Using grass inflorescence as source material for biomonitoring through environmental DNA metabarcoding.

Background: Over the last decade, increasing attention has been directed to using different substrates as sources of environmental DNA (eDNA) in ecological research. Reports on the use of environmental DNA located on the surface of plant leaves and flowers have highlighted the utility of this DNA source in studies including, but not limited to, biodiversity, invasive species, and pollination ecology. The current study assesses grass inflorescence as a source of eDNA for detecting invertebrate taxa.

The phylogenetic position of zebrafish (Danio rerio) from south african pet shops.

Background: Zebrafish (Danio rerio), a small freshwater fish that originates from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and northern Myanmar, have been widely used as a model organism for studies of developmental biology and genetics. The current study aimed to determine the origin of South African pet shop stock that are currently being used to establish a laboratory population founded from diverse sources available locally.

Methods And Results: Zebrafish DNA was extracted from 65 specimens housed at the University of the Free State (UFS) Department of Genetics.

South Africa's contribution of insect records on the BOLD system.

South Africa is the third most biodiverse country in the world and insects represent a large part of its faunal diversity, as is seen globally. With more than 65,000 described animal species in South Africa, insects represent 44,088 species. While there are still a lot of species yet to be identified, progress may be hindered by the few insect taxonomists available in South Africa and subsequently, the time-consuming nature and costs of the methods used during species identification.

Genetic diversity and population structure of six South African Acacia mearnsii breeding populations based on SSR markers.

Black wattle (Acacia mearnsii) has great economic value as a commercial source of tannins, timber and a source of firewood for local and international markets. It has been suggested that to maximize the genetic gain of A. mearnsii plantations in South Africa, the gene pool that exist within ICFR needs to be broadened via introduction of new genotypes with diverse traits.

A Preliminary Assessment of Skin Microbiome Diversity of Zebrafish (): South African Pet Shop Fish.

The zebrafish () is a well-known model organism used in an array of scientific research fields. Many microbiome studies conducted on fishes have focused on gut microbiome diversity. To our knowledge, no investigations into the skin microbiome diversity of pet shop zebrafish have been performed.

Shifts in microbial diversity, composition, and functionality in the gut and genital microbiome during a natural SIV infection in vervet monkeys.

Background: The microbiota plays an important role in HIV pathogenesis in humans. Microbiota can impact health through several pathways such as increasing inflammation in the gut, metabolites of bacterial origin, and microbial translocation from the gut to the periphery which contributes to systemic chronic inflammation and immune activation and the development of AIDS. Unlike HIV-infected humans, SIV-infected vervet monkeys do not experience gut dysfunction, microbial translocation, and chronic immune activation and do not progress to immunodeficiency.

Adaptive genetic variation at three loci in South African vervet monkeys () and the role of selection within primates.

Vervet monkeys () are one of the most widely distributed non-human primate species found in South Africa. They occur across all the South African provinces, inhabiting a large variety of habitats. These habitats vary sufficiently that it can be assumed that various factors such as pathogen diversity could influence populations in different ways.

Current patterns of genetic diversity in indigenous and introduced species of land snails in Cameroon reflect isolation by distance, limited founder size and known evolutionary relationships.

The aim of this study was to gain molecular insights into patterns of genetic diversity in indigenous and introduced land snails in Cameroon. These species, and form an important source of protein in Cameroon, but widespread utilization may possibly impact natural patterns of genetic diversity of the indigenous species, while the introduced species may display signs of genetic drift. The evolutionary relationship between the indigenous and introduced species was also studied.

Testing of microsatellite multiplexes for individual identification of Cape Parrots (): paternity testing and monitoring trade.

Background: Illegal trade in rare wildlife species is a major threat to many parrot species around the world. Wildlife forensics plays an important role in the preservation of endangered or threatened wildlife species. Identification of illegally harvested or traded animals through DNA techniques is one of the many methods used during forensic investigations.

Molecular systematics of the Cape Parrot (Poicephalus robustus): implications for taxonomy and conservation.

The taxonomic position of the Cape Parrot (Poicephalus robustus robustus) has been the focus of much debate. A number of authors suggest that the Cape Parrot should be viewed as a distinct species separate from the other two P. robustus subspecies (P.

Localized population divergence of vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus spp.) in South Africa: Evidence from mtDNA.

Objective: Vervet monkeys are common in most tree-rich areas of South Africa, but their absence from grassland and semi-desert areas of the country suggest potentially restricted and mosaic local population patterns that may have relevance to local phenotype patterns and selection. A portion of the mitochondrial DNA control region was sequenced to study patterns of genetic differentiation.

Methods: DNA was extracted, and mitochondrial DNA sequences were obtained from 101 vervet monkeys at 15 localities, which represent both an extensive (widely across the distribution range) and intensive (more than one troop at most of the localities) sampling strategy.