scholarly journals Negotiating an ecological barrier: crossing the Sahara in relation to winds by common swifts

2016 ◽  
Vol 371 (1704) ◽  
pp. 20150393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Åkesson ◽  
Giuseppe Bianco ◽  
Anders Hedenström
Keyword(s):  
Arabian Peninsula ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Western Sahara ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Ultimate Explanation ◽  
Wintering Areas ◽  
Central Route ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Alternative Routes

The Sahara Desert is one of the largest land-based barriers on the Earth, crossed twice each year by billions of birds on migration. Here we investigate how common swifts migrating between breeding sites in Sweden and wintering areas in sub-Saharan Africa perform the desert crossing with respect to route choice, winds, timing and speed of migration by analysing 72 geolocator tracks recording migration. The swifts cross western Sahara on a broad front in autumn, while in spring they seem to use three alternative routes across the Sahara, a western, a central and an eastern route across the Arabian Peninsula, with most birds using the western route. The swifts show slower migration and travel speeds, and make longer detours with more stops in autumn compared with spring. In spring, the stopover period in West Africa coincided with mostly favourable winds, but birds remained in the area, suggesting fuelling. The western route provided more tailwind assistance compared with the central route for our tracked swifts in spring, but not in autumn. The ultimate explanation for the evolution of a preferred western route is presumably a combination of matching rich foraging conditions (swarming insects) and favourable winds enabling fast spring migration. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Moving in a moving medium: new perspectives on flight’.

Molecular evidence for the assignment of the Cameroonian freshwater crab genus Louisea Cumberlidge, 1994, to the Afrotropical subfamily Potamonautinae Bott, 1970 (Crustacea: Potamoidea: Potamonautidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4286 (3) ◽  
pp. 439 ◽  
Author(s):  
PIERRE A. MVOGO NDONGO ◽  
NEIL CUMBERLIDGE ◽  
THEODOR S. POETTINGER ◽  
THOMAS VON RINTELEN ◽  
JOSEPH L. TAMESSE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
East Africa ◽  
Arabian Peninsula ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Molecular Evidence ◽  
Freshwater Crab ◽  
Continental Islands ◽  
The Family ◽  
Molecular Studies ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Zoogeographical Region

The family Potamonautidae Bott, 1970, currently comprises 19 genera assigned to two subfamilies (Potamonautinae Bott, 1970, and Deckeniinae Hilgendorf, 1869) based on morphological and molecular studies (Cumberlidge 1999; Daniels et al. 2006a, 2015; Cumberlidge et al. 2008; Cumberlidge & Ng 2009). All members of this family are endemic to the Afrotropical zoogeographical region that includes most of continental Africa plus the continental islands of Madagascar, the granitic Seychelles, Socotra, and the southern Arabian Peninsula. Seven genera from sub-Saharan Africa are presently assigned to Potamonautinae (see Cumberlidge et al. 2008; Daniels et al. 2015): Erimetopus Rathbun, 1894, Liberonautes Bott, 1955, Louisea Cumberlidge, 1994, Potamonautes Bott, 1970, Potamonemus Cumberlidge & Clark, 1992, Sudanonautes Bott, 1955, and Platythelphusa A. Milne-Edwards, 1887. Twelve genera from West and East Africa, Seychelles, and Madagascar are assigned to Deckeniinae (see Cumberlidge et al. 2008; Meyer et al. 2014; Daniels et al. 2015): Deckenia Hilgendorf, 1869, Seychellum Ng, Števčić & Pretzmann, 1995, Globonautes Bott, 1959, Afrithelphusa Bott, 1969, Boreas Cumberlidge & Sternberg, 2002, Foza Reed & Cumberlidge, 2006a, Hydrothelphusa A. Milne-Edwards, 1872, Madagapotamon Bott, 1965, Malagasya Cumberlidge & Sternberg, 2002, Marojejy Cumberlidge, Boyko & Harvey, 2000, Skelosophusa Ng & Takeda, 1994, and Glabrithelphusa Meyer, Cumberlidge & Koppin, 2014. 

scholarly journals Historic and prehistoric human-driven extinctions have reshaped global mammal diversity patterns

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Søren Faurby ◽  
Jens-Christian Svenning
Keyword(s):  
Late Quaternary ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Environmental Diversity ◽  
Diversity Patterns ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Functional And Phylogenetic Diversity ◽  
Induced Changes ◽  
Mammal Diversity

Aim: To assess the extent to which humans have reshaped Earth's biodiversity, by estimating natural ranges of all late Quaternary mammalian species, and to compare diversity patterns based on these with diversity patterns based on current distributions. Location: Globally Methods: We estimated species, functional and phylogenetic diversity patterns based on natural ranges of all mammalian species (n=5747 species) as they could have been today in the complete absence of human influence through time. Following this we compared macroecological analyses of current and natural diversity patterns to assess if human-induced range changes bias for evolutionary and ecological analyses based on current diversity patterns. Results: We find that current diversity patterns have been drastically modified by humans, mostly due to global extinctions and regional to local extirpations. Current and natural diversities exhibit marked deviations virtually everywhere outside sub-Saharan Africa. These differences are strongest for terrestrial megafauna, but also important for all mammals combined. The human-induced changes led to biases in estimates of environmental diversity drivers, especially for terrestrial megafauna, but also for all mammals combined. Main conclusions: Our results show that fundamental diversity patterns have been reshaped by human-driven extinctions and extirpations, highlighting humans as a major force in the Earth system. We thereby emphasize that estimating natural distributions and diversities is important to improve our understanding of the evolutionary and ecologically drivers of diversity as well as for providing a benchmark for conservation.

Shifting Maghreb migration may prompt EU cooperation

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
North African ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Migrant Populations ◽  
Bilateral Relations ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Alternative Routes ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Difficult Transition ◽  
The Eu

Subject Migration impact on Maghreb. Significance Morocco hosted a summit on African migration on October 31, calling for a common African stance to the growing migration challenge. EU incentives to Libya and Sahelian governments have decreased migrant crossings from Libya, which has been the primary channel for sea crossings. As a result, more migrants are using alternative routes in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia and staying longer in those countries. Shifting migration trends are forcing North African governments to think about the impact of growing sub-Saharan migrant populations within their borders. Impacts Sub-Saharan migrants could become lightning rods for governments in North Africa struggling with high unemployment and low economic growth. North African policies towards migrant populations will affect bilateral relations with governments in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The EU may need to pay more attention to Tunisia, which is grappling with economic problems and a difficult transition.

scholarly journals Carpophilus zeaphilus, a new sap beetle species acclimatized in Italy (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)

2015 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 33
Author(s):  
Paolo Audisio ◽  
Pierluigi Scaramozzino ◽  
Simone Sabatelli ◽  
Emiliano Mancini ◽  
Andrew Richard Cline
Keyword(s):  
Introduced Species ◽  
Arabian Peninsula ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Beetle Species ◽  
Sap Beetle ◽  
Forested Area ◽  
Mediterranean Areas ◽  
Southern Mediterranean ◽  
Unusual Occurrence ◽  
Sub Saharan

<em>Carpophilus zeaphilus</em> Dobson, 1969 (Coleoptera, Nitidulidae, Carpophilinae) is an Afrotropical species that has become widespread in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and southern Mediterranean areas in recent years. The species was first recorded from Europe in Portugal and Spain nearly thirty years ago, and it was later intercepted in Sicily near Trapani in 1991. A few specimens of this species were collected in April, 2015 in a sparsely forested area near Rome, which suggests a recent acclimatization into peninsular Italy. Specimens were taken on flowering trees of <em>Prunus spinosa</em> L. (Rosaceae), an unusual occurrence for most introduced species of Carpophilinae that are normally associated with rotten fruit and other decomposing vegetal matter.

scholarly journals Nest success and conservation status of the Blue Swallow Hirundo atrocaerulea in Swaziland

2006 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 187-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
ARA MONADJEM ◽  
RICHARD C. BOYCOTT ◽  
KIM ROQUES ◽  
RAY GAMA ◽  
DAVID GARCELON
Keyword(s):  
Total Population ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Breeding Habitat ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Double Brooding ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Timber Plantations

The Blue Swallow Hirundo atrocaerulea is a globally threatened species endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. The total population breeding south of the Limpopo River (i.e. in South Africa and Swaziland) probably numbers around 100 pairs. A significant proportion of these birds breed in Swaziland, but to date little has been published on this population. Suitable breeding habitat has been reduced significantly in the country in recent decades, due mostly to afforestation with exotic timber plantations, with urbanization playing a lesser role. In Swaziland, breeding sites are restricted to grasslands above 1,200 m, but mostly above 1,300 m. Timing of egg laying is bimodal indicating double brooding. The number of nests initiated in a season is weakly correlated with rainfall in preceding months. Nests were built predominantly in disused antbear Orycteropus afer burrows, with smaller numbers in natural sinkholes. Mean clutch size was 2.80, and 61% of eggs laid resulted in fledged offspring. Mean productivity was 1.30 fledglings per pair per nest attempt. These figures suggest that breeding success is not currently being reduced in Swaziland. The minimum total population currently thought to be breeding in Swaziland is 10 pairs, but this is based on intensive studies of only part of the suitable range. It is recommended that a complete survey be conducted covering the entire range of the species in Swaziland.

scholarly journals Validation of a Remote Sensing Model to Identify Simulium damnosum s.l. Breeding Sites in Sub-Saharan Africa

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. e2342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin G. Jacob ◽  
Robert J. Novak ◽  
Laurent D. Toe ◽  
Moussa Sanfo ◽  
Daniel A. Griffith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Remote Sensing Model ◽  
Simulium Damnosum ◽  
Sensing Model ◽  
Sub Saharan

Morocco and Sub-Saharan Africa: In the Shadow of the Western Sahara Dispute

2021 ◽  
pp. 234779892110175
Author(s):  
Michael B. Bishku
Keyword(s):  
Arab World ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Economic Factors ◽  
Western Sahara ◽  
The Past ◽  
Area Of Interest ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Gulf States ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Middle Powers

During much of the past several decades, Moroccan actions in Western Sahara have impacted on that country’s bilateral and multilateral ties, especially with other countries in Africa, though to a lesser degree in the Arab world. In recent years, Morocco has gained the upper hand in its conflict in Western Sahara and has been increasing its political and economic footprint on the continent of Africa, an area of interest since independence. At the same time, Morocco has regarded itself as a “gateway” to Africa for the USA and Europe, while the USA, France (and the Gulf states) have provided military and financial assistance as well as diplomatic support for Morocco as that country’s policies have served Western interests. While attention is given by academics in recent years to the involvement in Africa of other middle powers from the Middle East such as Turkey, Iran and Saudi Arabia and, in the past, of Nasser’s Egypt and Qaddafi’s Libya, as well as Israel, Morocco has not stirred the same sort of interest. This article seeks to address that issue by examining all political and economic factors that have influenced Moroccan policy toward Sub-Saharan Africa, those both connected and unconnected with the issue of the Western Sahara dispute.

scholarly journals Stability of the effect of silencing genes involved in the midgut homeostasis on Anopheles arabiensis mosquito reared under different breeding site conditions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Serkadis Debalke ◽  
Tibebu Habtewold ◽  
George K. Christophides ◽  
Luc Duchateau
Keyword(s):  
Gene Silencing ◽  
Anopheles Arabiensis ◽  
Breeding Site ◽  
Larval Habitat ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Female Adult ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
First Instar ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Stability

Abstract Background: Malaria vector mosquitoes acquire midgut microbiota primarily from their habitat. The homeostasis of these microbial communities plays an essential role in the mosquito longevity, the most essential factor in the mosquito vectorial capacity. Our recent study revealed that silencing genes involved in regulation of the midgut homeostasis including FN3D1, FN3D3, and GPRGr9 reduced the survival of female adult Anopheles arabiensis mosquito. In the present study, we investigate the stability of the gene silencing efficiency of mosquitoes reared in three different breeding conditions representing distinct larval habitat types: town brick pits in Jimma, flood pools in the rural land of Asendabo and roadside pools in Wolkite. Methods: First instar larvae of An. arabiensis mosquitoes were reared separately using water collected from the three breeding sites. The resulting adult females were micro-injected with dsRNA targeting the FN3D1 gene (AARA003032) and their survival was monitored. Control mosquitoes were injected with dsRNA Lacz. In addition, the load of midgut microbiota of these mosquitoes was determined using flow cytometry.Result: Survival of naïve adult female mosquitoes differed between the three sites. Mosquitoes reared using water collected from brick pits and flood pools survived longer than mosquitoes reared using water collected from roadside. However, the FN3D1 gene silencing effect on survival did not differ between the three sites. Conclusion: The present study revealed that the efficacy of FN3D1 gene silencing is not affected by variation in the larval habitat. Thus, silencing this gene using genetic engineering approaches can have a large potential for application throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

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