A5087482079- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Environmental and Biological Research in Conflict Zones
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Marine animal studies overview
- Radiomics and Machine Learning in Medical Imaging
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Legal Issues in South Africa
- Plant Ecology and Taxonomy Studies
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals
- Morphological variations and asymmetry
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
- Mediterranean and Iberian flora and fauna
Science Museum
2014-2024
University of KwaZulu-Natal
2010-2024
University of Bonn
2013
Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
2013
Pasteur Institute of Iran
2013
San Raffaele University of Rome
2013
National Health Laboratory Service
2013
Stellenbosch University
2013
Universität Ulm
2013
eThekwini Municipality
2012
ABSTRACT The emerging Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) causes lethal infections mainly on the Arabian Peninsula. evolutionary origins of MERS-CoV are unknown. We determined full genome sequence a CoV directly from fecal material obtained South African Neoromicia capensis bat (NeoCoV). NeoCoV shared essential details architecture with MERS-CoV. Eighty-five percent was identical to at nucleotide level. Based taxonomic criteria, and belonged one viral species. presence...
Abstract Examination of historical and recent collections small Rhinolophus bats revealed cryptic taxonomic diversity within southern African populations previously referred to as R. swinnyi Gough, 1908 landeri Martin, 1832. Specimens from Mozambique morphologically referable were phylogenetically unrelated topotypic the Eastern Cape Province South Africa based on cytochrome b sequences showed distinctive echolocation, baculum noseleaf characters. Due their genetic similarity a reported...
The phylogenetic relationships and species limits within the chiropteran family Miniopteridae are poorly known in mainland Africa. Recent systematic studies Madagascar have shown that this is a species-rich family, yet only eight currently recognized or hypothesized for continental Based on partial cytochrome b sequences morphometric analysis, we describe new of Miniopterus endemic to restricted, montane region Liberia Guinea. Furthermore, taxonomic status West African schreibersii villiersi...
The pipistrelloid bats (genera Hypsugo, Neoromicia, and Pipistrellus) of Africa have been poorly studied, partly as a result problems associated with species identification. This paper examines the diversity from Mount Nimba, biodiversity hotspot in Upper Guinean rainforest zone. Traditional morphometrics, structure baculum, sequences cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene were used to identify taxa. Species richness was exceptionally high included at least ten taxa identifiable on...
Several species complexes exist within the African representatives of genus Hipposideros and relationships between these taxa are not yet well understood. We present evidence showing that at least seven co-occur Mount Nimba northern boundary Upper Guinean forest zone. The H. lamottei has been misdiagnosed previously, partly as a result errors in published measurements. This taxon is currently known only from high-altitude grasslands (Guinean) Nimba. Cytochrome b sequences echolocation calls...
Mount Nimba, covering 674 km2, straddles Liberia, Guinea and Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) in West Africa is situated the transition zone between tropical forest to south moist woodlands north. Nimba supports an exceptional biodiversity, with a number of endemic plants, invertebrates vertebrates restricted massif, including bat Hipposideros lamottei. Previous surveys suggested high richness 41 species associated mountain. During series conducted 2008–2012, we found that diversity this region...
Abstract Pipistrelloid bats are among the most poorly known in Africa, a status no doubt exacerbated by their small size, drab brown fur and general similarity external morphology. The systematic relationships of these have been matter debate for decades, despite some recent molecular studies, much confusion remains. Adding to has discovery numerous new species. Using two mitochondrial genes, we present phylogeny this group that supports existence three main clades Africa: Pipistrellus,...
Abstract Aim Forest fragmentation is a major driver of biodiversity loss causing declines in species richness and functional diversity biotic communities. Bats are essential components ecosystems useful bio‐indicators habitat disturbance, yet the response vulnerability bats to have been poorly studied Africa. We aim assess effects forest biogeographical history on their traits. Location Eastern Cape southern KwaZulu‐Natal, South Taxon Insectivorous bats. Methods surveyed forest‐utilizing...
The paucity of data for the molossid bat Otomops throughout its range has hindered our ability to resolve number species present within Afro-Malagasy region (including Arabian Peninsula). This paper employed an integrative approach by combining morphometric (cranial morphology) and molecular (mitochondrial cytochrome b D-loop sequences, nuclear intron sequences microsatellites) identify taxa occurring in region. Three were identified, two which could be assigned existing species, i.e. O....
Abstract Historical forest contractions may have restricted the distributions of forest-utilizing fauna while providing opportunities for range expansions open-habitat species. We aimed to test if habitat associations played an important role in determining population genetic structure and demographic responses six bats oscillations extent since Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). hypothesized that forest-associated species would display high levels past as their distribution is dependent on...
Bats are a highly diverse order with substantial economic and ecological value. Similarly, forests in South Africa form valuable biome supporting unique biotic diversity, yet forest bat communities have not previously been surveyed. We sampled 17 forests, of seven types three groups, the Eastern Cape southern KwaZulu-Natal provinces, located within Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany global biodiversity hotspot. utilized capture acoustic survey methods to compile first species inventory for these...
Abstract Ten years ago, the genus-level and species-level taxonomy of African pipistrelloid bats was in a state flux. In spite advances past decade, gaps collecting from species-rich regions like Angola have hampered efforts to revise this group. We report on new collections pipistrelle-like poorly sampled central highlands (1000–1500 m a.s.l.) as well comparative material lower-lying areas Eswatini South Africa. Specimens identified Neoromicia anchietae, collected 400–700 km east holotype...
Abstract Hosting 1460 plant and 126 vertebrate endemic species, the Great Escarpment (hereafter, Escarpment) forms a semi‐circular “amphitheater” of mountains girdling southern Africa from arid west to temperate east. Since biota are usually studied separately, earlier studies overlooked biogeographical importance as whole. Bats disperse more widely than other mammalian taxa, with related species intraspecific lineages occupying both highlands Escarpment, providing an excellent model address...
The taxonomy of the Old World bat genus Otomops (Chiroptera: Molossidae) has been subject considerable debate. failure classical morphological studies to provide consistent patterns regarding interspecific relationships within limited any understanding evolutionary history genus. We used traditional and geometric morphometric approaches establish species limits taxa from sub-Saharan Africa, Arabian Peninsula, Madagascar. Morphometric data supported recent recognition three distinct...
Bats play important ecological roles in tropical systems, yet how these communities are structured is still poorly understood. Our study explores the structure of African bat using morphological characters to define morphospace occupied by bats and stable isotope analysis their dietary niche breadth. We compared two communities, one rainforest (Liberia) savannah (South Africa), asked whether greater richness was due more species ‘packing’ into same trophic space than from savannah, or some...
Species richness in the genus Miniopterus has been greatly under-reported, with a large number of taxa having discovered and described past two decades. Using molecular, standard morphometrics acoustic data, we present evidence for existence new species Mozambique neighbouring Malawi. Based on cytochrome b (cyt b) oxidase I (COI), is sister to M. minor, from which it readily distinguishable by its larger size (including non-overlapping forearm measurements, allowing separation field). It...
Abstract The Eastern Cape Province harbors almost half of the indigenous forest in South Africa, but these forests are threatened by large-scale agricultural and urban development planned for coming decade. Additional anthropogenic is likely to cause further fragmentation degradation inhabited dusky pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus hesperidus). We used eight microsatellite markers study genetic diversity, population structure, migration, P. hesperidus (n = 120) across 14 sites KwaZulu-Natal...
Pteropodidae and Hipposideridae are 2 of the 9 chiropteran families that occur on Madagascar. Despite major advancements in systematic study island's bat fauna, few karyotypic data exist for endemic species. We utilized G- C-banding combination with chromosome painting <i>Myotis</i><i>myotis</i> probes to establish a genome-wide homology among Malagasy species belonging (<i>Pteropus rufus</i> 2n = 38; <i>Rousettus madagascariensis</i>, 36),...