Frontier Tanzania Environmental Research REPORT 110 ...

Kazimzumbwi Forest Reserve
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6.3.3 OPPORTUNISTIC COLLECTION AND OBSERVATIONS
All taxa were collected and observed on a casual basis throughout the survey period.
Opportunistic collections of amphibians and reptiles and observations and vocalisations of larger
mammals were expected to be particularly useful in revealing the presence of species not
encountered in the standardised trapsite techniques and dung and sign surveys.
6.3.4 IDENTIFICATION
In order to verify the identification of species recorded a number of measures were taken.
Whereever possible, two specimens (one male, one female) of each species recorded were taken
and sent to a variety of experts for taxonomic verification (Appendix 2.). Specimens were also
taken of anything that could not be confidently identified in the field or cross-referenced to a
specimen already taken. Detailed habitat notes of capture locations accompanied all specimens in
order to aid identification. Where indirect evidence was being used (for instance in the dung and
sign survey) identifications were based on discussion with trained gameguards/forest guards, a
reference dung collection and by using Walker (1988).
6.4 RESULTS
Fieldwork was carried out over a 12 week period between 26 May 2000 and 5 September 2000. A
total of 52 nights of trapping were accrued from all seven trapsites (Table 14), during which time
4796 Sherman trap-nights, 1749 bucket pitfall trap-nights and 2286 net metre-hours were
completed. The trapsites were spread across the reserve (Figure 16) and encompassed a variety of
habitats. Sites varied little in altitude but steep slopes tended to be associated with Mixed dry
Coastal Forest whilst gentle slopes were associated with woodland and grasslands. Only some
trapsites were associated with water sources.
Table 14 Summary descriptions of trapsites in Kazimzumbwi FR.
Trap
site
Duration Location Altitude
(m asl)
1 4 nights S 06º 55' 56.3"
E 039º 03' 12.4"
Vegetation type Topography Water
association
(& distance)
200 Mixed dry Coastal Forest Gentle mid-slope None
2 8 nights S 06º 56' 40.4"
E 039º 03' 43.2"
140 - 180 Mixed dry Coastal Forest
& Riverine forest
(near railway)
Steep lower- & midslope
& gentle upperslope
Stream
(5-50m)
3 8 nights S 06º 58' 33.1"
E 038º 04' 21.7"
240 Mixed dry Coastal Forest
(near railway)
Gentle mid-slope
None
4 8 nights S 06º 56' 53.5"
E 038º 52' 39.9"
200 - 230 Mixed dry Coastal Forest
& Swamp forest
Steep lower- & midslope
& hilltop
River
(0-50m)
5 8 nights S 06º56'47.6"
E 039º02'30.0"
6 8 nights S 06º57'36. 8"
E 039º02'05.7"
180 Wooded Grassland Gentle lower-slope Swamp
(0-50m)
170 Brachystegia Forest Gentle lower-slope Dry river
(0-50m)
7 8 nights S 06º57'19.5"
E 039º03'43.2"
220 Mixed dry Coastal Forest
(highly disturbed by
pitsawing)
Gentle upper- slope
None
Frontier-TanzaniaCoastal Forest Research Programme