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Impact of Frog Collection for Dissection in Secondary Schools on Wild Frog Populations in Tanzania *Ignas Safari and Julius Nyahongo Department of Conservation Biology, University of Dodoma, P. O. Box 338, Dodoma –Tanzania *Email for correspondence: safariignas@yahoo.co.uk Abstract Studies have revealed alarming amphibian decline throughout the world. In Tanzania, frogs are still freely collected from the wild for dissection training in high schools. The study assessed frogs collected for dissection purposes by six high schools from Dodoma and Dar es Salaam Regions in order to establish the impact on long term survival of frogs in Tanzania. Frog specimens preserved for dissection purposes in laboratories of six selected high schools were identified to species level, counted, measured and the conservation status of each species according to the IUCN Red List determined. Field surveys were also conducted at various wetland sites to determine and compare species diversity and abundance of frogs between wetlands with different intensities of frog collection with wetland sites where there was no frog collection. In addition, questionnaires were distributed to six biology teachers and 190 students to seek their opinions and concerns about frog dissection exercises. Five frog species from four different families were found to be most often collected for dissection in the studied schools. Wetlands where frogs were collected for dissection purposes had lower species diversity but higher abundance than wetlands where there was no frog collection; although the difference was insignificant. A high school biology student in Tanzania was found to dissect an average of 2.9 ± 2.5 frogs annually. The Ministry of Education and Vocational Training in Tanzania is advised to review the use of frog dissection in high schools biology curriculum in order to ensure that the declining amphibian populations in the country are not overexploited for specimens used in dissections. Environmental history of the Virunga Volcanoes of south-western Uganda: sediment-based evidence *May L. Murungi and Julius B. Lejju Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda *E-mail for correspondence: maymurung@gmail.com Abstract The Virunga volcanoes of south western Uganda located along the borders of Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo within the Albertine rift – one of the most important conservation areas in Africa - are globally recognized for their rich biodiversity. How these highlands responded to past environmental perturbations remains poorly resolved due to lack of long term instrumental data in the area. Sediment cores were extracted from a crater lake on the summit of Mount Muhavura and analysed for plant microfossils (phytoliths) in order to reconstruct the vegetation history. Results indicate that the last ca.2200 years were dominated by fluctuations between grasses of subfamily Pooideae flourishing in cold habitat/high altitudes and grass subfamilies found in warm and wet habitats. Vegetation indices indicate alternating cold and warm wet conditions throughout the last 2000 years with Pooideae grasses dominating from ca.2000 years to 1600 years before present. However, warm and wet climate grasses steadily increased from 1600 years peaking in the last 60 years to present times, suggesting a possible shift to warmer and humid environmental conditions. The variation in grassland on Mt. Muhavura appears to be natural and not a result of anthropogenic activity as the impact of fire remains very low throughout the last 2000 years affirming the fact that climate is driven by natural drivers even in protected areas. In the absence of human impact, conservationists need to find alternative solutions in order to mitigate environmental change in the face of a changing climate. Keywords:Crater lake, Mt. Muhavura, Phytoliths, Vegetation, Climate, South western Uganda Keywords:Amphibian decline, Amphibian conservation, frog dissection, IUCN Red List, Tanzania TAAG First African Student’s Conference, Nairobi. 2-4 July, 2013 24
Altitudinal Distribution of Amphibians and Prevalence of Chytrid Fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda Sekisambu Robert S. Makerere University Department of Enviornmental Sciences, Uganda Email for correspondence: rsekisambu@gmail.com Abstract Amphibians are vulnerable taxa yet poorly known particularly in the Albertine Rift where many rare and endemic species occur. I report on the diversity and altitudinal distribution of amphibians in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the incidence of Chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) –the causative agent of Chytridiomycosis disease associated with a global decline in amphibian populations and rapid species extinctions. I adopted the time constrained Visual Encounter Survey (VES) to sample 45 sites in 9 major sectors of Bwindi (1190m -2607m) for 41 field days (68.5 hours) between December 2010 and September 2011. A total of 1,309 frogs were encountered representing 36 amphibian species, two (Ptychadenaanchietae and Leptopeliscalcaratus) of which were new records for Uganda. Although the highest number of species (25) were encountered at mid altitude (1600m-2000m), there was a monotonic linear decline in the number of species encountered per hour with increase in altitude. The number of individuals of a dominant species Leptopeliskivuensis increased with increase in altitude. Out of the 197 frogs sampled, 37 frogs (18.8%) tested positive for Chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrim dendrobatidis) and prevalence increased with increase in altitude (R 2 =0.243); these represent 10 out of the 30 species sampled. A rare species Leptopelischristyi had the highest prevalence (100%) of all sampled species. I recommend use of this baseline data for long term monitoring of amphibian diversity much needed in studying altitudinal shifts in species distribution and localized declines in amphibian encounter rates linked to global warming and ecosystem changes in protected areas. Keywords: Fungus, altitude, frogs, Albertine Rift Impacts of Domestic Energy Consumption on Biodiversity Loss: Assessment of Charcoal as Household Energy in Benue State, Nigeria 1,2 *Babalola, Folaranmi D. and 3 Opii, Egbe E. 1 Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy in Africa, University of Pretoria, South Africa 2 Department of Forest Resources Management, University of Ilorin, Nigeria 3 Akperan Orshi College of Agriculture, Yandev, Benue State, Nigeria *Email for correspondence: folababs2000@yahoo.com ABSTRACT Charcoal has been an important domestic cooking energy for many years and has wide market acceptance in developing countries. It has also been discovered that production of charcoal contributes to forest degradation as well as destruction of vast area of tropical forest. It is assumed that increase in the consumption of charcoal at household level will definitely lead to demand for more charcoal and ultimately increase in the production of charcoal to meet the demand; this translates loss of more tree diversities as a result of tree felling for charcoal production. This study was therefore conducted to assess the socio-economic factors influencing consumption of charcoal by household in Benue State, Nigeria. Benue State is located in the middle belt of Nigeria with high level of charcoal production and usage at the household level. Structured questionnaire was administered to selected households within the State. It was discovered that the use of charcoal is on the increase with about 76.7% of the sampled households use charcoal as cooking fuel almost every day of the week. The most competitive alternative cooking fuels to charcoal used by the sampled household were kerosene and firewood. Affordability as a result of cheaper cost (62.8%) and consistent availability constituted the main reasons for using charcoal when compared with other domestic energy sources. Total stoppage to production and usage of charcoal at household level in the short run is not feasible. Therefore, sustainable production of charcoal through plantation establishment to meet timber demand and efficient use of the charcoal at household through introduction of efficient cook stove are recommended to reduce impacts on the remaining natural forests in the study area. Keywords: Charcoal, Domestic energy, Cooking fuel, Preference, Socio-economic factors TAAG First African Student’s Conference, Nairobi. 2-4 July, 2013 25
Page 1 and 2: THE TROPICAL BIOLOGY ASSOCIATION AF
Page 3 and 4: © 2013 by TAAG All rights reserved
Page 5 and 6: TBA African Alumni Group Tropical B
Page 7 and 8: Conference Sponsors and Partners Li
Page 9 and 10: Keynote Speakers Dr. Leon Bennun, D
Page 11 and 12: Table of Contents Pages Cover page
Page 13 and 14: Exploring the Potential of Enhanced
Page 15 and 16: Biodiversity loss, Climate Change a
Page 17 and 18: Conserving the Endemic Birds of the
Page 19 and 20: Analysis of Road Kills in Tsavo-Eas
Page 21 and 22: Diversity, Abundance and Feeding Ec
Page 23: Effort towards Conservation of Bird
Page 27 and 28: Distribution Status of Two Endemic
Page 29 and 30: Conservation and Threats of the Din
Page 31 and 32: The Role of ‘Dryland Wetlands’
Page 33 and 34: Rethinking Youth Capacity Developme
Page 35 and 36: Challenges and opportunities for ef
Page 37 and 38: Exploring the Potential of Enhanced
Page 39 and 40: Managing biological resources: Anth
Page 41 and 42: Human Health and Conservation of Bi
Page 43 and 44: Influence of rooting media and indo
Page 45 and 46: Landscape Connectivity as a Strateg
Page 47 and 48: Periphyton as Inorganic Pollution I
Page 49 and 50: Coping Strategies by Chimpanzees (P
Page 51 and 52: Breeding Habits and Nesting Success
Page 53 and 54: Community Participation in Biodiver
Page 55 and 56: Beehive and honey losses caused by
Page 57 and 58: Status of Soil Properties and Wheat

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