Browsing by Author "Kabigumila, Jonathan D."
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Item Community Attitudes to Tortoises (Gepchelone pardalis babcocki) and thier Conservation in Northern Tanzania(1998) Kabigumila, Jonathan D.A survey of local attitudes to tortoises and their conservation was conducted in Robanda and Mto wa Mbu in northern Tanzania between October 1994 and March 1995. Leopard tortoises damaged crops in Robanda village, Serengeti District. The Ikoma tribe of this district esteems the leopard tortoise as a totem animal, and the scutes have medicinal value. Trade was reported only in Mto wa Mbu, but most respondents were very reluctant to state the number of animals collected. Most respondents favoured conserving tortoises and biological diversity in their area. Given the close proximity to the road and Arusha, Mto wa Mbu residents placed more emphasis on cash values of the wildlife trade and tourism. In contrast, in Robanda, culture values may favour conservation. The low income per capita in Robanda, and the decline in culture norms among the young generation might change the people’s attitudes to tortoises. The paper recommends for raising public awareness among the youths in order to elicit community support for conservation.Item Diurnal Activity of Elephants in Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania(Wiley, 1993) Kabigumila, Jonathan D.Item Efficacy of Leopard Tortoise (Gepchelone pardalis babcocki) Farming in Tanzania(1998) Kabigumila, Jonathan D.Assessment of the efficacy of leopard tortoise farming was made in Dar es Salaam and Arusha between June and July 1995. Three out of four farms held parental stocks in excess of the legal quota. Some farms also held stocks of mixed provenance, unsuitable for farming. None of the farms had suitable enclosures. Drinking and bathing water was not changed frequently resulting dirt contamination. Few grasses and no mineral supplements were included in the tortoise diet. No regular veterinary inspection was made for parasite removal. The farms underreported tortoise deaths. The reproductive output of the captive tortoise was generally poor. Furthermore, farm owners lacked the expertise and commitment required for breeding tortoises in captivity. Farming cannot sustain the leopard tortoise export trade under the present breeding regime. The study concludes with recommendations for improving tortoise farming in Tanzania.Item Feeding Habits of Elephants in Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania(Wiley, 1993) Kabigumila, Jonathan D.Observations on the feeding habits of elephants were made from June 1984 to May 1985. The elephants' diet comprised at least thirty-six plant species ranging in size from big trees to small herbs. Elephants ate mostly sedges and tree browse during the dry season, and forbs and grass during the wet season. Elephants browsed on and damaged Acacia xanthophloea Benth. Greatest damage occurred to saplings and was mostly done in the dry season when elephants ate significant amounts of this species. It is concluded that since elephant damage was seasonal, most saplings would recover during the wet season. The study concludes with a recommendation for continued monitoring of the forest so that proper management can be taken to conserve it.Item Growth and Carapacial Colour Variation of the Leopard Tortoise, Geochelone Pardalis Babcocki, in Northern Tanzania(Wiley, 2000) Kabigumila, Jonathan D.Observations were made of growth rate and variation in colour pattern of the leopard tortoise (Geochelone pardalis babcocki) in northern Tanzania between October 1993 and June 1996. Growth rate differed significantly between tortoises, with immature animals (6.9 ± 1.4 mm month−1) and females (5.7 ± 1.3 mm month−1) exhibiting higher rates of growth than adult animals (2.9 ± 0.8 mm month−1) and males (3.2 ± 1.1 mm month−1), respectively. The faster growth rate in immature animals suggested that growth rate declined with age. The difference in growth rates between the sexes was ascribed to sexual dimorphism, adult females being larger and therefore growing faster than males.Item Impact of Eucalyptus Plantations on the Avian Breeding Community in the East Usambaras, Tanzania. Ostrich(Taylor and Francis, 2007) John, Jasson R.; Kabigumila, Jonathan D.The nesting bird species in natural forests and Eucalyptus plantations on the Amani Plateau, East Usambara, were studied during the breeding season of September 2003 to March 2004. Some forest birds — like barbets, batis, broadbills, doves, flycatchers, greenbuls, hornbills, and tinkerbirds — utilised similar nest sites with respect to plant species or forest structure in both Eucalyptus plantations and natural forests. Very low densities of nests in Eucalyptus plantations indicate that forest bird species have mostly failed to adapt to this habitat. However, management practices may contribute to the low densities of nests in these plantations. A concerted effort should be made to protect the remaining natural forests and management of the Eucalyptus plantations should take the breeding seasons of local birds into account.Item Sex and Age Variation in the Anal Scute of the Leopard Tortoise, Geochelone Pardalis, in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania(Wiley, 2001) Kabigumila, Jonathan D.Presents a study which observed the carpace length and width of the anal scute of the leopard tortoise in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to determine how the dimensions were related and if the relationship was sexually dimorphic. Methods; Results; Discussion. Presents a study which observed the carpace length and width of the anal scute of the leopard tortoise in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to determine how the dimensions were related and if the relationship was sexually dimorphic. Methods; Results; Discussion.Item Sighting Frequency and Food Habits of the Leopard Tortoise, Geochelone Pardalis, in Northern Tanzania(2001) Kabigumila, Jonathan D.Sighting frequency and food habits of the leopard tortoise (Geochelone pardalis) were studied in northern Tanzania from October 1993 to June 1996. Sighting frequency varied significantly between protected (0.22 mhr−1) and unprotected sites (0.59 mhr−1), and between Arusha (0.27 mhr−1) and Serengeti sites (0.56 mhr−1). The tortoise diet comprised mostly plants (97.8%) and rarely inorganic matter (2.2%). A total of 47 plant species from 21 families was eaten. Forbs made up 74.5% of the plant items and monocots the remainder. Succulents contributed 51.0% of the plant items eaten while grasses and legumes accounted for 16.8% and 13.5%, respectively. Some plant items were eaten more frequently than their occurrence in the habitats.Item Size Composition and Sex Ratio of the Leopard Tortoise (Geochelone Pardalis) in Northern Tanzania(Wiley, 2001) Kabigumila, Jonathan D.Compares the size composition and sex ratio of the leopard tortoise (Geochelone pardalis) in Serengeti, Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks, and adjacent villages in Tanzania from October 1994 to June 1996. Rate of juvenile mortality; Differential timing of maturity attainment between the sexes; Selective survival differences in relation to habitat disturbance; Exploitation and immigration of male tortoises. Compares the size composition and sex ratio of the leopard tortoise (Geochelone pardalis) in Serengeti, Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks, and adjacent villages in Tanzania from October 1994 to June 1996. Rate of juvenile mortality; Differential timing of maturity attainment between the sexes; Selective survival differences in relation to habitat disturbance; Exploitation and immigration of male tortoises.Item The Use of Bird Species Richness and Abundance Indices to Assess the Conservation Value of Exotic Eucalyptus Plantations(Taylor and Francis, 2011) John, Jasson R.; Kabigumila, Jonathan D.The East Usambaras are within the Eastern Afromontane hotspot, which is known for its exceptionally rich biodiversity. The original forest of the East Usambaras has been reduced by human activities, including establishment of Eucalyptus plantations, but little is known about the value of these plantations for biodiversity. Therefore, from July 2003 to June 2004, we studied avifauna in natural forests and plantations using the timed species count (TSC) method, based on which we provide an assessment of the conservation value of Eucalyptus plantations to the local avifauna. From 240 TSCs, 100 species in 79 genera, 32 families and seven orders were recorded. A total of 63 forest species were recorded in forest and 41 forest species in the Eucalyptus plantations with four forest species exclusively in the plantations. The two habitats shared a greater percent of non-forest bird species (85%) than forest bird species (64%). There was some degree of seasonal variation in species richness and relative abundance between habitats. The study shows that ‘responsibly managed’ plantations could benefit some local avifauna. We recommend proper management of the Eucalyptus plantations, including the retention of some undergrowth and of surviving isolated forest trees, in order to provide hospitable habitats for birds.