DOCSLIB.ORG

Divergence of Adaptive Phenotypic Traits and Mate

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Divergence of Adaptive Phenotypic Traits and Mate DIVERGENCE OF ADAPTIVE PHENOTYPIC TRAITS AND MATE RECOGNITION SYSTEMS (SONG AND COLOR) IN RESPONSE TO RECENT ANTHROPOGENIC HABITAT CHANGES IN AN OCEANIC ISLAND (SÃO TOMÉ, GULF OF GUINEA) ENDEMIC PASSERINE (SPEIROPS LUGUBRIS). Final project report submitted in candidacy for the degree of Biologist ANDREA CAROLINA BAQUERO LOZANO Director: MARTIM PINHEIRO DE MELO PhD. Biology Co-directors: CARLOS DANIEL CADENA PhD. Biology CLAIRE DOUTRELANT PhD. Biology UNIVERSIDAD DE LOS ANDES FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS DEPARTAMENTO DE CIENCIAS BIOLÓGICAS BOGOTÁ D.C., COLOMBIA 2008 ABSTRACT The impact of human activities on natural ecosystems is evident and its consequences are now more profound. The changes in direction and strength of natural and sexual selection that arise in human altered environments due to changes in ecological factors might promote divergence among populations even if these are not isolated, provided selection is sufficiently strong. In birds, such novel selective pressures may lead to divergence in phenotypic traits affecting both ecological adaptation and mate recognition. We examine the effects of recent anthropogenic change in the divergence of some phenotypic patterns of Speirops lugubris, an endemic passerine of Sao Tome Island. Data for morphology, plumage color and song were collected from individuals on both primary forest and shade forest plantations, a habitat less than 200 years-old. Results showed that birds in shade forest plantations were significantly smaller than birds in undisturbed forest however, no plumage color differences between habitats was found. The physical properties of song related to vegetation structure characteristics that differed between habitats and to morphological variation found. This observed change shows that mate recognition signals, a fundamental trait for fitness, are able to respond quickly to habitat changes. This study suggests that the endemic Speirops lugubris is experiencing an adaptive and potentially evolutionary response to diverging habitat structures caused by anthropogenic destruction of the original environment. 1 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This project has been a great experience both academically and personally. For that I would like to thank Martim Melo, my principal supervisor for this project, who has been supportive and enthusiastic from day one. He suggested and guided this project every step of the way, leading me in the lab and in the field (and getting to the field all the way in São Tomé!). It was a great pleasure working with Martim and learning from him. He was always willing to help and patiently answer questions, even when it took adjusting time schedules for telephone meetings or finding the only computer with working internet in Principe to answer my emails. Martim always was a great motivator and mentor, again I am very grateful. Many thanks go to Claire Doutrelant, who along with Martim Melo, blindly took me in as an intern in the CEFE and gave me the great opportunity of starting this project. She taught and supervised me in all the plumage color analyses and was a great help in the revision of this paper. She was always very welcoming and helped me around the CEFE. I would like to thank Daniel Cadena for willing to co-direct this project, for his great patience, very helpful corrections and guidance. His work and courses have been a big influence in this project and will be a guideline for the future. Special thanks go to Rita Covas was always helpful with suggestions and who along with Martim and Francisca, was a great friend and company in São Tomé, and thereafter. Fieldwork would not have been the same without Rita’s Portuguese lessons, the nice talks and playing around with Francisca. I am grateful to Pablo Stevenson for motivating my interest in ecology and giving me the chance to learn from him in the field several times. I also thank Esteban Payan for helping me with the grant application processes and for his advice. The work in São Tomé was made possible with the help of the Associação Monte Pico, especially my guides Gabriel, Antonio and Señor Pedro. Guillermino, Luis Mario, Lagoas and Georgina were a great help around the island and made me feel at home, as well as Octavio and his family who opened up their home to me. Steffan Andersson and Maria Prager for letting me stay with them when I was ill and kindly providing their house for the last weeks. I am thankful for all the help from people of the Laboratorio de Biología Evolutiva de Vertebrados, Universidad de los Andes in Bogota, Colombia and the Centre d’Ecologie Fontionnelle et Evolutive, CNRS in Montpellier, France. 2 To my friends in the Laboratorio de Biologia Evolutiva de Vertebrados, especially to Angela, Juan Camilo and Carlos P for all their help when writing this paper. Several people helped me along the way. I thank Helena and Manuel, Carmine and Melba, and Jenny Bravo for letting me into their homes on my way to the island. In Montpellier, I would like to thank my dear friends for helping me in several ways. Luisa, Julio, Jenny, Sarah, Douniah, Stephanie, Romain, Laetitia, and Sebastien. I thank Alex Courtiol for his great patience teaching R and helping me with the initial statistics of this project. To my friends in Bogota for being supportive, giving advice and just being there for me. Caya, Camila L, Andres H, Valeria, Lina Q, Lina V, Vicky, Ana G, Ana P, Laura, Alex y Andres P (Mario). Also to Camilo for always helping me out and being there when I needed a little push. Greatest thanks go to my family for always being there for me every step of the way from the very start, even when I was determined to go all the way to São Tomé, which seemed a crazy idea at the time. For understanding and supporting me with my ideas and goals and for bearing with me in times of stress. They endlessly listed to me talk about the project, and motivated me even when they didn’t understand what the excitement was about. Simply for their love and belief in me, thanks. I am very thankful for the financial support for this project, provided by The Rufford Small Grants Foundation for Nature Conservation and The British Ecological Society. 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract 1 Acknowledgments 2 Contents 4 Introduction 5 Methods 8 Study site 8 Study specie 10 Field sampling 10 Habitat structure measurements 13 Morphological analyses 14 Plumage color analyses 15 Song analyses 16 Results 17 Habitat structure measurements 17 Morphological analyses 18 Plumage color analyses 21 Song analyses 23 Discussion 25 Morphological analyses 25 Plumage color analyses 26 Song analyses 27 Conclusions 28 Future directions 29 References 29 4 INTRODUCTION The impact of human activities on natural ecosystems is ubiquitous. Most research on this fundamental issue has focused on ecological impacts such as describing changes in community composition or in functional disruptions resulting from the loss or gain of particular species (e.g., predators, pathogens, invasive species), and also on following or predicting demographic changes with the goal of preventing species extinctions (Myers et al 2000, Foley et al 2005). Until recently, little attention had been paid to the influences of human action on evolutionary processes, but a growing interest has led to studies evidencing that human-driven evolutionary change is having a widespread impact, posing threats to the natural evolutionary course of species (Seehausen et al 1997, Smith et al 2008, Smith and Bernatchez 2008). Humans can drive phenotypic change in contemporary populations by exposing them to dramatic environmental perturbations that exert novel and strong selective forces driving adaptive divergence over short timescales (Hendry and Kinnison 1999, Reznick and Ghalambor 2001, Palumbi 2001, Stockwell et al 2003, Smith et al 2005, Bell and Collins 2008, Smith et al 2008). Under novel conditions, individuals might survive and reproduce through phenotypic plasticity, and populations might eventually evolve to adapt to such conditions if they harbor sufficient genetic variation to respond to selection (Stockwell et al 2003, Charmantier et al 2008, Hendry et al 2007). Alternatively, environmental perturbations may be too strong for individuals to survive or reproduce successfully, which leads to population declines (Bell and Collins 2008). Accordingly, attention should be directed to understanding and predicting how and under which conditions would populations persist and respond adaptively to the increasingly rapid and strong changes in selective pressures brought about by human activities (Bell and Collins 2008, Hendry et al 2007, Smith and Bernatchez 2008). 5 The changes in direction and strength of natural and sexual selection that arise in human altered environments due to changes in ecological factors might promote divergence among populations even if these are not isolated, provided selection is sufficiently strong (Smith et al 1997, Smith et al 2005, Smith et al 2008). In birds, such novel selective pressures may lead to divergence in phenotypic traits affecting both ecological adaptation and mate recognition (Gibbs and Grant 1987, Badyaev and Leaf 1997, Smith et al 1997, McNaught and Owens 2002, Seddon 2005, Seehausen 2006a). Specifically, morphological characters are often related to variation in feeding ecology, flight performance, and fitness and because these characters are highly heritable in birds (Schluter and Smith 1986, Gibbs & Grant 1987, Smith 1990) they are amenable to diverge even in the face of gene flow (Smith et al 1997). On the other hand, changes in the signaling environment may result in the divergence of traits involved in mate recognition (Endler 1992, Seehausen et al 1997, Boughman 2002) and may eventually lead to the evolution of pre-mating barriers, one of the most important mechanisms in reproductive isolation (Coyne and Orr 2004). Mate recognition systems in birds are commonly based on plumage coloration and acoustic signaling. Plumage color differences among closely related species are often considered to have evolved as a way of minimizing the risk of hybridization; this species isolation hypothesis is supported by cases of reproductive character displacement between taxa in sympatry (McNaught and Owens 2005).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Biodiversity and Conservation of Tropical Montane Ecosystems in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa Author(S): Drew T
    Biodiversity and Conservation of Tropical Montane Ecosystems in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa Author(s): Drew T. Cronin, Moses B. Libalah, Richard A. Bergl and Gail W. Hearn Source: Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 46(4):891-904. Published By: Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), University of Colorado DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1657/1938-4246-46.4.891 URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1657/1938-4246-46.4.891 BioOne (www.bioone.org) is a nonprofit, online aggregation of core research in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences. BioOne provides a sustainable online platform for over 170 journals and books published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses. Your use of this PDF, the BioOne Web site, and all posted and associated content indicates your acceptance of BioOne’s Terms of Use, available at www.bioone.org/page/terms_of_use. Usage of BioOne content is strictly limited to personal, educational, and non-commercial use. Commercial inquiries or rights and permissions requests should be directed to the individual publisher as copyright holder. BioOne sees sustainable scholarly publishing as an inherently collaborative enterprise connecting authors, nonprofit publishers, academic institutions, research libraries, and research funders in the common goal of maximizing access to critical research. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, Vol. 46, No. 4, 2014, pp. 891–904 Biodiversity and conservation of tropical montane eco- systems in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa Drew T. Cronin*†# Abstract Moses B. Libalah‡ Mount Cameroon (4095 m), the highest peak and only active volcano in West Africa, is Richard A.
    [Show full text]
  • A Taxonomic Review of the Genus Zosterops in East Africa, with a Revised List of Species Occurring in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania
    Scopus 37(1): 1–13, January 2017 A taxonomic review of the genus Zosterops in East Africa, with a revised list of species occurring in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania David J. Pearson and Donald A. Turner Summary Species limits among East African white-eyes Zosterops are reviewed. Recent molecu- lar studies have revealed that arrangements such as those of Britton (1980), with just three species, and Fry (2000), with four species, are unsatisfactory. Most of the isolated highland forms which have been grouped under Z. poliogaster evolved independently and warrant treatment as full endemic species. Forms hitherto treated as subspecies of Z. senegalensis have been recovered within two divergent African clades. Within a northern clade Z. stuhlmanni appears best split pro tempore from Z. senegalensis (sensu stricto). Within a southern clade, stierlingi and anderssoni may be treated as subspecies of Z. anderssoni. The pale yellow-bellied forms, included until now within Z. abys- sinicus, were found in a different lineage from northeast African grey-bellied forms, and must be treated under Z. flavilateralis. With the inclusion of Z. vaughani of Pemba Island this results in a total of eleven East African species. These are listed with details of all constituent subspecies, distributions and synonyms. Occurrence within Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda is summarized in an appendix. Introduction The abundance of African white-eye forms, most of them morphologically similar, has long presented problems for taxonomists, in particular the placement of their spe- cies limits. Moreau (1957) admitted just three Zosterops species for the African main- land: Z. senegalensis, with yellow-bellied forms widespread in woodland; a duller Z.
    [Show full text]
  • Africa's Gulf of Guinea Forests: Biodiversity Patterns and Conservation Priorities
    Advances in Applied Biodiversity Science, no. 6 AABSAdvances in Applied Biodiversity Science Number 6 Africa’s Gulf of Guinea Forests: Africa’s Gulf of Guinea Forests:Biodiversity Patterns and Conservation Africa’s Biodiversity Patterns and Conservation Priorities John F. Oates, Richard A. Bergl, and Joshua M. Linder Priorities C Conservation International ONSERVATION 1919 M Street, NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC 20036 TEL: 202-912-1000 FAX: 202-912-0772 I NTERNATIONAL ISBN 1-881173-82-8 WEB: www.conservation.org 9 0 0 0 0> www.biodiversityscience.org 9781881173823 About the Authors John F. Oates is a CABS Research Fellow, Professor of Anthropology at Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY), and a Senior Conservation Advisor to the Africa program of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). He is cur- rently advising WCS on biodiversity conservation projects in eastern Nigeria and western Cameroon. Dr. Oates has conducted research on the ecology of forest primates in Africa and Asia since 1966, and has assisted with the development of rainforest protected areas in South India and West Africa. He has published extensively on primate biology and conservation and, as an active member of the IUCN-SSC Primate Specialist Group, has compiled conservation action plans for African primates. He holds a PhD from the University of London. Richard A. Bergl is a doctoral student in anthropology at the CUNY Graduate Center, in the graduate training program of the New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology (NYCEP). He is currently conducting research into the population and habitat viability of the Cross River gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli) in Nigeria and Cameroon.
    [Show full text]
  • Biodiversity in Sub-Saharan Africa and Its Islands Conservation, Management and Sustainable Use
    Biodiversity in Sub-Saharan Africa and its Islands Conservation, Management and Sustainable Use Occasional Papers of the IUCN Species Survival Commission No. 6 IUCN - The World Conservation Union IUCN Species Survival Commission Role of the SSC The Species Survival Commission (SSC) is IUCN's primary source of the 4. To provide advice, information, and expertise to the Secretariat of the scientific and technical information required for the maintenance of biologi- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna cal diversity through the conservation of endangered and vulnerable species and Flora (CITES) and other international agreements affecting conser- of fauna and flora, whilst recommending and promoting measures for their vation of species or biological diversity. conservation, and for the management of other species of conservation con- cern. Its objective is to mobilize action to prevent the extinction of species, 5. To carry out specific tasks on behalf of the Union, including: sub-species and discrete populations of fauna and flora, thereby not only maintaining biological diversity but improving the status of endangered and • coordination of a programme of activities for the conservation of bio- vulnerable species. logical diversity within the framework of the IUCN Conservation Programme. Objectives of the SSC • promotion of the maintenance of biological diversity by monitoring 1. To participate in the further development, promotion and implementation the status of species and populations of conservation concern. of the World Conservation Strategy; to advise on the development of IUCN's Conservation Programme; to support the implementation of the • development and review of conservation action plans and priorities Programme' and to assist in the development, screening, and monitoring for species and their populations.
    [Show full text]
  • The Collection of Birds from São Tomé and Príncipe at the Instituto De Investigação Científica Tropical of the University of Lisbon (Portugal)
    A peer-reviewed open-access journal ZooKeys 600:The 155–167 collection (2016) of birds from São Tomé and Príncipe at the Instituto de Investigação... 155 doi: 10.3897/zookeys.600.7899 DATA PAPER http://zookeys.pensoft.net Launched to accelerate biodiversity research The collection of birds from São Tomé and Príncipe at the Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical of the University of Lisbon (Portugal) Miguel Monteiro1,2, Luís Reino1,2,3, Martim Melo1,4, Pedro Beja1,2, Cristiane Bastos-Silveira5, Manuela Ramos7, Diana Rodrigues5, Isabel Queirós Neves5,6, Susana Consciência8, Rui Figueira1,2 1 CIBIO/InBIO-Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal 2 CEABN/InBio, Centro de Ecologia Aplicada “Professor Baeta Neves”, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal 3 CIBIO/InBIO-Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade de Évora, 7004-516 Évora, Portugal 4 Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701X, South Africas 5 Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência, Universidade de Lisboa, Rua da Escola Politécnica 56, 1250-102 Lisboa, Portugal 6 CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal 7 MARE-FCUL, DOP/UAç - Departamento Oceanografia e Pescas, Univ. Açores, Rua Prof. Dr. Fre- derico Machado, 9901-862 Horta, Portugal 8 Estrada de Mem Martins n251 1ºDto, 2725-391 Mem Martins, Sintra, Portugal Corresponding author: Rui Figueira ([email protected]) Academic editor: G. Sangster | Received 29 January 2015 | Accepted 2 June 2016 | Published 22 June 2016 http://zoobank.org/68209E54-00D0-4EFA-B095-AB7D346ACD8E Citation: Monteiro M, Reino L, Melo M, Beja P, Bastos-Silveira C, Ramos M, Rodrigues D, Neves IQ, Consciência S, Figueira R (2016) The collection of birds from São Tomé and Príncipe at the Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical of the University of Lisbon (Portugal).
    [Show full text]
  • Zosteropidae Species Tree
    Zosteropidae White-collared Yuhina, “Yuhina” diademata Striated Yuhina, Staphida castaniceps ?Indochinese Yuhina, Staphida torqueola Chestnut-crested Yuhina, Staphida everetti Taiwan Yuhina, Yuhina brunneiceps Black-chinned Yuhina, Yuhina nigrimenta Stripe-throated Yuhina, Yuhina gularis Rufous-vented Yuhina, Yuhina occipitalis White-naped Yuhina, Yuhina bakeri Whiskered Yuhina, Yuhina flavicollis ?Burmese Yuhina, Yuhina humilis ?Giant White-eye, Megazosterops palauensis Bonin White-eye, Apalopteron familiare Golden White-eye, Cleptornis marchei Teardrop White-eye, Rukia ruki Long-billed White-eye, Rukia longirostra Flame-templed Babbler, Dasycrotapha speciosa Mindanao Pygmy Babbler, Dasycrotapha plateni ?Visayan Pygmy Babbler, Dasycrotapha pygmaea Golden-crowned Babbler, Sterrhoptilus dennistouni Black-crowned Babbler, Sterrhoptilus nigrocapitatus Rusty-crowned Babbler, Sterrhoptilus capitalis Chestnut-faced Babbler, Zosterornis whiteheadi Luzon Striped-Babbler, “Zosterornis” striatus Panay Striped-Babbler, “Zosterornis” latistriatus ?Negros Striped-Babbler, “Zosterornis” nigrorum Palawan Striped-Babbler, “Zosterornis” hypogrammicus ?Rufescent Darkeye, Heleia stalkeri Yellow-ringed White-eye, Heleia wallacei Cream-browed White-eye, Heleia superciliaris ?Crested White-eye, Heleia dohertyi ?Spot-breasted Heleia, Heleia muelleri Thick-billed Heleia, Heleia crassirostris Pygmy White-eye, Heleia squamifrons ?Gray-hooded White-eye, Heleia pinaiae Black-masked White-eye / Mindanao White-eye, Heleia goodfellowi Streak-headed White-eye, Heleia
    [Show full text]
  • A Review of the Recent Advances in the Systematics of the Avian Superfamily Sylvioidea
    Chinese Birds 2013, 4(2):99–131 REVIEW DOI 10.5122/cbirds.2013.0016 A review of the recent advances in the systematics of the avian superfamily Sylvioidea Per ALSTRÖM 1,2,, Urban OLSSON 3, Fumin LEI 1 1 Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China 2 Swedish Species Information Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7007, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden 3 Systematics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463, SE-405 30 Göteborg, Sweden Abstract The systematics of the avian superfamily Sylvioidea are reviewed, focusing on studies of relationships among families and within genera, more superficially on taxonomic studies at the species level. For the families Bernieridae and Phylloscopidae, new analyses based on already published sequence data are presented. Our understanding of relationships has been vastly improved in recent years due to a large number of molecular studies. However, the relationships among the different families remain largely obscured, probably mainly as a result of rapid divergence of the different primary lineages (families). Also, species level taxonomy has been much improved in recent years due to a large number of studies applying molecular markers and/or vocalizations and other life-history data. It seems likely that the number of species will continue to increase, as new groups are being studied with modern integrative methods. Keywords phylogenetic relationships, superfamily Sylvioidea, taxonomy Introduction tanagers, wood-warblers, and icterids). Subsequent studies of DNA sequence data have indicated that both The Passerida was identified by Sibley and Ahlquist Muscicapoidea and Passeroidea, after minor taxonomic (1990) based on DNA-DNA hybridization studies as adjustments, can be recovered as monophyletic (Barker the largest radiation within oscine passerine birds (cf.
    [Show full text]
  • Arboreal Perching Birds
    Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries Standards For Arboreal/Perching Bird Sanctuaries Version: December 2019 ©2012 Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries – Standards for Arboreal/Perching Bird Sanctuaries Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1 GFAS PRINCIPLES ............................................................................................................................................................. 1 ANIMALS COVERED BY THESE STANDARDS ................................................................................................. 1 ARBOREAL/PERCHING BIRD STANDARDS .................................................................................................... 3 ARBOREAL/PERCHING BIRD HOUSING ............................................................. 3 H-1. Types of Space and Size .................................................................................................................................................... 3 H-2. Containment ................................................................................................................................................................................ 5 H-3. Ground and Plantings ........................................................................................................................................................... 7 H-4. Gates and Doors ......................................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Cameroon Rep 11
    CAMEROON 6 MARCH – 2 APRIL 2011 TOUR REPORT LEADER: NIK BORROW Cameroon may not be a tour for those who like their creature comforts but it certainly produces a huge bird list and if one intends to only ever visit one western African country then this is surely an essential destination. Our comprehensive itinerary covers a superb and wide range of the varied habitats that this sprawling country has to offer. Despite unexpectedly missing some species this year, perhaps due to the result of the previous rainy season coming late with the result that everywhere was greener but somehow inexplicably drier we nonetheless amassed an impressive total of 572 species or recognisable forms of which all but 15 were seen. These included 26 of the regional endemics; Cameroon Olive Pigeon, Bannerman’s Turaco, Mountain Saw-wing, Cameroon Montane, Western Mountain, Cameroon Olive and Grey-headed Greenbuls, Alexander’s (split from Bocage’s) Akalat, Mountain Robin Chat, Cameroon and Bangwa Forest Warblers, Brown-backed Cisticola, Green Longtail, Bamenda Apalis, White-tailed Warbler, Black-capped Woodland Warbler, Banded Wattle-eye, White-throated Mountain Babbler, Cameroon and Ursula’s Sunbirds, Mount Cameroon Speirops, Green-breasted and Mount Kupe Bush-shrikes, Yellow-breasted Boubou, Bannerman’s Weaver and Shelley’s Oliveback. This year we once again found the recently rediscovered Chad Firefinch and the restricted range Rock Firefinch (first discovered in the country in 2005 by Birdquest). We found several Quail-plovers and a male Savile’s Bustard in the Waza area as well as a wonderful Green-breasted/African Pitta, Black Guineafowl and Vermiculated Fishing Owl in Korup National Park.
    [Show full text]
  • To Download the PDF File
    The effects of species behavioural responses to roads and life history traits on their population level responses to roads by Trina Rytwinski A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biology Carleton University Ottawa, Ontario ©2012 Trina Rytwinski Library and Archives Bibliotheque et Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du 1+1 Branch Patrimoine de I'edition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A0N4 Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 Canada Canada Your file Votre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-93680-1 Our file Notre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-93680-1 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non­ L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library and permettant a la Bibliotheque et Archives Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par telecommunication ou par I'lnternet, preter, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des theses partout dans le loan, distrbute and sell theses monde, a des fins commerciales ou autres, sur worldwide, for commercial or non­ support microforme, papier, electronique et/ou commercial purposes, in microform, autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. The author retains copyright L'auteur conserve la propriete du droit d'auteur ownership and moral rights in this et des droits moraux qui protege cette these. Ni thesis. Neither the thesis nor la these ni des extraits substantiels de celle-ci substantial extracts from it may be ne doivent etre imprimes ou autrement printed or otherwise reproduced reproduits sans son autorisation.
    [Show full text]
  • Biotic Surveys of Bioko and Rio Muni, Equatorial Guinea
    Biotic Surveys of Bioko and Rio Muni, Equatorial Guinea Date: 25 June 1999 Submitted to: Biodiversity Support Program Submitted by: Brenda Larison1, Thomas B. Smith1,3 , Derek Girman2, Donald Stauffer1, Borja Milá1, Robert C. Drewes4, Charles E. Griswold5, Jens V. Vindum4, Darrell Ubick5, Kim O'Keefe1, Jose Nguema6, Lindsay Henwood4 1Center for Tropical Research 2Department of Biology San Francisco State University Sonoma State University San Francisco, CA 94132 USA Sonoma, CA 95476 USA (415) 338-1089 Tel (415) 338-0927 Fax [email protected] email 3Center for Population Biology 4Department of Herpetology University of California California Academy of Sciences Davis, CA 95616 USA San Francisco, CA 94118 USA 5Department of Entomology 6C.U.R.E.F. California Academy of Sciences APDO 207 San Francisco, CA 94118 USA Bata, Equatorial Guinea TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 INTRODUCTION 5 PART I. BIOTIC SURVEYS OF RIO MUNI Chapter 1. Bird and Mammal surveys of Rio Muni INTRODUCTION 9 METHODS 9 RESULTS BIRD SURVEYS 16 MAMMAL SURVEYS 46 SOCIO- POLITICAL CONTEXT 51 DISCUSSION 53 PART II. BIOTIC SURVEYS OF BIOKO Chapter 2. Preliminary Report on a Survey of The Herpetofauna of Bioko, Equatorial Guinea INTRODUCTION 58 METHODS 58 RESULTS 58 TENTATIVE CONCLUSIONS 60 Chapter 3. Arthropod surveys on Bioko, Equatorial Guinea INTRODUCTION 62 METHODS 62 RESULTS FLIES (DIPTERA) 63 CARABID BEETLES(C ARABIDAE) 64 SPIDERS (ARANEAE) 65 DISCUSSION OF TARGET TAXA 112 CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE OF BIOKO 114 PART III. B IOGEOGRAPHY ii Chapter 4. Comparative avian phylogeography of Cameroon andEquatorial Guinea mountains: implications for conservation INTRODUCTION 115 METHODS 116 RESULTS PHYLOGEOGRAPHIC PATTERNS 120 PHYLOGENETIC DIVERSITY ANALYSIS 121 GEOGRAPHIC PATTERNS OF ENDEMISM 123 DISCUSSION 125 PART IV.
    [Show full text]
  • Sao Tome and Principe Gulf of Guinea Island Endemics
    Sao Tome and Principe Gulf of Guinea island endemics A Tropical Birding Set Departure Tour 23rd – 30th July 2010 Leader: Christian Boix All photos taken on this tour ITINERARY Friday 23rd July Morning flight over to Sao Tome and PM birding at Agua Grande. Night in Sao Tome Saturday 24th July Early AM Flight to Principe Island and rest of day birding forests around Bom Bom Resort Sunday 25th July Full morning cleaning up on Principe endemics and noon flight to Sao Tome. PM birding at Roa Bombain. Night in Sao Tome. Monday 26th July Early wake up and drive south to Ribeira Peixe. Birding hike up to Monte Carvo near Cao Grande. First camping night at Monte Carvo. Tuesday 27th July Full day birding the higher reaches of Monte Carvo. Second camping night at Monte Carvo Wednesday 28th July Birding hike descending Monte Carvo. Pelagic excursion to Sette Pedras at noon and PM driving back to Sao Tome. Night in Sao Tome. Thursday 29th July AM birding Obo National Park and PM birding Bom Succeso Botanical Gardens and farm bush. Night in Sao Tome Friday 30th July Full morning birding Praia das Conxas near Sao Tome, PM flight back to Libreville. Night in Libreville. Sao Tome and Principe Islands July 23rd – 30th,2010 DAILY LOG Day 1, 23rd July. Flight days in West Africa are never relaxed days in any guides’ agenda, so many things can go wrong, that time becomes your only ally, no skill or experience can ready you for the slackness of Gabonese airline idiosynchrasies. Fortunately the gods were looking after our party and before we knew it we were lifting off the tarmac from Leon Mba’s airport in Libreville and headed for Sao Tome.
    [Show full text]