Levels of biodiversity are globally underestimated, especially in tropical ecosystems. This is particularly so for bats compared to other mammalian taxa, due to morphological conservatism. Here, we ...investigate West African bats of the Hipposideros caffer complex, an insectivorous bat group occurring throughout the Afrotropics. From samples collected in Ghana, we aim to resolve the cryptic diversity identified by mitochondrial (mt) DNA using nuclear genetic, acoustic, and external morphometric data. We confirmed the presence of four previously established mtDNA lineages within the H. caffer complex and found significant genetic divergence among lineages based on nuclear microsatellite data and significant differences in frequencies of echolocation calls and morphometric measures. From these new data, we conclude that H. caffer complex in West Africa consists of at least four distinct species. While the small‐sized species from coastal savanna could be assigned to H. caffer tephrus, the taxonomic identity of the three sympatric, similarly sized species pertaining to H. ruber from the forest zone of Central Ghana is yet to be assessed.
Zusammenfassung
Die Artenvielfalt vieler Ökosysteme wird generell oft unterschätzt, insbesondere in den Tropen. Dies trifft besonders für Fledermäuse zu, bei denen sich, im Vergleich zu anderen Säugetiergruppen, zahlreiche morphologisch sehr ähnliche Arten finden. Wir untersuchten die westafrikanischen Vertreter des Hipposideros caffer ‐ Komplexes, einer in der gesamten Afrotropis verbreiteten Gruppe insektivorer Fledermausarten. Basierend auf Material aus Ghana untersuchten wir vier über mtDNA zuvor bereits identifizierte Linien mittels Kernmikrosatelliten‐Daten sowie akustischer und morphometrischer Daten. Unsere Ergebnisse bestätigen die Existenz von vier mtDNA‐Linien innerhalb des H. caffer‐Komplexes und zeigen nun auch anhand von Kernmikrosatellitendaten eine signifikante genetische Divergenz der einzelnen Linien, sowie signifikante Unterschiede in Echoortungsfrequenzen und morphometrischen Parametern. Unsere neuen Daten belegen, dass der H. caffer‐Komplex in Westafrika aus mindestens vier Arten besteht: Während relativ kleine Individuen der Küstensavanne Ghanas wohl zur Art H. tephrus gehören, kann die taxonomische Identität der drei ähnlich großen, sympatrischen Arten aus der Waldzone von Zentralghana, die aktuell H. ruber zugeordnet werden, bislang noch nicht abschließend beurteilt werden.
We investigated bats of the Hipposideros caffer complex from Ghana in order to resolve their cryptic diversity. We confirmed presence of four previously established mtDNA lineages and demonstrated significant divergence among them based on nuclear microsatellites, frequency distribution of echolocation calls, and external morphometry. We showed that H. caffer complex in West Africa consists of at least four distinct species and highlighted the potential presence of further cryptic species.
Background: Ghana is one of the six bat diversity hotspots on the African continent, yet its caves have not been fully explored for the bats they host. Research Aims: We aimed to assess the species ...composition and diversity of five caves in central Ghana and identified those needing immediate conservation attention. Methods: Using mist-nets, we captured bats over 102 full nights between October 2010 and July 2012 from the Upper Guinean forest and Savannah regions in central Ghana. Results: A total of 10,226 bats belonging to nine species were recorded. PERMANOVA suggested significant variation in species composition among the caves. A SIMPER analysis revealed Coleura afra and Hipposideros jonesi to be the main discriminating species between caves, with a dominance of Hipposideros cf. ruber in all caves. The Bat Cave Vulnerability Index (BCVI) revealed Mframabuom cave from the Upper Guinean forest region as a high priority cave hosting threatened species, yet highly disturbed. The remaining caves were identified as medium priority caves. Conclusion The results of the study suggest the need for further research and an immediate conservation strategy as essential for approaching national conservation goals.
Vallo, P., Benda, P., Červený, J. & Koubek, P. (2012). Conflicting mitochondrial and nuclear paraphyly in small‐sized West African house bats (Vespertilionidae). —Zoologica Scripta, 42, 1–12.
...Hybridization between species may result in introgression of mitochondrial DNA from one species to another. Phylogenetic inference, therefore, may not recover true evolutionary relationships. In bats, there are only a few reported cases of introgressive hybridization. House bats are a genus with obscure phylogeny and taxonomy, caused mainly by morphological similarity. We undertook a detailed analysis of small‐sized West African house bats (Scotophilus), tentatively identified as S. nigritellus, to clarify relationships between two sympatric colour forms. These forms were recovered in paraphyletic position to each other in both mitochondrial and nuclear phylogenies, signifying that they are two distinct species. While the yellow‐bellied form could be assigned beyond doubt to S. nigritellus s. str., the white‐bellied form may be an as yet undescribed species. Moreover, the white‐bellied form clustered as a sister mitochondrial lineage to another species, Scotophilus leucogaster. These sister lineages differed by only 2.6–2.8% sequence divergence, which lies within the intraspecific range for this genus. Two nuclear markers, however, contradicted the sister relationship, showing them instead to be distantly related. The apparent conflict between the mitochondrial and nuclear signals suggests that past hybridization may have occurred between these morphologically distinct species.
Many studies have demonstrated the importance of symbiotic microbial communities for the host with beneficial effects for nutrition, development, and the immune system. The majority of these studies ...have focused on bacteria residing in the gastrointestinal tract, while the fungal community has often been neglected. Gut anaerobic fungi of the class Neocallimastigomycetes are a vital part of the intestinal microbiome in many herbivorous animals and their exceptional abilities to degrade indigestible plant material means that they contribute significantly to fermentative processes in the enteric tract. Gorillas rely on a highly fibrous diet and depend on fermentative microorganisms to meet their daily energetic demands. To assess whether Neocallimastigomycetes occur in gorillas we analyzed 12 fecal samples from wild Western lowland gorillas (
Gorilla gorilla gorilla
) from Dzanga–Sangha Protected Areas, Central African Republic, and subjected potential anaerobic fungi sequences to phylogenetic analysis. The clone library contained ITS1 fragments that we related to 45 different fungi clones. Of these, 12 gastrointestinal fungi in gorillas are related to anaerobic fungi and our phylogenetic analyses support their assignment to the class Neocallimastigomycetes. As anaerobic fungi play a pivotal role in plant fiber degradation in the herbivore gut, gorillas might benefit from harboring these particular fungi with regard to their nutritional status. Future studies should investigate whether Neocallimastigomycetes are also found in other nonhuman primates with high fiber intake, which would also benefit from having such highly efficient fermentative microbes.
Syngamid strongylids of the genus Mammomonogamus undoubtedly belong among the least known nematodes with apparent zoonotic potential and the real diversity of the genus remains hard to evaluate ...without extensive molecular data. Eggs of Mammomonogamus sp. are frequently found in feces of African forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis) and western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in Dzanga-Sangha Protected Areas. Using sedimentation-based coproscopic techniques, we found the eggs of Mammomonogamus in 19·7% elephant and 54·1% gorilla fecal samples with 8-55 and 1-24 eggs per gram of fecal sediment for elephants and gorillas, respectively. We used a combination of light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and analysis of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) and a partial sequence of 18S rDNA isolated from single eggs to test the hypothesis of possible Mammomonogamus conspecificity in gorillas and elephants. Whereas 18S rDNA sequences were identical in both gorillas and elephants, we distinguished seven different haplotypes within the cox1. Two haplotypes were found in both gorillas and elephants suggesting sharing of Mammomonogamus. Assignment of the parasite to M. loxodontis is proposed. Provided sequences represent the first genomic data on Mammomonogamus spp.
Habitat types can affect vector and pathogen distribution and transmission dynamics. The prevalence and genetic diversity of Plasmodium spp. in two eastern chimpanzee populations-Kalinzu Forest ...Reserve, Uganda and Issa Valley, Tanzania-inhabiting different habitat types was investigated. As a follow up study the effect of host sex and age on infections patterns in Kalinzu Forest Reserve chimpanzees was determined.
Molecular methods were employed to detect Plasmodium DNA from faecal samples collected from savanna-woodland (Issa Valley) and forest (Kalinzu Forest Reserve) chimpanzee populations.
Based on a Cytochrome-b PCR assay, 32 out of 160 Kalinzu chimpanzee faecal samples were positive for Plasmodium DNA, whilst no positive sample was detected in 171 Issa Valley chimpanzee faecal samples. Sequence analysis revealed that previously known Laverania species (Plasmodium reichenowi, Plasmodium billbrayi and Plasmodium billcollinsi) are circulating in the Kalinzu chimpanzees. A significantly higher proportion of young individuals were tested positive for infections, and switching of Plasmodium spp. was reported in one individual. Amongst the positive individuals sampled more than once, the success of amplification of Plasmodium DNA from faeces varied over sampling time.
The study showed marked differences in the prevalence of malaria parasites among free ranging chimpanzee populations living in different habitats. In addition, a clear pattern of Plasmodium infections with respect to host age was found. The results presented in this study contribute to understanding the ecological aspects underlying the malaria infections in the wild. Nevertheless, integrative long-term studies on vector abundance, Plasmodium diversity during different seasons between sites would provide more insight on the occurrence, distribution and ecology of these pathogens.
Anoplocephalid tapeworms of the genus Bertiella Stiles and Hassall, 1902 and Anoplocephala Blanchard, 1848, found in the Asian, African and American non-human primates are presumed to sporadic ...ape-to-man transmissions. Variable nuclear (5.8S-ITS2; 28S rRNA) and mitochondrial genes (cox1; nad1) of isolates of anoplocephalids originating from different primates (Callicebus oenanthe, Gorilla beringei, Gorilla gorilla, Pan troglodytes and Pongo abelii) and humans from various regions (South America, Africa, South-East Asia) were sequenced. In most analyses, Bertiella formed a monophyletic group within the subfamily Anoplocephalinae, however, the 28S rRNA sequence-based analysis indicated paraphyletic relationship between Bertiella from primates and Australian marsupials and rodents, which should thus be regarded as different taxa. Moreover, isolate determined as Anoplocephala cf. gorillae from mountain gorilla clustered within the Bertiella clade from primates. This either indicates that A. gorillae deserves to be included into the genus Bertiella, or, that an unknown Bertiella species infects also mountain gorillas. The analyses allowed the genetic differentiation of the isolates, albeit with no obvious geographical or host-related patterns. The unexpected genetic diversity of the isolates studied suggests the existence of several Bertiella species in primates and human and calls for revision of the whole group, based both on molecular and morphological data.
Evolutionary parallelism complicates taxonomy of the bat genus Scotophilus. This implies the necessity for a careful examination of morphologically similar species. Robbins' — or “nutlet” — house bat ...Scotophilus nucella is an insufficiently known taxon of the African rainforest zone based on just a handful of recorded specimens previously included in the nut-coloured house bat S. nux. Because its phylogenetic relationship to S. nux and other congeneric species is unknown, it was assessed using analysis of DNA sequences of single mitochondrial and nuclear genes. Based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences, S. nucella was placed in sister position to S. nux. A genetic divergence of 7.8–9.4 % between them supports the recognition of S. nucella as a distinct species. Analysis of partial sequences of the nuclear zinc finger protein gene on the Y-chromosome corroborated the sister relationship of S. nucella and S. nux, while showing sufficient differences to consider them as two species. Mitochondrial genetic diversity in S. nucella was low, whereas S. nux showed a rather complex genetic structure over a large geographic area, despite limited sampling. The origin of the forest group of Scotophilus could be dated to the Miocene-Pliocene transition and the split leading to the contemporary species S. nucella and S. nux to the Pliocene-Pleistocene transition. Both time periods are characterized by an arid climate that led to the retreat of forest environment, which likely promoted speciation in forest refugia. Mid-Pleistocene diversification in S. nux led to a separate lineage from Guinea, West Africa, for which a subspecific status may be considered, as it differs 3.4–4.5 % from other African populations.
The giant house bat
, one of the largest vespertilioniform bat species in the world, is a poorly known taxon, especially with respect to its phylogenetic relationships to congeneric species. Its ...phylogenetic position was thus assessed by analysing DNA sequences of single mitochondrial and nuclear genes. Based on the mitochondrial cytochrome
,
was found to be paraphyletic with respect to continental African species
,
,
and
. Analysis of sequences of the nuclear zinc finger protein gene on the Y chromosome corroborated the general pattern of the cytochrome
phylogeny, although phylogenetic relationships were poorly resolved. These results clearly contradict the published data on
from Kenya for both markers, rendering the hypothesis of historical hybridization with
implausible and questioning the taxonomic affiliation of the particular Kenyan sequence. A deep split in the cytochrome
phylogeny between
from West and Southern Africa reached sequence divergence values of 7.6% to 8.1%, a finding that supports taxonomic elevation of the two currently recognized subspecies into separate species
and
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