A5027650306- Subterranean biodiversity and taxonomy
- Spider Taxonomy and Behavior Studies
- Plant and animal studies
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Orthoptera Research and Taxonomy
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Invertebrate Taxonomy and Ecology
- Environmental and Biological Research in Conflict Zones
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
- Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
- Study of Mite Species
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Leech Biology and Applications
- Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing
- Mycotoxins in Agriculture and Food
- Morphological variations and asymmetry
University of Mpumalanga
2016-2024
University of KwaZulu-Natal
2005-2023
University of Zimbabwe
2001
Four new species of Kazimierzus are described from the Western Cape and Northern Cape, South Africa: K. kleinoodi sp. n., nietvoorbiji nieuwoudtvillensis phumlani n. is distinguished other this genus by position calciferous glands in 9 paired spermathecae five segments. The 11/12–15/16 as well 11 separates species. others clitellum (12–25) four rows. combination clitellum, three rows 10 distinguish
Cockburn, J., M. Rouget, R. Slotow, D. Roberts, Boon, E. Douwes, S. O'Donoghue, C. T. Downs, Mukherjee, W. Musakwa, O. Mutanga, Mwabvu, J. Odindi, A. Odindo, Ş. Procheş, Ramdhani, Ray-Mukherjee, Sershen, Schoeman, Smit, Wale, and Willows-Munro. 2016. How to build science-action partnerships for local land-use planning management: lessons from Durban, South Africa. Ecology Society 21(1):28.
Bicoxidens aridis sp. n. is described from five male specimens collected northern Zimbabwe. Besides being the smallest member of genus, B. has a hook-shaped distal telocoxite, telopodite with long postfemur and proximal clockwise coil. The discovery this species suggests that geographical range genus may extend further north into Zambia.
Background The carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic chemicals such as aflatoxin are a worldwide health problem. Aspergillus spp., responsible for most cases of contamination, common in the environment spread easily to many different types food. objectives this study were conduct survey fungi associated with three soil invertebrates Taif, Saudi Arabia, identify these isolates explore mycotoxins formation. Methods In total, 114 fungal collected from various (millipedes, Armadillidium...
As it is currently defined, Archispirostreptus includes two species groups (the southern African and the east African) with distinct kinds of gonopods. A new genus, Cacuminostreptus Mwabvu, proposed to accommodate which include C. conatus (Attems 1928) comb. n. three species, vumbaensis triangulatus Mwabvu mazowensis Mwabvu. Two synonymies are established: A. Cecchii Silvestri 1897 = phillipsii Pocock 1896 transmarinus Hoffman 1965 syriacus (Saussure 1859). The arabs 1895 incertae sedis;...
The structure of the male gonopods millipedes has been considered to be species-specific. As such, gonopods—which aid in copulation and sperm transfer—are used taxonomic diagnosis description species. However, it was recently demonstrated that gonopod morphology is not always characteristic Diagnoses based on can therefore result underestimation diversity amongst millipedes. On basis this observation, we examined genetic variation two populations (approximately 250 km apart) a widely...
The aim of this study was to use cytochrome c oxidase 1 (CO1) sequences recover a phylogeny for seven morphologically described spirostreptid millipede taxa from southern Africa, and evaluate the correspondence between morphological molecular phylogenies. Genetic p-distance generally increased with taxonomic divergence: inter-specific mean 15.33 % (14.09 –17.02 %), inter-generic 18.43 (6.83 %–26.81 %) inter-order 24.16 (range 18.56 %–30.77 %). Congruent Bayesian, maximum parsimony...
Abstract Surface‐active arthropods have limited dispersal abilities and their abundances are responsive to changes in the environment. Their sensitivity allows for identification of aspects environmental variation that responsible community assemblages these arthropods. Limited allow populations surface‐active be linked reliably local In this study, we tested hypothesis seasonal resource availability drives three groups (ants, beetles spiders). Ten study sites were selected, where sampling...
Klebsiella is a common dangerous pathogen for humans and animals widely present in the digestive system. The genus ubiquitous, as it endemic to surface water, soil, sewage. In this study, 70 samples were obtained from soil-dwelling invertebrates September 2021 March 2022 Taif Shafa different altitudinal regions of Saudi Arabia. Fifteen these identified spp. isolates genetically pneumoniae using rDNA sequencing. antimicrobial susceptibility was determined. Amplification virulence genes...
Abstract Invertebrates form an important part of the diet in omnivorous African tortoises genus Kinixys . Millipede prey spekii Zimbabwe had a mean volume 0.9 ml, and made up 64.7% invertebrate food by volume; beetles most remainder 1.4 ml. The mass was 0.19% tortoise mass, similar value relative to many insectivorous lizards. Tortoises preferentially attacked moving millipedes at or just behind head, but predatory behaviour otherwise unspecialized, with killing ingesting them pieces....
The giant millipede genus Spirostreptus Brandt 1833 is revised to include six species from Africa, south of the Congo River. formerly included in were S. heros Porat 1872, kruegeri Attems 1928, sebae 1833, tripartitus (Cook & Collins 1893), unciger 1928 and kymatorhabdus 1914. here removed accommodated new Namibostreptus. A species, batokensis Mwabvu Zimbabwe, described. key based on gonopod morphology presented. Despite remarkable similarity between gonopods kruegeri, two are distinct....
Abstract Ants are sensitive to habitat change and may be affected by disturbances, such as alien plant invasion. Alien invasion is associated with negative effects on the functioning of ecosystems have adverse impacts biodiversity. The aim this study was determine diversity ground‐dwelling ants in Tanglewood Giba Gorge Reserves KwaZulu‐Natal Province, South Africa. were sampled wet dry seasons. Pitfall trap sampling carried out an intact grassland, forest a disturbed grassland. We collected...
Savannahs are structurally complex ecosystems consisting of a diverse community plants and animals such as arthropods. Arthropods essential in many ecosystem processes that help maintain life on Earth. The anthropogenic conversion natural landscapes into croplands, residential industrial areas has negative impact surface-active arthropods have limited dispersal abilities narrow habitat preferences. This study investigated the effect disturbance assemblages ants, beetles spiders savannah...
Terrestrial specimens were collected from Ashshafa, a south-western highland area in Saudi Arabia. Three species, i.e., Porcellio laevis, Porcellionides pruinosus (Porcellionidae), and Armadillidium vulgare (Armadillidiidae), identified this study based on their morphological characteristics. Partial mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences used for DNA barcoding biodiversity assessments. A phylogenetic tree of 22 haplotypes 35 the three isopod species was drawn most...
Two recent studies have suggested that divergent mitochondrial lineages may be present within spirostreptid genera such as Bicoxidens Attems, 1928. Bicoxidens, similar to many other endemic soil invertebrates, exhibits low dispersal capabilities and strict microclimate habitat preferences, attributes often lead geographic isolation. Given prolonged isolation lays the foundation for population genetic differentiation, divergence possibly speciation, there was good reason suspect consist of...
Species identification of earthworms using morphology can be challenging and inconclusive as homoplasy in many characters is high. The use molecular DNA technology, such the conserved regions mtDNA nuclear has unravelled phylogenetic background several earthworm species. current study utilised cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) mitochondrial marker to reconstruct phylogeny Kazimierzus Plisko, 2006 species from Western Northern Cape provinces South Africa. Phylogenetic reconstructions were...