Generally, Wahlberg's epauletted fruit bat (Epomophorus wahlbergi) roost in trees or under the eaves of buildings. This study investigated the roosting dynamics of E. wahlbergi in the urban environment of Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. To determine roost fidelity bats were radio-tracked to daytime roosts. Bats were found to change their daytime roosts regularly, and would change more frequently during winter than spring. Roost temperatures were measured by placing i-Button^® temperature loggers at known roosts, either in man-made structures or vegetation. Temperatures varied across different roosts, but roost temperatures were generally higher than ambient temperatures. Roosts in man-made structures had higher temperatures than those in natural vegetation. This study showed the importance of temperature in E. wahlbergi daytime roosts, although other factors such as reproduction and social interactions, predator avoidance and proximity to food resources are likely to also affect selection of daytime roosts.

Nile perch (Lates spp.) was introduced into Lake Victoria only five decades ago but is now well established and distributed throughout the lake. Given the extensive size of the lake, there is a possibility of isolation by distance that can lead to local adaptations. Microsatellite DNA variability was used to assess the genetic diversity and to define the population structure of Nile perch collected from 22 different geographical locations within Lake Victoria. In total, 432 individuals were genotyped at nine microsatellite loci. Analyses of multilocus microsatellite genotypes revealed that genetic diversity of Nile perch of Lake Victoria is relatively high (H_E = 0.68). Results also reveal shallow but significant genetic differentiation (F_ST = 0.029, P < 0.05). STRUCTURE indicated that Nile perch of Lake Victoria was made up of two (K = 2) genetically distinct populations. Separate analysis for each of the two groups also revealed relatively high genetic diversity for each group (H_E[N1] = 0.73 and H_E[N2] = 0.64). These results are surprising given that Nile perch was only recently introduced and is known to be migratory by nature. We interpret these results in light of multiple introductions from two different source populations of Nile perch and discuss implications of these results for the region's fisheries management.

We investigated ecological separation through dietary partitioning of small mammals in the nutrient-poor Fynbos biome using a stable isotope approach. Hair samples from eight species of co-occurring small mammals in two separate locations were analysed for stable carbon (¹³C/¹²C) and nitrogen (¹⁵N/¹⁴N) isotope ratios. In addition, we investigated the seasonal variation in diet again by using variation in isotopic composition of one of the most common small mammal species, the Cape spiny mouse. We also analysed seeds and leaves from the most common plant species at each study site. Results showed that some dietary separation exists among these coexisting small mammals. Geographic differences exist in isotope signatures within the Cape spiny mouse, possibly resulting from area-related variations in isotope values of plants, as well as differences in the animals' diets. A. subspinosus hair shows little to no seasonal fluctuation of isotopic signals, except in summer, which possibly indicates a stable diet over much of the year. We conclude that the isotopic approach to determine trophic levels is limited by significant geographic variation in plant isotopes and enrichment in seeds compared to leaves.

Morphological parameters of the mammalian kidney can provide information on the extent to which an animal is able to regulate water relations within its body and cope with arid conditions. Certain groups of mammals, such as rabbits and hares, show a flexible phenotype (phenotypic plasticity) with respect to renal physiology that enables them to inhabit a variety of bioclimatic regions. We investigated kidney morphology in the European rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus, located on two isolated islands off the coast of the Western Cape South Africa, at sites with varying water and food availability, to ascertain whether these populations demonstrate differences in renal morphology that would link to differential renal physiology. In summer, Dassen Island is more restricted in available water and plants than Robben Island; we tested the prediction that rabbits from Dassen Island would be physiologically more suited to water-limited conditions. Our data showed that O. cuniculus exhibits phenotypic plasticity, with Dassen Island rabbits displaying renal adaptations more suited to survival in drier environments, such as an increased relative medullary thickness and a higher predicted maximal urine-concentrating ability. This suggests increased renal performance in the Dassen Island population with the consequent increased ability to concentrate urine and conserve body water.

Gulls are good biological models to investigate anthropogenic changes affecting the environment. We studied the breeding ecology of a monospecific colony of yellow-legged gulls, Larus michahellis on the Algerian island of Srigina, during three consecutive years (2009–2011) and attempted to identify factors influencing breeding parameters. Most nests (71%) were located in medium range of vegetation cover (20–80%). Egg-laying started in early March and extended to early May with egg-laying peaking at end of March. Mean clutch size varied significantly between years from 2.8 ± 0.4 (2009) to 2.4 ± 0.8 (2011) with clutches exhibiting a seasonal decrease in mean egg volume. Hatching success was relatively low compared with studies carried out in southern Europe and an average of 1.5 chicks survived to 20 days. Colony size decreased steadily during the study period, dropping by 28.4%. Such decline may be due to breeding dispersal by adults following poor breeding performances. Predation by feral cats (Felis silvestris catus), presumed to be the main cause of chick mortality, may be adversely impacting breeding success and could lead to the virtual extirpation of the yellow-legged gull and other breeding birds from the island.

The complex life cycles of most trematode parasites include three hosts. The first intermediate host is a snail, the second is normally a teleost fish and a piscivorous bird serves as the definitive host. Lymnaeid snails are most likely to be responsible for cercarial shedding, which infect exposed fish and in turn are eaten by piscivorous birds. From 2008 to 2010 fish in the Okavango and Orange-Vaal River Systems were collected and dissected in order to determine the prevalence and intensity of larval trematode infections in the eyes and brains. This paper discusses the possible ecological factors which can influence the probability of certain fish species becoming infected with diplostomid cercariae and hence metacercariae. The feeding strategies and sizes of piscivorous birds, which could act as definitive hosts for the adult worms, are summarized and discussed. Information on the snail species responsible for furcocercous cercarial shedding in the two study sites is also included.

The cushion sea star Parvalustra exigua from five sites along the shore of False Bay on the southern coast of South Africa was studied using two cellular biomarkers, the neutral red retention assay (NRR) and the lysosomal destabilization assay (DI) to assess damage in the coelomocytes in response to metals. This was compared to pollution levels using a pollution load index (PLI) calculated for metals present. Laboratory exposures to cadmium were done to verify biomarker responses. The PLIs for the sites correlated with the levels of anthropogenic activities and effluent inflow. The highest pollution was at Muizenberg, with human habitation on the shore level, a fishing harbour and informal settlements. These specimens had shorter NRR times, indicating more damage than those from sites with lower pollution. The DI results also correlated with pollution levels. This study provided evidence that P. exigua has potential for monitoring environmental pollution, using biomarkers, especially in southern coastal areas due to its distribution.

The western mountain greenbul, Andropadus tephrolaemus, is a poorly-known monomorphic forest greenbul. We investigated whether morphological measurements could be used to discriminate between sexes of this species, with a sample of birds captured in two forest types on Mt Cameroon. We used discriminant function analysis based on a combination of traits to develop models to discriminate between sexes. The sex of birds predicted from these models was compared with molecular sexing of the same individuals. Discriminant analysis revealed that a discriminant function incorporating wing length, tail length and bill height allowed 74% of western mountain greenbuls to be sexed correctly based on morphometric measurements alone. Sex ratios varied between montane and lowland forests, with the former having a higher proportion of males (70.5 and 54.6%, respectively), but the difference was not statistically significant. Cloacal sizes did not differ between males and females, and males do not develop large cloacal protuberances while breeding. This is in agreement with low predicted levels of sperm competition in this species. We show that sexing based on morphology has its limitations, but can still provide some insight if DNA analysis is not available.

Despite their ecological and economic importance, the temperate reef habitats of the central Agulhas Bank remain poorly studied. From 2008 to 2010, multiple stations grouped into six general sites of varying depth, profile and distance offshore, were surveyed. A combination of linefishing and fishtrapping was found to be most suitable to assess the ichthyofauna. The survey yielded a total catch of 8470 individuals (45 species) from 183 stations from a depth range between eight and 100 metres. Multivariate analyses indicated that the demersal reef fish community of the central Agulhas Bank is determined by depth rather than distance offshore, and that offshore reefs can function as fish aggregating structures for some of the region's overexploited species such as carpenter (Argyrozona argyrozona).

All previous behavioural studies of Temminck's ground pangolins (Smutsia temminckii) have focused on populations in mesic regions. We examined home range size, activity periods, habitat selectivity and refuge site selection of 13 individuals over three years in the Kalahari Desert of South Africa, near the western edge of the species' range. Kernel home ranges of adults averaged 6.5 ± 5.9 km², while juveniles had average home ranges of 6.1 ± 4.0 km². Reliable prediction of 95% of the Kernel home range required 88 ± 67.7 tracking days. No significant habitat selectivity was observed. Earthen burrows were the most frequently used refuge type. The time at which activity commenced varied seasonally as well as among individuals, with an increase in diurnal activity during winter. Young pangolins also displayed more diurnal activity compared to adults. Individuals spent 5.7 ± 2.0 hours per 24-hour cycle outside of refuges, with no significant seasonal variation. Juvenile dispersal peaked during mid-summer, with individuals travelling up to 49 km from their natal areas. We estimate a breeding density of 0.16 individuals/km² and a total density of 0.31 individuals/km² for our study area. Our data suggest that activity patterns, movements and refuge selection is similar across the species’ southern African range, but that densities may be higher in the Kalahari compared to populations in more mesic eastern areas.

The impact of invasive smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieu, on the abundance of two native fish species, Breede River redfin, Pseudobarbus burchelli, and Cape kurper, Sandelia capensis, was investigated in the Witte River tributary of the Breede River in South Africa's Cape Floristic Region (CFR). Native fish density was estimated in five pools and three riffles both above and below a 2 m-high waterfall that acts as a barrier to M. dolomieu. Both native species were relatively abundant (mean ± S.E. fish/100 m²: 152.10 ± 19.16–10.33 ± 6.06) at sites above the waterfall where M. dolomieu was absent, but absent or scarce (0–0.53 ± 0.38 fish/100 m²) at sites below it with M. dolomieu. There were no significant differences in measured environmental variables between sites above and below the waterfall, and M. dolomieu is thus implicated as the main factor responsible for the differences in native fish densities. These findings highlight the critical role of waterfalls in excluding non-native fishes from native fish refugia in the CFR..

Globally, the rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri, is the most invasive parrot species and became established in South Africa in the 1970s. The aim of this survey was to determine the current occurrence and distribution of rose-ringed parakeets in the greater Durban Metropolitan area of eThekwini, by engaging the public. Within the study area, rose-ringed parakeets currently occupy c. 730 km². They occur along the coast from Umhlanga in the north to Merebank in the south, extending inland to Mt Edgecombe and Pinetown in the west. Four roosts were located in the study area, with one becoming inactive during the study period. Roosts varied in size from c. 20–100 parakeets each. Comparison of SABAP1 and SABAP2 data indicate that populations are also established in Pietermaritzburg, Cape Town, and Steytlerville in the Eastern Cape. Trends from this study indicate that rose-ringed parakeets are expanding their distribution particularly in the Durban Metropolitan area.

To date, four intraerythrocytic apicomplexans, namely the haemogregarines Haemogregarina fitzsimonsi and Haemogregarina parvula, and the haemoproteids Haemoproteus testudinalis and Haemoproteus natalensis, have been described from South African land tortoises. Recently, an intraleucocytic haemogregarine was observed in one species of tortoise, Stigmochelys pardalis, from the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Gamonts were identified in the monocytes and lymphocytes of 5/126 (4%) S. pardalis, but no additional stages were detected. Mixed infections with H. fitzsimonsi were observed for 2/5 (40%) of the parasitized S. pardalis, but the intraleucocytic gamont stages were larger than the intraerythrocytic gamont stages of both H. fitzsimonsi and H. parvula. The only other record of a chelonian intraleucocytic haemogregarine is of Haemogregarina pseudemydis, with stages described from the red and white blood cells of neotropical terrapins. Thus, the report of an intraleucocytic haemogregarine infecting a terrestrial tortoise from Africa is significant, although its taxonomic placement remains problematic at present.

The protea seedeater, Crithagra leucopterus, is one of six passerine birds endemic to the Fynbos Biome, South Africa. It is the least known of these, and there is very little information on breeding and habitat use. Through nest observations and a bird ringing scheme in the eastern sections of the Fynbos, we provide updated information on habitat use, breeding and population biometrics. We document changes in capture rates for a suite of birds in relation to a fire event and use of burnt and unburnt sites within Blue Hill Nature Reserve, South Africa. Protea seedeaters were recorded nesting in mature Fynbos, but feeding in recently burnt Fynbos on freshly released protea seeds, suggesting the species benefits from small-scale burns that create a landscape of mixed veld ages. Protea seedeaters weighed less and had shorter wings compared to those of the western Fynbos. Further habitat-use and life-history information on protea seedeaters is needed to help guide conservation management plans, especially in the light of changing fire regimes in the Fynbos.

We identified the first set of microsatellites for use in the rock firefinch (Lagonosticta sanguinodorsalis). First, we tested existing passerine microsatellite loci for cross-species amplification success in a small sample of rock firefinches and identified 10 loci that were seemingly polymorphic and easy to score. Secondly, we developed and characterized three microsatellite loci de novo from the rock firefinch genome. In a larger sample of individuals from three populations, one locus initially interpreted as polymorphic was monomorphic. Among the polymorphic loci, the number of alleles ranged between 2 and 15 and the expected heterozygosity between 0.08 and 0.91 within populations. Two loci had high estimated null allele frequency in at least one population. The microsatellites amplified very well (80% success) in five other African finch species and each locus was confirmed as polymorphic in at least one species. We conclude that these microsatellite markers will be useful for population genetic studies in the rock firefinch and other closely related African finches.

We compared crevice fidelity among solitary and group-living individuals in a population of the group-living lizard Ouroborus cataphractus. We also compared the incidence of solitary individuals between the sexes and different seasons. We surveyed suitable rocky areas at two sites in the Graafwater district, South Africa, and all O. cataphractus individuals found, whether in groups or solitary, were marked and released back into their crevices. The areas were resurveyed after one month, three months and four months to compare crevice fidelity of solitary and group-living individuals. We found that solitary individuals were significantly less loyal to their rock shelters than individuals living in groups, and that solitary females appeared to be less loyal than solitary males. We found no significant difference in the frequency of solitary adult males in and outside of the mating season. Solitary adult males were significantly smaller in mean body size than group-living adult males, but did not have more scars or other deformities than the latter. We found no significant difference in the frequencies of solitary individuals during the wet and the dry seasons, or in the frequencies of solitary adult males versus solitary adult females recorded during any of the surveys. The significantly lower crevice fidelity displayed by solitary than group-living individuals supports the notion that being in a group must be the optimal situation for individuals of this relatively slow-moving cordylid. Our finding that solitary adult males were significantly smaller in mean body size than group-living adult males also suggests that the exclusion of less competitive males from groups may in part be responsible for the occurrence of solitary males.

Epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS) is a fish disease caused by an infection of the oomycete, Aphanomyces invadans. During a fish biodiversity assessment of Lake Liambezi, Zambezi Region, Namibia, in August 2011, two Barbus haasianus and three Barbus unitaeniatus with circular ulcerative skin lesions were collected. Lake Liambezi receives inflow from the Zambezi, Chobe and Linyanti rivers. The presence of EUS in the two species was confirmed histologically by: a loss of epidermis at the site of the lesion; hyphae visible deep into the muscle layer with an associated granulomatous inflammatory reaction; and muscle fibre degeneration visible with associated penetrating hyphae. This paper provides further histological confirmation of EUS from Lake Liambezi and the first record of the disease in B. haasianus.

The historical canalization of the Mfolozi River resulted in the St Lucia Estuary losing its main fresh-water source. This, combined with the recent drought, led to low water levels, hypersaline conditions and dramatic losses in biodiversity. The excavation of a beach spillway between the estuary and the Mfolozi River mouth in 2012, combined with the commencement of a wet phase in the preceding year, has alleviated the freshwater deprivation crisis. This study compares the meso-zooplankton composition within the channel on both flood and ebb tides, providing a preliminary understanding of the role of the Mfolozi channel in the migration and recruitment of organisms. Abundance was higher on ebb tides, while species richness was higher on flood tides. A total of 53 zooplankton taxa were recorded in the channel. Of these, one had never been recorded in St Lucia before, namely the gastropod Pterotrachea cf. hippocampus. Additionally, the ctenophore Pleurobrachia cf. pileus and the mysid Gastrosaccus gordonae were again recorded for the first time since the late 1970s. Results show that the beach spillway has facilitated recruitment into St Lucia from the ocean and the Mfolozi River. Further research is needed to ascertain what effect this recruitment has on long-term zooplankton community structure.