Omar F. Al-Sheikhly

Impacts of biological globalization in the Mediterranean: Unveiling the deep history of human-mediated gamebird dispersal

Significance Human-mediated species dispersal stretching back at least 10,000 y has left an indelible stamp on present day biodiversity. A major contributing factor to this process was the trade in a wide range of exotic species that was fueled by elite demand. The black francolin—now extinct in the western Mediterranean but once a courtly gamebird prized for its flavor, curative, and aphrodisiac qualities by European aristocracy—was one of these species. Using historical sources and DNA analysis of modern and archival specimens, we show that this bird was not native to the western Mediterranean, and document its introduction to Cyprus and westward through the Mediterranean Basin via several trade routes that reached as far east as South Asia. Humans have a long history of moving wildlife that over time has resulted in unprecedented biotic homogenization. It is, as a result, often unclear whether certain taxa are native to a region or naturalized, and how the history of human involvement in species dispersal has shaped present-day biodiversity. Although currently an eastern Palaearctic galliform, the black francolin (Francolinus francolinus) was known to occur in the western Mediterranean from at least the time of Pliny the Elder, if not earlier. During Medieval times and the Renaissance, the black francolin was a courtly gamebird prized not only for its flavor, but also its curative, and even aphrodisiac qualities. There is uncertainty, however, whether this important gamebird was native or introduced to the region and, if the latter, what the source of introduction into the western Mediterranean was. Here we combine historical documentation with a DNA investigation of modern birds and archival (13th–20th century) specimens from across the species’ current and historically documented range. Our study proves the black francolin was nonnative to the western Mediterranean, and we document its introduction from the east via several trade routes, some reaching as far as South Asia. This finding provides insight into the reach and scope of long-distance trade routes that serviced the demand of European aristocracy for exotic species as symbols of wealth and prestige, and helps to demonstrate the lasting impact of human-mediated long-distance species dispersal on current day biodiversity.

Breeding ecology of the Basra Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus griseldis, in Iraq (Aves: Passeriformes: Acrocephalidae)

The population of the Basra Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus griseldis, which has a limited range confined to the marshlands of central and southern Iraq, has declined substantially due to massive degradation of its main breeding habitat in the Iraqi marshes during the 1980s and 1990s. The breeding habitat and breeding biology is described here. We discovered a remarkable extension of the breeding range in the extreme west of Iraq.

A response to the comment of Porter et al. (2014) on “Breeding ecology of the Basra Reed Warbler Acrocephalus griseldis (Hartlaub, 1891) in Iraq (Aves: Passeriformes: Acrocephalidae)”

The Basra Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus griseldis) is one of the flagship bird species of Mesopotamia. Before Al-Sheikhly, Nader, and Barbanera (2013), very little was known on the breeding ecology of this species in the southern marshes of Iraq. Al-Sheikhly and co-workers carried out an intensive field research in 2006–2007 and 2011–2012, and produced data on the biology of the Basra Reed Warbler, this representing the first contribution to the conservation of the species in Iraq. In their Comment, Porter et al. (2014) question part of the findings provided by Al-Sheikhly et al. (2013). Nevertheless, Porter et al. do not provide any opposing experimental evidence. In this reply, we disclose in more detail information so as to confirm the reliability of our research. Porter et al. (2014) focus on three issues: (1) gaps in methodology; (2) data anomalies; and (3) acknowledgments. In this Response, we address each of these three issues.

Ring Recoveries from Steppe Eagles and Eastern Imperial Eagles from the Russian and Kazakhstan Breeding Populations and a Review of Major Threats to Eagles in Iraq

The article summarizes ring recoveries from 2 Steppe Eagles ( Aquila nipalensis ) and 2 Eastern Imperial Eagles ( Aquila heliaca ) from Iraq that were ringed in Russia and Kazakhstan, as well as ring recoveries from 2 Steppe Eagles and 3 Eastern Imperial Eagles from the border regions of Iraq (Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia) that were ringed in Russia. Threats for eagles in Iraq are discussed in this article.

A redescription of the Long-tailed Nesokia, Nesokia bunnii , and designation of a neotype (Rodentia: Muridae)

Long-tailed Nesokia, Nesokia bunnii, is a large rat restricted to the Mesopotamian marshes in Basra Province in southern Iraq. The species is known from five museum vouchers collected between March 1974 and January 1977. The type and the paratype, deposited in the Natural History Research Centre and Museum, University of Baghdad, Iraq, were destroyed during War on Iraq in 2003. By studying morphological details on three museum specimens in the Senckenberg Institution, Frankfurt a. M., Germany, we show that N. bunnii is unique among the Bandicoot rats (Nesokia and Bandicota) in having (1) rufous dorsal pelage, (2) facial mask of rufous, dark brown, grey and whitish areas, (3) whitish belly which is clearly demarcated along flanks, (4) ventral hairs white to bases, (5) woolly underfur, (6) long front claws, and (7) large tail annulation. Similar to N. indica, but in contrast to Bandicota, N. bunnii displays short incisive foramina, posterior margin of hard palate which terminates at the level of the third molar, and robust, hypsodont and laminate molars which lack posterior cingula. To objectively define the taxon we designate a neotype, which was collected at Saraifa, 30 km north of Qurna, Iraq. Our study highlights the importance of museum collections in documenting biodiversity and the indifference of decision makers and international institutions regarding their safe future.

Phylogeography of the smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata): distinct evolutionary lineages and hybridization with the Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus).

We investigated the phylogeography of the smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) to determine its spatial genetic structure for aiding an adaptive conservation management of the species. Fifty-eight modern and 11 archival (dated 1882–1970) otters sampled from Iraq to Malaysian Borneo were genotyped (mtDNA Cytochrome-b, 10 microsatellite DNA loci). Moreover, 16 Aonyx cinereus (Asian small-clawed otter) and seven Lutra lutra (Eurasian otter) were sequenced to increase information available for phylogenetic reconstructions. As reported in previous studies, we found that L. perspicillata, A. cinereus and A. capensis (African clawless otter) grouped in a clade sister to the genus Lutra, with L. perspicillata and A. cinereus being reciprocally monophyletic. Within L. perspicillata, we uncovered three Evolutionarily Significant Units and proved that L. p. maxwelli is not only endemic to Iraq but also the most recent subspecies. We suggest a revision of the distribution range limits of easternmost L. perspicillata subspecies. We show that smooth-coated otters in Singapore are L. perspicillata x A. cinereus hybrids with A. cinereus mtDNA, the first reported case of hybridization in the wild among otters. This result also provides evidence supporting the inclusion of L. perspicillata and A. cinereus in the genus Amblonyx, thus avoiding the paraphyly of the genus Aonyx.

First confirmed records of two bat species for Iraq: Rhinolophus euryale and Myotis emarginatus (Chiroptera)

Abstract Based on a cave survey, we present the first substantiated data of two bat species from Iraq. Both Mediterranean horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus euryale) and Geoffroy’s bat (Myotis emarginatus) were mentioned in the earlier literature, although none of them was accepted and listed by subsequent authors. We overview the controversial history of the Mediterranean and Mehely’s horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus mehelyi) records, provide details of the diagnostic characters of vouchered specimens of the former species, and present photographic evidence of the presence of Geoffroy’s bat. Both species are rare in the Middle East, and the territory of Iraq was a gap in their distribution.