga Aaron, Atagana Patrick Jules, T. F. Fernand-Nestor","doi":"10.1080/15627020.2021.1932588","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2021.1932588","url":null,"abstract":"The western region of Cameroon is one of the leading agricultural production areas in sub-Saharan Africa, and this ongoing anthropogenic perturbation has led to the replacement of natural forests with agroecosystems. Such anthropogenic landscape transformations may have affected bat species composition and abundance in the area. Our study assessed the response of bat assemblages to these changes, by comparing species diversity and abundance across four distinct habitat types within the region: cultivated farms (transformed landscape), savannah and gallery forest (both representing degraded areas), and secondary forest. A total of 442 individuals assigned to 25 species were captured using ground-level mist nets. The cultivated farms recorded the highest bat species richness (13 species) and abundance (145 individuals), whereas the gallery forest had the lowest species richness (six species) and abundance (62 individuals). Myonycteris angolensis had the highest relative abundance in the region, with large numbers captured in cultivated farms. According to the rank-frequency diagram, bat assemblages in cultivated farms (Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC) = 53.7), gallery forest (AIC = 27.7), and secondary forest (AIC = 48.5) are distributed according to the pre-emption model, whereas the distribution in the savannah (AIC = 40.0) follow the null model. Generalised linear models revealed significant differences in species and relative abundance across the four habitat types.","PeriodicalId":55548,"journal":{"name":"African Zoology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/15627020.2021.1932588","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43848827","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 : 2021-04-03DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2021.1901604
O. Anyaele, V. Enwemiwe
The sand flea, Tunga penetrans, causes tungiasis, the detrimental skin inflammation with the potential for bacterial co-infections. It is a neglected tropical disease common among the rural poor, especially communities along the coastlines in Southwest Nigeria. There are very few studies on T. penetrans infestation in Nigeria, and no records of infestation along the sandy coastal areas of Ondo State. Therefore, the current study was carried out to examine the prevalence of T. penetrans infestation in the coastal communities of Zion Igbokoda, Kofawe and Laranda in the region of Igbokoda, Ondo State. Hands and feet of selected household members were examined, whereas fleas on different types of floors were sampled by sweeping and beating, soil collection, and extraction by tullgren funnel methods. The prevalence of tungiasis was 35.8% of the total population studied with infection more prevalent in males within 0–4 years (46.9%), 5–9 years (60.2%), 10–14 years (60%) and 60 years and above (28.1%) age groups than in females (p = 0.015). Infestation prevalence was in the order of 43.9%, 34.6% and 29.0% for Zion Igbokoda, Kofawe and Laranda, respectively. The number of flea-infested floors was 81 out of 363 examined with the greatest percentage infestation in houses that had earthen floored rooms and verandas. The high prevalence recorded in this study is capable of affecting the socio-economic well-being of the Igbokoda community. Therefore, a well-designed intervention measure involving concrete flooring of houses is suggested in order to ameliorate infestation burdens.
{"title":"Prevalence of Tungiasis in Rural Poor Neighbourhood in Igbokoda, Ondo State, Nigeria","authors":"O. Anyaele, V. Enwemiwe","doi":"10.1080/15627020.2021.1901604","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2021.1901604","url":null,"abstract":"The sand flea, Tunga penetrans, causes tungiasis, the detrimental skin inflammation with the potential for bacterial co-infections. It is a neglected tropical disease common among the rural poor, especially communities along the coastlines in Southwest Nigeria. There are very few studies on T. penetrans infestation in Nigeria, and no records of infestation along the sandy coastal areas of Ondo State. Therefore, the current study was carried out to examine the prevalence of T. penetrans infestation in the coastal communities of Zion Igbokoda, Kofawe and Laranda in the region of Igbokoda, Ondo State. Hands and feet of selected household members were examined, whereas fleas on different types of floors were sampled by sweeping and beating, soil collection, and extraction by tullgren funnel methods. The prevalence of tungiasis was 35.8% of the total population studied with infection more prevalent in males within 0–4 years (46.9%), 5–9 years (60.2%), 10–14 years (60%) and 60 years and above (28.1%) age groups than in females (p = 0.015). Infestation prevalence was in the order of 43.9%, 34.6% and 29.0% for Zion Igbokoda, Kofawe and Laranda, respectively. The number of flea-infested floors was 81 out of 363 examined with the greatest percentage infestation in houses that had earthen floored rooms and verandas. The high prevalence recorded in this study is capable of affecting the socio-economic well-being of the Igbokoda community. Therefore, a well-designed intervention measure involving concrete flooring of houses is suggested in order to ameliorate infestation burdens.","PeriodicalId":55548,"journal":{"name":"African Zoology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/15627020.2021.1901604","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41826485","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 : 2021-04-03DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2021.1885990
W. Nieman, B. C. Schultz, A. Wilkinson, A. Leslie
The encroachment of agricultural landscapes on natural ecosystems poses a significant threat to native wildlife persistence. In the Boland Mountain Complex (BMC), the presence of mammals was well documented in the 20th century, but an updated account is lacking. This study relied on Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) to elucidate perceived medium- to large-sized (>300 g) mammal occurrences, distribution ranges, and relative abundance on private agricultural properties adjacent to protected areas in the BMC. In total, 30 mammal species were reported to be present, and inverse distance weighted (IDW) interpolations were created for species that had more than five independent citations (n = 24), to display reported relative abundance-distributions beyond the scope of the sampled locations. Species with severely isolated relative abundance-distribution profiles (e.g. leopard, Panthera pardus, Cape clawless otter, Aonyx capensis and honey badger, Mellivora capensis), species with low overall incidence (e.g. aardwolf, Proteles cristata and Smith's red rock rabbit, Pronolagus rupestris), and non-native species with high incidences (e.g. feral dog, Canis familiaris and feral pig, Sus scrofa) were identified, and can now be prioritised further for future research and conservation efforts within the BMC region.
{"title":"Stakeholders' Perceptions of Mammal Occurrence and Abundance on Agricultural Properties Bordering the Boland Mountain Complex, South Africa","authors":"W. Nieman, B. C. Schultz, A. Wilkinson, A. Leslie","doi":"10.1080/15627020.2021.1885990","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2021.1885990","url":null,"abstract":"The encroachment of agricultural landscapes on natural ecosystems poses a significant threat to native wildlife persistence. In the Boland Mountain Complex (BMC), the presence of mammals was well documented in the 20th century, but an updated account is lacking. This study relied on Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) to elucidate perceived medium- to large-sized (>300 g) mammal occurrences, distribution ranges, and relative abundance on private agricultural properties adjacent to protected areas in the BMC. In total, 30 mammal species were reported to be present, and inverse distance weighted (IDW) interpolations were created for species that had more than five independent citations (n = 24), to display reported relative abundance-distributions beyond the scope of the sampled locations. Species with severely isolated relative abundance-distribution profiles (e.g. leopard, Panthera pardus, Cape clawless otter, Aonyx capensis and honey badger, Mellivora capensis), species with low overall incidence (e.g. aardwolf, Proteles cristata and Smith's red rock rabbit, Pronolagus rupestris), and non-native species with high incidences (e.g. feral dog, Canis familiaris and feral pig, Sus scrofa) were identified, and can now be prioritised further for future research and conservation efforts within the BMC region.","PeriodicalId":55548,"journal":{"name":"African Zoology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/15627020.2021.1885990","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47524883","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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