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Distribution and abundance of Invasive Nonindigenous Plant, Mauritius thorns (Caesalpinia decapetala) in Arusha National Park Tanzania Gladys Zacharia Ng’umbi Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) Email for correspondence: gnngumbi@yahoo.com Abstract Invasion by non-indigenous plants is widely considered to be a primary threat to species diversity and ecosystem functions. Ecosystem changes resulting from these invasions may negatively impact native plant communities as a whole, as well as rare and endangered species. The study explored the distribution and abundance of Caesalpinia decapetala in selected sections of Arusha National Park (ANAPA). The sites selected for the study include Old Ngongongare, Park Rest House, Ngurdoto, Rydon, Maliasili, Mweka,Kinandia and Seneto. Roaming surveys for exotic plant mapping were used with the aid of Garmin 76s GPS unit. Results revealed that 143.5 ha out of 222 ha of surveyed areas were heavily infested with C. decapetala across the park. The percentage of land cover that was invested by the species ranged from44.89% to 0.71%. Furthermore, the top three most infested sites are Old Ngongongare (35.515), Kinandia (18.82%) and Seneto (16.94%). The impacts of this species in the park are alarming such as invading the park the Montane forest habitats, and natural glades due to its prolific all-year flowering that allows rapid dispersal of seeds. Another impact was obstruction of patrolling activities in the park due to its possession of thicket thorns. Plan should therefore be put in place to control further the spread of this invasive plant in the park. Keywords:Arusha National Park, geographic information systems, global positioning system, handheld mapping, invasive species. Prevalence of Bovine Tuberculosis in slaughter cattle along the Lyantonde-Mbarara Highway, Uganda 1 Nasaka, J., 2 Masembe, C. and 3 Rwego, B.I. 1 Department of Wildlife and Aquatic Resources Management College of Veterinary medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity 2 Department of Biological Science, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda E-mail for correspondence: njoelia@vetmed.mak.ac.ug Abstract Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis, a member of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC), which also comprises the closely related M. tuberculosis, the major causative agent of human tuberculosis (TB). Bovine tuberculosis is a zoonotic problem in pastoral communities in Uganda. . The main objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in slaughter cattle along this highway and to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices of the various meat handlers involved in the meat business along this Lyantonde-Mbarara Highway. The study was carried out between January and December of 2012. Primary data collection on cross sectional surveys was carried out using "closed-ended", pre-tested structured questionnaires in the study area (Runyakitara and Luganda) were used. Ninety four suspicious tuberculosis samples were collected from slaughtered animals and cultured according to Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) for 8 weeks and later differentiated from the MTC using PCR genomic deletion (Regions of difference) analysis and the HAINLife science Genotype Mycobacterium kit. In the survey, 120 respondents answered questionnaires and majority were men (87.5%). Most of the respondents (60.8%) were aware of tuberculosis in cattle but couldn’t associate the cause to be bacteria. Eating of roasted meat was the highest risk factor to acquiring BTB. Of the 96 samples cultured for bovine TB, seven were positive and belonged to the Mycobacteria Tuberculosis Complex (MTC) whereas six samples were positive for Non tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM). The prevalence of M. bovis was approximately 4.12% and M. tuberculosis (2.1%). There is a high potential for spread of zoonotic diseases like bovine TB from meat sold on highways especially that which is barbecued or roasted on sticks and fresh meat from the roadside meat sellers. There is need for vigilant meat inspection supported by an improved disease surveillance system to safe guard the health of travellers and the general public. Keywords:Mycobacterium bovis, slaughter houses, Bovine tuberculosis, zoonotic and prevalence. TAAG First African Student’s Conference, Nairobi. 2-4 July, 2013 42
Influence of rooting media and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) concentration on rooting and shoot formation of Warburgia ugandensis stem cuttings Florence Akwatulira 1 , Samson Gwali 2 *, John Bosco Lamoris Okullo 1 , Paul Ssegawa 3 , Susan Balaba Tumwebaze 4 , John Richard Mbwambo 5 and Alice Muchugi 6 1 Department of Forest Biology and Ecosystems Management, Faculty of Forestry and Nature Conservation, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda. 2 National Forestry Resources Research Institute, P. O. Box 1752, Kampala, Uganda. 3 Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda. 4 Department of Forest Management, Faculty of Forestry and Nature Conservation, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda. 5 Lushoto Forestry Research Station, Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, P. O. Box 95, Lushoto, Tanzania. 6 Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Kenyatta University, P. O. Box 43844- 00100, Nairobi, Kenya. (ANOVA) and Chi square test. Callusing, root and shoot development were significantly (p
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 and 38: Exploring the Potential of Enhanced
Page 39 and 40: Managing biological resources: Anth
Page 41: Human Health and Conservation of Bi
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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