Bettine Jansen van Vuuren

University of Johannesburg | uj · Department of Zoology

Critically endangered Hooded Vultures (Necrosyrtes monachus Temminck, 1823), like many vulture species globally, are experiencing rapid population declines due to anthropogenic factors such as poisonings, human persecution, trading for belief-based use, and habitat loss/degradation. The Hooded Vulture is widespread across sub-Saharan Africa. Althou...

Biodiversity patterns are shaped by the interplay between geodiversity and organismal characteristics. Superimposing genetic structure onto landscape heterogeneity (i.e., landscape genetics) can help to disentangle their interactions and better understand population dynamics. Previous studies on the sub‐Antarctic Prince Edward Islands (located midw...

Although genome-scale data generation is becoming more tractable for phylogenetics, there are large quantities of single gene fragment data in public repositories and such data are still being generated. We therefore investigated whether single mitochondrial genes are suitable proxies for phylogenetic reconstruction as compared to the application o...

The red leopard (Panthera pardus) colour morph is a colour variant that occurs only in South Africa, where it is confined to the Central Bushveld bioregion. Red leopards have been spreading over the past 40 years, which raises the speculation that the prevalence of this phenotype is related to low dispersal of young individuals owing to high off-ta...

1. Temporary wetland ecosystems are common in arid and semi-arid environments, and are inhabited by diverse invertebrate communities. Little is known about the dynamics of genetic connectivity in the geographically scattered populations of these wetland specialists. 2. The current study investigated the spatial genetic structure and dispersal hist...

Understanding the dietary preferences of endangered species can be useful in implementing conservation strategies, including habitat restoration, translocation, and captive breeding. Environmental DNA (eDNA) from feces provides a non-invasive method for analysing animal diets. Currently, metabarcoding, a PCR-based approach, is the method of choice...

Across much of Africa, decades of civil war, land reforms, and persecution by humans have decimated wildlife populations. African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) have declined dramatically during the past decades, but have shown recent natural recolonisation of some areas. In Angola, they were rediscovered after almost five decades when no surveys were b...

Antarctic and Southern Ocean environments are facing increasing pressure from multiple threats. The Antarctic Treaty System regularly looks to the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) for the provision of independent and objective advice based on the best available science to support decision- making, policy development and effective e...

Biological invasions in remote areas that experience low human activity provide unique opportunities to elucidate processes responsible for invasion success. Here we study the most widespread invasive plant species across the isolated islands of the Southern Ocean, the annual bluegrass, Poa annua. To analyze geographic variation in genome size, gen...

A longstanding question in evolutionary biology is how natural selection and environmental pressures shape the mitochondrial genomic architectures of organisms. Mitochondria play a pivotal role in cellular respiration and aerobic metabolism, making their genomes functionally highly constrained. Evaluating selective pressures on mitochondrial genes...

Molecular phylogenetics and the application of species delimitation methods have proven useful in addressing limitations associated with morphology based taxonomy and have highlighted the inconsistencies in the current taxonomy for many groups. For example, the genus Chamaeleo, which comprises 14 species with large distributions across mainland Afr...

The red leopard (Panthera pardus) colour morph is a colour variant that occurs only in South Africa, where it is confined to the Central Bushveld bioregion. Red leopards have been spreading over the past 40 years, which raises the speculation that the prevalence of this phenotype is related to low dispersal of young individuals owing to high off‐ta...

The evolutionary history of African ungulates has been largely explained in the light of Pleistocene climatic oscillations and the way these influenced the distribution of vegetation types, leading to range expansions and/or isolation in refugia. In contrast, comparatively fewer studies have addressed the continent’s environmental heterogeneity and...

The critically endangered estuarine pipefish, Syngnathus watermeyeri, is one of Africa’s rarest fish species and currently faces a significant risk of extinction. A combination of anthropogenic and natural factors threaten submerged macrophyte beds in the two South African estuaries (Bushmans and Kariega) in which the species’ only two known remain...

Aim Phylogeographic studies on savanna ungulates have extensively evaluated genetic patterns mostly related to Pleistocene climatic oscillations. We address this subject through a comprehensive assessment across the pan-African range of the roan antelope, assessing whether climatic oscillations or natural physical barriers play a predominant role i...

Large-scale monitoring of wild populations in remote areas using traditional live-capturing methods is logistically and financially challenging. Devices that can be used to obtain biological material remotely and store it for an extended period have considerable potential to monitor population densities and health status, but their applicability re...

The link between the successful establishment of alien species and propagule pressure is well‐documented. Less known is how humans influence the post‐introduction dynamics of invasive alien populations. The latter requires studying parallel invasions by the same species in habitats that are differently impacted by humans. We analysed microsatellite...

Members of the flea family Pulicidae have been the focus of many studies due to their significance as diseases vectors of medical and veterinary importance and their cosmopolitan distribution. They often exhibit variation in morphological features that can make correct species identification and management challenging. This may also apply to Xenops...

DNA sequence data have become a crucial tool in assessing the relationship between morphological variation and genetic and taxonomic groups, including in the Antarctic biota. Morphologically distinct populations of submersed aquatic vascular plants were observed on sub-Antarctic Marion Island, potentially representing the two species of such plants...

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240770.].

During austral winter, the southern and eastern coastlines of South Africa witness one of the largest animal migrations on the planet, the KwaZulu-Natal sardine run. Hundreds of millions of temperate sardines, Sardinops sagax, form large shoals that migrate north-east towards the subtropical Indian Ocean. Recent studies have highlighted the role th...

Historical demographic events shape genetic diversity that remains evident in the genomes of contemporary populations. In the case of species that are of conservation concern, this information helps to unravel evolutionary histories that can be critical in guiding conservation efforts. The Knysna seahorse, Hippocampus capensis, is the world’s most...

The order Carnivora, which currently includes 296 species classified into 16 families, is distributed across all continents. The phylogeny and the timing of diversification of members of the order are still a matter of debate. Here, complete mitochondrial genomes were analysed to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships and to estimate divergence...

Spinicaudatan clam shrimp are a widespread and diverse group of branchiopod crustaceans, yet few mitochondrial genomes have been published for this taxonomic group. Here, we present the mitogenome of Leptestheria brevirostris from a rock pool ecosystem in Botswana. Massively parallel sequencing of a single specimen facilitated the reconstruction of...

Environmental gradients between marine biogeographical provinces separate distinct faunal communities. However, the absence of absolute dispersal barriers allows numerous species to occur on both sides of such boundaries. While the regional populations of such widespread species are often morphologically indistinguishable from each other, genetic e...

Roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus) is the second largest member of the Hippotraginae (Bovidae), and is widely distributed across sub-Saharan mesic woodlands. Although listed as Least Concern across its African range, population numbers are decreasing with many regional Red List statuses varying between Endangered and Locally Extinct. Although roan...

The estuarine pipefish, Syngnathus watermeyeri, is one of the rarest animals in Africa and occurs in only two South African estuaries. The species was declared provisionally extinct in 1994, but was later rediscovered and is currently listed by the IUCN as Critically Endangered. A conservation programme was launched in 2017, with the re-introductio...

Southern Africa has a diverse endemic scorpion fauna, but a paucity of information currently confounds conservation of the group. Phylogeographic approaches represent a useful tool to identify the patterns and processes which underpin scorpion diversity, but these studies are lacking for southern African species. Among southern African scorpions, t...

Simple Summary: Cities are the fastest developing ecosystems on the planet. The rapid expansion of urban areas is typically seen as a threat to global biodiversity, yet the role of cities in protecting species that may be rare in the wild remains poorly explored. Here, we report the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) to document the species present in...

The flora of sub-Antarctic Marion Island forms part of the unique South Indian Ocean Biogeographic Province, and is under threat from climate change and invasive species. Current information on the flora is necessary to rapidly identify and manage future changes. We conducted a literature search on the taxonomy of indigenous vascular plant species...

The order Carnivora, which currently includes 296 species classified into 16 families, is distributed across all continents. The phylogeny and the timing of diversifications are still a matter of debate. Here, complete mitochondrial genomes were analysed to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships and to estimate divergence times among species of...

Environmental gradients between marine biogeographical provinces separate distinct faunal communities; in the absence of absolute dispersal barriers numerous species nonetheless occur on either side of such boundaries. While the regional populations of such widespread species tend to be morphologically indistinguishable from each other, genetic evi...

This Commentary is a response to a Commentary published in the May/June 2020 issue: Nattrass N. Why are black South African students less likely to consider studying biological sciences? S Afr J Sci. 2020;116(5/6), Art. #7864, 2 pages. https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2020/7864 Responses to the Commentary in the May/June 2020 issue have been publish...

All multicellular organisms host a wide diversity of microorganisms in and on their bodies, which are collectively known as their microbiome. Characterising microbial communities that inhabit different body niches in wild animals is critical to better understand the dynamics of microbiome diversityand its functional significance. The current study...

A response to a commentary in the South African Journal of Science

The interplay between biotic and abiotic environments is increasingly recognized as a major determinant of spatial genetic patterns. Among spatial genetic studies, saxicolous or rock-dwelling species remain underrepresented in spite of their strict dependence on landscape structure. Here we investigated patterns and processes operating at different...

The common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), introduced from Australia in the mid-nineteenth century, is an invasive species in New Zealand where it is widespread and forms the largest self-sustained reservoir of bovine tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis) among wild populations. Conservation and agricultural authorities regularly apply a ser...

The New Zealand brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), introduced from Australia in the 1850s, is an invasive species that is widespread throughout New Zealand and forms the largest self-sustained reservoir of bovine tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis) in the wild. Conservation and agricultural authorities regularly apply a series of population c...

Limiting resources often differ between males and females. Reproductive success in females is constrained by resources such as food and shelter, while the availability of receptive females determines male reproductive success. In addition to limiting resources, low intra‐sexual tolerances among females can affect their spacing. High intolerances co...

Biological diversity is being lost at unprecedented rates, with genetic admixture and introgression presenting major threats to biodiversity. Our ability to accurately identify introgression is critical to manage species, obtain insights into evolutionary processes, and ultimately contribute to the Aichi Targets developed under the Convention on Bi...

Background We review genealogical relationships, biogeographic patterns and broad historical drivers of speciation within the Bathyergidae, a group of endemic African rodents, as well as identify key taxa which need further research. Methods We sourced comparable cytochrome b sequence data (comparable data available for all members for the Family)...

South Africa harbours remarkable biological diversity with three of the 34 recognised global biodiversity hotspots placed within its borders. One of these is the Succulent Karoo, which together with the Nama-Karoo, forms the Greater Karoo region. Notwithstanding a paucity of studies from this region, it would appear that, although mammal diversity...

The distribution of genetic variation in species is governed by factors that act differently across spatial scales. To tease apart the contribution of different processes, especially at intermediate spatial scales, it is useful to study simple ecosystems such as those on sub‐Antarctic oceanic islands. In this study, we characterize spatial genetic...

Isotomurus maculatus (Collembola, Isotomidae) is a springtail with a large distribution. This species has been introduced to the sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands. In this study, the mitogenome of I. maculatus was reconstructed. The total length of the mitochondrial genome is 15,263 bp and comprises 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, and two rRNA...

Tullbergia bisetosa is a springtail (Collembola) native to the sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands. Unlike most other springtails, it has acquired a euedaphic (living within the soil) life form. In the present study, the complete mitogenome of T. bisetosa was sequenced. It has a length of 15,204 bp and comprises 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, a...

Phylogeography examines the spatial genetic structure of species. Environmental niche modelling (or ecological niche modelling; ENM) examines the environmental limits of a species’ ecological niche. These two fields have great potential to be used together. ENM can shed light on how phylogeographical patterns develop and help identify possible driv...

Cryptopygus antarcticus travei (Collembola) is a springtail endemic to the sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands. The mitogenome of C. a. travei has a length of 15,743 bp and comprises 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, and two rRNAs. The base composition is 36% adenine, 33% thymine, 13% guanine, and 18% cytosine. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the...

Biological diversity is being lost at unprecedented rates, with admixture and introgression presenting major threats to species' conservation. To this end, our ability to accurately identify introgression is critical to manage species, obtain insights into evolutionary processes, and ultimately contribute to the Aichi Targets developed under the Co...

The blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) is distributed throughout southern and east Africa while the black wildebeest (Connochaetes gnou) is endemic to South Africa and was driven to near extinction in the early 1900s due to hunting pressure and disease outbreaks. Extensive translocation of both species throughout South Africa is threatening th...

Jackals (Canis mesomelas) and caracals (Caracal caracal) are considered major predators of small livestock on farms across South Africa, with both species being subjected to lethal control. Lethal management (i.e., culling) can result in differential responses in the population dynamics and demography of mesopredators. We examined the potential imp...

The family Bathyergidae (comprising six genera) is a group of subterranean rodents endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. Our understanding of the evolution and species richness of the South African bathyergid genera Georychus, Bathyergus and Cryptomys is limited, with the majority of species listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Speci...

We focus on the insights of Rhizhosphere soil around Marion Island from different habitat to compare the genetic patterns of Springtails interaction with microbes. This study highlights microbial phylum classification, genus level relative abundance, Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) and Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) method for measur...

Introgressive hybridization poses a threat to the genetic integrity of black wildebeest (Connochaetes gnou) and blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) populations in South Africa. Black wildebeest is endemic to South Africa and was driven to near extinction in the early 1900s due to habitat destruction, hunting pressure and disease outbreaks. Blue...

Species undergoing range expansion frequently experience increased dispersal rates, especially among invasive alien species. Such increased dispersal rates have been attributed to 'spatial sorting', where traits enhancing dispersal assort towards the expanding range edge while traits enhacing competitiveness are favoured within the core range. To d...

Tests for isolation by distance (IBD) are the most commonly used method of assessing spatial genetic structure. Many studies have exclusively used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences to test for IBD, but this marker is often in conflict with multilocus markers. Here, we report a review of the literature on IBD, with the aims of determining (a) whet...

The spatial genetic structure of a species, and whether distinct genetic lineages are present, is strongly influenced by their biology and habitat requirements. Given habitat specificity and low vagility, many herpetofaunal species are reservoirs for high levels of cryptic diversity; chameleons are a case in hand. The common flap-necked chameleon C...

Tests for isolation by distance (IBD) are the most commonly used method of assessing spatial genetic structure. Many studies have exclusively used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences to test for IBD, but this marker is often in conflict with multilocus markers. Here, we report a review of the literature on IBD, with the aims of determining (a) whet...

Sesbania grandiflora (Linn.) Poiret it’s one of the important medicinal plant, comparatively studied through in vitro tissue culture technique, seeds selected, standardized in suitable MS medium for multiple in vitro shoot production by in vitro seedling increased biomass yield of calli on PGRs and different in vitro explants. Different solvent ext...

Leucas aspera (Willd.) Linn. is an important medicinal plant, efficient protocol was developed through MS medium. Leaves, node and internodes explants are used for plant tissue culture. Calli, organogenic calli, root induction was observed. Different organic solvents are used for extraction of wild plant and in vitro calli. All the extracts were fo...

The subterranean niche harbours animals with extreme adaptations. These adaptations decrease the vagility of taxa and, along with other behavioural adaptations, often result in isolated populations characterized by small effective population sizes, high inbreeding, population bottlenecks, genetic drift and consequently, high spatial genetic structu...

Θ values for G. capensis and B. suillus populations. Θ values (a measure of effective population size for the sampled Georychus populations as well as the B. suillus populations in Visser et al. [4]. For each population, Θ values are shown for the cytochrome b and control region datasets separately, as well as for the combined dataset of these mark...

Θ values for the G. capensis populations (for the cytochrome b and control region markers separately and combined). Plot showing the Θ values for the sampled G. capensis populations based on the A) cytochrome b dataset, B) control region dataset and C) combined (cytochrome b control region) dataset. (TIF)

Genetic diversity of G. capensis populations. Genetic diversity of the sampled G. capensis populations showing the haplotype diversity, nucleotide diversity and Fu’s F values in each population for the cytochrome b/control region datasets. For the Fu’s F values n.s. = non-significant,* = p<0.05, ** = p<0.01, *** = p<0.001. An indication is given wh...

Genetic structure between B. suillus populations (cytochrome b and control region separately). Pairwise ɸST values between the sampled B. suillus populations in [4] with values based on cytochrome b below the diagonal and values based on the control region above the diagonal. n.s. = non-significant,* = p<0.05, ** = p<0.01, *** = p<0.001. (DOCX)

Genetic structure between G. capensis populations (cytochrome b and control region separately). Pairwise ɸST values between the sampled G. capensis populations with values based on cytochrome b below the diagonal and values based on the control region above the diagonal. n.s. = non-significant,* = p<0.05, ** = p<0.01, *** = p<0.001. (DOCX)

Genetic diversity of B. suillus populations. Genetic diversity of the B. suillus populations in [4] populations showing the haplotype diversity, nucleotide diversity and Fu’s F values in each population for the cytochrome b/control region datasets. For the Fu’s F values n.s. = non-significant,* = p<0.05, ** = p<0.01, *** = p<0.001. (DOCX)