African Invertebrates Research Articles

The Diptera of Lesotho: a history of collecting in the Mountain Kingdom, summary of recent collecting sites and introduction to the topical collection in African Invertebrates

The Kingdom of Lesotho in southern Africa is entirely bordered by South Africa, with which it shares many geological and vegetation types, but the vast extent of alpine vegetation and high altitudes suggests that differences in insect diversity should be expected. Globally, the Diptera are one of the most diverse orders of insects, though biodiversity estimates for the order are lacking for many regions. Here, we present a summary of the limited historical Diptera collections from Lesotho, summarise our collecting expeditions in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and provide photographs and descriptions of the collecting sites. This paper is the first of a series of papers in a Topical Collection of the Diptera of Lesotho in African Invertebrates. We hope to stimulate more research on Afrotropical Diptera and to improve their conservation in Lesotho in particular.

A trait database for southern African freshwater invertebrates

Invertebrates are often used as indicators of ecosystem health. In community ecology, the use of organism traits (e.g. behavioural, biological or ecological) can be of value in relation to impact diagnosis and assemblage prediction. It has also been recognised that certain traits are related to ecosystem function, and their use in biological monitoring provide insights into ecosystem functional responses to stressors. However, the paucity of trait information and non-availability of a local trait database for southern African invertebrates impede progress in using this approach for biological monitoring. To address this critical gap, we compiled an updateable trait database for southern African freshwater invertebrates. The database contains information on 40 trait categories and 204 trait attribute/modalities. Of the 40 trait categories included in the database, 12 are biological, 12 are behavioural, and 16 are ecological preferences. The database is designed to accommodate taxonomic flexibility. In this regard, trait information is entered at multiple taxonomic levels: family, genus, and species, allowing researchers working at different taxonomic resolutions to retrieve relevant information. While there are still gaps in the database, this effort represents the first attempt to synthesise available trait information on southern African freshwater invertebrates.

Darwin not a better name than Wallace

The position of an author's surname in the alphabet is tested for randomization and double barrel names are tested in a bibliometric analysis to see which names occur more frequently in first and second position. Using an analysis of data from nine online journals (African Entomology, African Invertebrates, African Zoology, Arthropods, Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, South African Journal of Science, Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology, Ostrich, Trends in Ecology and Evolution) I found no evidence for a random distribution of surnames based on first letter (t=-6.913024, p<0.00001, n=8333 pdf's). A table for comparing relative surname positions is given. Within double barrel names the D's where not more frequent than the W's in the second position (t = -0.36, P= 0.719, n=21 letters).

Darwin not a better name than Wallace

The position of an author's surname in the alphabet is tested for randomization and double barrel names are tested in a bibliometric analysis to see which names occur more frequently in first and second position. Using an analysis of data from nine online journals (African Entomology, African Invertebrates, African Zoology, Arthropods, Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, South African Journal of Science, Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology, Ostrich, Trends in Ecology and Evolution) I found no evidence for a random distribution of surnames based on first letter (t=-6.913024, p<0.00001, n=8333 pdf's). A table for comparing relative surname positions is given. Within double barrel names the D's where not more frequent than the W's in the second position (t = -0.36, P= 0.719, n=21 letters).

Historical demography of southern African patellid limpets: congruence of population expansions, but not phylogeography

Global climatic oscillations have shaped the contemporary genetic structure of marine taxa in different ways. Previous demographic studies have indicated that various intertidal marine species display genetic signatures of demographic expansion that either pre- or postdate the Last Glacial Maximum. Such expansions and the ability of species to colonise new habitats will influence their genetic structure, but the link between scales of larval dispersal and the strength of phylogeographic structure is not always clear. We analysed a fragment of the mitochondrial COI gene of 11 sympatric species of intertidal southern African patellid limpets to investigate how ancient oceanographic dynamics have shaped and maintained their contemporary spatial genetic variation. Our data show that the patellid limpets investigated display congruent evidence of spatial expansion during the Late Pleistocene or Early Holocene, which corresponds with the establishment of the contemporary southern African shoreline. We argue that closely related and co-distributed southern African intertidal invertebrates responded to ancient climatic oscillations as a cohesive group. In contrast, contemporary oceanographic circulation has shaped the phylogeographic patterns of these limpets in different ways. We show close relationships between phylogeography and biogeography for some species, but not for others, despite the similarities in their life histories and exposure to the same climatic changes.

Primary Types in the Collection of Molluscs in the KwaZulu-Natal Museum: Polyplacophora

All primary types of Polyplacophora deposited in the KwaZulu-Natal Museum are presented. The reference to the original publication, including the original generic position, the type locality, the collector and the cited dimensions of the type specimen(s), is provided for each species, followed by information from the label for each type in the NMSA collection (catalogue number, type locality and collector), size of the type specimen, brief remarks and colour photographs. To cite this paper: Muratov, I.V. 2014. Primary types in the collection of molluscs in the KwaZulu-Natal Museum: Polyplacophora. African Invertebrates 55 (2): 377–412. Published electronically: 30 December 2014. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D93CB77C-1073-446B-A9C0-1112696577B2

Patterns of endemicity and range restriction among southern African coastal marine invertebrates

Southern Africa supports a rich marine biota of 12 734 currently described marine species. Although the distribution and overall species-richness patterns of several component taxa are well documented, studies considering range sizes are absent. This study considers range size frequencies and distribution patterns of seven major marine invertebrate taxa. The most commonly observed pattern of size frequency distributions is bimodal, with a predominance of species with either small or large range sizes, and few taxa with intermediate-sized ranges. This pattern is displayed by prosobranch and opisthobranch molluscs, polychaetes and amphipods, and for all invertebrate taxa examined combined. Peaks in small range sizes are likely a reflection of the numerous poorly sampled and/or endemic species in the region, while the high number of species with large range sizes can be attributed to the large proportion of widespread tropical Indo-Pacific species within the regional fauna. Overall, the largest peaks of range-restricted endemic species occurred around False Bay, Port Elizabeth, Durban, St Lucia and Maputo Bay. These areas are all situated at or adjacent to recognised biogeographic breaks for invertebrate assemblages, but coincidentally also tend to also be areas of enhanced research and shipping activity. The Cape Point region supports the highest number of endemics, with 73 species restricted to ranges of <100 km and 28 species to ranges <200 km.

Gedenkschrift for Brian Roy Stuckenberg (1930–2009)

Three years ago our esteemed colleague Brian Stuckenberg, the doyen of Afrotropical dipterology, left his professional fraternity and this world. Time flies like an arrow, yet our memories of Brian do not fade. This is best attested by the present issue of African Invertebrates that commemorates Brian's life and scientific career with contributions made by 37 fellow dipterists from 15 countries. The Gedenkschrift opens with a dedication article by A.H. Kirk-Spriggs, who provides a biography and summary of Brian's major achievements. The article is supplemented by Brian's previously unpublished reports on his two Madagascan expeditions and includes a full list of his publications. The following 20 articles deal with the taxonomy, nomenclature, systematics and biogeography of representatives of 19 families of nematoceran and brachyceran Diptera. In total, four new genera and 58 new species are described, with one genus and 16 species named after Brian. Most papers include identification keys. All articles are of a high standard and make a substantial addition to our knowledge of Afrotropical Diptera, still I would like to highlight several contributions. T. Dikow's detailed review of the Mydidae tribe Halterorchini is the first cybertaxonomic article in the history of African Invertebrates . By providing hyperlinks to ZooBank, Morphbank and GBIF, it sets a new standard for future taxonomic publications in the journal. J.-H. Stuke's revision of Stylogaster (Conopidae) is the most comprehensive and richly illustrated study done on this genus in the Afrotropics, and is directly linked to Brian's interest in this genus back in 1960s. Brian also had a particular interest in the bruchomyiine moth flies (Psychodidae) and himself contributed to the study of fossil and modern representatives of the genus Nemopalpus in the article prepared by R. Wagner. The Afrotropical Diptera fauna is still far from being exhaustively known, and Brian's legacy for the present and upcoming generations of dipterists is to study it in its entirety. I wish to thank all contributors to this Gedenkschrift and numerous reviewers, who critically evaluated all the manuscripts. Dr A.H. Kirk-Spriggs solicited contributions, co-ordinated the peer-review process and handled correspondence with the authors; this project would not have succeeded without him. I am grateful to Prof. D.J. Brothers, who expertly commented on numerous manuscripts and generously undertook the laborious task of language editing; copy-editing was also done by Prof. M.B. Markus. I sincerely appreciate meticulous work of Mr B. Muller, our graphics editor, and Dr M. Ovechkina, who did the proof-reading of each article and the entire issue. Last but not least, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Deputy Director of the KwaZulu-Natal Museum Mr S. Miya and the Chief Financial Manager Mr M. Mazibuko for their overall and financial support of the journal. I regret that some manuscripts could not be included in this Gedenkschrift due to technical reasons; they will be published in the next issue of African Invertebrates , thus continuing to commemorate Brian. To cite this paper: Mostovski, M. 2012. Gedenkschrift for Brian Roy Stuckenberg (1930-2009). African Invertebrates 53 (1): (2).

An Addendum to the Article‘Reproductive Seasonality of Southern African Inshore and Estuarine Invertebrates — a Biogeographic Review’by A.N. Hodgson that Appeared inAfrican Zoology45(1): 1–17 (April 2010):

An Addendum to the Article<b>‘Reproductive Seasonality of Southern African Inshore and Estuarine Invertebrates — a Biogeographic Review’</b>by A.N. Hodgson that Appeared in<i>African Zoology</i><b>45</b>(1): 1–17 (April 2010):

Reproductive seasonality of southern African inshore and estuarine invertebrates – a biogeographic review

A literature review reveals that reproductive seasonality of less than 1% of South Africa’s inshore marine invertebrates has been studied. Approximately 95% of studies have been on large, long-lived, gonochoristic, iteroparous species, and nearly 50% on molluscs. There is only a weak relationship between biogeographic region and timing of reproduction. Nevertheless, a relatively large proportion of west coast species studied breed in winter, whereas south coast species tend to have breeding peaks in spring/summer, although many nearly always have mature gametes and probably reproduce year-round. East coast species are mainly continuous or summer breeders. The factors that control gametogenesis and trigger spawning are largely unresolved, although temperature and food are thought to be important in many species.

Celebrating the International Year of Biodiversity

The United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity. It is one-year world-wide celebration of biological diversity and its importance for life on Earth. While biodiversity is frequently spoken about in the context of its conservation, no one would argue that protection of biodiversity relies strongly on knowledge of what we must conserve. Nonetheless, traditional taxonomy has often been marginalised among biological sciences by policy- and decision-makers, and left for old-fashioned museum eccentrics. Moreover, few high-profile scholarly journals these days accept long taxonomic revisions unless based on 'cutting edge' DNA sequencing or/and computer-generated phylogenetic trees. African Invertebrates, a journal of biodiversity research published by the Council of the Natal Museum, continues to contribute its mite to rejoice taxonomy and to celebrate the International Year of Biodiversity with a selection of research articles on molluscs, millipedes, spiders and insects.

D. J. Brothers &amp; M. B. Mostovski (eds) 2007. Congress Proceedings Fossils X3. Proceedings of the Third International Congress of Palaeoentomology, the Second International Meeting on Palaeoarthropodology and the Second World Congress on Amber and its Inclusions, Pretoria, South Africa, 7–11 February 2005. vi + 249 pp. Special issue of African Invertebrates48 (1), 2007. Pietermaritzburg: Natal Museum.

If ever there was a confusing title for the proceedings of a congress, this must be it. This issue of the South African journal African Invertebrates: a Journal of Biodiversity Research , formerly the Annals of the Natal Museum , is devoted to a congress held in Pretoria in February 2005 which was entitled ‘Fossils X3’. It was actually the Third International Congress …

Stress Protein Responses in South African Freshwater Invertebrates Exposed to Detergent Surfactant Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS)

Stress responses can be measured at various levels of biological organization, from sub-organism through to ecosystem level. This study aimed to investigate stress protein induction as a sub-organism level stress response in two South African freshwater aquatic macroinvertebrates exposed to detergent linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS). Shrimp Caridina nilotica and limpet Burnupia stenochorias were exposed to a range of LAS concentrations (0, 1, 1.8, 3.2, 6.5 and 12.7 mg/L and 0, 0.6, 1.2, 1.6 and 3.2 mg/L respectively) for 96 h. Surviving organisms were prepared for sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis. In C. nilotica there appeared to be induction of a putative ≈ 70 kDa protein at 12.7 mg/L LAS, and induction of putative ≈45 and ≈40 kDa proteins at concentrations of 6.5 mg/L LAS and above. However, only an Hsp70 protein was detected with anti-Hsp72/Hsc73 at 12.7 mg/L LAS. No protein induction was observed in exposed B. stenochorias, however an Hsp40 protein was detected with anti-Hsp40 in exposed and unexposed limpets.

A systematic reassessment of the genus Microchaetus Rapp, 1849: its amended definition, reinstatement of Geogenia Kinberg, 1867, and erection of a new genus Kazimierzus (Oligochaeta: Microchaetidae)

The endemic South African genus Microchaetus Rapp, 1849, considered to be composite, is restudied. Three groups of species are recognised and separated into three genera. Species braunsi , decipiens , klopperi , papillatus , rappi , stuckenbergi and vernoni are left in Microchaetus , with microchaetus as the type species. Genus Geogenia Kinberg, 1867 is reinstated for ambita , benhami , caementerii , distasmosa , gripha , herberti , idechorita , madida , mkuzi , montana , namaensis , parva , pentheri , pondoana , quera , ritae , rivus , tegwana , tuberosus and zaloumisi , with the type species natalensis . For alipentus , circulatus , crousi , davidi , franciscus , guntheri , hamerae , imitatus , ljungstroemi , metandrus , obscurus , occidualis , occiduus, pauli , pearsonianus , pentus , peringuei , rosai , senarius , sirgeli and sophieae , occurring in western and south-western parts of South Africa, and characterised by distinct features, the new genus Kazimierzus gen. n. is established, with hamerae designated as the type species. Descriptions of the familial characters, corresponding with those originally given by Michaelsen (1900, 1918, 1928), augmented by Gates (1959), Brinkhurst and Jamieson (1971), and Plisko (1996 a , 2006), and emended on the basis of the present study, are provided. A key is presented for all currently recognised genera of Microchaetidae. Keys to the species of Microchaetus ( s . str .), Geogenia and Kazimierzus gen. n. are given. Checklists of reclassified species, their synonymy, and notes on their occurrence, are provided. The distribution of each genus dealt with in this study is mapped. To cite this paper: Plisko, J. D. 2006. A systematic reassessment of the genus Microchaetus Rapp, 1849: its amended definition, reinstatement of Geogenia Kinberg, 1867, and erection of a new genus Kazimierzus (Oligochaeta: Microchaetidae). African Invertebrates 47 : 31-56.

Notes on some East African Invertebrates collected in 1926.

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of LondonVolume 98, Issue 1 p. 121-127 Notes on some East African Invertebrates collected in 1926. Arthur Loveridge C.M.Z.S., Arthur Loveridge C.M.Z.S.Search for more papers by this author Arthur Loveridge C.M.Z.S., Arthur Loveridge C.M.Z.S.Search for more papers by this author First published: April 1928 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1928.tb07143.xAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Volume98, Issue1April 1928Pages 121-127 RelatedInformation