Search

Multi-method sampling approaches are becoming increasingly popular for investigating species occurrence at specific sites, as there is a need to accurately monitor species with limited time and resources. In this study, a multi-method comparative approach was used to survey bat species in the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountain range in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. We used historical museum records and species distribution modelling (SDM) to predict which species would likely occur in our study area. We then compared physical capture (by deploying mist nets) with acoustic surveys (using an Anabat bat detector) to assess the bat species assemblages present. Species distribution models predicted eight bat species to occur from the historical checklist of 28 species recorded in the broader region, as no museum records existed for the specific study area. Species detection by acoustic data yielded the highest number of detected species (n = 11) while active trapping yielded nine species from 54 individuals of four families, namely, Laephotis botswanae, L. capensis, Myotis tricolor, Pipistrellus hesperidus, Rhinolophus clivosus, and Tadarida aegyptiaca with molecular confirmation required for Miniopterus fraterculus, R. darlingi and R. swinnyi. These complementary sampling methods may be necessary for accommodating the limitations of each individual method for a more inclusive assessment of bat species richness in a targeted landscape. The present study could be used as a model approach to assess the biodiversity and demographics of other taxa and in other habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ten years ago, the genus-level and species-level taxonomy of African pipistrelloid bats was in a state of flux. In spite of advances in the past decade, gaps in collecting from species-rich regions like Angola have hampered efforts to revise this group. We report on new collections of pipistrelle-like bats from the poorly sampled central highlands of Angola (1000–1500 m a.s.l.) as well as comparative material from lower-lying areas of Eswatini and South Africa. Specimens identified as Neoromicia anchietae , collected 400–700 km east of the holotype locality in the western highlands of Angola, were genetically and morphologically distinctive from N. anchietae s.l. from South Africa and Eswatini. We describe herein this latter lineage as a distinct species from low-lying areas of south-eastern Africa, distinct from N. anchietae s.s. , which is therefore restricted to the central and western Angolan highlands. We also identified shallow to deep genetic divergence between different African regions in other recognized pipistrelloid species, such as conspecificity between the long-eared species Laephotis angolensis from Angola and Laephotis botswanae from northern Botswana, northern Namibia and south-western Zambia. Our phylogeny supports a recently proposed generic classification of African pipistrelloid bats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ranging behaviour of raptors in human-altered environments, such as agricultural and suburban landscapes, is becoming increasingly important for conservationists in the context of unprecedented high rates of anthropogenic land use change. We studied the movement ecology of adult Long-crested Eagles Lophaetus occipitalis fitted with geographic positioning system transmitters in an agricultural landscape in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. Mean home ranges (± SD) of males and females estimated using the autocorrelated kernel density estimator (AKDE) method were 608 ± 552 ha (n = 5) and 664 ± 844 ha (n = 4), respectively. Core areas (KDEhref 50%) were estimated as 80 ± 38 ha and 39 ± 20 ha for males and females, respectively. We also recorded exploratory behaviour (in the form of long excursions) in two of the birds, of up to 49 km from the centre of their home range. The relatively small home ranges reported in this study are suggestive of productive foraging habitats whereby Long-crested Eagles can meet their energy requirements without having to travel long distances to obtain resources. Consistent with predictions, non-breeding male and female Long-crested Eagles showed similar ranging behaviour, which includes occasional exploratory behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basic ecological information is still lacking for many species of African vultures. The Hooded VultureNecrosyrtes monachusis known as a rare breeding resident in north-eastern South Africa. This study set out to monitor the nests of Hooded Vultures and, secondarily, White-backed VulturesGyps africanusin the Olifants River Private Nature Reserve over two breeding seasons in 2013 and 2014. A total of 12 Hooded Vulture nests, placed mostly in the treeDiospyros mespiliformis, were found along the Olifants River, with an average inter- nest distance of 0.76 km. Nest success was estimated to be between 0.44–0.89 offspring pair−1 y−1 in 2013 and 0.50–0.67 offspring pair−1 y−1 in 2014, which are the first estimates for Hooded Vultures in South Africa. It is thought that nests of this species have been under-reported due to the fact that they are placed within or below the canopy of densely leafed trees and hence difficult to view from aerial surveys. African White-backed Vultures also bred along the Olifants River, with nests placed in clusters of up to six. Nesting density of this species ranged from about 1.0 to 1.2 nests km−1 and nests were predominantly placed inFicus sycomorustrees. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We report on acoustic surveys of insectivorous bats conducted during seven months of the year using ANABAT recordings in two habitats (macadamia orchards and adjacent riparian bush) in a subtropical agro-ecosystem in northern South Africa. We defined two functional foraging groups of bats based on their echolocation calls: (i) open-air foragers (family Molossidae) having narrow-band, low-frequency, low duty cycle calls; and (ii) clutter-edge foragers (families Miniopteridae and Vespertilionidae), having broad-band, higher frequency, low duty cycle calls. Bat activity (number of bat passes) was not significantly influenced by habitat. Total bat activity and activity of both functional groups varied significantly between seasons, being highest in summer and autumn (coinciding with annual peaks in numbers of Twin spotted ( Bathycoelia natalicola) and Green ( Nezara spp) Stinkbugs, order Heteroptera, family Pentatomidae, and Macadamia Nut Borer moths, Cryptophlebia ombrodelta) and lower in winter and spring. No significant effect of moon phase was detected, either on total activity or activity of the two functional groups. We postulate that the significant pattern of seasonality of commuting and/or foraging activity of bats in macadamia orchards (which is more marked in open-air foragers) may be driven by the seasonal abundance of pest insects such as stinkbugs and Macadamia Nut Borer moths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Old World vultures are in decline across their entire range. Although critical for the formulation of effective conservation measures, neither survival nor movement patterns of African vultures are adequately known. This paper presents survival and movement data on the African white-backed vultures ( Gyps africanus) from South Africa. Survival estimates were modelled on resightings of tagged vultures. Birds were captured en masse and resighted between November 2005 and December 2010. A total of 93 adult and subadult birds were fitted with uniquely numbered patagial tags, which were resighted 3707 times(mean of 39.8 resightings per bird). The programme MARK was used to estimate survival. The best model was one where survival and recaptures varied only with time (e.g. year). However, owing to the fading (illegibility) of tags in later years, the relationship with time is probably spurious. The second best model was one where survival and recaptures varied with age and time. Annual survival estimates increased from 85.2% in second-year birds to 99.9% in adults. This corresponds well with the survival of two other Gyps vultures that have been studied to date and underscores the point that additional mortality of adults in these long-lived species will result in rapid population declines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two species of common, co-occurring southern African fruit bats, Epomophorus wahlbergi and E. crypturus,are difficult to distinguish in the field. The main character used to distinguish them is the arrangement of palatal ridges (two behind last molar in E. crypturus, one in E. wahlbergi); this character is difficult to see in the field and unreliable in juvenile skulls. Many workers have commented on the more slender and elongated shape of the muzzle of E. crypturus compared with E. wahlbergi. We test the usefulness of this character by comparing skull length and maxillary length and width in 51 skulls in museum collections representing both species. Our data revealed broad overlap in skull length between species (reflected in overall body size overlap),but (after allowing for age-related variation) complete separation of the sexes by maxillary length (males >21.5 mm; females <21.5 mm) and skull length (males >52 mm; females <52 mm) and complete separation of species by maxillary width ( E. wahlbergi >13 mm for females and >14 mm for males; E. crypturus <13 mm for females and <14 mm for males). We discuss field characters that may permit species diagnosis based on maxilla shape, as well as acoustic characters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carcass utilisation by vultures may be constrained by the surrounding vegetation, as high vegetation densities may leave insufficient space for the vultures to take-off. We tested this by placing carcasses at 14 sites differing in density and height of the surrounding vegetation. African White-backed Vultures Gyps africanus were reluctant to land at carcasses from which the angle required to clear the surrounding vegetation on take-off was greater than 6°, and Cape Vultures Gyps coprotheres were not observed on carcasses from which the required angle of take-off was greater than 4°. Increasing vegetation densities due to bush encroachment may therefore affect the two species to different extents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many chelonians are admitted to wildlife rehabilitation centers suffering from traumatic shell injury caused by motor vehicle collisions. The incidence and severity of infection as they heal from shell injuries are currently unknown. To determine if there is a correlation between the severity of traumatic shell injury and the severity of infection in turtle patients, total white blood cell counts (WBCs) and white blood cell differentials were measured in common snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina), painted turtles (Chrysemys picta), a Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii), and a spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata). WBCs were not significantly different between severity classes; however, WBCs decreased significantly over time for Severity Class III, and basophil counts for all severity classes were significantly different from one another. The data suggest that severity of injury may not be a proper indicator of susceptibility of turtles to infection after shell trauma. Hematology parameters may not be suitable indicators of infection, and the criteria for administering prophylactic antibiotics to turtles with traumatic shell injury remains unknown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of global priority region schemes have been developed, but local assessments are needed to identify priority areas for conservation within these regions. Here, we describe results from a conservation assessment for Maputaland, part of a biodiversity hotspot in southern Africa that is also the focus of the Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA) initiative between South Africa, Mozambique and Swaziland. The TFCA seeks to establish new state-, private- and communally-managed conservation areas to boost economic development through nature-based tourism and game ranching. The assessment will guide the TFCA process and used a systematic conservation planning approach to design a landscape to conserve 44 landcover types, 53 species and 14 ecological processes. The assessment also included data on modelled risk of agricultural transformation, of which low-risk areas were selected where possible. The current PA systems in the three countries cover 3830km2, which represents 21.2% of the region, and meet the representation targets for 46% of the conservation features. The proposed conservation landscape adds 4291km2 of new core areas and 480km2 of linkages and, if appropriate, could provide potential revenues of US$18.8 million from game ranching, based on modelled large ungulate density, life history and game auction data. We also discuss the benefits of including data on widely distributed, better known conservation features together with less-well studied, range-restricted species and the advantages of using agricultural transformation risk data in conservation assessments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Recent biological surveys of ancient inselbergs in southern Malawi and northern Mozambique have led to the discovery and description of many species new to science, and overlapping centres of endemism across multiple taxa. Combining these endemic taxa with data on geology and climate, we propose the 'South East Africa Montane Archipelago' (SEAMA) as a distinct ecoregion of global biological importance. The ecoregion encompasses 30 granitic inselbergs reaching > 1000 m above sea level, hosting the largest (Mt Mabu) and smallest (Mt Lico) mid-elevation rainforests in southern Africa, as well as biologically unique montane grasslands. Endemic taxa include 127 plants, 45 vertebrates (amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals) and 45 invertebrate species (butterflies, freshwater crabs), and two endemic genera of plants and reptiles. Existing dated phylogenies of endemic animal lineages suggests this endemism arose from divergence events coinciding with repeated isolation of these mountains from the pan-African forests, together with the mountains' great age and relative climatic stability. Since 2000, the SEAMA has lost 18% of its primary humid forest cover (up to 43% in some sites)-one of the highest deforestation rates in Africa. Urgently rectifying this situation, while addressing the resource needs of local communities, is a global priority for biodiversity conservation., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In addition to several emerging viruses, bats have been reported to host multiple bacteria but their zoonotic threats remain poorly understood, especially in Africa where the diversity of bats is important. Here, we investigated the presence and diversity of Bartonella and Rickettsia spp. in bats and their ectoparasites (Diptera and Siphonaptera) collected across South Africa and Swaziland. We collected 384 blood samples and 14 ectoparasites across 29 different bat species and found positive samples in four insectivorous and two frugivorous bat species, as well as their Nycteribiidae flies. Phylogenetic analyses revealed diverse Bartonella genotypes and one main group of Rickettsia, distinct from those previously reported in bats and their ectoparasites, and for some closely related to human pathogens. Our results suggest a differential pattern of host specificity depending on bat species. Bartonella spp. identified in bat flies and blood were identical supporting that bat flies may serve as vectors. Our results represent the first report of bat-borne Bartonella and Rickettsia spp. in these countries and highlight the potential role of bats as reservoirs of human bacterial pathogens.