Dung beetle (Coleoptera Scarabaeoidea) assemblages in the western Italian Alps: benchmark data for land use monitoring
- Authors: Tocco, Claudia , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/441361 , vital:73879 , 10.3897/BDJ.4.e10059
- Description: Traditional agro-pastoral practices are in decline over much of the Alps (MacDonald et al. 2000), leading to shrub and tree encroachment, and this represents one of the main threats for the conservation of alpine biodiversity, as many plant and animal species are dependent on the presence of semi-natural open habitats. However, quantifying this environmental change and assessing its impact on biodiversity may be difficult, especially in the context of sparse historical survey data. The accessibility of contemporary data about local biodiversity surveys in general, and indicator taxa in particular, is an essential consideration for planning future evaluations of conservation status in the Alps and for conservation plans that use ecological indicators to monitor temporal changes in biodiversity. Dung beetles are important ecosystem service providers (Nichols et al. 2008) that have been assessed as a good ecological indicator taxon in several studies (reviewed by Nichols and Gardner 2011), and although the Alps is perhaps one of the best-studied regions in respect of dung beetles, there are still only eight readily-accessible publications. We have augmented and comprehensively reviewed the data from these publications.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Heat accumulation and development rate of massed maggots of the sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina (Diptera: Calliphoridae)
- Authors: Kotzé, Zanthé , Villet, Martin H , Weldon, Christopher W
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442168 , vital:73964 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinsphys.2016.09.009
- Description: Blowfly larvae aggregate on exposed carcasses and corpses and pass through three instars before wandering from the carcass and pupating. The developmental landmarks in this process can be used by forensic entomologists to estimate the time since the insects colonised the carcass, which sets a minimum post mortem interval. Large aggregations of feeding larvae generate a microclimate with temperatures up to 15 °C above ambient conditions, which may accelerate larval development and affect forensic estimates of post-mortem intervals. This study investigated the effects of heat accumulated by maggot masses of Lucilia cuprina at aggregations of 20, 50 and 100 larvae, each at incubation temperatures of 18 °C, 24 °C and 30 °C, using body length and life stage as developmental indicators. Aggregation temperatures reached up to 18.7 °C above ambient temperature, with significant effects of both size and temperature of the aggregation on the development time of its larvae. Survivorship was highest for all life stages at 24 °C, which is near the developmental optimum of L. cuprina. The results of this study provide a broadly applicable method of quantifying heat accumulation by aggregations of a wide range of species of forensic importance, and the results obtained from such studies will demonstrate that ambient temperature cannot be considered the only source of heat that blowfly larvae experience when they develop on a carcass. Neglect of temperatures within larval aggregations will result in an overestimation of post-mortem intervals and thus have far-reaching medicolegal consequences.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Monitoring of invertebrate and fish recovery following river rehabilitation using rotenone in the Rondegat River
- Authors: Weyl, Olaf L F , Barrow, S , Bellingan, Terence A , Dalu, Tatenda , Ellender, Bruce R , Esler, K , Impson, D , Gouws, Jeanne , Jordaan, M , Villet, Martin H , Wasserman, Ryan J , Woodford, Darragh J
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442411 , vital:73982 , https://www.wrc.org.za/wp-content/uploads/mdocs/2261.pdf
- Description: Fish invasions have been cited as a primary threat to imperilled South African fishes and other aquatic fauna. As a result, the management and control of alien invasive species is a legislated priority in South Africa. From a river rehabilitation perspective, eradicating alien fish allows for the rehabilitation of several kilometres of river, with very significant benefits for the endangered fish species present and for the associated aquatic biota. In South Africa, the piscicide rotenone is one of the preferred methods for achieving eradication.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Optimising design and effort for environmental surveys using dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae):
- Authors: Tocco, Claudia , Quinn, Danielle , Midgley, John M , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/140670 , vital:37908 , DOI: 10.4039/tce.2016.48
- Description: In biological monitoring, deploying an effective standardised quantitative sampling method, optimised by trap design and sampling effort, is an essential consideration. To exemplify this using dung beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae and Aphodiinae) communities, three pitfall trap designs (un-baited (TN), baited at ground level (flat trap, TF), and baited above the trap (hanging trap, TH)), employed with varying levels of sampling effort (number of traps = 1, 2, 3… 10; number of days = 1, 2, 3), were evaluated for sampling completeness and efficiency in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Modelling and resampling simulation approaches were used to suggest optimal sampling protocols across environmentally diverse sites. Overall, TF recovered the greatest abundance and species richness of dung beetles, but behavioural guilds showed conflicting trends: endocoprids preferred TH while paracoprids and telocoprids preferred TF. Resampling simulation of trap type and the two components of sampling effort suggested that six TF traps left for three days was most efficient in obtaining a representative sample and allowed differentiation between trap types, allowing the improved efficiency to be recognised. The effect of trap type on non-target specimens, particularly ants, was also investigated. TF and TH caught almost no by-catch, which is ethically desirable.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Phylogenetic radiation of the greenbottle flies (Diptera, Calliphoridae, Luciliinae).
- Authors: Williams, Kristin A , Lamb, Jennifer , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/441431 , vital:73887 , 10.3897/zookeys.568.6696
- Description: The subfamily Luciliinae is diverse and geographically widespread. Its four currently recognised genera (Dyscritomyia Grimshaw, 1901, Hemipyrellia Townsend, 1918, Hypopygiopsis Townsend 1916 and Lucilia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) contain species that range from saprophages to obligate parasites, but their pattern of phylogenetic diversification is unclear. The 28S rRNA, COI and Period genes of 14 species of Lucilia and Hemipyrellia were partially sequenced and analysed together with sequences of 11 further species from public databases. The molecular data confirmed molecular paraphyly in three species-pairs in Lucilia that hamper barcode identifications of those six species. Lucilia sericata and Lucilia cuprina were confirmed as mutual sister species. The placements of Dyscritomyia and Hypopygiopsis were ambiguous, since both made Lucilia paraphyletic in some analyses. Recognising Hemipyrellia as a genus consistently left Lucilia s.l. paraphyletic, and the occasionally-recognised (sub)genus Phaenicia was consistently paraphyletic, so these taxa should be synonymised with Lucilia to maintain monophyly.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Soil biota in a megadiverse country current knowledge and future research directions in South Africa
- Authors: Janion-Scheepers, Charlene , Measey, John , Braschler, Brigitte , Chown, Steven L , Coetzee, Louisee , Colville, Jonathan F , Dames, Joanna F , Davies, Andrew B , Davies, Sarah J , Davis, Adrian L V , Dippenaar-Schoeman, Ansi S , Duffy, Grant A , Fouries, Driekie , Griffiths, Charles , Haddad, Charles R , Hamer, Michelle , Herbert, David G , Hugo-Coetzee, Elizabeth A , Jacobs, Adriaanas , Jacobs, Karin , Jansen van Rensburg, Candice , Lamani, Siviwe , Lotz, Leon N , vdm Louw, Schalk , Lyle, Robin , Malan, Antoinette P , Marais, Mariette , Neethling, Jan-Andries , Nxele, Thembeka , Plisko, Danuta J , Prendini, Lorenzo , Rink, Ariella N , Swart, Antionette , Theron, Pieter , Truter, Mariette , Ueckermnn, Eddie , Uys, Vivienne M , Villet, Martin H , Willows-Munro, Sandy , Wilson, R U
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/448682 , vital:74751 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedobi.2016.03.004
- Description: Soils are integral to agricultural productivity, biodiversity, and the maintenance of ecosystem services. However, soil ecosystem research depends on foundational biological knowledge that is often missing. In this review, we present a comprehensive, cross-taxa overview of the soil biota of South Africa. We discuss the literature and sampling methods used to assess soil biota, the available taxonomic expertise and main collections within South Africa, the availability of identification guides and online resources, and the status and distribution of described species. We include species lists for all South African soil biota and, for groups with sufficient distribution records, species richness maps. Despite South Africa being only 0.8% of the earth’s terrestrial area, it contains nearly 1.8% of the world’s described soil species (mean per taxon 3.64%, range 0.17–15%; n = 36 groups), with nematodes and earthworms showing a remarkable (6.4 and 7.7%) proportion of globally described diversity. Endemism is high for most groups, ranging from 33–92%. However, major knowledge gaps exist for most soil biota groups. While sampling has been relatively comprehensive in some areas for a few groups (particularly those with direct socioeconomic impacts), the Nama-Karoo, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape are poorly sampled. Natural soils in biodiversity hotspots, such as the Fynbos Biome, are also understudied. We argue that a more integrative approach to acquiring foundational knowledge in soil biodiversity is needed if applied soil research is to be effective in ensuring sustainable soil health. Considerable investment will be required to bring our understanding of the soil biodiversity in this megadiverse region to a level where the Millennium Development Goals can be reached.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Song analysis of South African pygmy bladder cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadettinae: Tettigomyiini).
- Authors: Sanborn, Allen F , Phillips, Polly K F , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442319 , vital:73975 , https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/saw024
- Description: The callings songs of five species from three genera of South African pygmy bladder cicadas are analyzed. The call of each species has a distinct temporal pattern and frequency spectrum. The songs are of significantly lower frequency than would be predicted based on body mass or body length. Comparison of bladder cicada calls from Australia and South Africa show similar lower than predicted frequencies in species of independent evolutionary origin. The inflated abdomen found in these cicadas appears to be a convergent adaptation to permit more efficient song production at lower carrier frequencies that increase the distance the songs will travel.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Sperm ultrastructure and spermatodesm morphology of the spittle bug Locris transversa (Thunberg 1822)(Hemiptera: Cercopidae)
- Authors: Hodgson, Alan N , Ridgeway, Jaryd A , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442333 , vital:73976 , https://doi.org/10.1080/07924259.2016.1157104
- Description: The structure of the spermatozoon and spermatodesm of the spittlebug Locris transversa (Thunberg 1822) was investigated by light and transmission electron microscopy. Males produced only one size class of sperm, which was 93–106 μm long. During spermatogenesis groups of spermatozoa are arranged around, and attached by their acrosomes to, a small central extracellular matrix to form a ball-shaped spermatodesm. Spermatodesmata were found in the testis, vas deferens and seminal vesicle of males and spermatheca of females. The sperm are filiform, each consisting of a ~15-μm-long head containing an anteriorly positioned conical ~2-μm-long acrosome and ~13-μm-long nucleus, and a midpiece and tail with a 9+9+2 axoneme. The acrosome, which has two posterior extensions that lie along one side of the anterior region of the nucleus, contains longitudinally orientated microfilaments. The nucleus has two unequal anterior extensions, whereas posteriorly it is flattened laterally to accommodate a putative centriolar adjunct and anterior ends of the two mitochondrial derivatives. The basal body lies posterior to the nucleus. The mitochondrial derivatives are elongated and extend for almost the entire length of the tail. The tail has glycogen within its centre, and towards its terminal end large deposits of glycogen surround the mitochondrial derivatives and axoneme. Compared to other members of the Cicadomorpha, the spermatozoa and spermatodesms of cercopids so far studied have some structural features in common with cicadellids and others in common with cicadas; therefore, if sperm features are to be useful in phylogenetic studies of cicadomorphs, attention must be given to examining key taxa to establish which character states are plesiomorphic or apomorphic.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Two new species of Xosopsaltria Kirkaldy, 1904, with a key to the species of South African pygmy bladder cicadas (Hemiptera Cicadidae Cicadettinae Tettigomyiini)
- Authors: Sanborn, Allen F , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/441274 , vital:73873 , https://mapress.com/zt/article/view/zootaxa.4092.2.3
- Description: Two species, Xosopsaltria brachyptera n. sp. and Xosopsaltria vitripennis n. sp., are described as new. Notes on their biology and a key to the South African pygmy bladder cicadas are also provided.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016