The 2013 humpback whale season in Boavista

Four Iago sparrows Passer iagoensis arrived in the Netherlands aboard M/V Plancius coming from the Cape Verde Islands on 19 May 2013 (see Zoological News | Notícias Zoologicas No. 2). The birds were part of a group of ca. 20 sparrows that came aboard while the ship stayed off Raso Islet two weeks earlier. After its stay in Cape Verde waters, the ship continued its journey northwards and 11 sparrows were still on board while the ship passed through the Madeiran Islands, 11-13 May. It is thought that some birds left the ship there and when the Plancius reached its final destination at Hansweert, municipality of Reimerswaal, province of Zeeland, the Netherlands, only four of them were still present. Naturalists that had made the journey from Cape Verde aboard the ship cheerfully spread the news of the arrival of these ‘stowaways’ and for a week many Dutch bird watchers made the trip to Hansweert to have a look at the unexpected guests. Meanwhile, two of the four sparrows had disappeared and only two – a male and a female – remained on the ship, where they were regularly provided with bread and water. The birds were also seen visiting the nearby shore (Fig. 1-3). Then, on 27 May, Dutch burocracy came into action and fate turned against the pretty little birdies. Considered invasive exotics that had entered Dutch territory illegally and fearing a population explosion of these foreign intruders, the owner of the ship was ordered to catch the two birds and hand them over to the Dutch authorities. The two sparrows were indeed trapped and taken into custody, where one of them soon died. The fate of the other bird is unknown (the offcial news release stated that it was kept in captivity). Seldom have Dutch authorities managed to ridicule themselves more than in the tragi-comical soap of the ‘illegal’ Capeverdean sparrows.

Fig. 1-3. Iago sparrow Passer iagoensis, male and female, Hansweert, the Netherlands, 26 May 2013
© Jaco Walhout (left and centre), © Rob Wuster (right).

The 2013 loggerhead nesting season in Boavista

Conservation status of terrestrial reptiles in Cape Verde

Following the publication of Vasconcelos et al. (2013) in the journal Oryx last January, the conservation status of terrestrial reptile species in Cape Verde are now available at the IUCN Red List website (http://www.iucnredlist.org).
    Cape Verde has a higher number of reptile taxa and endemics than any of the five archipelagos in the Macaronesia. However, until recently, detailed information about the distribution of terrestrial reptile biodiversity in this region was still missing. Acknowledging that mapping the precise distribution of these animals and assessing their conservation status were key steps towards their effective conservation, Raquel Vasconcelos (CIBIO/InBIO and Institut de Biologia Evolutiva – IBE, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas–Universitat Pompeu Fabra - CSIC-UPF), José Carlos Brito (CIBIO/InBIO), Salvador Carranza (IBE, CSIC-UPF) and James Harris (CIBIO/InBIO) set out to review the distribution and conservation status of the terrestrial Cape Verdean herpetofauna.
    By carrying out extensive fieldwork and an exhaustive analysis of post-1980 literature, the researchers found that one taxon, Chioninia coctei, continues to be considered Extinct, and that geckos are rarer than skinks, possibly because of their high habitat specialization, with more than half occurring on only one island/islet. They also noticed that about half of all taxa are potentially threatened. This represents twice the proportion of those in the Canary Islands, a difference that could be explained by the smaller area and greater aridity of the Cape Verde Islands. In a press release about the latest update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the conservation status of Cape Verdean reptiles was given particular attention: http://www.iucn.org/news_homepage/?13243/Worlds-oldest-and-largest-species-in-decline--IUCN-Red-List.

Bigeye thresher Alopias superciliosus landed in Maio in July 2013

Zoological News from the Newspapers
Notícias Zoológicas de Jornais

Recent papers on Cape Verde zoology
Artigos recentes sobre zoologia Caboverdiana

In the following, recently published papers on Cape Verde zoology are listed. Should you know of any omissions in this listing, please let us know. We also appreciate receiving copies of your latest publications for inclusion in future editions. Please contact cjhazevoet at gmail.com or rui.freitas at docente.unicv.edu.cv

The evolution of north-east Atlantic gadfly petrels using statistical phylogeography. B. Gangloff, F. Zino, H. Shirihai, J. González-Solís, A. Couloux, E. Pasquet & V. Bretagnolle, 2013, Molecular Ecology 22: 495-506; http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mec.12119

ABSTRACT  Macaronesia (north-east Atlantic archipelagos) has been host to complex patterns of colonization and differentiation in many groups of organisms including seabirds such as gadfly petrels (genus Pterodroma). Considering the subspecies of widely distributed soft-plumaged petrel for many years, the taxonomic status of the three gadfly petrel taxa breeding in Macaronesia is not yet settled, some authors advocating the presence of three, two or one species. These birds have already been the subject of genetic studies with only one mtDNA gene and relatively modest sample sizes. In this study, using a total of five genes (two mitochondrial genes and three nuclear introns), we investigated the population and phylogeographical histories of petrel populations breeding on Madeira and Cape Verde archipelagos. Despite confirming complete lineage sorting with mtDNA, analyses with nucDNA failed to reveal any population structuring and Isolation with Migration analysis revealed the absence of gene flow during the differentiation process of these populations. It appears that the three populations diverged in the late Pleistocene in the last 150 000 years, that is 10 times more recently than previous estimates based solely on one mtDNA gene. Finally, our results suggest that the Madeira petrel population is ancestral rather than that from Cape Verde. This study strongly advocates the use of nuclear loci in addition to mtDNA in demographical and phylogeographical history studies.

High gene flow on a continental scale in the polyandrous Kentish plover Charadrius alexandrinus. Clemens Küpper, Scott V. Edwards, András Kosztolányi, Monif Al Rashidi, Terry Burke, Philipp Herrmann, Araceli Argüelles-Tico, Juan A. Amat, Mohamed Amezian, Afonso Rocha, Hermann Hötker, Anton Ivanov, Joseph Chernicko & Tamás Székely, 2012, Molecular Ecology 21: 5864-5879; http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mec.12064

ABSTRACT  Gene flow promotes genetic homogeneity of species in time and space. Gene flow can be modulated by sex-biased dispersal that links population genetics to mating systems. We investigated the phylogeography of the widely distributed Kentish plover Charadrius alexandrinus. This small shorebird has a large breeding range spanning from Western Europe to Japan and exhibits an unusually flexible mating system with high female breeding dispersal. We analysed genetic structure and gene flow using a 427-bp fragment of the mitochondrial (mtDNA) control region, 21 autosomal microsatellite markers and a Z microsatellite marker in 397 unrelated individuals from 21 locations. We found no structure or isolation-by-distance over the continental range. However, island populations had low genetic diversity and were moderately differentiated from mainland locations. Genetic differentiation based on autosomal markers was positively correlated with distance between mainland and each island. Comparisons of uniparentally and biparentally inherited markers were consistent with female-biased gene flow. Maternally inherited

mtDNA was less structured, whereas the Z-chromosomal marker was more structured than autosomal microsatellites. Adult males were more related than females within genetic clusters. Taken together, our results suggest a prominent role for polyandrous females in maintaining genetic homogeneity across large geographic distances.

[SCVZ EDITOR’S NOTE: This study incorporates data from the breeding population of Charadrius alexandrinus on Maio Island, Cape Verde.]

Local environment but not genetic differentiation influences biparental care in ten plover populations. Orsolya Vincze, Tamás Székely, Clemens Küpper, Monif Al Rashidi, Juan A. Amat, Araceli Argüelles-Ticó, Daniel Burgas, Terry Burke, John Cavitt, Jordi Figuerola, Mohammed Shobrak, Tomas Montalvo, András Kosztolányi, 2013, PLoS One 8(4): e60998 (10 pages); http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0060998

ABSTRACT  Social behaviours are highly variable between species, populations and individuals. However, it is contentious whether behavioural variations are primarily moulded by the environment, caused by genetic differences, or a combination of both. Here we establish that biparental care, a complex social behaviour that involves rearing of young by both parents, differs

between closely related populations, and then test two potential sources of variation in parental behaviour between populations: ambient environment and genetic differentiation. We use 2904 hours behavioural data from 10 geographically distinct Kentish (Charadrius alexandrinus) and snowy plover (C. nivosus) populations in America, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa to test these two sources of behavioural variation. We show that local ambient temperature has a significant influence on parental care: with extreme heat (above 40ºC) total incubation (i.e. % of time the male or female incubated the nest) increased, and female share (% female share of incubation) decreased. By contrast, neither genetic differences between populations, nor geographic distances predicted total incubation or female’s share of incubation. These results suggest that the local environment has a stronger influence on a social behaviour than genetic differentiation, at least between populations of closely related species.

[SCVZ EDITOR’S NOTE: This study incorporates data from the breeding population of Charadrius alexandrinus on Maio Island, Cape Verde.]

An overview of fisheries and sea turtle bycatch along the Atlantic coast of Africa. Kimberly A. Riskas & Manjula Tiwari, 2013, Munibe Monographs, Nature Series, 1: 71-82.

ABSTRACT  Some of the most productive and diverse marine ecosystems found anywhere in the world are located along the Atlantic coast of Africa. Industrial fishing fleets from Africa and foreign nations exploit the commercially valuable fishing resources in coastal exclusive economic zones (EEZs) and on the high seas. Small-scale artisanal fisheries operate extensively in coastal areas, catching a wide variety of species for subsistence and local trade. Incidental capture of sea turtles in the world’s fisheries poses an urgent challenge to conservation and management efforts, and Atlantic Africa is no exception. The region supports important nesting and foraging grounds for five species of sea turtles—loggerheads Caretta caretta (Linnaeus, 1758), green turtles Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus, 1758), leatherbacks Dermochelys coriacea (Vandelli, 1761), hawksbills Eretmochelys imbricata (Linnaeus, 1766), and olive ridleys Lepidochelys olivacea (Eschscholtz, 1829). This study characterizes the predominant fisheries in the region and compiles the available information on sea turtle bycatch in 21 countries between Mauritania and Namibia; intentional take is also described. Despite the active fisheries in the region, detailed information on sea turtle-fisheries interactions is sparse for most African countries in the eastern Atlantic, highlighting an urgent need to address this gap.

[SCVZ EDITOR’S NOTE: This overview of fisheries and sea turtle bycatch in West Africa includes an entry on Cape Verde.]

Evolution of the MHC class I genes in the endangered loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) revealed by 454 amplicon sequencing. Victor A. Stiebens, Sonia E. Merino, Frédéric J.J. Chain & Christophe Eizaguirre, 2013, BMC Evolutionary Biology 13:95 (11 pages); http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/13/95

ABSTRACT  In evolutionary and conservation biology, parasitism is often highlighted as a major selective pressure. To fight against parasites and pathogens, genetic diversity of the immune genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are particularly important. However, the extensive degree of polymorphism observed in these genes makes it difficult to conduct thorough population screenings. We utilized a genotyping protocol that uses 454 amplicon sequencing to characterize the MHC class I in the endangered loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) and to investigate their evolution at multiple relevant levels of organization. MHC class I genes revealed signatures of trans-species polymorphism across several reptile species. In the studied loggerhead turtle individuals, it results in the maintenance of two ancient allelic lineages. We also found that individuals carrying an intermediate number of MHC class I alleles are larger than those with either a low or high number of alleles. Multiple modes of evolution seem to maintain MHC diversity in the loggerhead turtles, with relatively high polymorphism for an endangered species.

[SCVZ’S EDITOR’S NOTE: This study used 454 deep amplicon sequencing to investigate the variation of the MHC class I alpha-1 heavy chain in a population of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) nesting in the Cape Verde archipelago.]

Living on the edge: how philopatry maintains adaptive potential. Victor A. Stiebens, Sonia E. Merino, Christian Roder, Frédéric J.J. Chain, Patricia L.M. Lee & Christophe Eizaguirre, 2013, Proceedings of the Royal Society B 280; http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2013.0305

ABSTRACT  Without genetic variation, species cannot cope with changing environments, and evolution does not proceed. In endangered species, adaptive potential may be eroded by decreased population sizes and processes that further reduce gene flow such as philopatry and local adaptations. Here, we focused on the philopatric and endangered loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) nesting in Cape Verde as a model system to investigate the link between adaptive potential and philopatry. We produced a dataset of three complementary genomic regions to investigate female philopatric behaviour (mitochondrial DNA), male-mediated gene flow (microsatellites) and adaptive potential (major histocompatibility complex, MHC). Results revealed genetically distinct nesting colonies, indicating remarkably small-scale philopatric behaviour of females. Furthermore, these colonies also harboured local pools of MHC alleles, especially at the margins of the population’s distribution, which are therefore important reserves of additional diversity for

the population. Meanwhile, directional male-mediated gene flow from the margins of distribution sustains the adaptive potential for the entire rookery. We therefore present the first evidence for a positive association between philopatry and locally adapted genomic regions. Contrary to expectation, we propose that philopatry conserves a high adaptive potential at the margins of a distribution, while asymmetric gene flow maintains genetic connectivity with the rest of the population.

The coastal fishes of the Cape Verde Islands – new records and an annotated check-list. Peter Wirtz, Alberto Brito, Jésus M. Falcón, Rui Freitas, Ronald Fricke, Vanda Monteiro, Francisco Reiner & Oksana Tariche, 2013. Spixiana 36: 113-142. link

ABSTRACT  A check-list of the coastal fishes of the Cape Verde Islands is presented. The species Acantholabrus palloni, Canthigaster supramacula, Carcharhinus leucas, Chaetodipterus lippei, Corniger spinosus, Dasyatis centroura, Didogobius n. sp., Epigonus constanciae, Halobatrachus didactylus, Hemiramphus balao, Leptocharias smithii, Lobotes surinamensis, Malacoctenus n. sp., Megalops atlanticus, Mugil bananensis, Mugil capurrii, Negaprion brevirostris, Rhinecanthus aculeatus, Sardinella aurita, Sciaena umbra, Serranus heterurus, Sphyraena barracuda, Uranoscopus cadenati and Zu cristatus are recorded for the first time from the Cape Verde Islands. We have recognized 77 previous records as identification errors or registration errors and indicate 35 other records as doubtful. Including the 24 new records, we now list 315 fish species from the coastal waters of the Cape Verde Islands. Twenty of them (6.3 %) appear to be endemic to the archipelago.

Orthetrum trinacria exuviae (Odonata: Libellulidae) from Santiago Island, Cape Verde: morphology, sexual size dimorphism and diagnostic features. Nuno de Santos Loureiro, Christophe Brochard, Aldair Correia & Ewoud van der Ploeg, 2013, Boletín de la Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa 52: 281-284.

ABSTRACT  Successful breeding of the Odonata Orthetrum trinacria (Selys, 1841) was for the first time confirmed for Santiago Island, Republic of Cape Verde, based on exuviae found in eight localities visited during a field survey carried out in August and September 2012. The relevant diagnostic features listed in the literature for the O. trinacria exuviae were assessed. We concluded that one of the diagnostic features, the epiproct length to basal width ratio, was not fulfilled in 97.8% of the 46 exuviae collected by us. Besides that, studied O. trinacria exuviae had an average of 26.0 mm of total length and did not evidence sexual size dimorphism.

Conopeptides from Cape Verde Conus crotchii. Jorge Neves, Alexandre Campos, Hugo Osório, Agostinho Antunes & Vitor Vasconcelos, 2013. Marine Drugs 11: 2203-2215; http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/md11062203

ABSTRACT  Marine Cone snails of the genus Conus contain complex peptide toxins in their venom. Living in tropical habitats, they usually use the powerful venom for self-defense and prey capture. Here, we study Conus crotchii venom duct using a peptide mass-matching approach. The C. crotchii was collected in the Cape Verde archipelago in Boa Vista Island. The venom was analyzed using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). About 488 molecular masses between 700 Da and 3000 Da were searched bymatching with known peptide sequences from UniProtKB protein sequence database. Through this method we were able to identify 12 conopeptides. For validation we considered the error between the experimental molecular mass (monoisotopic) and the calculated mass of less than 0.5 Da. All conopeptides detected belong to the A-, O1-, O2-, O3-, T- and D-superfamilies, which can block Ca2+ channels, inhibit K+ channels and act on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Only a few of the detected peptides have a 100% UniProtKB database similarity, suggesting that several of them could be newly discovered marine drugs.