Biodiversity of Mahale Mountains National Park, Tanzania | Report ...

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Biodiversity of Mahale Mountains National Park 7. CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS This survey was comparatively limited in time and geographical scope. However, much information was added to what was know about the biodiversity of Mahale Mountains National Park in the five taxa surveyed. Potentially, there will be as many as four species new to science described from the collections. There were several major range extensions for reptiles and one confirmation of a snake new to Tanzania. Another important finding is the importance of Mahale to migratory birds. Both European and Intra-African migratory birds depend heavily on the park. The lakeshore is a conduit for water birds of many species and wave lift off the Mahale ridge is used by soaring birds to gain altitude as they migrate along the mountains. Furthermore, the park itself is an important resting and feeding place for many migrants. 7.1 Density estimations From analysis of survey data, it is obvious that generating density estimates for many species of mammals and birds in the park will be difficult or impossible. In this study, encounter rates were used as the best surrogate for density. For this there is no minimum sample size. To calculate a robust density estimate using Distance, it is necessary to have a minimum sample of at least 100 contacts with the species of interest (Thomas et. al., 2004, Plumptre 2000, Moyer 1995). This number of contacts was not achieved for most of the species sampled, even when data are pooled across sites. If density data are needed for a specific taxa, it is advisable to carry out a pilot study to determine the amount of effort and time that need to be invested in the survey to achieve a desired level of precision in population estimates (Plumptre 2000). However, in Mahale, the encounter rates with species counted during this survey can be used for this purpose. For a monitoring program to be able to detect change in a mammal or bird population, it will be necessary to use a variety of methods and a repetition over time (Plumptre 2000). The choice of which species to monitor in Mahale must be made carefully so that the taxa selected will be a good surrogate for population trends of biodiversity in general. 7.2 Survey priorities Data compiled in this report from past records and recent fieldwork cover only a very small part, and limited habitat types, of Mahale Mountains National Park. Furthermore, since the surveys took place at only one time of year, there is still much to be learned about the flora and fauna, even in the sites that have already been covered. Large areas of the park in the south and east should be covered in follow-up surveys. These areas are more homogeneous and cover less of a gradient in habitat and altitude. Results from a few carefully chosen sites will be sufficient to describe a large part of the biodiversity of these areas. This is particularly true in areas covered in Miombo woodland. However, even there assumptions must not be made about the similarity of this habitat. Past researchers reported that the miombo woodlands covering the Kabezi Ridge and eastern parts of the park are much richer than those in the south of the park (Ulfstrand & Lamprey 1960). Large portions of the eastern part of the park are covered in solid-stemmed bamboo, Oxytenanthera abyssinica. This habitat is comparatively devoid of biodiversity (Itani 1990, pers. obsv.). Nevertheless, it will be worthwhile to do surveys in this habitat for comparative purposes. Future surveys should invest more effort in the inventory of small mammals. Bats, in particular, are very poorly known in the park. However, there is still much to be learned about the rodents and insectivores as well. Surveys focused on these groups would make an extremely valuable contribution to the biodiversity inventory of the park. The inventory of reptiles and amphibians is at a very preliminary stage. Focused surveys should be carried out during the peak of the rainy season to get a better idea of diversity of these groups in the different habitats. Wildlife Conservation Society 23
Biodiversity of Mahale Mountains National Park Very little is know about the invertebrates of Mahale but there are a few publications that contain information on specimens collected there (Kielland 1990, Carcason 1966, Cooke 1964, Pinhey 1959). No systematic surveys have been done since Mahale was gazetted as a national park. At the very least, a checklist of Lepidoptera and Odonata should be compiled from the literature. In common with many of the taxa in Mahale, the aquatic biodiversity of Mahale has not received much attention in the past. There are general publications covering biodiversity surveys in Lake Tanganyika, but not much specific to Mahale (see Patterson & Makin 1998 and references therein). 7.3 Monitoring and research priorities Ecological Monitoring There are many aspects of the ecology of Mahale Mountains National Park that would be good to monitor. Obviously, funding, time and availability of field staff are major constraints. However, it is important to define a minimum number of parameters that will hopefully serve as a surrogate for biodiversity in general and get a monitoring program started. Some of the priorities that come to mind are as follow: 1. The trend in evergreen forest cover in the park. 2. Map the extent and timing of all bush fires in the park. 3. Monitor vegetation changes in large areas of montane habitat where Montane Bamboo has recently flowered and died back. 4. Set up permanent transects in various parts of the park to monitor large mammal populations. 5. Select several areas in the park and design a systematic camera trapping project be repeated on a 3 – 5 year interval. 6. Set up permanent photo points from which panoramic photos of portions of the park can be taken annually to monitor long-term vegetation changes. Research Research should not be a top priority of MEMP or TANAPA unless the results directly support and influence park management, monitoring, and conservation planning. Recent implementation of a project to study chimpanzee nest decay rate in Kasoge is an excellent example of focused research with an extremely useful output. Results of this study will be used in surveys and monitoring of chimpanzee populations throughout the park and ecosystem. The nest-decay study should be extended to areas along the Kabezi River where chimpanzees often build nests in the miombo woodlands. These areas are dryer, the nests persist longer and the decay rate will be very different. If the decay rate can be determined accurately for both forest and woodland, then confidence in density estimates of chimpanzee density in the region will increase. 7.4 Conservation priorities The most pressing conservation priority in the Mahale ecosystem is the potential loss of connectivity. This is a large-scale issue that can only be tackled with District and National level support and a major effort at developing a land-use plan for the whole area. This must include both Mpanda and Kigoma Districts and have high-level political support. The stakes in this are high and the time is short. Connectivity to the east to the Wansisi Hills and Katavi is important for elephant movements as is the connection via Kakungu / Lubalisi to Ntakata and the Sitebe-Sifuta mountains and from there up to the Kasakati and Filabanga, Uvinza Forest Reserve and Ugalla Game Reserve. Wildlife Conservation Society 24
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Page 5 and 6: 2. BACKGROUND Biodiversity of Mahal
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Page 29 and 30: 8. REFERENCES Biodiversity of Mahal
Page 39 and 40: Stonechat √ Striped Kingfisher
Page 55 and 56: Monanthotaxis buchananii Monanthota
Page 57 and 58: Baikaea insignis Baphiopsis parvifl
Page 59 and 60: Drypetes natalensis Erythrococca at
Page 61 and 62: Gladiolus erectiflorus Gladiolus gr
Page 63 and 64: †Thecacoris lucida Orchidaceae Ae
Page 65 and 66: Rothmannia longiflora Rothmannia ma
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