Browsing by Author "Mulungu, Elia"

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    evo12950-sup-0001-SuppMat
    (2016-05) McEntee, Jay P.; Peñalba, Joshua V.; Werema, Chacha; Mulungu, Elia; Mbilinyi, Maneno; Moyer, David; Hansen, Louis A.; Fjeldså, Jon; Bowie, Rauri C. K.
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    Observations of threatened birds in the East Usambara Mountains, Tanzania
    (2007-12) Borghesio, Luca; John, Jasson; Mulungu, Elia; Mkongewa, Victor; Joho, Martin P.; Cordeiro, Norbert J.
    We report the preliminary observations and results of a survey of the birds of the East Usambara Mountains, north-east Tanzania. Using standardised point counts and opportunistic searches, we collected information on the distribution, habitat selection and relative abundance of those species of greatest conservation concern. Amongst the 124 species recorded during the survey, six are listed in the global Red Data book and nine are considered to be restricted-range. Forest edges and agricultural habitats had notable numbers of species of conservation importance. Habitat requirements of the species of conservation concern differed: whilst ground-foragers (Usambara Thrush Turdus (olivaceus) roehli, Modulatrix spp.) are clearly dependent on intact forest, Banded Sunbird Anthreptes rubritorques, Amani Sunbird Hedydipna pallidigastra, Fischer’s Turaco Tauraco fischeri, Kenrick’s Starling Poeoptera kenricki and Long-billed Tailorbird Artisornis moreaui are also frequent in successional habitats created by disturbance, at forest edges or even in relatively open, agricultural landscapes. This suggests that some threatened species might benefit from conservation initiatives (e.g., planting of useful indigenous trees) specifically targeted to counter the degradation of such ‘fringe’ habitats.
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    Preliminary observations on the avifauna of Ikokoto Forest, Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania
    (2013-05) Werema, Chacha; McEntee, Jay P.; Mulungu, Elia; Mbilinyi, Maneno
    A study was conducted at c. 110 ha of Ikokoto forest using mist-netting and general field observations. Sixty-four species were recorded of which 61% were of conservation importance in terms of forest dependence. All species were found to belong to the familiar assembly of the large Udzungwa forests. Six species, the Green-throated Greenbul Andropadus fusciceps, Spot-throat Modulatrix stictigula, African Tailorbird Artisornis metopias, Black-lored Cisticola Cisticola nigriloris, Uhehe Fiscal Laniarius marwitzi and Fülleborn's Black Boubou Laniarius fuelleborni detected are restricted range and one species Moreau's Sunbird Nectarinia moreaui is nearthreatened according to IUCN threat status. The presence of many species which are forest dependent in this tiny forest indicates that this site, though small in size and highly fragmented, retains significant conservation value for birds.
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    Social selection parapatry in an Afrotropical sunbird
    (Wiley, 2016-05) McEntee, Jay P.; Peñalba, Joshua V.; Werema, Chacha; Mulungu, Elia; Mbilinyi, Maneno; Moyer, David; Hansen, Louis A.; Fjeldså, Jon; Bowie, Rauri C. K.
    The extent of range overlap of incipient and recent species depends on the type and magnitude of phenotypic divergence that separates them, and the consequences of phenotypic divergence on their interactions. Signal divergence by social selection likely initiates many speciation events, but may yield niche-conserved lineages predisposed to limit each others' ranges via ecological competition. Here we examine this neglected aspect of social selection speciation theory in relation to the discovery of a non-ecotonal species border between sunbirds. We find that Nectarinia moreaui and N. fuelleborni meet in a ∼6 km wide contact zone, as estimated by molecular cline analysis. These species exploit similar bioclimatic niches, but sing highly divergent learned songs, consistent with divergence by social selection. Cline analyses suggest that within-species stabilizing social selection on song-learning predispositions maintains species differences in song despite both hybridization and cultural transmission. We conclude that ecological competition between moreaui and fuelleborni contributes to the stabilization of the species border, but that ecological competition acts in conjunction with reproductive interference. The evolutionary maintenance of learned song differences in a hybrid zone recommend this study system for future studies on the mechanisms of learned song divergence and its role in speciation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.