35 research outputs found
The efficiency of mitochondrial DNA markers in constructing genetic relationship among Oryx species
To date, only parts of mitochondrial DNA from cytochrome b, 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA and non-coding Dloop had been sequenced for different species of Oryx. Discrepancy in the genetic relationship among Oryx species was previously revealed when combinations of these sequences were analyzed. In the present study, various combinations of these data sets and different sampling sizes of the closely related tribes of the family Bovidae were manipulated using bioinformatics. These data were used to provide the genetic kinship among different Oryx species. The complete cytochrome b gene sequence was also used alone for the same purpose after excluding the third position of its codons. Using Bayesian (BA), maximum-parsimony (MP), maximum-likelihood (ML) and neighbor-joining (NJ) analytical methods, a single relationship was obtained in which the different Oryx species were sisters and the Arabian Oryx was the oldest. Our results demonstrated that, the molecular markers and the samples size were more robust and efficient in building the relationship than computational methods.Key words: Conservation, endangered species, Oryx, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers
Parental cooperation in an extreme hot environment: natural behaviour and experimental evidence
One of the most apparent examples of cooperation between unrelated individuals is biparental care whereby the male and the female parent share the rearing of the offspring. Theoretical models of care predict that selection should favour biparental care if it substantially improves the survival of the offspring. Although various ecological factors have been proposed to necessitate biparental care, experimental evidence is scant given the challenges of manipulating ecological factors in the natural habitat of animals. We carried out one such experiment in a small shorebird, the Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus, that breeds in an extreme desert environment. Nest cover and thus exposure to solar radiation vary between nests, and we show that parents at exposed nests spent more time incubating than those at nests shaded by a bush (covered nests). Experimental removal and supplementation of nest cover gave results consistent with the observational data; at experimentally exposed nests both males and females increased incubation effort and relieved each other more frequently whereas at experimentally covered nests we observed the opposite. We conclude that exposure to extreme solar radiation influences biparental care and this necessitates parental cooperation in the Kentish plover. Furthermore, since parental care often coevolves with mating strategies, we conjecture that where the environment puts less pressure on the parents and provides the opportunity for reduced care, both mating systems and parental care can diversify over evolutionary time. (C) 2011 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
Integrating spatial data and shorebird nesting locations to predict the potential future impact of global warming on coastal habitats: A case study on Farasan Islands, Saudi Arabia
AbstractOne of the expected effects of the global warming is changing coastal habitats by accelerating the rate of sea level rise. Coastal habitats support large number of marine and wetland species including shorebirds (plovers, sandpipers and allies). In this study, we investigate how coastal habitats may be impacted by sea level rise in the Farasan Islands, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We use Kentish plover Charadrius alexandrinus – a common coastal breeding shorebird – as an ecological model species to predict the influence of sea level rise. We found that any rise of sea level is likely to inundate 11% of Kentish plover nests. In addition, 5% of the coastal areas of Farasan Islands, which support 26% of Kentish plover nests, will be flooded, if sea level rises by one metre. Our results are constrained by the availability of data on both elevation and bird populations. Therefore, we recommend follow-up studies to model the impacts of sea level rise using different elevation scenarios, and the establishment of a monitoring programme for breeding shorebirds and seabirds in Farasan Islands to assess the impact of climate change on their populations
Modelling the distribution of wetland birds on the Red Sea coast in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Species distribution modelling is useful for addressing knowledge gaps for poorly studied
geographical areas by identifying potentially suitable habitats for species across landscapes. This study
was undertaken to identify areas containing wetland habitats to support actions aimed at the conservation
of wetland bird species on the Red Sea coast of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). We used a
maximum entropy approach to build habitat suitability models for 22 wetland bird species (gulls,
shorebirds, and terns). Ten variables relating to topography, habitat, latitude, coast complexity, man-made
structures, and human settlements were used to produce individual habitat suitability models for each of
the bird species. The areas under the curve (AUC) for the final model were 0.9013 and 0.879 for the
training and testing data, respectively, and the jackknife analyses suggested that the models generally
performed well. Using the modelled distributions of the 22 species along the Red Sea coast, the analysis
suggested 17 core areas where the habitat and landscape configuration were suitable for supporting high
species richness. Of these 17 sites, one is already protected, and there is a need to protect the remaining
sites. The use of these models to inform conservation strategies in the Red Sea region of the KSA is
discussed
Use of remote sensing to identify suitable breeding habitat for the Kentish Plover and estimate population size along the western coast of Saudi Arabia
he identification of the environmental parameters affecting species’ habitat preferences is a key to understanding the relationships between habitat features and species’ distributions. This understanding provides the evidence base upon which to formulate guidelines for managing populations. We used distribution modelling to quantify habitat relationships and to estimate the population size during the breeding season of the Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus, a poorly known species on the western coast of Saudi Arabia. We used a Generalised Linear Model (GLM) with four habitat variables derived from satellite data: elevation, distance to settlements, vegetation cover and soil moisture to produce a habitat suitability model. Validation of this model using a receiver operating characteristic plot suggests that it is at least 80% accurate in predicting suitable sites. We then used our estimate of total area of suitable habitat above a critical suitability threshold and data on Kentish Plover density, to estimate the total population size to be 9,955±1,388 individuals. Based on our model we recommend sites for potential protected areas to be established. Finally, we believe that our modelling approach can provide inputs for conservation planning and long-term population monitoring of Kentish Plover and other shorebirds in the region. We argue that conservation of Kentish Plover habitat will not only protect this species, but will benefit other species, particularly those with similar habitat requirements
Genomics reveals introgression and purging of deleterious mutations in the Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr)
In endangered species, low-genetic variation and inbreeding result from recent population declines. Genetic screenings in endangered populations help to assess their vulnerability to extinction and to create informed management actions toward their conservation efforts. The leopard, Panthera pardus, is a highly generalist predator with currently eight different subspecies. Yet, genomic data are still lacking for the Critically Endangered Arabian leopard (P. p. nimr). Here, we sequenced the whole genome of two Arabian leopards and assembled the most complete genomic dataset for leopards to date. Our phylogenomic analyses show that leopards are divided into two deeply divergent clades: the African and the Asian. Conservation genomic analyses indicate a prolonged population decline, which has led to an increase in inbreeding and runs of homozygosity, with consequent purging of deleterious mutations in both Arabian individuals. Our study represents the first attempt to genetically inform captive breeding programmes for this Critically Endangered subspecies
Diversification of Hemidactylus geckos (Squamata: Gekkonidae) in coastal plains and islands of southwestern Arabia with descriptions and complete mitochondrial genomes of two endemic species to Saudi Arabia
The systematic, phylogenetic, and biogeographic aspects of the rich squamate fauna of the Arabian Peninsula are becoming increasingly well understood. The Arabian members of the gecko genus Hemidactylus, the most diverse genus among Arabian squamates, have been the subject of several phylogenetic revisions in recent years. However, large parts of the peninsula lacked thorough sampling, for example, the coastal hyper-arid plains along the Red Sea and some offshore islands. In this study, we examine the genetic, morphological, and ecological diversification of a Hemidactylus clade that straddles the Red Sea and contains ten Arabian and three African species. We compiled a genetic dataset of seven markers (two mitochondrial and five nuclear) to reconstruct their phylogenetic relationships and collected morphological data to assess the level of interspecific morphological disparification. Our results support the existence of four yet undescribed species within the clade – two from Arabia and two from Ethiopia. We provide taxonomic descriptions of the two new Arabian species, one from the western Asir Mountains foothills and one from the Farasan Islands. The new species from the Asir Mountains foothills highlights the role of the southern Arabian coastal desert as an important yet often overlooked local biodiversity hotspot. The new species from the Farasan Islands represents the second vertebrate species endemic to the archipelago. Together with the descriptions of the diagnostic features of both species, we provide complete annotated mitochondrial genomes of both holotypes and of holotypes of two other species from the clade to characterize their mitogenomic composition and architecture.JŠwas supported by the Charles University Research Centre program No. 204069, and by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic (DKRVO 2019–2023/6.VII.d, 00023272). MU was supported by Charles University (SVV 260571/2022). LN was supported by project OP RDE, called International mobility of researchers at Charles University (MSCA-IF IV), with reg. n. CZ.02.2.69/0.0/0.0/20_079/. SC was supported by grant PGC2018-098290-B-I00 (MCIU/AEI/FEDER, UE), Spain.Peer reviewe
Distribution and periodicity of sandflies (Diptera: Phlebotominae) along different altitudes in Asir Region, Southwest of Saudi Arabia
Asir Region in the southwest of Saudi Arabia has been a subject for expansion of agricultural projects, urbanization, which presumably have impact on distribution of phlebotomine sandflies. Few reports are available on sandflies in this region which is an important focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Therefore, this study aimed at updating the species composition, distribution and periodical fluctuation of sandflies in this region. Specimens were monthly collected by the Center for Disease Control light traps for one year in four localities representing different altitudes. In five other, collections were twice during the year period. Ten species (six <em>Phlebotomus</em> and four <em>Sergentomyia</em>) were identified, of which <em>P. arabicus</em> (32%) was the most common followed by <em>P. bergeroti</em> (29%) and <em>P. sergenti</em> (15%). Of the reported species, <em>S. palestinensis</em> is considered a new record from Asir. Sandflies were more common and maximum biodiversity was observed in lowlands and not in high altitudes. At different altitudes, the two commonest species were more active during spring. Sandfly density (sandfly/trap) was directly related to temperature and inversely related to altitude, relative humidity (RH) and wind velocity (P<0.05). To sum up, the distribution and abundance of sandflies in Asir are influenced by a combination of different factors: temperature, RH, wind velocity and altitude
Influence of climatic factors on the abundance of Culex pipiens and Cx. quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) adults in the Western Coast of Saudi Arabia
This study aims to examine the effect of weather factors, temperature (T), relative humidity (RH) and wind velocity (WV) on the abundance of Cx. (Cux.) pipiens L. and Cx. (Cux.) quinquefasciatus. Say, the two common and important mosquito species in the western coast of Saudi Arabia. The two species had the same ranges of T (15.00-30.00°C), RH (8.00-72.00%) and WV (0.10- 8.06 Km/h). Cx. quinquefasciatus had insignificantly (P˃0.05) lower means of the three factors than those of Cx. pipiens. Regression analysis indicated that abundance of Cx. pipiens and Cx. quinquefasciatus negatively related to T (regression coefficient, b=-0.06 and -0.01 for the two species, respectively) and WV (b=-0.40 and -0.16 for the two species, respectively) and positively related to RH (b=0.05 for both species). Such factors accounted for 81% and 76% of the variance in abundance of Cx. pipiens and Cx. quinquefasciatus, respectively while the remaining parts (19% and 24% for the two species, respectively) may be attributed to other factors mainly rainfall