May 2015
Earthworm population in relation to different land use and soil characteristics
Earthworms are regarded as the bio-indicators of soil quality. Also, due to several beneficial ecosystem services provided by earthworms, focus has been given to earthworms in agriculture management. So, there is need of knowing the distribution of earthworms, factors affecting their distribution and modification of soil environment due to them. With the aim of characterizing earthworm distribution in Panchase area,...
May 2015
Impact of invasion: A case study on the ecological and socioeconomic impact of Lantana camara (L.) in Abay Millennium Park (AMP), Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
This study was carried out to quantify ecological distribution, abundance and effects of Lantana camara on different land uses and to assess the perception of local community concerning its impacts on environment and biodiversity of the study area, Abay Millennium Park, Bahir Dar. To do so, 20 m x 20 m (trees) inside which is 5 m x 5 m nest plots (shrubs and saplings), and 2 m x 2 m (seedlings) were laid....
May 2015
Levels of tannins in fruit diet of grey-cheeked mangabeys (Lophocebus ugandae, Groves) in Lake Victoria Basin forest reserves
Tannins are known to have anti-digestive properties among primates and undoubtedly influence food selection among grey-cheeked mangabeys (Lophocebus ugandae) living in Mabira and Lwamunda forest reserves. During the 24 months study, we observed the feeding behaviour of three groups of mangabeys in forests with different levels of degradation and management histories. Results indicated that mangabeys selected fruits...
May 2015
Influence of current land use and edaphic factors on arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) hyphal abundance and soil organic matter in and near Serengeti National Park
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are important microbial symbionts for plants especially when soil phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) are limited. Little is known about the distribution of AM hyphae in natural systems of tropical soils across landscapes and their association with different land uses. We studied mycorrhizal hyphal abundance in a wildlife grazed system, a livestock grazed system and under cultivated soils...
May 2015
Phytoplankton community structure and physico-chemical characteristics of streams flowing through an agro- plantation complex in Tiko, Cameroon
Large scale rubber, oil palm and banana plantations have replaced pristine coastal ecosystems in Tiko, Cameroon, through which freshwater flows. Agrochemical inputs into aquatic systems have the potential to influence phytoplankton community structure through adjustment of physico-chemical characteristics of water. Since plantation establishment in Tiko, Cameroon, no studies on the impacts of the agro-chemicals used on...