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Safeguarding the future of the African elephant: Society for Conservation Biology (SCB)'s position on the use of ivory for religious objects Stephen MufutauAwoyemi Society for Conservation Biology Email for correspondence: sawoyemi@gmail.com Abstract Global attention has recently been drawn to worrisome levels of elephant massacre for ivory in Africa. The 2013 UNEP Rapid Assessment Report states that at the Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) monitoring sites alone, an estimated 17,000 elephants were poached in 2011 – a figure likely to be 25,000 continent wide. The report estimates the total continental population of elephants to be in the range of 420,000 to 650,000 with just three countries, Botswana, Tanzania and Zimbabwe accounting for well over half of these elephants.Trends reveal alarming declines in Central and West Africa as well as increasing risk of local extinction of some populations. It has been discovered that the demand for ivory in Asia for religious artifacts and trinkets is a substantial driver of elephant poaching in Africa. This catastrophe calls for unprecedented levels of proactive action, deep commitment and collaboration across national borders, disciplines and worldviews. The elephant crisis in Africa must be tackled by addressing the problem from the root cause. Conservation biologists should work with religious leaders to address this challenge by proactively severing the demand for religious ivory and other intended uses of ivory. The Society for Conservation Biology (SCB)’s Religion and Conservation Research Collaborative (RCRC) of the Religion and Conservation Biology Working Group (RCBWG) has crafted a policy position statement on the use of ivory for religious objects. The objective of the position statement is to educate, spread awareness and pave way to engaging religious leaders in dialogue and collaboration to addressing religious ivory in Asia. It is hoped that the statement will stimulate the needed action by government, civil society and the religious community in resolving the crisis of religious ivory and the gruesome impact on the elephant populations and local communities in Africa. Keywords: Ivory, Religion, ivory, elephant tusk Population Status and possible effects of Lantana camara to the native woody species in Adwa district, Ethiopia 1 *Berhane G. Asmelash and 2 Mengisteab HailuUbuy 1 Department of Ecology and Natural Resources Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway 2 Department of Land Resource Management and Environmental Protection, Mekelle University, Ethiopia, Email for correspondence: mmailu@yahoo.com Abstract Invasion of new species to an ecosystem affected the native species diversity. The main objective was to assess the distribution of Lantana camara invasive species and effect on native species abundance in the study area. Randomly selected sampling quadrants (25, 100 and 400m 2 ) were used to test the hypothesis that the L. camara invasive species have significant effect on native species abundance. The study was carried out in 48 plots and various land uses such as exclosures, open area, cultivated lands and home garden. The mean numbers of species (mean ± SE) recorded in the seedling (height < 0.5m and DBH 0.5m and DBH 0.5m and DBH >5cm) were 3.33 ± 0.27, 6.50 ± 0.66 and 2.58 ± 0.31, respectively. The result confirmed that L. camara was the dominant species with highest proportion in the seedling (92%) and sapling (98%) compared to other 30 woody species in the study area. L. camara invasive species in the seedling and sapling stages were significant negatively correlated with altitude, age of the exclosures, Shannon, evenness and equitability (all p0.183). The density of matured L. camarawas significant but negatively correlated (r =-0.487, p = 0.000). Highest abundances of L. camara invasive species per hectare were dominantly recorded and identified in the backyards (8588 ± 3705), followed by open land (7 615 ± 1 045). The cultivated land and exclosures had relatively lower number of invasive species per hectare. Keywords: Invasive species, native species; species richness; relative abundances TAAG First African Student’s Conference, Nairobi. 2-4 July, 2013 38
Managing biological resources: Anthropogenic pressure on plant community structure in Mt. Marsabit forest, Kenya * 1 Eunice W. Githae and 2 David W. Odee 1 School of Natural Resource Management, Narok University College, P. O. Box 861-20500, Narok, Kenya 2 Drylands Research Programme, Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), P. O. Box 20412-00200, Nairobi, Kenya *E-mail for correspondence: egithaeh@gmail.com Abstract Mt. Marsabit forest is the main water catchment in Marsabit district and the main source of foliage for livestock to the surrounding communities. Currently, the forest is under anthropogenic pressure leading to continued habitat degradation and loss of biomass and diversity on the mountain. This study was therefore conducted to identify the impacts of human activities on vegetation structure and composition in order to develop strategies for its conservation and proper management. Fifty two species of trees and shrubs, twelve species of herbs and six species of climbers and lianas were recorded belonging to 35 families and 64 genera. Rubiaceae was the richest family observed with nine species. Rinorea convallaroides (Bak.f.)Eyles ssp. Marsabitensis, Grey-Wilson (Violaceae), an endemic species, and Drypetesgerrardii Hutch. (Euphorbiaceae) had more than a third of the total importance value. Eight vegetation associations were identified based on the dominant species, namely; Croton dichogamous, Strychnos henningsii, Rinorea convallaroides, Erythroxylum emerginatum, Cassipourea malosana, Teclea simplisifolia, Olea europaea and D. gerrardii. Most of the vegetation types were highly disturbed by grazing, honey harvesting and firewood collection. There was a high proportion of open canopies predominated by light-dependent species e.g. Ocimum, Bauhinia and Asparagus species, indicating severity of the disturbance. The density of tree communities with 30 cm diameter at breast height was very low, an indication of climax vegetation elimination. Women and children played a major role in vegetation changes through collection of wood and non-wood forest products as a source of income. The success and future management and conservation strategy of the forest will largely depend on how to reduce the human pressure. This can be done by development of community agroforestry projects in order to provide both wood and non-wood forest products to the communities as well as silvo-pastoralism for high quality fodder for their livestock. Diversity and pathogenicity of ophiostomatoid fungi found on native trees in the Cape Floristic Region Tendai Musvuugwa Stellenbosch University, South Africa Email for correspondence:tmusvuugwa@gmail.com Abstract Almost nothing is known about fungi associated with native trees in South Africa, yet many plant species are evidently threatened by native and exotic fungal species. Ophiostomatoid group of fungi comprise serious plant and human pathogens. It is therefore important to investigate the ecology and diversity of ophiostomatoid fungi associated with native trees in the Cape Floristic Region (CFR) of South Africa. Bark and wood samples were collected from diseased native trees of the CFR. Ophiostomatoid fungi were isolated from collected samples and sequenced for identification. Some of the fungi were tested for their pathogenicity on native trees. Potential vectors (ambrosia and bark beetles and mites) of these fungi were collected and identified. Feeding studies were conducted for some of these mites on the fungi they vector and fungi that they do not normally vector to give an indication of the ease of host jumping. Eighteen ophiostomatoid fungal species have been collected and ten are new species. Some of them were pathogenic on various native tree species such as Rapaneamelanophloeos, Oleacapensis and Curtisiadentata. Numerous beetles and mites were identified as vectors of ophiostomatoid fungi. Some of these mite species feed on ophiostomatoid fungi and showed a high level of specificity towards the fungi they normally vector. Keywords: Ophiostomatoid, pathogenic, vectors Keywords: Biodiversity, Conservation, Community structure, Disturbance, Mt. Marsabit forest, TAAG First African Student’s Conference, Nairobi. 2-4 July, 2013 39
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 and 24: Effort towards Conservation of Bird
Page 25 and 26: Altitudinal Distribution of Amphibi
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: Exploring the Potential of Enhanced
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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