Human–primate confl icts in Africa have been increasing due to increased human population growth ... more Human–primate confl icts in Africa have been increasing due to increased human population growth and the resulting competition for forest resources. The Ethiopian Highlands in northern Ethiopia, home to the grivet monkey (Chlorocebus aethiops), once consisted of large forested areas. This region has been severely denuded and now exhibits only small forest patches remaining at sites with special cultural signifi cance in the immediate vicinity of churches. These forest patches, surrounded by agricultural crops, provide refugia habitat for the grivet monkey. We randomly surveyed 50 villagers living near the Batiero Church Forest, a 45-ha forest patch located in northern Ethiopia, to determine villagers' perceptions of the crop damage caused by the monkeys and mitigation measures to reduce crop loss. Most respondents expressed negative perceptions (74%) toward grivet monkeys, and 50% of respondents reported that crop damage was the most encountered problem in the study area. The perception of villagers to grivet monkeys diff ered based on farmland size (P = 0.00). To reduce crop damage, 53% of households used dogs to guard their farmland and 44% employed methods to physically scare or harass monkeys to protect their crops. At present, the villagers do not receive any government compensation for crop depredation. Thus, the villagers we surveyed wanted to eliminate the grivet monkey populations. This study provided insight into villager perception regarding human–primate confl icts that can impact primate conservation eff orts in other areas where human encroachment into primate habitats is increasing.
Rodents with prevailing subterranean activity usually play an important role in the ecosystems of... more Rodents with prevailing subterranean activity usually play an important role in the ecosystems of which they are a part due to the combined effect of herbivory and soil perturbation. This is also the case of the giant root-rat Tachyoryctes macrocephalus, Rüppell 1842, endemic to the Afroalpine ecosystem of the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia. We studied the impact of root-rats on various ecosystem features within a 3.5ha study locality dominated by Alchemilla pasture, which represents an optimal habitat for this species, in two periods of a year. The root-rats altered plant species composition reducing the dominant forb, Alchemilla abyssinica, while enhancing Salvia merjame and a few other species, and reduced vegetation cover, but not the fresh plant biomass. Where burrows were abandoned by root-rats, other rodents took over them and Alchemilla abyssinica increased again. Root-rat burrowing created small-scale heterogeneity in soil compactness due to the backfilling of some unused burrow segments. Less compacted soil tended to be rich in nutrients including carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, which likely affected the plant growth on sites where the vegetation has been reduced as a result of root-rat foraging and burrowing.
Rodents adjust their activity to environmental conditions. The adjustment can be especially prono... more Rodents adjust their activity to environmental conditions. The adjustment can be especially pronounced in climatically challenging environments. We studied activity patterns in the free-living giant root rat (Tachyoryctes macrocephalus), a large fos-sorial rodent endemic to the Afro-alpine ecosystem of the Bale Mountains, Ethio-pia, by means of radio telemetry. We radio-tracked 17 adults during two periods of a dry season differing in temperature and food supply. In both periods, root rats spent a large part of the day (around 79%) in their underground nests. The proportion of time the animals were active aboveground decreased from 6.9 to 3.8% between the early and late dry season, which contradicts our prediction that above-ground activity would increase under lower food supply. We propose that there are thermoregulation advantages of prolonged aboveground activity during warm hours in the colder early dry season. In both periods, the root rats displayed diurnal activity with a unimodal pattern positively related to the temperature at the soil surface. Unlike in some other burrowing rodents, there was no tendency to decrease activity in the warmest part of the day even in the relatively warm late dry season.
Hantaviruses, well-known human pathogens, have only recently been identified on the African conti... more Hantaviruses, well-known human pathogens, have only recently been identified on the African continent. Tigray virus (TIGV) was found in Ethiopia in 2012 in a Murinae species, Stenocephalemys albipes, but the genetic data obtained at that time were too limited to correctly assess its phylogenetic position within the hantavirus tree. We used high throughput sequencing to determine the complete genome of TIGV, which showed a typical han-tavirus organisation. The large (L), medium (M), and small (S) genome segments were found to be 6532, 3594 and 1908 nucleotides long, respectively, and the 5′ and 3′ termini for all three segments were predicted to form the panhandle-like structure typical for bunyaviruses. Nucleotide-based phylogenetic analyses revealed that all three coding segments cluster in the phylogroup III sensu Guo et al. (2013). However, while TIGV S segment is basal to the Murinae-associated hantaviruses, the M and L segments are basal to the Soricomorpha-associated hantaviruses. TIGV is the first Murinae-borne hantavirus showing this inconsistent segmental clustering in the hantavirus phylogenetic tree. We finally propose non-exclusive scenarios that could explain the original phylogenetic position of TIGV.
In view of the upcoming road network improvement and expansion in Ethiopia, specifically in Tigra... more In view of the upcoming road network improvement and expansion in Ethiopia, specifically in Tigray, it is also necessary to understand the potential impacts of road accidents with wildlife vertebrate animals. Road mortality detection surveys were conducted from March 2013 to June 2014. We surveyed around 530 km using vehicle with special emphasis given to roads surrounded by wetlands, forests, rocky areas and rivers each month. Additional information was also collected using a standardized questionnaire. A total of twenty species, 143 individuals of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals were recorded as road vehicular accidents in the surveyed area. Of all, mammals showed the highest species richness (80 individuals belonging to ten species) followed by birds (49 individuals belonging to eight species). The survey revealed most accidents happened during the early morning and late evening. This might be due to relatively high traffic and continued activity of wild animals at that time, besides the driver's inability to avoid accidents when it is dark. Wildlife underpasses during road construction, location of crossing structures, rules of wildlife conservation, improving driver's awareness are relevant in this context and may be the most important mitigation measures to reduce mortality of wildlife on the roads. R esum e En pr evision de l'am elioration et de l'extension prochaines du r eseau routier en Ethiopie, au Tigr e tr es pr ecis ement, il est n ecessaire de bien comprendre les impacts potentiels d'accidents routiers impliquant des vert ebr es sauvages. Nous avons men e des etudes de d etection de la mortalit e routi ere entre mars 2013 et juin 2014. Chaque mois, nous avons contr^ ol e 530 km de routes avec un v ehicule, en insistant particuli erement sur celles qui sont entour ees de zones humides, de for^ ets, de zones rocheuses et de rivi eres. Nous avons aussi r ecolt e des informations suppl ementaires au moyen d'un questionnaire standardis e. Nous avons relev e un total de 20 esp eces pour 143 individus, amphi-biens, reptiles, oiseaux et mammif eres, victimes d'un accident automobile sur la zone etudi ee. En tout, les mammif eres pr esentaient la plus grande diversit e d'esp eces (80 animaux appartenant a 10 esp eces), suivis par les oiseaux (49 indi-vidus pour huit esp eces). L' etude a montr e que la plupart des accidents survenaient t^ ot le matin et en fin de soir ee. Cela pourrait ^ etre d^ u au trafic relativement dense et au fait que les animaux sauvages poursuivent leur activit e a ces heures-l a, en plus du fait que les conducteurs peuvent moins eviter les accidents quand il fait noir. Dans ce contexte, les passages souterrains pendant la construction des routes, l'emplace-ment des structures de passage, les r egles en mati ere de conservation de la faune, l'am elioration de la sensibilisation des conducteurs sont tr es pertinents et pourraient ^ etre les mesures de mitigation les plus importantes pour r eduire la mortalit e de la faune sauvage sur les routes.
2 HIGHLIGHTS
The African pigmy mouse (Mus (Nannomys) mahomet), the Ethiopian hare (Lepus cf. fa... more 2 HIGHLIGHTS The African pigmy mouse (Mus (Nannomys) mahomet), the Ethiopian hare (Lepus cf. fagani) and the Ethiopian meadow rat (Stenocephalemys albipes) are endemic to Ethiopia (the latter also occurs in neighbouring Eritrea) The forms of the East African root rat (Tachyoryctes splendens s.l.), Brush furred mouse (Lophuromys flavopunctatus s.l.), African Marsh rat (Dasymys cf. incomtus) and Ethiopian Vlei rat (Otomys cf. typus) encountered in this study could be endemic to Ethiopia, but this needs to be corroborated by genetic studies. The observed form of the Gambian sun squirrel (Heliosciurus gambianus cf. kaffensis) could also be an endemic subspecies or even species. On the basis of the current study it is not possible to judge if a certain species is threatened or not. The wetlands surrounding the Gojeb river and adjacent habitats seem to be more species diverse than the other plots studied. The African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis) may be considered a flagship species. The species could be a good indicator for the status of conservation of rivers and other natural / semi natural water bodies. Small mammals are sensitive to overgrazing and pollution from insecticides and herbicides as well as to intensification of agriculture in general. Regulations concerning future human land use should be implemented and controlled in order to protect their natural environment. Sewages, especially for villages in the wetlands and near streams, should be constructed and maintained, to prevent habitats from pollution from different sources.
In this study we report findings in roosting ecology, ectoparasites, echolocation characteristics... more In this study we report findings in roosting ecology, ectoparasites, echolocation characteristics and the phylogenetic position of Cardioderma cor, an impressive bat species that is distributed throughout the savannas and woodlands of eastern Africa. For individuals caught in Mago National Park, Ethiopia, we recorded broadband frequency-modulated ultrasound signals having very short duration (2 ms) with three harmonic components. The mean peak frequency of the first harmonic was 50.4 kHz and the mean inter-signal interval was 186 ms. Phylogenetic reconstructions of all known species from the family Megadermatidae based on DNA sequences of two mitochondrial and four nuclear genes yielded incongruent topologies (both Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood analysis) with only weak support for nodes. The phylogeny that combined all six loci into a species tree was not congruent with any previous inference based on dental or cranial characteristics, but it suggested separate generic status of two Megaderma species. However, additional genetic data are necessary to resolve the phylogeny of Megadermatidae, a group that probably evolved by simultaneous divergence of all five extant lineages.
Context. Reproduction and survival are two of the most important demographic factors that play a ... more Context. Reproduction and survival are two of the most important demographic factors that play a major role in changing population abundances of pest species over time and space, solid understanding of which is a useful input to forecast future population changes for proactive management. Aims. We investigated the effects of rainfall, crop-development stage and density of stone bunds on reproductive patterns, and the effects of stone-bund density and sex on survival probabilities of two widespread rodent species (Mastomys awashensis and Arvicanthis dembeensis) in Ethiopian highlands. Methods. Rodent population dynamics were monitored from April 2007 to February 2011, using capture–mark–recapture (CMR) technique in four 6060m permanent square grids for four consecutive cropping seasons. Two of the grids represented fields with low stone-bund density (LSBD, ~15m apart) and the other two represented fields with high stone-bund density (HSBD, ~10m apart). Key results. Reproduction was seasonal, commencing during the wet season following the rain and continuing through the early dry season. We found an increase in the abundance of reproductively active female individuals of both species towards the milky and fruiting crop stages and around harvest period. We found no strong difference in survival probability between the two rodent species with variation in stone-bund density and sex. Conclusion. Stone bunds play a minor role in the reproduction and survival of the rodent species at the observed abundances. Implications. In terms of pest management, the high local survival rates estimated for both rodent species matter more than survival differences owing to variations in stone-bund density and sex.
Abstract
Background: Rodents of the genus Mus represent one of the most valuable biological model... more Abstract Background: Rodents of the genus Mus represent one of the most valuable biological models for biomedical and evolutionary research. Out of the four currently recognized subgenera, Nannomys (African pygmy mice, including the smallest rodents in the world) comprises the only original African lineage. Species of this subgenus became important models for the study of sex determination in mammals and they are also hosts of potentially dangerous pathogens. Nannomys ancestors colonized Africa from Asia at the end of Miocene and Eastern Africa should be considered as the place of their first radiation. In sharp contrast with this fact and despite the biological importance of Nannomys, the specimens from Eastern Africa were obviously under-represented in previous studies and the phylogenetic and distributional patterns were thus incomplete. Results: We performed comprehensive genetic analysis of 657 individuals of Nannomys collected at approximately 300 localities across the whole sub-Saharan Africa. Phylogenetic reconstructions based on mitochondrial (CYTB) and nuclear (IRBP) genes identified five species groups and three monotypic ancestral lineages. We provide evidence for important cryptic diversity and we defined and mapped the distribution of 27 molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) that may correspond to presumable species. Biogeographical reconstructions based on data spanning all of Africa modified the previous evolutionary scenarios. First divergences occurred in Eastern African mountains soon after the colonization of the continent and the remnants of these old divergences still occur there, represented by long basal branches of M. (previously Muriculus) imberbis and two undescribed species from Ethiopia and Malawi. The radiation in drier lowland habitats associated with the decrease of body size is much younger, occurred mainly in a single lineage (called the minutoides group, and especially within the species M. minutoides), and was probably linked to aridification and climatic fluctuations in middle Pliocene/Pleistocene. Conclusions: We discovered very high cryptic diversity in African pygmy mice making the genus Mus one of the richest genera of African mammals. Our taxon sampling allowed reliable phylogenetic and biogeographic reconstructions that (together with detailed distributional data of individual MOTUs) provide a solid basis for further evolutionary, ecological and epidemiological studies of this important group of rodents.
The phylogenetic position of the Ethiopian
striped mouse (Muriculus imberbis) has remained obscur... more The phylogenetic position of the Ethiopian striped mouse (Muriculus imberbis) has remained obscure since its description. Here, we report, for the first time, the phylogenetic analysis of this species using mitochondrial (cytochrome b) and nuclear (interphotoreceptor binding protein) gene sequences obtained from a specimen recently caught in the Galama Mountain in the southcentral Ethiopian highland region. The recent finding of the species in ericaceous shrub in the Afroalpine habitat is remarkable, as decades of attempts to capture it in this habitat failed, probably because of inappropriate trapping methods. Our analyses strongly suggest that the Ethiopian striped mouse does not belong to a distinct monotypic genus, but to the genus Mus, as the ancient lineage of the African subgenus Nannomys.
Avifauna studies and conservation efforts in Africa have focused on protected areas. Habitats out... more Avifauna studies and conservation efforts in Africa have focused on protected areas. Habitats outside
of protected areas also support a variety of bird species. A survey of avian diversity was conducted
in northern Ethiopia in three fragmented woodland areas dominated by human activities,
adjacent to Important Bird Areas. Overall, 85 bird species belonging to 32 families were sighted in
the three localities, including five species endemic to Ethiopia and eight Afrotropical highland
biome species. Such diverse bird assemblages in the localities show the significance of habitats outside
of protected areas for future avian research and conservation in Ethiopia. These habitats need
to be protected.
... management strategies. Authors: Meheretu Yonas D'aes, M Poesen, Jean Deckers, Seppe ... more ... management strategies. Authors: Meheretu Yonas D'aes, M Poesen, Jean Deckers, Seppe Nyssen, Jan Rhodes Makundi Mekonen Teferi Gidey Yirga Jacqmain, F Leirs, H. Issue Date: 2007. Publisher: University of Mekelle. Host ...
Abstract Farmers in Tigray highlands have ranked rodents as the number one pre-and post-harvest c... more Abstract Farmers in Tigray highlands have ranked rodents as the number one pre-and post-harvest crop pests. We investigated temporal dynamics of rodent populations in rainfed crop fields with low stone bund density (LSBD) and high stone bund density (HSBD) grids near ...
We studied associations between rodents and their arthropod ectoparasites in crop fields and hous... more We studied associations between rodents and their arthropod ectoparasites in crop fields and household compounds in the highlands of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Ectoparasite infestation indices, such as percent infestation, mean abundance, prevalence and host preferences, were calculated for each taxon. In total, 172 rodents from crop fields and 97 from household compounds were trapped. Rodent species and numbers trapped from the crop fields and household compounds were Mastomys awashensis (Lavrenchenko, Likhnova & Baskevich, 1998) (88 and 44), Arvicanthis dembeensis (Ruppel, 1842) (63 and 37) and Acomys sp. (21 and 16), respectively. A total of 558 insects and acarids (belonging to 11 taxa) were recovered from the rodents trapped in the crop fields, and 296 insects and acarid (belonging to 6 taxa) from the rodents trapped in the household compounds. Approximately 66% of the rodents trapped from the crop fields and 47% of those trapped from the household compounds were infested with ectoparasites. Laelaps sp. (64.9%) and Xenopsylla sp. (20.6%) comprised the highest proportion of the ectoparasites recovered in the crop fields, and the same ectoparasites, but in reverse order, comprised the highest proportions in the household compounds (Xenopsylla [50.3%] and Laelaps sp. [29%]). Our study revealed that crop fields and household compounds in the highlands share similar rodents and several ectoparasites. Furthermore, at least 1 of the rodent species and some of the ectoparasites identified in this study were reported to have posed medical and veterinary threats in other parts of Ethiopia and neighboring countries.
... Record Details. Record ID, 380584. Record Type, conference. Author, MEHERETU YONAS; M D&a... more ... Record Details. Record ID, 380584. Record Type, conference. Author, MEHERETU YONAS; M D'AES; H LEIRS; Jean Poesen [801000877101] - Ghent University biblio@ugent.be; J DECKERS; Jan Nyssen [802000198480] - Ghent University Jan.Nyssen@UGent.be. ...
Human–primate confl icts in Africa have been increasing due to increased human population growth ... more Human–primate confl icts in Africa have been increasing due to increased human population growth and the resulting competition for forest resources. The Ethiopian Highlands in northern Ethiopia, home to the grivet monkey (Chlorocebus aethiops), once consisted of large forested areas. This region has been severely denuded and now exhibits only small forest patches remaining at sites with special cultural signifi cance in the immediate vicinity of churches. These forest patches, surrounded by agricultural crops, provide refugia habitat for the grivet monkey. We randomly surveyed 50 villagers living near the Batiero Church Forest, a 45-ha forest patch located in northern Ethiopia, to determine villagers' perceptions of the crop damage caused by the monkeys and mitigation measures to reduce crop loss. Most respondents expressed negative perceptions (74%) toward grivet monkeys, and 50% of respondents reported that crop damage was the most encountered problem in the study area. The perception of villagers to grivet monkeys diff ered based on farmland size (P = 0.00). To reduce crop damage, 53% of households used dogs to guard their farmland and 44% employed methods to physically scare or harass monkeys to protect their crops. At present, the villagers do not receive any government compensation for crop depredation. Thus, the villagers we surveyed wanted to eliminate the grivet monkey populations. This study provided insight into villager perception regarding human–primate confl icts that can impact primate conservation eff orts in other areas where human encroachment into primate habitats is increasing.
Rodents with prevailing subterranean activity usually play an important role in the ecosystems of... more Rodents with prevailing subterranean activity usually play an important role in the ecosystems of which they are a part due to the combined effect of herbivory and soil perturbation. This is also the case of the giant root-rat Tachyoryctes macrocephalus, Rüppell 1842, endemic to the Afroalpine ecosystem of the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia. We studied the impact of root-rats on various ecosystem features within a 3.5ha study locality dominated by Alchemilla pasture, which represents an optimal habitat for this species, in two periods of a year. The root-rats altered plant species composition reducing the dominant forb, Alchemilla abyssinica, while enhancing Salvia merjame and a few other species, and reduced vegetation cover, but not the fresh plant biomass. Where burrows were abandoned by root-rats, other rodents took over them and Alchemilla abyssinica increased again. Root-rat burrowing created small-scale heterogeneity in soil compactness due to the backfilling of some unused burrow segments. Less compacted soil tended to be rich in nutrients including carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, which likely affected the plant growth on sites where the vegetation has been reduced as a result of root-rat foraging and burrowing.
Rodents adjust their activity to environmental conditions. The adjustment can be especially prono... more Rodents adjust their activity to environmental conditions. The adjustment can be especially pronounced in climatically challenging environments. We studied activity patterns in the free-living giant root rat (Tachyoryctes macrocephalus), a large fos-sorial rodent endemic to the Afro-alpine ecosystem of the Bale Mountains, Ethio-pia, by means of radio telemetry. We radio-tracked 17 adults during two periods of a dry season differing in temperature and food supply. In both periods, root rats spent a large part of the day (around 79%) in their underground nests. The proportion of time the animals were active aboveground decreased from 6.9 to 3.8% between the early and late dry season, which contradicts our prediction that above-ground activity would increase under lower food supply. We propose that there are thermoregulation advantages of prolonged aboveground activity during warm hours in the colder early dry season. In both periods, the root rats displayed diurnal activity with a unimodal pattern positively related to the temperature at the soil surface. Unlike in some other burrowing rodents, there was no tendency to decrease activity in the warmest part of the day even in the relatively warm late dry season.
Hantaviruses, well-known human pathogens, have only recently been identified on the African conti... more Hantaviruses, well-known human pathogens, have only recently been identified on the African continent. Tigray virus (TIGV) was found in Ethiopia in 2012 in a Murinae species, Stenocephalemys albipes, but the genetic data obtained at that time were too limited to correctly assess its phylogenetic position within the hantavirus tree. We used high throughput sequencing to determine the complete genome of TIGV, which showed a typical han-tavirus organisation. The large (L), medium (M), and small (S) genome segments were found to be 6532, 3594 and 1908 nucleotides long, respectively, and the 5′ and 3′ termini for all three segments were predicted to form the panhandle-like structure typical for bunyaviruses. Nucleotide-based phylogenetic analyses revealed that all three coding segments cluster in the phylogroup III sensu Guo et al. (2013). However, while TIGV S segment is basal to the Murinae-associated hantaviruses, the M and L segments are basal to the Soricomorpha-associated hantaviruses. TIGV is the first Murinae-borne hantavirus showing this inconsistent segmental clustering in the hantavirus phylogenetic tree. We finally propose non-exclusive scenarios that could explain the original phylogenetic position of TIGV.
In view of the upcoming road network improvement and expansion in Ethiopia, specifically in Tigra... more In view of the upcoming road network improvement and expansion in Ethiopia, specifically in Tigray, it is also necessary to understand the potential impacts of road accidents with wildlife vertebrate animals. Road mortality detection surveys were conducted from March 2013 to June 2014. We surveyed around 530 km using vehicle with special emphasis given to roads surrounded by wetlands, forests, rocky areas and rivers each month. Additional information was also collected using a standardized questionnaire. A total of twenty species, 143 individuals of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals were recorded as road vehicular accidents in the surveyed area. Of all, mammals showed the highest species richness (80 individuals belonging to ten species) followed by birds (49 individuals belonging to eight species). The survey revealed most accidents happened during the early morning and late evening. This might be due to relatively high traffic and continued activity of wild animals at that time, besides the driver's inability to avoid accidents when it is dark. Wildlife underpasses during road construction, location of crossing structures, rules of wildlife conservation, improving driver's awareness are relevant in this context and may be the most important mitigation measures to reduce mortality of wildlife on the roads. R esum e En pr evision de l'am elioration et de l'extension prochaines du r eseau routier en Ethiopie, au Tigr e tr es pr ecis ement, il est n ecessaire de bien comprendre les impacts potentiels d'accidents routiers impliquant des vert ebr es sauvages. Nous avons men e des etudes de d etection de la mortalit e routi ere entre mars 2013 et juin 2014. Chaque mois, nous avons contr^ ol e 530 km de routes avec un v ehicule, en insistant particuli erement sur celles qui sont entour ees de zones humides, de for^ ets, de zones rocheuses et de rivi eres. Nous avons aussi r ecolt e des informations suppl ementaires au moyen d'un questionnaire standardis e. Nous avons relev e un total de 20 esp eces pour 143 individus, amphi-biens, reptiles, oiseaux et mammif eres, victimes d'un accident automobile sur la zone etudi ee. En tout, les mammif eres pr esentaient la plus grande diversit e d'esp eces (80 animaux appartenant a 10 esp eces), suivis par les oiseaux (49 indi-vidus pour huit esp eces). L' etude a montr e que la plupart des accidents survenaient t^ ot le matin et en fin de soir ee. Cela pourrait ^ etre d^ u au trafic relativement dense et au fait que les animaux sauvages poursuivent leur activit e a ces heures-l a, en plus du fait que les conducteurs peuvent moins eviter les accidents quand il fait noir. Dans ce contexte, les passages souterrains pendant la construction des routes, l'emplace-ment des structures de passage, les r egles en mati ere de conservation de la faune, l'am elioration de la sensibilisation des conducteurs sont tr es pertinents et pourraient ^ etre les mesures de mitigation les plus importantes pour r eduire la mortalit e de la faune sauvage sur les routes.
2 HIGHLIGHTS
The African pigmy mouse (Mus (Nannomys) mahomet), the Ethiopian hare (Lepus cf. fa... more 2 HIGHLIGHTS The African pigmy mouse (Mus (Nannomys) mahomet), the Ethiopian hare (Lepus cf. fagani) and the Ethiopian meadow rat (Stenocephalemys albipes) are endemic to Ethiopia (the latter also occurs in neighbouring Eritrea) The forms of the East African root rat (Tachyoryctes splendens s.l.), Brush furred mouse (Lophuromys flavopunctatus s.l.), African Marsh rat (Dasymys cf. incomtus) and Ethiopian Vlei rat (Otomys cf. typus) encountered in this study could be endemic to Ethiopia, but this needs to be corroborated by genetic studies. The observed form of the Gambian sun squirrel (Heliosciurus gambianus cf. kaffensis) could also be an endemic subspecies or even species. On the basis of the current study it is not possible to judge if a certain species is threatened or not. The wetlands surrounding the Gojeb river and adjacent habitats seem to be more species diverse than the other plots studied. The African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis) may be considered a flagship species. The species could be a good indicator for the status of conservation of rivers and other natural / semi natural water bodies. Small mammals are sensitive to overgrazing and pollution from insecticides and herbicides as well as to intensification of agriculture in general. Regulations concerning future human land use should be implemented and controlled in order to protect their natural environment. Sewages, especially for villages in the wetlands and near streams, should be constructed and maintained, to prevent habitats from pollution from different sources.
In this study we report findings in roosting ecology, ectoparasites, echolocation characteristics... more In this study we report findings in roosting ecology, ectoparasites, echolocation characteristics and the phylogenetic position of Cardioderma cor, an impressive bat species that is distributed throughout the savannas and woodlands of eastern Africa. For individuals caught in Mago National Park, Ethiopia, we recorded broadband frequency-modulated ultrasound signals having very short duration (2 ms) with three harmonic components. The mean peak frequency of the first harmonic was 50.4 kHz and the mean inter-signal interval was 186 ms. Phylogenetic reconstructions of all known species from the family Megadermatidae based on DNA sequences of two mitochondrial and four nuclear genes yielded incongruent topologies (both Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood analysis) with only weak support for nodes. The phylogeny that combined all six loci into a species tree was not congruent with any previous inference based on dental or cranial characteristics, but it suggested separate generic status of two Megaderma species. However, additional genetic data are necessary to resolve the phylogeny of Megadermatidae, a group that probably evolved by simultaneous divergence of all five extant lineages.
Context. Reproduction and survival are two of the most important demographic factors that play a ... more Context. Reproduction and survival are two of the most important demographic factors that play a major role in changing population abundances of pest species over time and space, solid understanding of which is a useful input to forecast future population changes for proactive management. Aims. We investigated the effects of rainfall, crop-development stage and density of stone bunds on reproductive patterns, and the effects of stone-bund density and sex on survival probabilities of two widespread rodent species (Mastomys awashensis and Arvicanthis dembeensis) in Ethiopian highlands. Methods. Rodent population dynamics were monitored from April 2007 to February 2011, using capture–mark–recapture (CMR) technique in four 6060m permanent square grids for four consecutive cropping seasons. Two of the grids represented fields with low stone-bund density (LSBD, ~15m apart) and the other two represented fields with high stone-bund density (HSBD, ~10m apart). Key results. Reproduction was seasonal, commencing during the wet season following the rain and continuing through the early dry season. We found an increase in the abundance of reproductively active female individuals of both species towards the milky and fruiting crop stages and around harvest period. We found no strong difference in survival probability between the two rodent species with variation in stone-bund density and sex. Conclusion. Stone bunds play a minor role in the reproduction and survival of the rodent species at the observed abundances. Implications. In terms of pest management, the high local survival rates estimated for both rodent species matter more than survival differences owing to variations in stone-bund density and sex.
Abstract
Background: Rodents of the genus Mus represent one of the most valuable biological model... more Abstract Background: Rodents of the genus Mus represent one of the most valuable biological models for biomedical and evolutionary research. Out of the four currently recognized subgenera, Nannomys (African pygmy mice, including the smallest rodents in the world) comprises the only original African lineage. Species of this subgenus became important models for the study of sex determination in mammals and they are also hosts of potentially dangerous pathogens. Nannomys ancestors colonized Africa from Asia at the end of Miocene and Eastern Africa should be considered as the place of their first radiation. In sharp contrast with this fact and despite the biological importance of Nannomys, the specimens from Eastern Africa were obviously under-represented in previous studies and the phylogenetic and distributional patterns were thus incomplete. Results: We performed comprehensive genetic analysis of 657 individuals of Nannomys collected at approximately 300 localities across the whole sub-Saharan Africa. Phylogenetic reconstructions based on mitochondrial (CYTB) and nuclear (IRBP) genes identified five species groups and three monotypic ancestral lineages. We provide evidence for important cryptic diversity and we defined and mapped the distribution of 27 molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) that may correspond to presumable species. Biogeographical reconstructions based on data spanning all of Africa modified the previous evolutionary scenarios. First divergences occurred in Eastern African mountains soon after the colonization of the continent and the remnants of these old divergences still occur there, represented by long basal branches of M. (previously Muriculus) imberbis and two undescribed species from Ethiopia and Malawi. The radiation in drier lowland habitats associated with the decrease of body size is much younger, occurred mainly in a single lineage (called the minutoides group, and especially within the species M. minutoides), and was probably linked to aridification and climatic fluctuations in middle Pliocene/Pleistocene. Conclusions: We discovered very high cryptic diversity in African pygmy mice making the genus Mus one of the richest genera of African mammals. Our taxon sampling allowed reliable phylogenetic and biogeographic reconstructions that (together with detailed distributional data of individual MOTUs) provide a solid basis for further evolutionary, ecological and epidemiological studies of this important group of rodents.
The phylogenetic position of the Ethiopian
striped mouse (Muriculus imberbis) has remained obscur... more The phylogenetic position of the Ethiopian striped mouse (Muriculus imberbis) has remained obscure since its description. Here, we report, for the first time, the phylogenetic analysis of this species using mitochondrial (cytochrome b) and nuclear (interphotoreceptor binding protein) gene sequences obtained from a specimen recently caught in the Galama Mountain in the southcentral Ethiopian highland region. The recent finding of the species in ericaceous shrub in the Afroalpine habitat is remarkable, as decades of attempts to capture it in this habitat failed, probably because of inappropriate trapping methods. Our analyses strongly suggest that the Ethiopian striped mouse does not belong to a distinct monotypic genus, but to the genus Mus, as the ancient lineage of the African subgenus Nannomys.
Avifauna studies and conservation efforts in Africa have focused on protected areas. Habitats out... more Avifauna studies and conservation efforts in Africa have focused on protected areas. Habitats outside
of protected areas also support a variety of bird species. A survey of avian diversity was conducted
in northern Ethiopia in three fragmented woodland areas dominated by human activities,
adjacent to Important Bird Areas. Overall, 85 bird species belonging to 32 families were sighted in
the three localities, including five species endemic to Ethiopia and eight Afrotropical highland
biome species. Such diverse bird assemblages in the localities show the significance of habitats outside
of protected areas for future avian research and conservation in Ethiopia. These habitats need
to be protected.
... management strategies. Authors: Meheretu Yonas D'aes, M Poesen, Jean Deckers, Seppe ... more ... management strategies. Authors: Meheretu Yonas D'aes, M Poesen, Jean Deckers, Seppe Nyssen, Jan Rhodes Makundi Mekonen Teferi Gidey Yirga Jacqmain, F Leirs, H. Issue Date: 2007. Publisher: University of Mekelle. Host ...
Abstract Farmers in Tigray highlands have ranked rodents as the number one pre-and post-harvest c... more Abstract Farmers in Tigray highlands have ranked rodents as the number one pre-and post-harvest crop pests. We investigated temporal dynamics of rodent populations in rainfed crop fields with low stone bund density (LSBD) and high stone bund density (HSBD) grids near ...
We studied associations between rodents and their arthropod ectoparasites in crop fields and hous... more We studied associations between rodents and their arthropod ectoparasites in crop fields and household compounds in the highlands of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Ectoparasite infestation indices, such as percent infestation, mean abundance, prevalence and host preferences, were calculated for each taxon. In total, 172 rodents from crop fields and 97 from household compounds were trapped. Rodent species and numbers trapped from the crop fields and household compounds were Mastomys awashensis (Lavrenchenko, Likhnova & Baskevich, 1998) (88 and 44), Arvicanthis dembeensis (Ruppel, 1842) (63 and 37) and Acomys sp. (21 and 16), respectively. A total of 558 insects and acarids (belonging to 11 taxa) were recovered from the rodents trapped in the crop fields, and 296 insects and acarid (belonging to 6 taxa) from the rodents trapped in the household compounds. Approximately 66% of the rodents trapped from the crop fields and 47% of those trapped from the household compounds were infested with ectoparasites. Laelaps sp. (64.9%) and Xenopsylla sp. (20.6%) comprised the highest proportion of the ectoparasites recovered in the crop fields, and the same ectoparasites, but in reverse order, comprised the highest proportions in the household compounds (Xenopsylla [50.3%] and Laelaps sp. [29%]). Our study revealed that crop fields and household compounds in the highlands share similar rodents and several ectoparasites. Furthermore, at least 1 of the rodent species and some of the ectoparasites identified in this study were reported to have posed medical and veterinary threats in other parts of Ethiopia and neighboring countries.
... Record Details. Record ID, 380584. Record Type, conference. Author, MEHERETU YONAS; M D&a... more ... Record Details. Record ID, 380584. Record Type, conference. Author, MEHERETU YONAS; M D'AES; H LEIRS; Jean Poesen [801000877101] - Ghent University biblio@ugent.be; J DECKERS; Jan Nyssen [802000198480] - Ghent University Jan.Nyssen@UGent.be. ...
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The African pigmy mouse (Mus (Nannomys) mahomet), the Ethiopian hare (Lepus cf. fagani) and the Ethiopian meadow rat (Stenocephalemys albipes) are endemic to Ethiopia (the latter also occurs in neighbouring Eritrea)
The forms of the East African root rat (Tachyoryctes splendens s.l.), Brush furred mouse (Lophuromys flavopunctatus s.l.), African Marsh rat (Dasymys cf. incomtus) and Ethiopian Vlei rat (Otomys cf. typus) encountered in this study could be endemic to Ethiopia, but this needs to be corroborated by genetic studies.
The observed form of the Gambian sun squirrel (Heliosciurus gambianus cf. kaffensis) could also be an endemic subspecies or even species.
On the basis of the current study it is not possible to judge if a certain species is threatened or not.
The wetlands surrounding the Gojeb river and adjacent habitats seem to be more species diverse than the other plots studied.
The African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis) may be considered a flagship species. The species could be a good indicator for the status of conservation of rivers and other natural / semi natural water bodies.
Small mammals are sensitive to overgrazing and pollution from insecticides and herbicides as well as to intensification of agriculture in general. Regulations concerning future human land use should be implemented and controlled in order to protect their natural environment.
Sewages, especially for villages in the wetlands and near streams, should be constructed and maintained, to prevent habitats from pollution from different sources.
phylogenetic position of Cardioderma cor, an impressive bat species that is distributed throughout the savannas
and woodlands of eastern Africa. For individuals caught in Mago National Park, Ethiopia, we recorded broadband
frequency-modulated ultrasound signals having very short duration (2 ms) with three harmonic components.
The mean peak frequency of the first harmonic was 50.4 kHz and the mean inter-signal interval was 186 ms.
Phylogenetic reconstructions of all known species from the family Megadermatidae based on DNA sequences of
two mitochondrial and four nuclear genes yielded incongruent topologies (both Bayesian inference and maximum
likelihood analysis) with only weak support for nodes. The phylogeny that combined all six loci into a species tree
was not congruent with any previous inference based on dental or cranial characteristics, but it suggested separate
generic status of two Megaderma species. However, additional genetic data are necessary to resolve the phylogeny
of Megadermatidae, a group that probably evolved by simultaneous divergence of all five extant lineages.
changing population abundances of pest species over time and space, solid understanding of which is a useful input
to forecast future population changes for proactive management.
Aims. We investigated the effects of rainfall, crop-development stage and density of stone bunds on reproductive
patterns, and the effects of stone-bund density and sex on survival probabilities of two widespread rodent species (Mastomys
awashensis and Arvicanthis dembeensis) in Ethiopian highlands.
Methods. Rodent population dynamics were monitored from April 2007 to February 2011, using capture–mark–recapture
(CMR) technique in four 6060m permanent square grids for four consecutive cropping seasons. Two of the grids
represented fields with low stone-bund density (LSBD, ~15m apart) and the other two represented fields with high
stone-bund density (HSBD, ~10m apart).
Key results. Reproduction was seasonal, commencing during the wet season following the rain and continuing through
the early dry season. We found an increase in the abundance of reproductively active female individuals of both
species towards the milky and fruiting crop stages and around harvest period. We found no strong difference in
survival probability between the two rodent species with variation in stone-bund density and sex.
Conclusion. Stone bunds play a minor role in the reproduction and survival of the rodent species at the observed
abundances.
Implications. In terms of pest management, the high local survival rates estimated for both rodent species matter more
than survival differences owing to variations in stone-bund density and sex.
Background: Rodents of the genus Mus represent one of the most valuable biological models for biomedical and
evolutionary research. Out of the four currently recognized subgenera, Nannomys (African pygmy mice, including
the smallest rodents in the world) comprises the only original African lineage. Species of this subgenus became
important models for the study of sex determination in mammals and they are also hosts of potentially dangerous
pathogens. Nannomys ancestors colonized Africa from Asia at the end of Miocene and Eastern Africa should be
considered as the place of their first radiation. In sharp contrast with this fact and despite the biological importance
of Nannomys, the specimens from Eastern Africa were obviously under-represented in previous studies and the
phylogenetic and distributional patterns were thus incomplete.
Results: We performed comprehensive genetic analysis of 657 individuals of Nannomys collected at approximately
300 localities across the whole sub-Saharan Africa. Phylogenetic reconstructions based on mitochondrial (CYTB) and
nuclear (IRBP) genes identified five species groups and three monotypic ancestral lineages. We provide evidence for
important cryptic diversity and we defined and mapped the distribution of 27 molecular operational taxonomic units
(MOTUs) that may correspond to presumable species. Biogeographical reconstructions based on data spanning all of
Africa modified the previous evolutionary scenarios. First divergences occurred in Eastern African mountains soon after
the colonization of the continent and the remnants of these old divergences still occur there, represented by
long basal branches of M. (previously Muriculus) imberbis and two undescribed species from Ethiopia and Malawi.
The radiation in drier lowland habitats associated with the decrease of body size is much younger, occurred mainly in
a single lineage (called the minutoides group, and especially within the species M. minutoides), and was probably linked
to aridification and climatic fluctuations in middle Pliocene/Pleistocene.
Conclusions: We discovered very high cryptic diversity in African pygmy mice making the genus Mus one of
the richest genera of African mammals. Our taxon sampling allowed reliable phylogenetic and biogeographic
reconstructions that (together with detailed distributional data of individual MOTUs) provide a solid basis for further
evolutionary, ecological and epidemiological studies of this important group of rodents.
striped mouse (Muriculus imberbis) has remained obscure
since its description. Here, we report, for the first time, the
phylogenetic analysis of this species using mitochondrial
(cytochrome b) and nuclear (interphotoreceptor binding
protein) gene sequences obtained from a specimen
recently caught in the Galama Mountain in the southcentral
Ethiopian highland region. The recent finding of
the species in ericaceous shrub in the Afroalpine habitat
is remarkable, as decades of attempts to capture it in this
habitat failed, probably because of inappropriate trapping
methods. Our analyses strongly suggest that the Ethiopian
striped mouse does not belong to a distinct monotypic
genus, but to the genus Mus, as the ancient lineage of the
African subgenus Nannomys.
of protected areas also support a variety of bird species. A survey of avian diversity was conducted
in northern Ethiopia in three fragmented woodland areas dominated by human activities,
adjacent to Important Bird Areas. Overall, 85 bird species belonging to 32 families were sighted in
the three localities, including five species endemic to Ethiopia and eight Afrotropical highland
biome species. Such diverse bird assemblages in the localities show the significance of habitats outside
of protected areas for future avian research and conservation in Ethiopia. These habitats need
to be protected.
The African pigmy mouse (Mus (Nannomys) mahomet), the Ethiopian hare (Lepus cf. fagani) and the Ethiopian meadow rat (Stenocephalemys albipes) are endemic to Ethiopia (the latter also occurs in neighbouring Eritrea)
The forms of the East African root rat (Tachyoryctes splendens s.l.), Brush furred mouse (Lophuromys flavopunctatus s.l.), African Marsh rat (Dasymys cf. incomtus) and Ethiopian Vlei rat (Otomys cf. typus) encountered in this study could be endemic to Ethiopia, but this needs to be corroborated by genetic studies.
The observed form of the Gambian sun squirrel (Heliosciurus gambianus cf. kaffensis) could also be an endemic subspecies or even species.
On the basis of the current study it is not possible to judge if a certain species is threatened or not.
The wetlands surrounding the Gojeb river and adjacent habitats seem to be more species diverse than the other plots studied.
The African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis) may be considered a flagship species. The species could be a good indicator for the status of conservation of rivers and other natural / semi natural water bodies.
Small mammals are sensitive to overgrazing and pollution from insecticides and herbicides as well as to intensification of agriculture in general. Regulations concerning future human land use should be implemented and controlled in order to protect their natural environment.
Sewages, especially for villages in the wetlands and near streams, should be constructed and maintained, to prevent habitats from pollution from different sources.
phylogenetic position of Cardioderma cor, an impressive bat species that is distributed throughout the savannas
and woodlands of eastern Africa. For individuals caught in Mago National Park, Ethiopia, we recorded broadband
frequency-modulated ultrasound signals having very short duration (2 ms) with three harmonic components.
The mean peak frequency of the first harmonic was 50.4 kHz and the mean inter-signal interval was 186 ms.
Phylogenetic reconstructions of all known species from the family Megadermatidae based on DNA sequences of
two mitochondrial and four nuclear genes yielded incongruent topologies (both Bayesian inference and maximum
likelihood analysis) with only weak support for nodes. The phylogeny that combined all six loci into a species tree
was not congruent with any previous inference based on dental or cranial characteristics, but it suggested separate
generic status of two Megaderma species. However, additional genetic data are necessary to resolve the phylogeny
of Megadermatidae, a group that probably evolved by simultaneous divergence of all five extant lineages.
changing population abundances of pest species over time and space, solid understanding of which is a useful input
to forecast future population changes for proactive management.
Aims. We investigated the effects of rainfall, crop-development stage and density of stone bunds on reproductive
patterns, and the effects of stone-bund density and sex on survival probabilities of two widespread rodent species (Mastomys
awashensis and Arvicanthis dembeensis) in Ethiopian highlands.
Methods. Rodent population dynamics were monitored from April 2007 to February 2011, using capture–mark–recapture
(CMR) technique in four 6060m permanent square grids for four consecutive cropping seasons. Two of the grids
represented fields with low stone-bund density (LSBD, ~15m apart) and the other two represented fields with high
stone-bund density (HSBD, ~10m apart).
Key results. Reproduction was seasonal, commencing during the wet season following the rain and continuing through
the early dry season. We found an increase in the abundance of reproductively active female individuals of both
species towards the milky and fruiting crop stages and around harvest period. We found no strong difference in
survival probability between the two rodent species with variation in stone-bund density and sex.
Conclusion. Stone bunds play a minor role in the reproduction and survival of the rodent species at the observed
abundances.
Implications. In terms of pest management, the high local survival rates estimated for both rodent species matter more
than survival differences owing to variations in stone-bund density and sex.
Background: Rodents of the genus Mus represent one of the most valuable biological models for biomedical and
evolutionary research. Out of the four currently recognized subgenera, Nannomys (African pygmy mice, including
the smallest rodents in the world) comprises the only original African lineage. Species of this subgenus became
important models for the study of sex determination in mammals and they are also hosts of potentially dangerous
pathogens. Nannomys ancestors colonized Africa from Asia at the end of Miocene and Eastern Africa should be
considered as the place of their first radiation. In sharp contrast with this fact and despite the biological importance
of Nannomys, the specimens from Eastern Africa were obviously under-represented in previous studies and the
phylogenetic and distributional patterns were thus incomplete.
Results: We performed comprehensive genetic analysis of 657 individuals of Nannomys collected at approximately
300 localities across the whole sub-Saharan Africa. Phylogenetic reconstructions based on mitochondrial (CYTB) and
nuclear (IRBP) genes identified five species groups and three monotypic ancestral lineages. We provide evidence for
important cryptic diversity and we defined and mapped the distribution of 27 molecular operational taxonomic units
(MOTUs) that may correspond to presumable species. Biogeographical reconstructions based on data spanning all of
Africa modified the previous evolutionary scenarios. First divergences occurred in Eastern African mountains soon after
the colonization of the continent and the remnants of these old divergences still occur there, represented by
long basal branches of M. (previously Muriculus) imberbis and two undescribed species from Ethiopia and Malawi.
The radiation in drier lowland habitats associated with the decrease of body size is much younger, occurred mainly in
a single lineage (called the minutoides group, and especially within the species M. minutoides), and was probably linked
to aridification and climatic fluctuations in middle Pliocene/Pleistocene.
Conclusions: We discovered very high cryptic diversity in African pygmy mice making the genus Mus one of
the richest genera of African mammals. Our taxon sampling allowed reliable phylogenetic and biogeographic
reconstructions that (together with detailed distributional data of individual MOTUs) provide a solid basis for further
evolutionary, ecological and epidemiological studies of this important group of rodents.
striped mouse (Muriculus imberbis) has remained obscure
since its description. Here, we report, for the first time, the
phylogenetic analysis of this species using mitochondrial
(cytochrome b) and nuclear (interphotoreceptor binding
protein) gene sequences obtained from a specimen
recently caught in the Galama Mountain in the southcentral
Ethiopian highland region. The recent finding of
the species in ericaceous shrub in the Afroalpine habitat
is remarkable, as decades of attempts to capture it in this
habitat failed, probably because of inappropriate trapping
methods. Our analyses strongly suggest that the Ethiopian
striped mouse does not belong to a distinct monotypic
genus, but to the genus Mus, as the ancient lineage of the
African subgenus Nannomys.
of protected areas also support a variety of bird species. A survey of avian diversity was conducted
in northern Ethiopia in three fragmented woodland areas dominated by human activities,
adjacent to Important Bird Areas. Overall, 85 bird species belonging to 32 families were sighted in
the three localities, including five species endemic to Ethiopia and eight Afrotropical highland
biome species. Such diverse bird assemblages in the localities show the significance of habitats outside
of protected areas for future avian research and conservation in Ethiopia. These habitats need
to be protected.