Abundance and diversity of wild mammals along a hydrologic gradient in the Usangu wetlands, Tanzania
| dc.contributor.author | Kicheleri, Rose Peter | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2023-08-22T06:14:12Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2023-08-22T06:14:12Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2011 | |
| dc.description | Thesis | en_US |
| dc.description.abstract | This study was conducted in the Eastern Usangu wetland in Mbcya and Iringa regions to examine the composition, abundance and diversity of mammals along a hydrological gradient. Data were collected in two seasons using distance sampling method along transects using a GPS to locate positions. Kruskal-Wallis, Pearson’s correlation and t-tests were employed to test the association of distance and number of animals observed along the gradient. Diversity of mammals along the gradient was determined by a number of indices using PRIMER 5.0 software. The study revealed that animal sightings decreased with distances from the edge of wetland though not significant different along the gradient. Also, flight distance of observed mammals was high indicating higher degree of poaching, and probably disturbances. Human activities such as abandoned farms, demolished houses and fresh livestock dung. were rampant in the wetlands. There was a statistically significant difference in the number of observed mammals in the two seasons, where species richness and abundance were higher in the late dry season. These results indicate that wetlands are important refuge areas for mammals as both abundance and diversity decreased with distance from the edge of the wetland. This study recommends a continuous monitoring of birds and mammals populations such as topi to help in determining the changes in abundance and diversity over time in Usangu wetlands as a result of intervention from anthropogenic disturbances. | en_US |
| dc.description.sponsorship | NUFU-TZ 2007/10229 project | en_US |
| dc.identifier.issn | 080038 3 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/5646 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.publisher | Sokoine University of Agriculture | en_US |
| dc.subject | Hydrologic Gradient | en_US |
| dc.subject | Wild Mammals | en_US |
| dc.subject | Usangu wetlands | en_US |
| dc.title | Abundance and diversity of wild mammals along a hydrologic gradient in the Usangu wetlands, Tanzania | en_US |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_US |