Les peuplements de chauves-souris de l’est du lac Turkana, Kenya

Les peuplements de chauves-souris ont été étudiés par piégeage sur sept sites sur la bordure Est du lac Turkana, Kénya, région où le statut et la distribution de ces mammifères demeuraient inconnus. Nous avons capturé 97 individus de 13 espèces appartenant à 6 familles : Mégadermatidés (Cardioderma cor), Rhinolophidés (Rhinolophus clivosus), Nyctéridés (Nycteris hispida et N. thebaica), Vespertilionidés (Myotis tricolor, Nycticeinops schlieffeni, Pipistrellus kuhlii et Neoromicia nanus), Molossidés (Chaerephon pumila, Mops condylurus et M. demonstrator), Emballonuridés (Taphozous perforatus et Coleura afra). Lavia frons (Mégadermatidés) a été observé mais non capturé. La présence de bâtiments autour des stations de piégeage a affecté de manière significative le succès du piégeage. L'abondance, la richesse et la diversité se sont avérées variables selon les sites, en relation avec des différences dans la structure écologique des habitats forestiers, semi-désertiques ou insulaires. La richesse et la diversité étaient plus fortes dans les sites protégés et non pâturés que dans ceux non protégés et surpâturés par le bétail. Le surpâturage aurait un effet néfaste sur les peuplements de mammifères, augmentant ainsi les risques de perte de biodiversité dans les zones sauvages

Impact of mangrove forests degradation on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning

Abstract Mangroves are amongst the most productive marine ecosystems on Earth, providing a unique habitat opportunity for many species and key goods and services for human beings. Mangrove habitats are regressing at an alarming rate, due to direct anthropogenic impacts and global change. Here, in order to assess the effects of mangrove habitat degradation on benthic biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, we investigated meiofaunal biodiversity (as proxy of benthic biodiversity), benthic biomass and prokaryotic heterotrophic production (as proxies of ecosystem functioning) and trophic state in a disturbed and an undisturbed mangrove forests. We report here that disturbed mangrove area showed a loss of 20% of benthic biodiversity, with the local extinction of four Phyla (Cladocera, Kynorincha, Priapulida, Tanaidacea), a loss of 80% of microbial-mediated decomposition rates, of the benthic biomass and of the trophic resources. The results of this study strengthen the need to preserve mangrove forests and to restore those degraded to guarantee the provision of goods and services needed to support the biodiversity and functioning of wide portions of tropical ecosystems

A misunderstood new gecko of the genus Hemidactylus from Socotra Island, Yemen (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae)

A new endemic gecko of the genus Hemidactylus is described from Socotra Island (Yemen). It is a rupicolous species characterized by: medium-large size (SVL up to 60 mm), back with large trihedral, raised, strongly keeled tubercles intermixed with small granular scales, males with 6-10 preanal pores arranged in two short rows separated by 2-3 scales. In East Africa, Arabia, the Middle East and India the only other tuberculated Hemidactylus with preanal pores arranged on two separate rows is the Somali H. granchii Lanza, 1978, which differs for the comparatively deeper and shorter head, the nostril separated from the first upper labial, less preanal pores, less upper and lower labials, more tubercles at midbody and more lamellae under the inner toe

Software libero per lo sviluppo in Africa orientale

Free Software for development in East Africa  Since 1999 Istituto Oikos (Italian NGO) in partnership with Oikos East Africa (Tanzanian NGO) are carrying out integrated development projects in collaboration with local Government Authorities at Regional, District, and Village level. With the aim to ensure sustainability to the interventions addressed to strengthen the governance capacities and the use of IT technologies in the rural areas, the projects have promoted the use of Free Software tools such as Ubuntu and Debian Linux as OS; Qgis and GRASS as G.I.S.; SQLite/Spatialite and PostgreSQL/PostGIS as Spatial-enabled DBRMS, OpenOffice as productivity suite

Software libero per lo sviluppo in Africa orientale

Free Software for development in East Africa  Since 1999 Istituto Oikos (Italian NGO) in partnership with Oikos East Africa (Tanzanian NGO) are carrying out integrated development projects in collaboration with local Government Authorities at Regional, District, and Village level. With the aim to ensure sustainability to the interventions addressed to strengthen the governance capacities and the use of IT technologies in the rural areas, the projects have promoted the use of Free Software tools such as Ubuntu and Debian Linux as OS; Qgis and GRASS as G.I.S.; SQLite/Spatialite and PostgreSQL/PostGIS as Spatial-enabled DBRMS, OpenOffice as productivity suite

Habitat use by <em>Aonyx capensis</em> and <em>Lutra maculicollis</em> in the Natal Drakensberg (South Africa): preliminary results

<strong>Abstract</strong> Habitat preference of two sympatric otter species (<em>Aonyx capensis</em> and <em>Lutra muculicollis</em>) was defined recording sprainting sites along the banks of three rivers. The use of the riverine habitats was similar between the otter species and stretches of river characterized by emerging rocks, either covered or uncovered by vegetation, were particularly selected. Nevertheless, the sprainting sites of both species were located where dense vegetation cover occurred in the surrounding of the site (within 2 m radius). <strong>Riassunto</strong> <strong>Uso dell'habitat di <em>Aonyx capensis</em> e <em>Lutra maculicollis</em> nella catena montuosa delle Drakensberg (Natal, Sud Africa): risultati preliminari</strong> - Sono qui analizzate le preferenze ambientali di due specie simpatriche di lontra <em>(Aonyx capensis</em> e <em>Lutra maculicollis</em>), definite sulla base dei siti di marcamento rilevati lungo le rive di tre fiumi. L'uso degli ambienti ripariali è simile per entrambe le specie che selezionano in particolare tratti di rive caratterizzati dalla presenza di rocce emergenti sia coperte sia prive di vegetazione. Tuttavia, la distribuzione dei siti di marcamento per entrambe le specie è associata alla presenza di densa copertura vegetale circostante il sito (2 m di raggio)

Sprainting activity of captive otters: its relationship with breeding cycle and number of animals

<strong>Abstract</strong> The marking activity of captive otters (<em>Lutra lutra</em>) was studied from April 1989 to August 1993 in an enclosure of 1.64 ha in size, located in the Ticino Valley Natural Park (Piemonte region, northern Italy). The number of otters in the enclosure varied from 1 to 6 and three litters of 1, 2 and 2 cubs were recorded in October 1990, 1991 and 1992. The sprainting activity, expressed as number of signs (spraints and anal secretions) per day was associated to the breeding cycle and increased in relation to the number of animals present in the enclosure. These data are of particular importance in order to explain the annual variation of the marking level in wild otter populations. <strong>Riassunto</strong> <strong>Attività di marcamento di 1ontre in cattività in relazione a1 ciclo riproduttivo e a1 numero degli animali</strong> - L'attività di marcamento della lontra (<em>Lutra lutra</em>) è stata rilevata dall'aprile 1989 all'agosto 1993 in un recinto di 1,64 ha, situato nel Parco Naturale della Valle del Ticino (regione Piemonte, provincia di Novara). I1 numero di animali presenti in tale recinto variava da 1 a 6, e la nascita di tre cucciolate, composte da 1, 2 e 2 piccoli, è stata registrata in ottobre negli anni 1990, 1991 e 1992. L'intensità di marcamento, espressa come numero di segni (feci e secrezioni anali) per giorno era associata a1 ciclo riproduttivo della specie e incrementava in relazione al numero di animali presenti nel recinto. I dati acquisiti rivestono particolare importanza per interpretare le variazioni nell'arco dell'anno del livello di marcamento di popolazioni selvatiche

A new species of Hemidactylus from Lake Turkana, Northern Kenya (Squamata: Gekkonidae)

A new species of the genus Hemidactylus is described on the basis of two specimens (an adult male and an adult female) collected in 2005 in rocky and sandy habitat of the semiarid climatic region on the eastern shore of Lake Turkana (Kenya). It is a medium-sized Hemidactylus (SVL from 40 to 50 mm) distinguished from all other species by a unique combination of characters. The back is covered by large, trihedral, strongly keeled tubercles, intermixed with a few small, irregular shaped granules, forming 14 quite regular transverse rows from axilla to groin; nostrils contact the rostral, first supralabial, 1 enlarged internasal and 2-3 postnasals; the dorsal half of the rostral scale is divided longitudinally; there are 6 lamellae under the first toe and 10 under the 4th toe; male with 8 precloacal pores; female without pores. The dorsal colour pattern is very distinctive, consisting of four transverse bands, bordered with dark margins. The types are housed in the Herpetological Collections of the Museo di Storia Naturale of the University of Pavia and in the National Museums of Kenya (Nairobi)

A new species of Hemidactylus from Lake Turkana, Northern Kenya (Squamata: Gekkonidae)

A new species of the genus Hemidactylus is described on the basis of two specimens (an adult male and an adult female) collected in 2005 in rocky and sandy habitat of the semiarid climatic region on the eastern shore of Lake Turkana (Kenya). It is a medium-sized Hemidactylus (SVL from 40 to 50 mm) distinguished from all other species by a unique combination of characters. The back is covered by large, trihedral, strongly keeled tubercles, intermixed with a few small, irregular shaped granules, forming 14 quite regular transverse rows from axilla to groin; nostrils contact the rostral, first supralabial, 1 enlarged internasal and 2-3 postnasals; the dorsal half of the rostral scale is divided longitudinally; there are 6 lamellae under the first toe and 10 under the 4th toe; male with 8 precloacal pores; female without pores. The dorsal colour pattern is very distinctive, consisting of four transverse bands, bordered with dark margins. The types are housed in the Herpetological Collections of the Museo di Storia Naturale of the University of Pavia and in the National Museums of Kenya (Nairobi)