Comparative phylogeography of two open forest frogs from eastern Australia

We investigated the phylogeography of two closely related Australian frog species from open forest habitats, Limnodynastes tasmaniensis and L. peronii , using mitochondrial ND4 sequence data. Comparison of our results with previous work on Litoria fallax allowed us to test the generality of phylogeographic patterns among non-rainforest anurans along the east coast of Australia. In general, there was no strong evidence for congruence between overall patterns of genetic structure in the three species. However, phylogenetic breaks congruent with the position of the Burdekin Gap were detected at some level in all species. As previously noted for closed forest taxa, this area of dry habitat appears to have been an important influence on the evolution of several open forest taxa. There were broad geographic similarities in the phylogenetic structuring of southern populations of L. peronii and L. tasmaniensis. Contrarily, although the McPherson Range has previously been noted to coincide geographically with a major mtDNA phylogenetic break in Litoria fallax this pattern is not apparent in L. peronii or L. tasmaniensis. It appears that major phylogeographic splits within L. peronii and L. tasmaniensis may predate the Quaternary. We conclude that phylogeographies of open forest frogs are complex and more difficult to predict than for rainforest taxa, mainly due to an absence of palæomodels for historical distributions of non-rainforest habitats.     

FIRST FOSSIL EVIDENCE FOR THE PRIMITIVE ANGIOSPERM FAMILY LACTORIDACEAE

Pollen of the primitive angiosperm family Lactoridaceae has been recovered from Turonian-Campanian (Upper Cretaceous) sediments from eleven boreholes off the southwest coast of southern Africa. This is the first report of the Lactoridaceae in the fossil record. The one extant species of the Lactoridaceae is confined to the Juan Fernandez Islands located off the coast of Chile. The occurrence of lactoridaceous pollen in Cretaceous deposits of southern Africa suggest that this primitive angiosperm family may have been more widespread in the Southern hemisphere during the Cretaceous.     

WINTER DISTRIBUTION OF THE GREY PHALAROPE PHALAROPUS FULICARIUS

1. Recent published and unpublished observations of Phalaropus fulicarius confirm the existence of a large wintering area off North-west Africa, from Cape Blanco to Sierra Leone.
2. Published observations in the South Atlantic off South Africa indicate the presence of wintering birds. Some birds have been recorded well inland (probably. vagrants).
3. Phalaropes off North-west Africa seem most concentrated where the plankton is densest. Probably the same holds good for the south, though no great numbers have been seen here yet.
4. The parallel of the Humboldt Current off South America lends support to the belief in a wintering area off the Cape.     

Southern African skate biodiversity and distribution

The skates (Family Rajidae) have 12 genera and possibly 28 species off southern Africa (southern Angola, Namibia, South Africa and Mozambique). The geographic and bathymetric distribution and the taxonomic composition of the southern African skate fauna are analysed and the distribution mapped. The southern African skate fauna is best known off the temperate west coast of South Africa from the intertidal to approximately 1,200 meters, but poorly known below 1,200 m and sketchily known in warm-temperate and tropical parts of the area. Southern African skates of the temperate continental shelves above 100 m are not diverse and regularly include one species of the genus Dipturus, one species of Leucoraja, two species of Raja (including R. straeleni, the most abundant skate in southern African waters) and the giant skate Rostroraja alba. All of these skates are ‘shelf overlap’ species that range onto the outer shelves and uppermost slopes, and none are confined to inshore environments. Skate diversity increases on the outer shelves and upper slopes. At least half of the skate species are endemic to the southern African region; other species also occur off East or West Africa, a few extend to European waters, and records of one species, Amblyraja taaf, appear to be of strays from nearby sub-Antarctic seas. The genus Bathyraja and softnose skate group (Arhynchobatinae) are surprisingly limited (a single species) in deep-water off southern Africa (unlike other regions including the Antarctic), and almost all of southern African skates are members of the Rajinae. Amongst rajines, the tribes Amblyrajini (Amblyraja, two species, Leucoraja, two species, and Rajella, five species) Rajini (Dipturus, six species, Okamejei, one species, Raja, two species, and Rostroraja, one species), and Anacanthobatini (Anacanthobatis, two species, and Cruriraja, three species) predominate, while Gurgesiellini has a species of Neoraja and possibly two of Malacoraja.     

Inability of adult Limnodynastes peronii (Amphibia: Anura) to thermally acclimate locomotor performance

Despite several studies on adult amphibians, only larvae of the striped marsh frog (Limnodynastes peronii) have been reported to possess the ability to compensate for the effects of cool temperature on locomotor performance by thermal acclimation. In this study, we investigated whether this thermal acclimatory ability is shared by adult L. peronii. We exposed adult L. peronii to either 18 or 30 degrees C for 8 weeks and tested their swimming and jumping performance at six temperatures between 8 and 35 degrees C. Acute changes in temperature affected both maximum swimming and jumping performance, however there was no difference between the two treatment groups in locomotor performance between 8 and 30 degrees C. Maximum swimming velocity of both groups increased from 0.62+/-0.02 at 8 degrees C to 1.02+/-0.03 m s(-1) at 30 degrees C, while maximum jump distance increased from approximately 20 to >60 cm over the same temperature range. Although adult L. peronii acclimated to 18 degrees C failed to produce a locomotor response at 35 degrees C, this most likely reflected a change in thermal tolerance limits with acclimation rather than modifications in the locomotor system. As all adult amphibians studied to date are incapable of thermally acclimating locomotor performance, including adults of L. peronii, this acclimatory capacity appears to be absent from the adult stage of development.     

Variation in body size and sexual dimorphism across geographical and environmental space in the frogs Limnodynastes tasmaniensis and L. peronii

This study aimed to identify potential factors responsible for geographically structured morphological variation within the widespread Australian frogs Limnodynastes tasmaniensis Günther and L. peronii Duméril & Bibron. There was support for James's rule, and both latitude and present climate explained large amounts of the variation in body size and shape (particularly in L. peronii ). There was also some support for the influence of several biogeographical barriers. Finally, both species were sexually dimorphic for body size and the degree of sexual size dimorphism (SSD) varied geographically. Climate was an important explanation for SSD variation in L. peronii , while latitude was most important for L. tasmaniensis . Geographical variations in sexual selection via male–male physical competition and climate-related resources are suggested as potential explanations for SSD variation in L. peronii .  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 82 , 39–56.     

Phylogenetic placement and population structure of Indo‐Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) off Zanzibar,Tanzania, based on mtDNA sequences

Phylogenetic placement of bottlenose dolphins from Zanzibar, East Africa and putative population differentiation between animals found off southern and northern Zanzibar were examined using variation in mtDNA control region sequences. Samples (n= 45) from animals bycaught in fishing gear and skin biopsies collected during boat surveys were compared to published sequences (n= 173) of Indo‐Pacific bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops aduncus, from southeast Australian waters, Chinese/Indonesian waters, and South African waters (which recently was proposed as a new species) and to published sequences of common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus. Bayesian and maximum parsimony analyses indicated a close relationship between Zanzibar and South African haplotypes, which are differentiated from both Chinese/Indonesian and Australian T. aduncus haplotypes. Our results suggest that the dolphins found off Zanzibar should be classified as T. aduncus alongside the South African animals. Further, analyses of genetic differentiation showed significant separation between the T. aduncus found off northern and southern Zanzibar despite the relatively short distance (approximately 80 km) between these areas. Much less differentiation was found between southern Zanzibar and South Africa, suggesting a more recent common evolutionary history for these populations than for the northern and southern Zanzibar populations.     

Diamonds in the desert: The discovery of Otavipithecus namibiensis

The mountains and deserts of Namibia hide many treasures—diamonds, gold, uranium, strategic minerals. But on the afternoon of June 4, 1991, we were searching Namibia's mountains for a rarer kind of stone, fossilized evidence of human evolution in southern Africa. What we found instead was the rarest “diamond” of all, one that no one had ever seen before on the African continent south of equatorial East Africa. What we found was incontrovertible evidence that prehuman “apes” were living in southern Africa millions of years before Australopithecus roamed the veld.     

Does disappearance mean extirpation? The case of right whales off Namibia

Right whales off Namibia were severely depleted by early 19th century whaling, and rarely featured in modern whaling catches in the 1920s. Aerial surveys of the Namibian coastline from 1978 and onwards revealed increasing numbers of right whales, but few cow‐calf pairs. Aerial surveys off South Africa since 2009 showed a major decline in the availability of animals without calves. Twenty individual matches were made between 94 whales photographed off Namibia/Northern Cape in 2003–2012 and 1,677 photographed off South Africa in 1979–2012. Eight were adult females that calved in South African waters, but only one was also seen with a calf off Namibia. Twelve out of 13 individuals off Namibia with distinctive dorsal pigmentation were first seen as calves off South Africa. These results strongly indicate connectivity between the two regions, while the presence off Namibia of three adult females from the South African population in the season in which they are believed to conceive suggests that there is unlikely to be any genetic differentiation between the two areas. We conclude that the reappearance of right whales off Namibia represents range expansion from South Africa rather than the survival of a few remnants of an originally separate stock.     

A review of Buccipagoda Ponder, 2010 and descriptions of new species and a new genus (Gastropoda: Neogastropoda: Buccinoidea: Buccinidae)

This revision addresses two Southern Hemisphere genera in the family Buccinidae. Buccipagoda kengrahami (Ponder, 1982) and B. ponderi n. sp. are recognised from off southern Australia and B. achilles n. sp. from off New Zealand. Sagenotriton n. gen. is introduced for S. ajax n. sp. from off New Zealand, and S. bathybius (Bouchet & Warén, 1986) and S. bonaespei (Barnard, 1963) from off South Africa.     

REVIEWS AND RECORDS

Summerhayes, C. P., Hofmeyr. P. K. &; Rioux, R. H. 1974. Seabirds off the southwestern coast of Africa. Ostrich 45: 83–109.

The distribution of seabirds off the southwestern coast of Africa was observed during April. May and November, and observed south of Africa in March. Most seabirds off the west coast were concentrated near to the coast or over the edge of the continental shelf. These are sites where forms of upwelling bring water rich in nutrients to the surface of the sea. The most birds were seen in March, April and May, the least in November. Most common over the shelf-edge were, in order of abundance, Blackbrowed Albatross, Cape Hens, Shy Albatross, Yellownosed Albatross, Wilson's Storm Petrels, Cape Gannets, Common/Arctic Terns, and Antarctic Skuas. Seasonal shifts in their ranges and population densities probably reflect the influence of breeding and migration.

Comparable concentrations of seabirds were only seen as the cold, nutrient-rich waters of the Subantarctic were approached south of Africa. Here turbulence breaks up the front of the Subtropical Convergence and, in moving large masses of cold water northwards, provides a “corridor” which Southern Ocean species may follow to reach Africa.

(Contribution No. 2687 of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution).     

Occurrence of Pleuroscopus pseudodorsalis Barnard, 1927 (Uranoscopidae) near Rio Grande Plateau, western South Atlantic

The first record of the uranoscopid Pleuroscopus pseudodorsalis from the western South Atlantic, near Rio Grande Plateau, is based on the unusual collection of a specimen by pelagic longline. The species was previously known only off southern Africa and Australasia.     

DISTRIBUTION,POPULATION SIZE AND CONSERVATION OF HARTLAUB'S GULL LARUS HARTLAUBIL

Williams, A. J., Steele, W. K., Cooper, J. & Crawford, R. J. M. 1990. Distribution, population size and conservation of Hartlaub's Gull Lorus hurtlaubii. Ostrich 61: 66–76.

Hartlaub's Gull Larus hartlaubii is endemic to southern Africa, where it breeds between Swakopmund, Namibia and Dyer Island, southwestern Cape Province, South Africa. The species has been re breeding at 48 localities within this range. Between 1984 and 1989 an estimated 12000 pain brered at 31 localities. Twenty-eet percent of the population breeds at Robben Island off the Cape Peninsula, sQuth Africa. Hartlaub's Gull frequently has low breeding success and is considered endangered in Narmbia, where 12% of the poulation occurs. However, the population is increaslng around the urbanmd Cape Peninsula where HartLub's Gull has the potential to become a pest species.     

Migrant European Swallows Hirundo rustica in southern Africa: a southern perspective

Oatley, T.B. 2000. Migrant European swallows Hirundo rustica in southern Africa: a southern perspective. Ostrich 71 (1 & 2): 205–209.

A total of 1 457 recoveries and controls of European Swallows Hirundo rustica in the South African Bird Ringing Unit data bank were analysed to provide an update of the apparent origins and dispersion of migrant European Swallows in southern Africa, to investigate local movements within southern Africa, and to yield an estimate of the age structure of the visiting migrants. Although birds from the former USSR and from Britain and Ireland predominate, over 200 recoveries from 20 other European countries have been recorded. More than half of the swallows migrating to southern Africa are from the central third of the species' breeding range. The dispersion of recoveries of swallows ringed in Britain and Ireland is widespread, with 55% recorded from the Eastern Cape, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal. Controls of southern African-ringed swallows at roosts and recoveries elsewhere in the subcontinent suggest that the daily range of migrant swallows is encompassed within a circle of 100 km diameter, but wide-ranging intra-seasonal movements within South Africa have also been recorded. Conservative estimates of the age of European Swallows at recovery indicate that as many as 14% of migrant swallows ringed in southern Africa may Survive to more than three years of age. It is suggested that the experience of migrants that survive to return to Africa one or more times may permit some flexibility in choice of final destination and that mixing of populations in roosts may result in birds arriving at new destinations.     

Gill Memorial Medal Address Holding the mirror up to nature

Since the early 1980s, there have been large decreases in numbers breeding in South Africa of three seabirds that compete with fisheries for food: African Penguin Spheniscus demersus, Cape Cormorant Phalacrocorax capensis and Bank Cormorant P. neglectus. By contrast, two other species that compete with fisheries but which have a larger foraging range when breeding or are nomadic between breeding localities, Cape Gannet Morus capensis and the nominate race of Swift Tern Thalasseus bergii bergii, have increased. Five seabirds that do not compete with fisheries for prey have maintained stable populations or increased. The decreases in the three species have led to deterioration in the overall conservation status of South Africa's seabirds, of which 10 of 15 species (67%) are presently classified as Threatened or Near-threatened, including six of the seven species that are endemic to the Benguela ecosystem off western southern Africa.     

Symphurus hondoensis Hubbs, 1915, a valid species of western Pacific tonguefish (Pleuronectiformes: Cynoglossidae)

Symphurus hondoensis Hubbs, 1915, originally described only from the holotype taken in 390–542 m in Suruga Bay Japan, has long been considered a junior synonym ofS. strictus Gilbert, 1905, known from waters off Hawaii, Japan, the Philippine Islands, and South Africa. Based on new information from the holotype and a specimen recently captured from deep waters (789–815 m) off Amami-Oshima Island, southern Japan,S. hondoensis is now established as a valid species.Symphurus hondoensis is unique among congeners in having the combination of a 1–2–3 pattern of interdigitation of proximal dorsal pterygiophores and neural spines, 10 abdominal vertebrae, 14 caudalfin rays, 111–113 dorsal-fin rays, 95 anal-fin rays, 59 total vertebrae, 105–106 scales in longitudinal series, blind side nearly as darkly pigmented as the ocular surface, and a black peritoneum. Recognition ofS. hondoensis increases the number of described species ofSymphurus in waters off Japan to three (S. orientalis Bleeker,S. strictus, andS. hondoensis), with at least one more underscribed species occurring in deepwater hydrothermal vent areas off southern Japan.     

A conservation assessment of the freshwater crabs of southern Africa (Brachyura: Potamonautidae)

Recent taxonomic revisions of the freshwater crabs of southern Africa (Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe) allow accurate depictions of their diversity, distribution patterns and conservation status. The southern African region is home to nineteen species of freshwater crabs all belonging to the genus Potamonautes (family Potamonautidae). These crabs show high levels of species endemism (84%) to the southern African region and to the country of South Africa (74%). The conservation status of each species is assessed using the IUCN (2003) Red List criteria, based on detailed compilations of the majority of known specimens. The results indicate that one species should be considered vulnerable, fifteen species least concern and three species data deficient. The results have been utilized by the IUCN for Red Lists, and may prove useful when developing a conservation strategy for southern Africa’s endemic freshwater crab fauna.     

Where two oceans meet: distribution and offshore interactions of great-winged petrels Pterodroma macroptera and Leach’s storm petrels Oceanodroma leucorhoa off southern Africa

During seabird surveys off southern Africa, great-winged petrel Pterodroma macroptera and Leach’s storm petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa were widespread and relatively common. Similar aerial displays, frequent (social) interactions, a tendency to “huddle” in tight (mixed) gatherings and interactions during foraging inspired a study of their behaviour and distribution. Both species peaked at >2,000-m-deep ocean waters, with lower densities over the shelf and with Leach’s storm petrels (ca. 0.5 km⁻²) twice as abundant as great-winged petrels (ca. 0.25 km⁻²). The results suggest half a million great-winged petrels and well over a million Leach’s storm petrels occurring over deep waters off southern Africa. Active fishing vessels elevated background densities of petrels in some areas, indicating the utilisation of discarded material, but in most areas hardly any fisheries were encountered and on the shelf with no discernable effect on petrel densities. Both species showed an association with meso-scale hydrographic features in the Agulhas current retroflection region. High densities of Leach’s storm petrels occurred in offshore areas with steep salinity and sea surface temperature gradients. No such tendency was found in great-winged petrels. Great-winged petrels spent relatively little time feeding during daylight (10.3% of birds observed) in comparison to Leach’s storm petrels (66.2%), but were frequently seen to join feeding Leach’s storm petrels where they profited from the searching skills of Leach’s. Both species performed displays as individuals, in pairs, in larger groups and in mixed-species groups. Tight gatherings of petrels swimming at sea (huddling) occurred, consisting either of one species or both. When disturbed, such flocks would disperse after take off and often engage in aerial displays. It is speculated that the formation of these flocks is part of the anti-predator strategy of petrels against attacks from under water.