@phdthesis{Bergner2003,
  author    = {Bergner, Andreas G. N.},
  title     = {Lake-level fluctuations and Late Quaternary climate change in the Central Kenya Rift},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0001428},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2003},
  abstract  = {Diese Arbeit besch{\"a}ftigt sich mit der Rekonstruktion von Klima in historischen Zeiten im tropischen Ostafrika. Nach einer {\"U}bersicht {\"u}ber die heutigen klimatischen Bedingungen der Tropen und den Besonderheiten des ostafrikanischen Klimas, werden die M{\"o}glichkeiten der Klimarekonstruktion anhand von Seesedimenten diskutiert. Es zeigt sich, dass die hoch gelegenen Seen des Zentralen Keniarifts, als Teil des Ostafrikanischen Grabensystems, besonders geeignete Klimaarchive darstellen, da sie sensibel auf klimatische Ver{\"a}nderungen reagieren. Ver{\"a}nderungen der Seechemie, wie sie in den Sedimenten aufgezeichnet werden, eignen sich um die nat{\"u}rlichen Schwankungen in der Quart{\"a}ren Klimageschichte Ostafrikas nachzuzeichnen. Basierend auf der guten 40Ar/39Ar- und 14C-Datierbarkeit der Seesedimente wird eine Chronologie der pal{\"a}o{\"o}kologischen Bedingungen anhand von Diatomeenvergesellschaftungen restauriert. Dabei zeigen sich f{\"u}r die Seen Nakuru, Elmenteita und Naivasha kurzfristige Transgression/ Regressions-Zyklen im Intervall von ca. 11.000 Jahren w{\"a}hrend des letzten (ca. 12.000 bis 6.000 J.v.H.) und vorletzten Interglazials (ca. 140.000 bis 60.000 J.v.H.). Zus{\"a}tzlich kann ein allgemeiner, langfristiger Trend der Seeentwicklung von großen Frischwasserseen hin zu st{\"a}rker salinen Gew{\"a}ssern innerhalb der letzen 1 Mio. Jahre festgestellt werden. Mittels Transferfunktionen und einem hydro-klimatischen Modellansatz k{\"o}nnen die restaurierten limnologischen Bedingungen als klimatische Schwankungen des Einzugsgebietes interpretiert werden. Wenngleich auch der zus{\"a}tzliche Einfluss von tektonischen Ver{\"a}nderungen auf das Seeeinzugsgebiet und das Gewicht ver{\"a}nderter Grundwasserstr{\"o}me abgewogen werden, zeigt sich, dass allein geringf{\"u}gig erh{\"o}hte Niederschlagswerte von ca. 30±10 \% zu dramatischen Seespiegelanstiegen im Zentralen Keniarift f{\"u}hren. Aufgrund der etablierten hydrrologisch-klimatischen Wechselwirkungen werden R{\"u}ckschl{\"u}sse auf die nat{\"u}rliche Variabilit{\"a}t des ostafrikanischen Klimas gezogen. Zudem wird die Sensitivit{\"a}t der Keniarift-Seen in Bezug auf die St{\"a}rke der {\"a}quatorialen Insolation und hinsichtilch variabler Oberfl{\"a}chenwassertemperaturen des Indischen Ozeans bewertet.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Kristen2009,
  author    = {Kristen, Iris},
  title     = {Investigations on rainfall variability during the late Quaternary based on geochemical analyses of lake sediments from tropical and subtropical southern Africa},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-32547},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2009},
  abstract  = {This thesis presents investigations on sediments from two African lakes which have been recording changes in their surrounding environmental and climate conditions since more than 200,000 years. Focus of this work is the time of the last Glacial and the Holocene (the last ~100,000 years before present [in the following 100 kyr BP]). One important precondition for this kind of research is a good understanding of the present ecosystems in and around the lakes and of the sediment formation under modern climate conditions. Both studies therefore include investigations on the modern environment (including organisms, soils, rocks, lake water and sediments). A 90 m long sediment sequence was investigated from Lake Tswaing (north-eastern South Africa) using geochemical analyses. These investigations document alternating periods of high detrital input and low (especially autochthonous) organic matter content and periods of low detrital input, carbonatic or evaporitic sedimentation and high autochthonous organic matter content. These alternations are interpreted as changes between relatively humid and arid conditions, respectively. Before c. 75 kyr BP, they seem to follow changes in local insolation whereas afterwards they appear to be acyclic and are probably caused by changes in ocean circulation and/or in the mean position of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Today, these factors have main influence on precipitation in this area where rainfall occurs almost exclusively during austral summer. All modern organisms were analysed for their biomarker and bulk organic and compound-specific stable carbon isotope composition. The same investigations on sediments from the modern lake floor document the mixed input of the investigated individual organisms and reveal additional influences by methanotrophic bacteria. A comparison of modern sediment characteristics with those of sediments covering the time 14 to 2 kyr BP shows changes in the productivity of the lake and the surrounding vegetation which are best explained by changes in hydrology. More humid conditions are indicated for times older than 10 kyr BP and younger than 7.5 kyr BP, whereas arid conditions prevailed in between. These observations agree with the results from sediment composition and indications from other climate archives nearby. The second lake study deals with Lake Challa, a small, deep crater lake on the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. In this lake form mm-scale laminated sediments which were analyses with micro-XRF scanning for changes in the element composition. By comparing these results with investigations on thin sections, results from ongoing sediment trap studies, meteorological data, and investigations on the surrounding rocks and soils, I develop a model for seasonal variability in the limnology and sedimentation of Lake Challa. The lake appears to be stratified during the warm rain seasons (October - December and March - May) during which detrital material is delivered to the lake and carbonates precipitate. On the lake floor forms a dark lamina with high contents of Fe and Ti and high Ca/Al and low Mn/Fe ratios. Diatoms bloom during the cool and windy season (June - September) when mixing down to c. 60 m depth provides easily bio-available nutrients. Contemporaneously, Fe and Mn-oxides are precipitating which cause high Mn/Fe ratios in the light diatom-rich laminae of the sediments. Trends in the Mn/Fe ratio of the sediments are interpreted to reflect changes in the intensity or duration of seasonal mixing in Lake Challa. This interpretation is supported by parallel changes in the organic matter and biogenic silica content observed in the 22 m long profile recovered from Lake Challa. This covers the time of the last 25 kyr BP. It documents a transition around 16 kyr BP from relatively well-mixed conditions with high detrital input during glacial times to stronger stratified conditions which are probably related to increasing lake levels in Challa and generally more humid conditions in East Africa. Intensified mixing is recorded for the time of the Younger Dryas and the period between 11.4 and 10.7 kyr BP. For these periods, reduced intensity of the SW monsoon and intensified NE monsoon are reported from archives of the Indian-Asian Monsoon region, arguing for the latter as a probable source for wind mixing in Lake Challa. This connection is probably also responsible for contemporaneous events in the Mn/Fe ratios of the Lake Challa sediments and in other records of northern hemisphere monsoon intensity during the Holocene and underlines the close interaction of global low latitude atmospheric circulation.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Audretsch2010,
  author    = {Audretsch, Andreas},
  title     = {Zur Entstehung von Good Governance : Gr{\"u}nde, Muster und Bedingungen einer afrikanischen Entwicklung ; das Beispiel Ghana},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-42310},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2010},
  abstract  = {Ghana ist ein Musterbeispiel daf{\"u}r, dass ein Entwicklungsland den Weg zu Good Governance schaffen kann. In vielen Studien wird dem Land im afrikanischen Vergleich heute bescheinigt, hier ein Vorreiter zu sein. Dies ist Ausgangslage der vorliegenden Studie, die der Frage nachgeht „Welche Gr{\"u}nde, Muster und Bedingungen f{\"u}hren zur Entstehung von Good Governance?". Im Zentrum der vorliegenden Studie steht, wie aus der erkenntnisleitenden Fragestellung hervorgeht, eine empirische Untersuchung zur Entstehung von Good Governance und damit ein Transformationsprozess. Dieser wird bewusst {\"u}ber einen sehr langen Zeitraum ({\"u}ber ein halbes Jahrhundert) untersucht, um auch langfristige Entwicklungen einbeziehen zu k{\"o}nnen. Die Studie wird mit Hilfe eines „Mixed-Methods-Ansatzes" sowohl unter R{\"u}ckgriff auf quantitative als auch auf qualitative Methoden durchgef{\"u}hrt, was sich im R{\"u}ckblick als sehr ertragreich erwiesen hat. Zun{\"a}chst wird die Qualit{\"a}t der Governance {\"u}ber den gesamten Zeitraum anhand von sechs Indikatoren gemessen. Danach werden qualitativ die Gr{\"u}nde f{\"u}r die Fort- und R{\"u}ckschritte analysiert. Dabei lassen sich immer wieder Systematiken herausarbeiten, wie zum Beispiel zirkul{\"a}re Entwicklungen, die {\"u}ber viele Jahre den Weg hin zu Good Governance verhinderten, bis jeweils Ausbr{\"u}che aus den Kreisl{\"a}ufen geschafft werden konnten. Sowohl in der demokratischen und rechtsstaatlichen Entwicklung als auch bezogen auf die Versorgung der Bev{\"o}lkerung mit {\"o}ffentlichen G{\"u}tern und die wirtschaftliche Entwicklung. Auch wenn die verschiedenen Bereiche von Good Governance zun{\"a}chst einzeln untersucht werden, so zeigen sich gleichzeitig deutlich die Wechselwirkungen der Komponenten. Zum Beispiel kristallisiert sich klar heraus, dass Rechtsstaatlichkeit sowohl auf die Stabilit{\"a}t politischer Systeme wirkt, als auch auf die wirtschaftliche Entwicklung. Ebenso beeinflussen diese wiederum die Korruption. {\"A}hnliche Verkn{\"u}pfungen lassen sich auch bei allen anderen Bereichen nachvollziehen. Die Entwicklung eines Landes kann also nur unter Ber{\"u}cksichtigung eines komplexen Governance-Systems verstanden und erkl{\"a}rt werden. Dabei k{\"o}nnen die Wechselwirkungen entweder konstruktiv oder destruktiv sein. Die Verflechtungen der einzelnen Bereiche werden in einem Negativ- und dann in einem Positiv-Szenario festgehalten. Diese Idealtypen-Bildung spitzt die Erkenntnisse der vorliegenden Arbeit zu und dient dem analytischen Verst{\"a}ndnis der untersuchten Prozesse. Die Untersuchung zeigt, wie Good Governance {\"u}ber das Zusammenspiel verschiedener Faktoren entstehen kann und dass es wissenschaftlich sehr ertragreich ist, Transformationsforschung auf ein komplexes Governance-System auszuweiten. Hierbei werden die vielen empirisch erarbeiteten Ergebnisse zu den einzelnen Transformationen zu komplexen, in sich greifenden Gesamtszenarien zusammengef{\"u}hrt. Da es bisher keine explizite Good Governance-Transformationsforschung gab, wurde hiermit ein erster Schritt in diese Richtung getan. Es wird dar{\"u}ber hinaus deutlich, dass eine Transformation zu Good Governance nicht durch eine kurzfristige Ver{\"a}nderung der Rahmenbedingungen zu erreichen ist. Es geht um kulturelle Ver{\"a}nderungen, um Lernprozesse, um langfristige Entwicklungen, die in der Studie am Beispiel Ghana analysiert werden. In vielen vorangegangenen Transformationsstudien wurde diese zeitliche Komponente vernachl{\"a}ssigt. Ghana hat bereits viele Schritte getan, um einen Weg in die Zukunft und zu Good Governance zu finden. Die Untersuchung dieser Schritte ist Kern der vorliegenden Arbeit. Der Weg Ghanas ist jedoch noch nicht abgeschlossen.},
  language  = {de}
}
@book{Kaltschew2010,
  author    = {Kaltschew, Kristian},
  title     = {Das politische System Kenias : Autokratie versus Demokratie},
  publisher = {Universit{\"a}tsverlag Potsdam},
  address   = {Potsdam},
  isbn      = {978-3-86956-097-7},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-47947},
  publisher      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {108},
  year      = {2010},
  abstract  = {Kenia erlangt Anfang der 1960er seine Unabh{\"a}ngigkeit und wird in der Folge von den Pr{\"a}sidenten Kenyatta und sp{\"a}ter Moi autorit{\"a}r regiert. Als Konsequenz des internationalen und nationalen Druckes werden 1991 wieder Mehrparteienwahlen zugelassen. Die Hoffnungen auf einen Trendwechsel werden zun{\"a}chst aber nicht erf{\"u}llt. Pr{\"a}sident Moi bleibt bei den Wahlen 1992 und 1997 siegreich und versucht jeden m{\"o}glichen Reformprozess aufzuhalten bzw. zu verlangsamen. Mit dem neu gew{\"a}hlten Pr{\"a}sidenten Kibaki entsteht 2002 die Hoffnung auf Ver{\"a}nderung. Aber als alter Wegbegleiter Mois erf{\"u}llt Kibaki nicht die internationalen und nationalen Erwartungen. Moi und Kibaki organisieren jeweils kontra-demokratische Eliten hinter sich und nutzen das m{\"a}chtige Pr{\"a}sidentenamt, die st{\"a}rkste Institution im politischen System Kenias, um den Status quo so lange wie m{\"o}glich zu erhalten. Die Parteien werden weder durch die Regierung noch durch die Opposition zu starken Institutionen transformiert und das unstete Verhalten der Geberl{\"a}nder vermag den Einfluss der autorit{\"a}ren F{\"u}hrung nicht dauerhaft einzuschr{\"a}nken.},
  language  = {de}
}
@book{Wernert2011,
  author    = {Wernert, Yann},
  title     = {Die Rolle der Afrikanischen Union in den Regionalkonflikten von Somalia und Sudan},
  publisher = {Universit{\"a}tsverlag Potsdam},
  address   = {Potsdam},
  isbn      = {978-3-86956-154-7},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-53938},
  publisher      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {89},
  year      = {2011},
  abstract  = {In der vorliegenden Arbeit analysiert Yann Wernert die Rolle der Afrikanischen Union im Rahmen von Regionalkonflikten in Afrika. Dabei wird insbesondere Wert auf die konkrete Vorgehensweise der Afrikanischen Union in den jeweiligen Konflikten gelegt. Untersucht wird der B{\"u}rgerkrieg in Somalia sowie die Versuche seitens der internationalen Gemeinschaft, eine stabile politische Ordnung wieder aufzubauen. Ebenfalls analysiert wird der Darfur-Konflikt im Sudan und die M{\"o}glichkeiten, den regelm{\"a}ßig stattfindenden Massakern Einhalt zu gebieten. Der Untersuchungszeitraum erstreckt sich von 2003 bis 2007.},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{Bibi2018,
  author    = {Bibi, Faysal},
  title     = {Paleoecology and evolution in the Afro-Arabian neogene},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {This cumulative habilitation thesis presents new work on the systematics, paleoecology, and evolution of antelopes and other large mammals, focusing mainly on the late Miocene to Pleistocene terrestrial fossil record of Africa and Arabia. The studies included here range from descriptions of new species to broad-scale analyses of diversification and community evolution in large mammals over millions of years. A uniting theme is the evolution, across both temporal and spatial scales, of the environments and faunas that characterize modern African savannas today. One conclusion of this work is that macroevolutionary changes in large mammals are best characterized at regional (subcontinental to continental) and long-term temporal scales. General views of evolution developed on records that are too restricted in spatial and temporal extent are likely to ascribe too much influence to local or short-lived events. While this distinction in the scale of analysis and interpretation may seem trivial, it is challenging to implement given the geographically and temporally uneven nature of the fossil record, and the difficulties of synthesizing spatially and temporally dispersed datasets. This work attempts to do just that, bringing together primary fossil discoveries from eastern Africa to Arabia, from the Miocene to the Pleistocene, and across a wide range of (mainly large mammal) taxa. The end result is support for hypotheses stressing the impact of both climatic and biotic factors on long-term faunal change, and a more geographically integrated view of evolution in the African fossil record.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{WusterChirioTrapeetal.2018,
  author    = {Wuster, Wolfgang and Chirio, Laurent and Trape, Jean-Francois and Ineich, Ivan and Jackson, Kate and Greenbaum, Eli and Barron, Cesar and Kusamba, Chifundera and Nagy, Zoltan T. and Storey, Richard and Hall, Cara and Wuster, Catharine E. and Barlow, Axel and Broadley, Donald G.},
  title     = {Integration of nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequences and morphology reveals unexpected diversity in the forest cobra (Naja melanoleuca) species complex in Central and West Africa (Serpentes: Elapidae)},
  series = {Zootaxa : an international journal of zootaxonomy ; a rapid international journal for animal taxonomists},
  volume    = {4455},
  journal   = {Zootaxa : an international journal of zootaxonomy ; a rapid international journal for animal taxonomists},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {Magnolia Press},
  address   = {Auckland},
  issn      = {1175-5326},
  doi       = {10.11646/zootaxa.4455.1.3},
  pages     = {68 -- 98},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {Cobras are among the most widely known venomous snakes, and yet their taxonomy remains incompletely understood, particularly in Africa. Here, we use a combination of mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences and morphological data to diagnose species limits within the African forest cobra, Naja (Boulengerina) melanoleuca. Mitochondrial DNA sequences reveal deep divergences within this taxon. Congruent patterns of variation in mtDNA, nuclear genes and morphology support the recognition of five separate species, confirming the species status of N. subfulva and N. peroescobari, and revealing two previously unnamed West African species, which are described as new: Naja (Boulengerina) guineensis sp. nov. Broadley, Trape, Chirio, Ineich \& Wuster, from the Upper Guinea forest of West Africa, and Naja (Boulengerina) savannula sp. nov. Broadley, Trape, Chirio \& Wuster, a banded form from the savanna-forest mosaic of the Guinea and Sudanian savannas of West Africa. The discovery of cryptic diversity in this iconic group highlights our limited understanding of tropical African biodiversity, hindering our ability to conserve it effectively.},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{ReinhardtLierschAbdeladhimetal.2018,
  author    = {Reinhardt, Julia and Liersch, Stefan and Abdeladhim, Mohamed Arbi and Diallo, Mori and Dickens, Chris and Fournet, Samuel and Hattermann, Fred and Kabaseke, Clovis and Muhumuza, Moses and Mul, Marloes L. and Pilz, Tobias and Otto, Ilona M. and Walz, Ariane},
  title     = {Systematic evaluation of scenario assessments supporting sustainable integrated natural resources management},
  series = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe},
  journal   = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe},
  number    = {930},
  issn      = {1866-8372},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-44578},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-445784},
  pages     = {36},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {Scenarios have become a key tool for supporting sustainability research on regional and global change. In this study we evaluate four regional scenario assessments: first, to explore a number of research challenges related to sustainability science and, second, to contribute to sustainability research in the specific case studies. The four case studies used commonly applied scenario approaches that are (i) a story and simulation approach with stakeholder participation in the Oum Zessar watershed, Tunisia, (ii) a participatory scenario exploration in the Rwenzori region, Uganda, (iii) a model-based prepolicy study in the Inner Niger Delta, Mali, and (iv) a model coupling-based scenario analysis in upper Thukela basin, South Africa. The scenario assessments are evaluated against a set of known challenges in sustainability science, with each challenge represented by two indicators, complemented by a survey carried out on the perception of the scenario assessments within the case study regions. The results show that all types of scenario assessments address many sustainability challenges, but that the more complex ones based on story and simulation and model coupling are the most comprehensive. The study highlights the need to investigate abrupt system changes as well as governmental and political factors as important sources of uncertainty. For an in-depth analysis of these issues, the use of qualitative approaches and an active engagement of local stakeholders are suggested. Studying ecological thresholds for the regional scale is recommended to support research on regional sustainability. The evaluation of the scenario processes and outcomes by local researchers indicates the most transparent scenario assessments as the most useful. Focused, straightforward, yet iterative scenario assessments can be very relevant by contributing information to selected sustainability problems.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ReinhardtLierschAbdeladhimetal.2018,
  author    = {Reinhardt, Julia and Liersch, Stefan and Abdeladhim, Mohamed Arbi and Diallo, Mori and Dickens, Chris and Fournet, Samuel and Hattermann, Fred and Kabaseke, Clovis and Muhumuza, Moses and Mul, Marloes L. and Pilz, Tobias and Otto, Ilona M. and Walz, Ariane},
  title     = {Systematic evaluation of scenario assessments supporting sustainable integrated natural resources management},
  series = {Ecology and society : a journal of integrative science for resilience and sustainability},
  volume    = {23},
  journal   = {Ecology and society : a journal of integrative science for resilience and sustainability},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {Resilience Alliance},
  address   = {Wolfville},
  issn      = {1708-3087},
  doi       = {10.5751/ES-09728-230105},
  pages     = {34},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {Scenarios have become a key tool for supporting sustainability research on regional and global change. In this study we evaluate four regional scenario assessments: first, to explore a number of research challenges related to sustainability science and, second, to contribute to sustainability research in the specific case studies. The four case studies used commonly applied scenario approaches that are (i) a story and simulation approach with stakeholder participation in the Oum Zessar watershed, Tunisia, (ii) a participatory scenario exploration in the Rwenzori region, Uganda, (iii) a model-based prepolicy study in the Inner Niger Delta, Mali, and (iv) a model coupling-based scenario analysis in upper Thukela basin, South Africa. The scenario assessments are evaluated against a set of known challenges in sustainability science, with each challenge represented by two indicators, complemented by a survey carried out on the perception of the scenario assessments within the case study regions. The results show that all types of scenario assessments address many sustainability challenges, but that the more complex ones based on story and simulation and model coupling are the most comprehensive. The study highlights the need to investigate abrupt system changes as well as governmental and political factors as important sources of uncertainty. For an in-depth analysis of these issues, the use of qualitative approaches and an active engagement of local stakeholders are suggested. Studying ecological thresholds for the regional scale is recommended to support research on regional sustainability. The evaluation of the scenario processes and outcomes by local researchers indicates the most transparent scenario assessments as the most useful. Focused, straightforward, yet iterative scenario assessments can be very relevant by contributing information to selected sustainability problems.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{NeiberKahlWiggeringetal.2019,
  author    = {Neiber, Marco Thomas and Kahl, Sandra M. and Wiggering, Benedikt and Glaubrecht, Matthias},
  title     = {Adding the West-African riverine component},
  series = {Zootaxa : an international journal of zootaxonomy ; a rapid international journal for animal taxonomists},
  volume    = {4674},
  journal   = {Zootaxa : an international journal of zootaxonomy ; a rapid international journal for animal taxonomists},
  number    = {3},
  publisher = {Magnolia Press},
  address   = {Auckland},
  issn      = {1175-5326},
  doi       = {10.11646/zootaxa.4674.3.1},
  pages     = {301 -- 328},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {While Africa's lacustrine gastropod fauna, in particular of Lake Tanganyika, has received much attention, the continent's riverine malacofauna has long been neglected. Pseudocleopatra is a relatively poorly known paludomid gastropod genus with species found throughout the lower reaches of the West African Volta and Congo rivers. In the course of ongoing systematic revisions of African paludomids, we present here a morphometric analysis and revision of the recent species assigned to the genus, i.e., P. togoensis, P. voltana, P. dartevellei and P. bennikei, to improve taxonomic acuity for this group. We use available museum material for geometric morphometrics, multivariate ratio analysis and comparisons of radular and opercular characters. Our results demonstrate that the four recent species of Pseudocleopatra are clearly distinguishable on the basis of ratios of shell measurements as well as radular and opercular characters. Pseudocleopatra has generic-level synapomorphies including: concentric opercula with relatively large paucispiral nuclei, and rachidian radular teeth with usually 13-20 cusps. On the basis of this characterisation, the nominal species Cleopatra broecki is transferred to Pseudocleopatra. Additionally, the nominal taxon P. bennikei is synonymized with P. broecki n. comb. The phylogenetic relationships of Pseudocleopatra are currently unknown, but the observed tendency of some fossil taxa assigned to Pseudocleopatra towards thalassoidism, i.e., the resemblance to marine gastropods, has led to the hypothesis that some of the thalassoid endemics in Lake Tanganyika may have originated from or be related to Pseudocleopatra. Should this hypothesis be correct, which is in need of testing by molecular genetic methods when suitable samples become available, Pseudocleopatra may play a crucial role in understanding of the evolution of thalassoidism in African Paludomidae.},
  language  = {en}
}