Sonar Surveys for Bat Species Richness and Activity in the Southern Kalahari Desert, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is located in northwestern South Africa and extends northeastward into Botswana. The park lies largely within the southern Kalahari Desert ecosystem where the Auob and Nassob rivers reach their confluence. Although these rivers run only about once every 100 years, or shortly after large thunderstorms, underground flows and seeps provide consistent surface water for the parks sparse vegetation and diverse wildlife. No formal studies on bats have previously occurred at Kgalagadi. We used SM2 + BAT ultrasonic detectors to survey 10 sites along the Auob and Nassob rivers from 5–16 April 2016. The units recorded 3960 call sequences that were analyzed using Kaleidoscope software for South African bats as well as visual determinations based on call structure attributes (low frequency, characteristic frequency, call duration, and bandwidth). We identified 12 species from four families: Rhinolophidae: Rhinolophus fumigatus. Molossidae: Chaerephon pumilus, and Sauromys petrophilus, Tadarida aegyptiaca; Miniopteridae: Miniopteris schreibersi (natalensis), Vespertilionidae: Laephotis botswanae, Myotis tricolor, Neoromicia capensis, N. nana, Pipistrellus hesperidus, Scotophilus dinganii, and S. viridus. The most abundant species during the survey period was N. capensis. We also used paired-site design to test for greater bat activity at water sources compared to dry sites, with dry sites being significantly more active. We conclude that species richness is much higher than previously known from this region and that more species may be present during the warmer months of the year. In addition, activity of bats during the dry season in Kgalagadi would likely be more concentrated around drinking opportunities, thus allowing for better detection of species richness in the area.

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Sheep nemabiome diversity and its response to anthelmintic treatment in Swedish sheep herds

Parasites & Vectors ◽

10.1186/s13071-021-04602-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Peter Halvarsson ◽

Johan Höglund

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Diversity Index ◽

Nematode Species ◽

Abundant Species ◽

Anthelmintic Treatment ◽

Host Age ◽

Larval Culture ◽

Nematode Parasites ◽

South Central ◽

Nematode Diversity

Abstract Background A novel way to study the species composition and diversity of nematode parasites in livestock is to perform deep sequencing on composite samples containing a mixture of different species. Herein we describe for the first time the nematode community structures (nemabiomes) inhabiting Swedish sheep and how these are/were affected by host age and recent anthelmintic treatments. Methods A total of 158 fecal samples were collected (n = 35 in 2007 and n = 123 in 2013–2016) and cultured from groups of sheep on 61 commercial farms in the south-central part of the country where most animals are grazed. Among the samples, 2 × 44 (56%) were paired collections from the same groups pre- and post-treatment with anthelmintics such as macrocyclic lactones, benzimidazoles or levamisole. Samples were analyzed for their nemabiome using the PacBio platform followed by bioinformatic sequence analysis with SCATA. Species richness and diversity were calculated and analyzed in R. Results Nematode ITS2 sequences were found in all larval culture samples except two, even though the fecal egg counts were below the McMaster threshold in 20 samples. Sequencing yielded, on average, 1008 sequences per sample. In total, 16 operational taxonomical units (OTU), all with ≥ 98 % identity to sequences in the NCBI database, were recognized. The OTUs found represented nematode species of which ten are commonly associated with sheep. Multiple species were identified in all pre-anthelmintic treatment larval culture samples. No effects on nematode diversity were found in relation to host age. On the other hand, recent anthelmintic treatment lowered species richness, especially after use of ivermectin and albendazole. Interestingly, despite zero egg counts after use of levamisole, these samples still contained nematode DNA and especially H. contortus. Conclusions Our findings provide evidence that nemabiome analysis combined with diversity index analysis provides an objective methodology in the study of the efficacy of anthelmintic treatment as both high and low abundant species were detected.

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Roles of Spatial Scale and Rarity on the Relationship between Butterfly Species Richness and Human Density in South Africa

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0124327 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. e0124327 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Silvia Mecenero ◽

Res Altwegg ◽

Jonathan F. Colville ◽

Colin M. Beale

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Species Richness ◽

Spatial Scale ◽

Butterfly Species ◽

The Relationship ◽

Human Density

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Atmospheric trace metals measured at a regional background site (Welgegund) in South Africa

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ◽

10.5194/acp-17-4251-2017 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 17 (6) ◽

pp. 4251-4263 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Andrew D. Venter ◽

Pieter G. van Zyl ◽

Johan P. Beukes ◽

Micky Josipovic ◽

Johan Hendriks ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Trace Metals ◽

Trace Metal ◽

Size Fraction ◽

Abundant Species ◽

Metal Species ◽

Metal Concentrations ◽

Igneous Complex ◽

Size Fractions ◽

Bushveld Igneous Complex

Abstract. Atmospheric trace metals can cause a variety of health-related and environmental problems. Only a few studies on atmospheric trace metal concentrations have been conducted in South Africa. Therefore the aim of this study was to determine trace metal concentrations in aerosols collected at a regional background site, i.e. Welgegund, South Africa. PM1, PM1–2. 5 and PM2. 5–10 samples were collected for 13 months, and 31 atmospheric trace metal species were detected. Atmospheric iron (Fe) had the highest concentrations in all three size fractions, while calcium (Ca) was the second-most-abundant species. Chromium (Cr) and sodium (Na) concentrations were the third- and fourth-most-abundant species, respectively. The concentrations of the trace metal species in all three size ranges were similar, with the exception of Fe, which had higher concentrations in the PM1 size fraction. With the exception of titanium (Ti), aluminium (Al) and manganese (Mg), 70 % or more of the trace metal species detected were in the smaller size fractions, which indicated the influence of industrial activities. However, the large influence of wind-blown dust was reflected by 30 % or more of trace metals being present in the PM2. 5–10 size fraction. Comparison of trace metals determined at Welgegund to those in the western Bushveld Igneous Complex indicated that at both locations similar species were observed, with Fe being the most abundant. However, concentrations of these trace metal species were significantly higher in the western Bushveld Igneous Complex. Fe concentrations at the Vaal Triangle were similar to levels thereof at Welgegund, while concentrations of species associated with pyrometallurgical smelting were lower. Annual average Ni was 4 times higher, and annual average As was marginally higher than their respective European standard values, which could be attributed to regional influence of pyrometallurgical industries in the western Bushveld Igneous Complex. All three size fractions indicated elevated trace metal concentrations coinciding with the end of the dry season, which could partially be attributed to decreased wet removal and increases in wind generation of particulates. Principal component factor analysis (PCFA) revealed four meaningful factors in the PM1 size fraction, i.e. crustal, pyrometallurgical-related and Au slimes dams. No meaningful factors were determined for the PM1–2. 5 and PM2. 5–10 size fractions, which was attributed to the large influence of wind-blown dust on atmospheric trace metals determined at Welgegund. Pollution roses confirmed the influence of wind-blown dust on trace metal concentrations measured at Welgegund, while the impact of industrial activities was also substantiated.

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A checklist of gilled mushrooms (Basidiomycota: Agaricomycetes) with diversity analysis in Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam, India

Journal of Threatened Taxa ◽

10.11609/jott.1770.7.15.8272-8287 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 7 (15) ◽

pp. 8272 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Girish Gogoi ◽

Vipin Parkash

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Diversity Index ◽

Abundant Species ◽

Shannon Diversity Index ◽

Diversity Analysis ◽

Wildlife Sanctuary ◽

Shannon Diversity ◽

Number Of Species ◽

Simpson Diversity Index ◽

Richness Index

Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary is comprised of five distinct compartments. A total of 138 species of gilled mushrooms belonging to 48 genera, 23 families, five orders of the class Agaricomycetes, division Basidiomycota, have been collected and analyzed. The order Agaricales was was found with the highest number of species (113), followed by Russulales (14), Polyporales (5), Cantharellales (4) and Boletales (2). The species Coprinellus disseminatus and Megacollybia rodmani have shown the highest (8.26) and the lowest density (0.05), respectively. A total of 24 species, e.g., Termitomyces albuminosus, Marasmius curreyi, Marasmiellus candidus, Leucocoprinus medioflavus, Mycena leaiana, Hygrocybe miniata, Collybia chrysoropha, Gymnopus confluens were common with frequency percentage of 11.9, whereas Megacollybia rodmani with less frequency percentage (2.4) was found only in few quadrates of the sanctuary. The highly abundant species were Termitomyces medius (91.7) and Coprinellus disseminatus (86.8), and less abundant species were Psilocybe wayanadensis (1.0) and Lepiota sp. (1.0) in the study site. The order of the species richness index (R) compartment wise was 2>3>4>5>1. Both the Shannon diversity index and Simpson diversity index of agarics was maximum (1.88, 0.98) in compartment 2, whereas minimum (1.72, 0.95) in compartment 1 and 5, respectively. Moreover, the compartment 2 was found very much similar with compartment 3 and very less similar with compartment 1.<div> </div>

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Fish diversity of floodplain lakes on the lower stretch of the Solimões River

Brazilian Journal of Biology ◽

10.1590/s1519-69842004000300013 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 64 (3a) ◽

pp. 501-510 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

F. K. Siqueira-Souza ◽

C. E. C. Freitas

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Fish Community ◽

River Flow ◽

Abundant Species ◽

Floodplain Lakes ◽

Fish Diversity ◽

The Town ◽

Solimões River

The fish community of the Solimões floodplain lakes was studied by bimonthly samples taken from May 2001 to April 2002. These were carried out at lakes Maracá (03º51'33"S, 62º35'08,6"W), Samaúma (03º50'42,1"S, 61º39'49,3"W), and Sumaúma and Sacambú (03º17'11,6"S and 60º04'31,4"W), located between the town of Coari and the confluence of the Solimões and Negro rivers. Collections were done with 15 gillnets of standardized dimensions with several mesh sizes. We collected 1,313 animals distributed in 77 species, belonging to 55 genera of 20 families and 5 orders. Characiformes was the most abundant Order, with a larger number of representatives in the Serrasalmidae and Curimatidae. The most abundant species in the samplings were Psectrogaster rutiloides (132 individuals), Pigocentrus nattereri (115 individuals), and Serrasalmus elongatus (109 individuals). Lakes Samaúma, Sacambú, and Sumaúma were adjusted to logarithmic and lognormal series. The diversity exhibited an inverse gradient to the river flow, showing the highest diversity at Lake Sumaúma, followed by Samaúma, Sacambú, and Maracá. Species richness estimated through the jackknife technique ranged from 78 to 107 species.

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Inventory of mollusks from the estuary of the Paraíba River in northeastern Brazil

Biota Neotropica ◽

10.1590/1676-0611-bn-2016-0239 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Silvio Felipe Barbosa Lima ◽

◽

Rudá Amorim Lucena ◽

Galdênia Menezes Santos ◽

José Weverton Souza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Environmental Monitoring ◽

Local Population ◽

Abundant Species ◽

Coastal Ecosystems ◽

Economic Importance ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Marine Mollusks ◽

The Family

Abstract: Coastal ecosystems of northeastern Brazil have important biodiversity with regard to marine mollusks, which are insufficiently studied. Here we provide an inventory of mollusks from two sites in the estuary of the Paraíba River. Mollusks were collected in 2014 and 2016 on the coast and sandbanks located on the properties of Treze de Maio and Costinha de Santo Antônio. The malacofaunal survey identified 12 families, 20 genera and 21 species of bivalves, 17 families, 19 genera and 20 species of gastropods and one species of cephalopod. Bivalves of the family Veneridae Rafinesque, 1815 were the most representative, with a total of five species. Gastropods of the family Littorinidae Children, 1834 had the greatest species richness. The most abundant species were: Neritina virginea (Linnaeus, 1758), Brachidontes exustus (Linnaeus, 1758), Crassostrea brasiliana (Lamarck, 1819), Cerithium atratum (Born, 1778), Anomalocardia brasiliana (Gmelin, 1791), Parvanachis obesa (C. B. Adams, 1845), Phrontis polygonata (Lamarck, 1822), Littoraria angulifera (Lamarck, 1822), L. flava (King, 1832), Tagelus plebeius (Lightfoot, 1786), Echinolittorina lineolata (d'Orbigny, 1840) and Iphigenia brasiliensis (Lamarck, 1818). The results show that the study area has considerable species richness of Mollusca, requiring environmental monitoring in the region mainly due to the economic importance of some species to the local population.

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First records of five species of Insectivorous Bats from the Kruger National Park

Koedoe ◽

10.4102/koedoe.v28i1.537 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

I.L. Rautenbach ◽

M.B. Fenton ◽

L.E.O. Braack

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Species Richness ◽

New Record ◽

National Park ◽

Kruger National Park ◽

Insectivorous Bats ◽

The Republic ◽

First Time

Five species of insectivorous bats are reported for the first time from the Kruger National Park. One of these, Pipistrellus anchietai, represents a new record for the southern African Subregion, and two species, Laephotis botswanae and Nycteris woodi are recorded for the first time for the Republic of South Africa. The remaining two species, Eptesicus melckorum and Tadarida ansorgei are first records of ' occurrence for the Transvaal. The species richness of the bat fauna of the Kruger National Park, and particularly of the Pafuri area, is reviewed.

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Leopards and mesopredators as indicators of mammalian species richness across diverse landscapes of South Africa

Ecological Indicators ◽

10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.107201 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 121 ◽

pp. 107201

Author(s):

Thulani Tshabalala ◽

Jeannine McManus ◽

Adrian Treves ◽

Vusani Masocha ◽

Steve Faulconbridge ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Species Richness ◽

Mammalian Species

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Anabaenopsis morphospecies (Cyanobacteria, Nostocales) from Los Patos shallow lake (Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina)

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.272.3.1 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 272 (3) ◽

pp. 173 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

ANABELLA AGUILERA ◽

JIŘĺ KOMÁREK ◽

RICARDO O. ECHENIQUE

Keyword(s):

Population Dynamics ◽

Species Richness ◽

Shallow Lake ◽

Algal Blooms ◽

Buenos Aires ◽

Morphological Diversity ◽

Abundant Species ◽

American Continent ◽

First Report ◽

Almost All

The genus Anabaenopsis comprises about 20 morphospecies distributed in plankton of tropical, subtropical and temperate regions during warm periods. The morphological diversity and population dynamics of Anabaenopsis species from one artificial shallow lake from the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, was studied during summer 2005 and 2006; and from April 2012 to May 2014. The most common and abundant species were identified as A. elenkinii and A. cf. cunningtonii (first report in Argentina). Anabaenopsis circularis and A. milleri (first report in the American continent and Argentina) were less common, whereas A. nadsonii was rarely observed. Almost all species contributed to algal blooms during warm periods. However, some species were registered even under the lowest temperatures recorded (7.5 °C) and sustained biovolume also during winter (A. milleri, A. elenkinii and A. cf. cunningtonii). These results indicate that some species of the genus are capable of growing at temperatures much lower than 20°C. The species richness noted in this study suggests that there is likely much more diversity remaining on this genus to be reported in Argentina.

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Habitat-specific distributions of some fishes in a tropical estuary

Marine and Freshwater Research ◽

10.1071/mf9960827 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 47 (6) ◽

pp. 827 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

MJ Sheaves

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Abundant Species ◽

Epinephelus Coioides ◽

Tropical Estuary ◽

Habitat Types ◽

Number Of Species ◽

Fish Traps ◽

Tropical Australia ◽

Sampling Trip ◽

Probability Of Capture

The species richness of fishes and the distributions of six fish species were compared among four habitat types, snaggy banks, clear banks, mud banks and mid channels, in an estuary in tropical Australia. Both day and night samples were collected in fish traps, on four occasions, three months apart. On each sampling trip the highest number of species was trapped from snaggy habitats, intermediate numbers from clear banks or mud banks, and the fewest species from mid channels. Although more species occurred in night than in day samples, the pattern of difference among habitats was consistent. The probability of capture of the six most abundant species, Acanthopagrus australis, Acanthopagrus berda, Arothron manilensis, Arius argyropleuron, Epinephelus coioides and Lutjanus russelli, was compared among habitat types and between day and night samples. Overall, snag habitats tended to be associated with high probabilities of capture of a number of species, particularly A. berda and L. russelli. At night, mid channels were characterized by high numbers of A. argyropleuron. Clear and mud banks, and day samples from mid channels were associated with low numbers of most species.

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