A Ecological Baseline Surveys Of: - Lake Bisina - Nature Uganda

6.4 Indicator species for biodiversity monitoring
At the moment it may turn out to be a rushed decision to point to any of the species in the list as
potential indicator species. A more useful list would benefit from actual field surveys to establish the
condition of the wetland systems, including among other:-
i. Current nature of the vegetation
ii. Land use schemes in the areas
iii. Pressures and their sources onto the wetland systems
In addition, such a survey would generate actual baseline data on occurrence of species, the
distribution of the species and relative abundance of some common species. On the basis of these
surveys, meaningful indicators would then be identified.
In the meantime a simple monitoring scheme could involve: -
i. Monitoring activity and diversity of insectivorous bats using a bat detector. This approach
would quickly and cheaply yield baseline data through a passive monitoring scheme. These
such data could be used to quickly gain impressions in communities dynamics of insect
eating bats in the different areas
ii. Transect runs to document large mammals or their signs to give insight into which species still
range in the different areas
iii. Trapping along the transects to document species and their relative abundance of the small
mammals in the areas.
These approaches will then help to collect data on the basis of which suitable indicator species can
be selected. A detailed monitoring protocol would then be developed for these species. At the very
minimum however the protocols will involve collecting data on among others:-
i. Species presence or absence
ii. Community composition trends
iii. Seasonal variations in i and ii above
iv. Trends in relative abundance and or dominance
v. Total populations for such species for which this will be possible
6.5 Next steps
To verify the accuracy of the lists presented here, it will be essential to conduct detailed field surveys
cognizant of the fact that mammal surveys for most of the orders are much slower and more time
intensive exercises than vegetation and avian surveys. The surveys should target to acquiring
primary field data but also secondary data from interviews with local communities.
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Ecological Baseline Surveys of Lake Bisina, Lake Opeta, Lake Mburo and Nakivali Wetlands Systems