Western Indian Ocean Islands Research Articles

Biogeography of Old World emballonurine bats (Chiroptera: Emballonuridae) inferred with mitochondrial and nuclear DNA

Extant bats of the genus Emballonura have a trans-Indian Ocean distribution, with two endemic species restricted to Madagascar, and eight species occurring in mainland southeast Asia and islands in the western Pacific Ocean. Ancestral Emballonura may have been more widespread on continental areas, but no fossil identified to this genus is known from the Old World. Emballonura belongs to the subfamily Emballonurinae, which occurs in the New and Old World. Relationships of all Old World genera of this subfamily, including Emballonura and members of the genera Coleura from Africa and western Indian Ocean islands and Mosia nigrescens from the western Pacific region, are previously unresolved. Using 1833bp of nuclear and mitochondrial genes, we reconstructed the phylogenetic history of Old World emballonurine bats. We estimated that these lineages diverged around 30 million years ago into two monophyletic sister groups, one represented by the two taxa of Malagasy Emballonura, Coleura and possibly Mosia, and the other by a radiation of Indo-Pacific Emballonura, hence, rendering the genus Emballonura paraphyletic. The fossil record combined with these phylogenetic relationships suggest at least one long-distance dispersal event across the Indian Ocean, presumably of African origin, giving rise to all Indo-Pacific Emballonura species (and possibly Mosia). Cladogenesis of the extant Malagasy taxa took place during the Quaternary giving rise to two vicariant species, E. atrata in the humid east and E. tiavato in the dry west.

HYBRIDIZATION AND BARRIERS TO GENE FLOW IN AN ISLAND BIRD RADIATION

While reinforcement may play a role in all major modes of speciation, relatively little is known about the timescale over which species hybridize without evolving complete reproductive isolation. Birds have high potential for hybridization, and islands provide simple settings for uncovering speciation and hybridization patterns. Here we develop a phylogenetic hypothesis for a phenotypically diverse radiation of finch-like weaver-birds (Foudia) endemic to the western Indian Ocean islands. We find that unlike Darwin's finches, each island-endemic Foudia population is a monophyletic entity for which speciation can be considered complete. In explaining the only exceptions-mismatches between taxonomy, mitochondrial, and nuclear data-phylogenetic and coalescent methods support introgressive hybridization rather than incomplete lineage sorting. Human introductions of known timing of one island-endemic species, to all surrounding archipelagos provide two fortuitous experiments; (1) population sampling at known times in recent evolutionary history, (2) bringing allopatric lineages of an island radiation into secondary contact. Our results put a minimum time bound on introgression (235 years), and support hybridization between species in natural close contact (parapatry), but not between those in natural allopatry brought into contact by human introduction. Time in allopatry, rather than in sympatry, appears key in the reproductive isolation of Foudia species.

Gouania tiliifolia: The Correct Name forGouania scandens

Abstract. In a recent revision of Gouania Jacq. (Rhamnaceae) for Madagascar and other western Indian Ocean islands, confusion about the correct date of publication of Lamarck's Encyclopedie Methodique caused the authors to overlook the nomenclatural priority of G. tiliifolia Lam. over the heterotypic synonym G. scandens (Gaertn.) R. B. Drumm. The error is corrected, and the new combination G. tiliifolia subsp. glandulosa (Boivin ex Tul.) Buerki, Phillipson & Callm. is provided for its non-typical subspecies.

Fragments of an Indian Ocean Life: Aristide Corroller Between Islands and Empires

Born on Ile de France in late 1799 to a French father and a free mixed-race mother from Fort-Dauphin in southeast Madagascar, Aristide Corroller gained an education at Port-Louis but departed to pursue a political career in Madagascar after 1815. Corroller first assisted his maternal uncles to capture the sovereignty of Madagascar’s central eastern coast (Ivondro-Tamatave-Foulpointe) but then entered the service of King Radama of Imerina. He rose through the ranks of Radama’s service to become commander-in-chief of Antananarivo’s armed forces and the second most powerful man of that independent kingdom. His fortunes soured with the death of Radama in July 1828, however. He was placed under house arrest for a time and then returned to govern Tamatave, but died there with frustrated ambitions in late 1835, leaving a written account of his achievements on which this article is substantially based. I employ Corroller’s writings found in a library in New Zealand not only to trace his career but to discuss the strategies of his island-hopping family—particularly his maternal ancestors from Madagascar who moved to Ile de France and his maternal uncles who returned to Madagascar—and the careers of European administrators of empire who collected and pored over his work. Corroller’s career, mixed-race family, and labors illuminate the contours of life in the western Indian Ocean islands of his time, bringing their migrations, commerce, colonial constraints and opportunities, as well as human interconnections and racial structures, into conversation.

Bats of the Western Indian Ocean Islands.

Simple SummaryThe purpose of this paper is to review the literature pertaining to the bat faunas of the western Indian Ocean islands, particularly in light of the identification of many new species on Madagascar and the taxonomic reassignment of others, and to summarise details of their general biology, feeding ecology, reproduction and conservation.The natural colonisation of many remote oceanic islands by bats, including those of the western Indian Ocean, has been facilitated by their unique capability among mammals for powered flight. In the western Indian Ocean region, only the Malagasy islands of Madagascar and the Comoros archipelago have been naturally colonised by non-volant mammals. Despite their greater potential for inter-island dispersal, and thus gene transfer, endemicity of Chiroptera in the western Indian Ocean islands is high. Given their vulnerability to stochastic and anthropogenic disturbances, greater focus needs to be placed on investigating the demographic and ecological history of bats on Western Indian Ocean islands to safeguard not only their future, but also the ecosystem functioning on these islands, for which they are undoubtedly such an integral part. Here, I summarise the taxonomic and life history information available on bats from Western Indian Ocean islands and highlight knowledge gaps and conservation issues that threaten the continued persistence of some species.

A Taxonomic Revision ofGouania(Rhamnaceae) in Madagascar and the Other Islands of the Western Indian Ocean (The Comoro and Mascarene Islands, and the Seychelles)1

A taxonomic revision of the genus Gouania Jacq. (Rhamnaceae) is presented for Madagascar and the other western Indian Ocean islands. Seventeen species are recognized, of which nine are described and published as new (all endemic to Madagascar): G. ambrensis Buerki, Phillipson & Callm., G. callmanderi Buerki, G. cupreifolia Buerki, Phillipson & Callm., G. cupuliflora Buerki, Phillipson & Callm., G. gautieri Buerki, Phillipson & Callm., G. perrieri Buerki, Phillipson & Callm., G. phillipsonii Buerki, G. taolagnarensis Buerki, Phillipson & Callm., and G. zebrifolia Buerki, Phillipson & Callm. Sixteen species occur in Madagascar, of which 13 are endemic and three are common to Madagascar and one or more of the smaller Indian Ocean islands. The latter include G. laxiflora Tul., a species which is also present on mainland Africa. One species, G. mauritiana Lam., is endemic to Réunion Island. We recognize two subspecies within G. scandens (Gaertn.) R. B. Drumm.: G. scandens subsp. scandens and G. scandens subsp. glandulosa (Boivin ex Tul.) Buerki, Phillipson & Callm., the latter transferred from G. glandulosa Boivin ex Tul. Past confusion about the identity of this species is discussed. Five names are lectotypified: G. aphrodes Tul., G. glandulosa [= G. scandens subsp. glandulosa], G. laxiflora, G. lineata Tul., and G. tiliifolia Lam. Both lectotype and epitype are designated for G. mauritiana. Conservation assessments are provided for all species within their primary areas of occurrence.

Phylogeography of a successful aerial disperser: the golden orb spider Nephila on Indian Ocean islands

BackgroundThe origin and diversification patterns of lineages across the Indian Ocean islands are varied due to the interplay of the complex geographic and geologic island histories, the varying dispersal abilities of biotas, and the proximity to major continental landmasses. Our aim was to reconstruct phylogeographic history of the giant orbweaving spider (Nephila) on western Indian Ocean islands (Madagascar, Mayotte, Réunion, Mauritius, Rodrigues), to test its origin and route of dispersal, and to examine the consequences of good dispersal abilities for colonization and diversification, in comparison with related spiders (Nephilengys) inhabiting the same islands, and with other organisms known for over water dispersal. We used mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear (ITS2) markers to examine phylogenetic and population genetic patterns in Nephila populations and species. We employed Bayesian and parsimony methods to reconstruct phylogenies and haplotype networks, respectively, and calculated genetic distances, fixation indices, and estimated clade ages under a relaxed clock model.ResultsOur results suggest an African origin of Madagascar Nephila inaurata populations via Cenozoic dispersal, and the colonization of the Mascarene islands from Madagascar. We find evidence of gene flow across Madagascar and Comoros. The Mascarene islands share a common 'ancestral' COI haplotype closely related to those found on Madagascar, but itself absent, or as yet unsampled, from Madagascar. Each island has one or more unique haplotypes related to the ancestral Mascarene haplotype. The Indian Ocean N. inaurata are genetically distinct from the African populations.ConclusionsNephila spiders colonized Madagascar from Africa about 2.5 (0.6-5.3) Ma. Our results are consistent with subsequent, recent and rapid, colonization of all three Mascarene islands. On each island, however, we detected unique haplotypes, consistent with a limited gene flow among the islands subsequent to colonization, a scenario that might be referred to as speciation in progress. However, due to relatively small sample sizes, we cannot rule out that we simply failed to collect Mascarene haplotypes on Madagascar, a scenario that might imply human mediated dispersal. Nonetheless, the former interpretation better fits the available data and results in a pattern similar to the related Nephilengys. Nephilengys, however, shows higher genetic divergences with diversification on more remote islands. That the better disperser of the two lineages, Nephila, has colonized more islands but failed to diversify, demonstrates how dispersal ability can shape both the patterns of colonization and formation of species across archipelagos.

Increased population sampling confirms low genetic divergence among Pteropus (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) fruit bats of Madagascar and other western Indian Ocean islands.

Fruit bats of the genus Pteropus occur throughout the Austral-Asian region west to islands off the eastern coast of Africa. Recent phylogenetic analyses of Pteropus from the western Indian Ocean found low sequence divergence and poor phylogenetic resolution among several morphologically defined species. We reexamine the phylogenetic relationships of these taxa by using multiple individuals per species. In addition, we estimate population genetic structure in two well-sampled taxa occurring on Madagascar and the Comoro Islands (P. rufus and P. seychellensis comorensis). Despite finding a similar pattern of low sequence divergence among species, increased sampling provides insight into the phylogeographic history of western Indian Ocean Pteropus, uncovering high levels of gene flow within species.

Patterns of morphological and genetic variation in western Indian Ocean members of the Chaerephon 'pumilus' complex (Chiroptera: Molossidae), with the description of a new species from Madagascar

The species delimitations of African, Arabian Peninsula, and western Indian Ocean island members of the Molossidae bat species complex Chaerephon pumilus remain largely unresolved. Based on genetic analyses this group is paraphyletic, with C. leucogaster nested within C. pumilus sensu lato, and the latter is composed of several distinct clades. DNA was isolated from a specimen of C. p. pumilus obtained at the type locality (Massawa, Eritrea). Although incomplete, this sequence allowed us to clearly define which clade is referable to nominate pumilus, a critical step in resolving the systematics of this species complex. Using morphological and molecular genetic (cytochrome b and D-loop sequences) characters, we establish that C. leucogaster and C. 'pumilus' on Madagascar represent two different lineages and that the Malagasy population referred to C. 'pumilus' is specifically distinct from those on Africa, the islands and mainland Africa. The population of C. pusillus from the western Seychelles atoll of Aldabra cluster with that of the Comoros, rather than Madagascar. For numerous other species of volant vertebrates (bats and birds), the origin of the Aldabra fauna is mixed between the Comoros and Madagascar (e.g., Goodman & Ranivo 2008; O'Brien et al. 2009; Pasquet et al. 2007; Warren et al. 2003). Hence, in the case of these 9-17 g Chaerephon bats, these water barriers have been associated with the isolation and subsequent differentiation of populations after successful dispersal and colonization events. In contrast, within the Comoros, there is no apparent genetic structure between with the individual islands, which are separated by 40 and 80 km, indicating that this distance is regularly traversed by these bats and giving rise to intra-archipelago panmixia of populations.

Recovery of the Vulnerable Pemba flying foxPteropus voeltzkowi: population and conservation status

AbstractFlying foxes of the genusPteropusare predominantly island taxa, with high levels of endemism, and face high risks of extinction. Their ecological and economic importance in island ecosystems has been widely recognized. Here we investigate the population size and conservation status of the VulnerablePteropus voeltzkowi, endemic to the western Indian Ocean island of Pemba, Tanzania. Direct counts and patch counts were used to determine abundance of flying foxes at roost sites, supplemented with evening dispersal counts, which were conducted to test accuracy of counting techniques under varying conditions of visibility. We estimate that the population size is now a minimum of 18,200–22,100, thus validating reports of annual increases by in-country monitoring teams since the last documented population survey of 4,600–5,500 bats in 1995. Taking into account differences in the counting methodologies for roosting bats we estimate that the population size could be as high as 35,600 individuals. We identified 44 occupied roosting sites, with just four of these supporting up to 87% of the population. Roost disturbance represents a continuing threat to this species and was found to influence roost occupancy and colony size. The implications of the population increase for the local human community are discussed and recommendations provided for continued monitoring and future management of this species on Pemba Island.

Catalogue of Afrotropical bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Apiformes)

The purpose of this catalogue is to list the valid names, nomenclatorial history of, and published references to, the known bees of Sub-Saharan Africa and the western Indian Ocean islands, excluding the honey bee (Apis mellifera Linnaeus). An attempt has been made to include references to all publications on Afrotropical bees since Dalla Torre’s (1896) catalogue, up to and including 2009. All publications dealing with each species are listed under the name combination used. This catalogue includes 2755 valid species and 1133 references. Taxonomic changes, such as new name combinations, with correct latinization and gender, are included. The distribution by country, plants visited, hosts (for parasitic bee species) and parasites are recorded, as are the type’s gender, depository and country locality for each described species (valid and invalid). The following new combinations are included: Amegilla cincta conradsi (Strand), Evylaeus aeratus (Kirby), Evylaeus angustissimus (Cockerell), Evylaeus ankaratrense (Benoist), Evylaeus bellulus (Vachal), Evylaeus bianonis (Cockerell), Evylaeus burnupi (Cockerell), Evylaeus calviniellus (Cockerell), Evylaeus camphorellus (Cockerell), Evylaeus cardiurus (Cockerell), Evylaeus cephalinotus (Cockerell), Evylaeus cessulus (Cockerell), Evylaeus clavigerellus (Cockerell), Evylaeus coeruleodorsatus (Strand), Evylaeus coloratipes (Cockerell), Evylaeus constrictulus (Cockerell), Evylaeus cyaneodiscus (Cockerell), Evylaeus deceptus (Smith), Evylaeus diloloensis (Cockerell), Evylaeus diminutellus (Cockerell), Evylaeus discretulus (Cockerell), Evylaeus epichlorus (Cockerell), Evylaeus gastrophilinus (Cockerell), Evylaeus gendettensis (Cockerell), Evylaeus godmanae (Michener), Evylaeus hemicyaneum (Benoist), Evylaeus hirtulinus (Cockerell), Evylaeus kabetiellus (Cockerell), Evylaeus kampalensis (Cockerell), Evylaeus kasuloi (Cockerell), Evylaeus kowitensis (Cockerell), Evylaeus lactescens (Cockerell), Evylaeus lampronotus (Cameron), Evylaeus latibalteatus (Meade-Waldo), Evylaeus latior (Cockerell), Evylaeus leucophenax (Cockerell), Evylaeus morio (Fabricius), Evylaeus macilentus (Benoist), Evylaeus marshalli (Cockerell); Evylaeus matoporum (Cockerell), Evylaeus mediocre (Benoist), Evylaeus meruensis (Friese), Evylaeus meneliki (Friese), Evylaeus mesopolitus (Cockerell), Evylaeus microsellatus (Cockerell), Evylaeus mirifrons (Cockerell), Evylaeus natensis (Cockerell), Evylaeus nigritulinus (Cockerell), Evylaeus nitididorsatus. (Benoist), Evylaeus niveostictus (Cockerell), Evylaeus parvulinus (Cockerell), Evylaeus pastinimimus (Cockerell), Evylaeus percornutus (Cockerell), Evylaeus perihirtus (Cockerell), Evylaeus perileucus (Cockerell), Evylaeus pernitens (Cockerell), Evylaeus pilicornis (Friese), Evylaeus politescens (Cockerell), Evylaeus pulchripes (Cockerell), Evylaeus pulchritarsis (Cockerell), Evylaeus puzeyi (Cockerell), Evylaeus rubrocinctus (Cockerell), Evylaeus rufitarsellus (Cockerell), Evylaeus ruwenzicus (Cockerell), Evylaeus ruwenzoriellus (Cockerell), Evylaeus schubotzi (Strand), Evylaeus sellatiferus (Cockerell), Evylaeus semilucidus (Cockerell), Evylaeus sublautus (Cockerell), Evylaeus submetallicus (Benoist), Evylaeus tenuicornis (Cockerell), Evylaeus tenuivenis (Cockerell), Evylaeus thestis (Cameron), Evylaeus wilkinsoni (Cockerell), Evylaeus windhukensis (Friese), Heriades edentatus (Friese), Lasioglossum lukulense (Cockerell), Lasioglossum simulator (Cockerell), Lipotriches armatipes obscuripes (Friese), Lipotriches fumipennigera (Strand), and Megachile ambigua (Pasteels). One replacement name has been added: Hylaeus multifarius Eardley & Urban.

Genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of Mabuya spp. (Squamata: Scincidae) from western Indian Ocean islands

AbstractWestern Indian Ocean islands (excluding Madagascar) are inhabited by at least five species of the lizard genus Mabuya, for which diversity and inter-island phylogenetic relationships are still unclear, particularly concerning island populations of M. maculilabris, M. comorensis and M. striata. With a comprehensive sampling across the Comoros archipelago and the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba (Tanzania) we use molecular data and previously published sequences of these species to describe genetic variation across their insular range and explore the possible distinction of insular populations of the different species, contributing to the clarification of their status and knowledge of their colonization patterns. We describe patterns of cryptic diversity within M. comorensis, revealing a West to East colonization of the Comoros archipelago and clarify the status of Malagasy populations of this species. Cryptic variation is also observed within M. maculilabris and M. striata, and the status of several continental and island populations discussed. M. sechellensis is shown to be paraphyletic relative to M. wrightii. Available data for all Afro-Malagasy Mabuya reveals additional possible instances of paraphyly within some species but does not allow for further resolution of basal relationships within this group, pointing to rapid and simultaneous divergences within this group and the need for multiple independent markers to recover the history of this group.

A synthesis of African and western Indian Ocean Island mammal taxa (Class: Mammalia) described between 1988 and 2008: an update to Allen (1939) and Ansell (1989)

A synthesis of African and western Indian Ocean Island mammal taxa (Class: Mammalia) described between 1988 and 2008: an update to Allen (1939) and Ansell (1989)

A synthesis of African and western Indian Ocean Island mammal taxa (Class: Mammalia) described between 1988 and 2008: an update to Allen (1939) and Ansell (1989)

We provide a synthesis of all mammal taxa described from the African mainland, Madagascar and all surrounding islands in the 20 years since 1988, thereby supplementing the earlier works of G.M. Allen (1939) and W.F.H. Ansell (1989), and bringing the list of African mammals described over the last 250 years current to December 2008. We list 175 new extant taxa, including five new genera, one new subgenus, 138 new species and 31 new subspecies, including remarks, where relevant, on the current systematic position of each taxon. Names of seven species of primates are emended, according to the requirements of the ICZN. The taxonomic group in which the largest number of new taxa has been described is the Primates, with two new genera, 47 new species and 11 new subspecies, while geographically the biggest increase in new species descriptions has been on the island of Madagascar, accounting for roughly half (67) of all new species described in the past 20 years. Nearly half of all new species listed currently are assessed as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (49 of 101 listed species) suggesting further research is urgently needed to help clarify the status of those recently described species.

Phylogenetic and morphometric differentiation reveal geographic radiation and pseudo-cryptic speciation in a mangrove crab from the Indo-West Pacific

The presence of boundaries to dispersal has been recently documented for many Indo-West Pacific (IWP) species with planktonic propagules and a widespread distribution. We studied the phylogeography of the mangrove crab Neosarmatium meinerti (Brachyura: Sesarmidae) and the phylogenetic relationship to its presumed sister species N. fourmanoiri in the IWP in order to compare intraspecific with interspecific diversity. Portions of the mitochondrial genes 16S and CoxI were sequenced for 23 specimens of N. meinerti and 5 N. fourmanoiri, while a fragment of the 28S was obtained for a subset of specimens. Genetic data are supplemented by morphometric and based on 37 adult males of N. meinerti and 9 males of N. fourmanoiri. The conserved nuclear 28S reveals the existence of a genetic break between the Indian and Pacific oceans. Otherwise, mitochondrial genes as well as morphometry clearly support the presence of a species complex within N. meinerti composed by four well structured and geographically defined lineages: East African coast; western Indian Ocean islands; South East Asia; and Australia.

Cryptic lineages of little free-tailed bats, Chaerephon pumilus (Chiroptera: Molossidae) from southern Africa and the western Indian Ocean islands

We investigate mitochondrial DNA and craniometric variation in southern African and Malagasy populations of the small and morphologically variable, house-roosting molossid bat, Chaerephon pumilus in relation to Malagasy populations of the related, smaller-sized species, C. leucogaster. Both cytochrome b and D-loop sequences show C. leucogaster to be nested within C. pumilus sensu lato, with Malagasy C. pumilus forming a sister group to African C. pumilus and Malagasy C. leucogaster. Four distinct D-loop clades are found in southern African populations, all of which occur sympatrically in the greater Durban area of KwaZulu-Natal Province, whilst two of the Durban clades also characterize 1) northern KwaZulu-Natal and low-lying (<600 m) areas of Swaziland, and 2) ‘inland’ populations comprising the Kruger National Park and higher-lying (>600 m) areas of Swaziland. Clades from low-lying areas show evidence of historical demographic expansion around 3300–13 000 years ago (KwaZulu-Natal coastal clade, Clade A1) to 14 700–60 000 years ago (Durban clade, Clade B1), whilst the inland clade (Clade B2a) was demographically more stable. The origin of these clades can be explained by sea level and vegetation changes hypothesized to follow the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) after 18 000 years ago. Sympatric clades are shown to differ significantly in the proportional width of the braincase, and ongoing work will test evidence for acoustic and other morphological differences between them.

Bats as bushmeat: a global review

A questionnaire survey and literature review revealed the extent of hunting of bats for bushmeat in the Old World tropics. High levels of offtake were reported throughout Asia, the Pacific islands and some Western Indian Ocean islands, where fruit bats of the genus Pteropus are eaten extensively. Most hunting in Africa was reported in western states and the largest fruit bat Eidolon helvum was preferred. Insectivorous bats are also eaten, particularly Tadarida in Asia. Hunting is both for local consumption and commercial, sometimes involving cross-border transactions. The high levels of hunting reported and the low reproductive rate of bats indicate there are likely to be severe negative effects on bat populations, and declines of several species are documented. Although there has been only one reported attempt to manage offtake, this indicates that it is possible and apparently successful. Furthermore, voluntary controls on hunting have halted declines in bat numbers. There have been several initiatives to reduce hunting pressure and conserve threatened bat species, mainly on islands that, when sustained, have been successful. More education projects and community-based conservation initiatives should be encouraged together with further attempts at sustainable harvesting in situations where disease risk has been evaluated.

Multiple colonisations of the western Indian Ocean by Pteropus fruit bats (Megachiroptera: Pteropodidae): The furthest islands were colonised first

We investigate the genetic relationships between purported island species of Pteropus fruit bat (Megachiroptera) from the western Indian Ocean islands using mitochondrial DNA sequencing in order to infer the pattern of colonisation of this biogeographic region. Most significantly, our genetic data questions the current taxonomic assignment based on morphology of many of the island species and subspecies, suggesting instead that many of the western Indian Ocean islands harbour ‘races’ of P. giganteus from mainland India. Our results strongly argue against a single colonisation event from mainland Asia. Evidence is presented for three colonisation events; the first to the western-most extremity of their range (Comoros and Pemba Island), the second to Rodrigues Island; and a third giving rise to the remaining extant island taxa, the latter two events occurring relatively recently and rapidly.

New Landrevinae from Mascarene islands and little known Landrevinae from Africa and Comoros (Grylloidea: Landrevinae)

Landrevinae from Africa and south western Indian ocean (SWIO) islands are examined, seven new species and one new genus are described from la Réunion and Mauritius islands: Microlandreva parvotibialis n. sp., Creolandreva aptera n. g., n. sp., C. crypta n. sp., C. chaloupensis n. sp., C. crepitans n. sp., C. cocottensis n. sp., C. pollexensis n. sp. and C. brachyptera n. sp. Genitalia from Microlandreva notabilis Chopard 1958 and Oreolandreva brevipennis Chopard 1945 are illustrated and a description complement of thoracic glands and ovipositor is given. Gryllapterus tomentosus Bolivar 1912 described after an immature female was considered as a Landrevinae but is in reality a Phalangopsinae. The geographical origin of Paralandrevus hector (Saussure 1877) is corrected: erroneously described from Réunion, P. hector is in reality from Maluku islands. Relations between Landrevinae from Africa and SWIO islands are discussed. A key of Landrevinae from Africa and SWIO islands is given.

Invasive Australian acacias on western Indian Ocean islands: a historical and ecological perspective

Invasive Australian acacias on western Indian Ocean islands: a historical and ecological perspective C. A. Kull*, J. Tassin, G. Rambeloarisoa and J.-M.Sarrailh School of Geography and Environmental Science, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic. 3800, Australia, CIRAD, UPR 37, Campus International de Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France, WWF Madagascar and West Indian Ocean Programme Office, Antananarivo, Madagascar and CIRAD, UMR PVBMT, 7 Chemin de l’IRAT, 97410 Saint-Pierre, La Reunion, France