Soil Macroinvertebrates Lab

Projects

Current Research Projects

  1. Genetic diversity of populations of a southern African millipede, Bicoxidens flavicollis (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida, Spirostreptidae).
  2. Genetic analyses of southern African earthworms.
  3. Flightless macroinvertebrates diversity on rock outcrops in Mpumalanga, South Africa.
  4. Macroinvertebrates diversity in disturbed and undisturbed habitats in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.
  5. Taxonomic diversity of flightless arthropods in caves.
  6. Chemical composition of secretions of tropical millipede.
  7. Taxonomic revision of southern African spirostreptid millipede genera

Selected publications
1. Nxele, T.C., Plisko, J.D., Mwabvu, T. & Zishiri, T. O. 2017 Four new species of Kazimierzus Plisko, 2006 (Clitellata, Kazimierzidae). Zootaxa 4353 (1): 187-194
2. Tinago T., Mwabvu, T. & McDonald A.M.M. 2017 Evidence of multiple divergent mitochondrial lineages within the Southern African diplopod genus Bicoxidens Attems 1928 (Spirostreptida). African Zoology 52(4): 229-235.
3. Mwabvu, T. 2017. Variation in soil content of faecal pellets of a tropical millipede, Doratogonus uncinatus (Attems, 1914) (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida, Spirostreptidae). African Journal of Ecology DOI: 10.111/aje.12486
4. Mwabvu, T. & Schoeman C. 2016. Little overlap in suitable habitat niches between thre species of a southern African millipede genus, Spirostreptus Brandt 1833 (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida, Spirostreptidae). African Journal of Ecology 54(2): 248-251.
5. Nxele, T.C., Plisko, J.D., Mwabvu, T. & Zishiri, T. O. 2016. A new family Kazimierzidae for the genus Kazimierzus, earlier recorded to the composite Microchaetidae (Annelida, Oligochaeta). African Invertebrates 57(2):111-117.
6. Mwabvu, T. and VandenSpiegel, D. 2015. A review of the genus Obelostreptus Attems 1909 (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida, Spirostreptidae) with the description of a new species from Kenya. African Invertebrates 56(1): 51-61.
7. Mwabvu, T., Lamb, J., Slotow, R., Hamer, M. & Barraclough, D. 2015. Do cytochrome C oxidase 1 gene sequences differentiate species of spirostreptid millipedes (Diplopoda: Spirostreptida: Spirostreptidae)? African Invertebrates 56(3): 651-661.
8. Mwabvu, T. 2014. Surface-active millipedes (Diplopoda) and associated mites (Acari,Mesostigmata) in Pigeon Valley Nature Reserve in Durban, South Africa. Soil Organisms 86(2): 147-151.
9. Mwabvu, T., Lamb, J., Slotow, R., Hamer, M. & Barraclough, D. 2013. Is taxonomy in millipedes based on gonopod morphology too inclusive? Observations on genetic variation and cryptic speciation in Bicoxidens flavicollis (Diplopoda: Spirostreptida: Spirostreptidae). African Invertebrates 54(2): 349-356.
10. Mwabvu, T., Hamer, M., Slotow, R. & Barraclough, D. 2010. A revision of the taxonomy and distribution of Archispirostreptus Silvestri 1895 (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida, Spirostreptidae), and description of a new spirostreptid genus with three new species. Zootaxa 2567:1-49.
11. Mwabvu, T. & Van den Spiegel, D. 2009. Spirostreptid millipedes (Myriapoda: Diplopoda) of the Taita Hills, Kenya, including the description of three new species. In: S. M. Roble & J. C. Mitchell (eds). A Lifetime of Contributions to Myriapodology and the Natural History of Virginia: A Festschrift in honor of Richard L. Hoffman’s 80th Birthday. Virginia Museum of natural History Special Publication No. 16, Martinsville, USA. Pp. 195-207.
12. Mwabvu, T. & Sasa A. 2009. The influence of environmental parameters on the abundance, distribution and species composition of macro-invertebrates in Fletcher Dam, Zimbabwe. African Journal of Ecology 47: 502-508.
13. Mwabvu, T., Hamer, M. L. & Slotow, R. L. 2009. A new species of Bicoxidens Attems, (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida, Spirostreptidae) species from northern Zimbabwe. ZooKeys 7: 75-81.
14. Mwabvu, T., Hamer, M., Slotow, R. & Barraclough, D. 2009. A revision of the taxonomy and distribution of Spirostreptus Brandt 1833 (Diplopoda: Spirostreptida: Spirostreptidae). Zootaxa 2211:36-56.
15. Mwabvu, T., Hamer, M., Slotow, R. & Barraclough, D. 2009. A revision of the taxonomy and distribution of Plagiotaphrus (Diplopoda: Spirostreptida: Spirostreptidae). Zootaxa 2304:51-60.
16. Mwabvu, T. & Van den Spiegel, D. 2007. On the generic position of Pseudotibiozus montanus (Attems, 1909) (Spirostreptida: Spirostreptidae). Journal of Afrotropical Zoology 3: 35-40.
17. Mwabvu, T., Hamer, M. & Slotow, R. 2007. A taxonomic review and description of three new species; and phylogeny of the southern African millipede genus, Bicoxidens (Diplopoda: Spirostreptida: Spirostreptidae). Zootaxa 1452: 1-23.
18. Mwabvu, T. 2006. Spirostreptid millipedes (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida) of urban and peri-urban habitats in Zimbabwe. African Journal of Ecology 45 (3): 311-314.