Nest food provisioning in the Red-capped Lark Calandrella cinerea does not vary with parental sex differences and time of day

The Red-capped Lark Calandrella cinerea inhabits some of the most highly threatened grassland ecosystems in Kenya. Although previous studies have been undertaken on feeding ecology of this species, a knowledge gap still exists in relation to its nest food provisioning behaviour. We studied the food provisioning behaviour of Red-capped Larks in open grassland habitat at Kedong Ranch in Naivasha, Kenya. Observations were completed on 18 active nests for a total of 163 observation hours between 07:00 and 18:00. Results confirmed that nestling diet comprised insect larvae (including caterpillars), grasshoppers, butterflies/moths, ants and beetles. Food provisioning rates for males and females combined, as well as independently, did not vary with the nestling age. In relation to specific prey items, provisioning rates of insect larvae and butterflies/moths during different hours of the day did not vary. However, there was a significant difference in provisioning rates of grasshoppers for the time periods. The findings provide an understanding of food requirements and feeding behaviour of the Red-capped Lark, and therefore are important for predicting how future changes in the availability of food resources could infl uence feeding, reproductive success, and possibly survival of the species.Keywords: Kedong Ranch, lark, grassland, nestling diet, insect

Composition and diversity of bat assemblages at Arabuko-Sokoke Forest and the adjacent farmlands, Kenya

Recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot, coastal forests in eastern Africa are currently reduced to fragments amidst human modified habitats. Managing for biodiversity depends on our understanding of how many and which species can persist in these modified areas. Aiming at clarifying how habitat structure changes affect bat assemblage composition and richness, we used ground-level mist nets at Arabuko-Sokoke Forest (ASF) and adjacent farmlands. Habitat structure was assessed using the point-centered quarter (PCQ) method at 210 points per habitat. We captured a total of 24 bat species (ASF: 19, farmlands: 23) and 5217 individuals (ASF: 19.1%, farmlands: 82.9%). Bat diversity was higher at ASF (H′, ASF: 1.48 ± 0.2, farm: 1.33 ± 0.1), but bat richness and abundance were higher in farmlands [Chao1, ASF: 19 (19–25), farmlands: 24 (24–32) species (95% confidence interval [CI])]. Understory vegetation and canopy cover were highest at ASF and the lower bat richness and abundance observed may be the result of the under-sampling of many clutter tolerant and high flying species. Future surveys should combine different methods of capture and acoustic surveys to comprehensively sample bats at ASF. Nonetheless, the rich bat assemblages observed in farmlands around ASF should be valued and landowners encouraged to maintain orchards on their farms.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Invertebrates Diversity in Arabuko-Sokoke Forest and Nearby Farmland at Gede, Kilifi County, Kenya

Insectivorous bats mainly feed on various types of invertebrates. The authors studied the abundance and diversity of invertebrates in the farmland in the eastern part of Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, mainly to assess their availability to insectivorous bats occurring in the two study sites. Solar powered light traps were used to attract aerial invertebrates to a white suspended cloth sheet used as a landing surface. The sampling was conducted for four hours in one trapping station each night, and in twelve different stations both in the ASF and farmland. A total of 6,557 invertebrates individuals were trapped, which included 48% in ASF and 52% in the farmland. The two most common invertebrate orders were Hymenoptera (ants, bees, wasps and sawflies) represented by 38.1%, and Coleoptera (beetles, 28.1%). The interior of ASF had higher invertebrate species diversity (Shannon-Weiner index 1.72 ± 0.1), than the farmland (1.41 ± 0.1). Although the farmland (260.5 ± 52.9, N=12) had higher mean number of invertebrates trapped per night, than the interior of ASF (200.3 ± 36.4, N=12), there was no significant difference between the medians of invertebrates captured in the two study areas (Mann-Whitney U-Test, U=61: P>0.544). Thus, the farmland and the interior of ASF had the same invertebrate abundance. This study indicates the value of human-modified areas (agricultural and human settlements) landscapes, always ignored in biodiversity surveys, in sustaining diverse invertebrates that are preyed by different species of insectivorous bats that occur in the two study areas

Effectiveness of LED lights on bomas in protecting livestock from predation in southern Kenya

Various interventions have been employed to mitigate livestock predation by lions and other carnivores. Livestock owners have typically employed lethal and/or non-lethal measures with varied successes and failures. Resolving the human-carnivore conflict is key to the survival of carnivores and ensuring local livelihoods and safety. Here we assess the effectiveness of placing LED lighting systems at bomas (livestock enclosures) in order to deter predator attacks at night in two group ranches surrounding Amboseli National Park, southern Kenya. Both the number of predatory attacks and the number of livestock killed were significantly lower after the LED lighting system was installed, compared to the period before the LED system was installed for the same boma, or compared to the control group. LED lights reduced the number of attacks on livestock in bomas by almost threefold, and reduced the number of livestock killed by over four times from the levels recorded before the LED lights were installed. The results provide clear evidence that the LED system, as installed at bomas in the study regions, was an effective means of reducing night-time predation on livestock, at least in the short term (six months) during which effectiveness was monitored.Peer reviewe

Fishery Characteristics and Management in the Floodplain Lakes of Tana River delta, Kenya

Tana River delta floodplain is maintained through a dynamic balance revolving around frequency, extent, and flooding duration. These seasonal and annual flooding variations strongly affect the floodplain communities' fisheries and livelihoods. In the delta, fishing is an important traditional source of livelihood, practiced alongside local agrarian livelihoods such as shifting cultivation and livestock keeping. Fishery utilization and management characteristics in the Tana River delta floodplain lakes are not well documented. This study investigated the characteristics and management of small-scale fisheries in the Tana River delta floodplain lakes. Information relating to past flooding events, fishery characteristics, prevailing regulatory regimes, and the impacts of seasonal flooding were collected using field observations. We collected the information at awareness workshops and key informant interviews between June and September 2018, which covers a significant flooding period of that year, and August 2021, a relatively dry period in the delta. We collected the information from communities living around floodplain lakes in Tarassa and Ngao in the southern part of the delta and Tamaso and Lango la Simba areas in the eastern part of the delta. Results indicate that fishery resources are more diverse during flooding (new species recruitment, presence of spawning, breeding, and foraging sites). The community does fishing all year round, and some part-time practice fishing to supplement shifting cultivation and dry season grazing that are greatly affected by periodic flooding. Floods were crucial in enriching floodplain lakes with diverse fish species. Women are involved in fish trading, acquiring fish primarily within their lineage. Fish is mainly sold in local markets due to poor preservation leading to low-value addition. This study recommends a comprehensive value chain analysis to improve it. Fishing communities around the villages are also most vulnerable to climate change because fishery resource governance needs strengthening, and most households are not involved in resource management. Besides, fishers have limited livelihood options due to lacking skills, technologies, and knowledge to undertake climate adaptation-related decisions. We recommend desilting floodplain lakes and improving connectivity with the main river channel. Additionally, an urgent need is to institute a co-management system to bring together different user groups around these floodplain lakes. Keywords: Fisheries, Flooding, Livelihoods, Floodplain lakes, Governance, Tana River delta DOI: 10.7176/JEES/13-2-02 Publication date:March 31st 202

FACTORS INFLUENCING PERFORMANCE OF COMMUNITY WATER PROJECTS IN TIGANIA CENTRAL SUB-COUTY, MERU COUNTY, KENYA

The success or failure of a community-based water management project can be influenced by level of community participation and ownership, training and education of the project leaders, governance structure of the project and basic management skills of leaders among other factors such as financial and technical support. The purpose of this study was to investigate factors influencing performance of community water projects in Tigania Central District, Meru County. The study adopted a descriptive survey design to collect primary data. The target population comprised 3880 people from which a sample of 388 respondents was purposively selected. The sample comprised management committee members and project members in 6 water projects. This study focused on six operational water projects from which 60 management committee members, 328 project members, which constitute the study sample size of 388 respondents. The research tools were questionnaires and interview schedules which were administered to randomly selected individuals in each sample category so as to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. The data was compiled, given codes and input into SPSS computer programme for statistical analysis and display. The results were displayed in tables and interpreted according to the objectives of the study. The study concluded that more rural people were involved in addressing their own development, confidence and the more the successful level associated with water projects for success. Recommendation is that Projects leaders and members should be trained on effective use of water taps to reduce the loss in quantity or quality of water as it flows from its source through water projects pipes for use to eventual disposal

Sustainability of the Loita Maasai Childrens’ Ethnomedicinal Knowledge

Knowledge and practice of medicinal plant use is embedded in the Maasai culture. However, it is not known how that knowledge and practices are acquired by children and transferred across generations. We assessed children’s knowledge of medicinal plants and their uses, methods of knowledge acquisition and transfer, and how that process is influenced by demographic attributes such as gender, level of education, and age. We interviewed 80 children who were 6–17 years old. Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis tests and Spearman Rank order correlation were performed to determine the influence of gender, level of education, and age when they are in the process of acquiring ethnomedicinal plant knowledge. The Maasai children acquired knowledge of medicinal plants progressively with their age. Ethnomedicinal knowledge was not influenced by gender or level of education. The children were introduced to the knowledge of local medicinal plants and their use at an average age of seven years and the knowledge was transferred indiscriminately to both girls and boys. This study aids in the protection and conservation of medicinal plant knowledge by encouraging the sustainability of the local cultural heritage

Population, flocking behaviour and habitat selection of the Grey Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum at Lake Ol’ Bolossat basin, Kenya

Lake Ol’ Bolossat is an inland wetland located in Nyandarua County, Kenya that provides critical year-round habitat for the Globally Endangered Grey Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum gibbericeps. This study aimed at establishing the population size and density of cranes in the basin, ratio of young to adults (as a measure of productivity), and habitat selection and use during the breeding and non-breeding seasons. Using complete ground counts, five censuses were conducted between 2017 and 2020 with between 521 and 1115 cranes recorded, and we estimate the local population size to be 250–350 individuals. Population density ranged from 0.99–2.18 cranes/km2 during the breeding and non-breeding seasons respectively. From all 219 observations made during the study period, the  mean flock size was 28.21 with a maximum flock size of 332 and a modal flock size of 2–25 individuals. The average proportion of young cranes across all counts was 11.65% indicating a population which is breeding successfully. Although cranes occupied both wetlands and terrestrial habitats in almost equal proportions across the year cumulatively, the difference in choice of habitat between the breeding and the non-breeding seasons was significant (χ2=489, df=1, p=0.0001), whereby more cranes (mostly paired individuals) were observed in marshes during breeding months. Wheat fields were the most often used of terrestrial habitats among fields of different crop types sampled. Holding 14% and 5% of Kenya’s and the global population of Grey Crowned Cranes, respectively, Lake Ol’Bolossat is undoubtedly an important site for this species’ conservation and survival. Keywords: Lake Ol’ Bolossat, Balearica regulorum gibbericeps, habitat selection, population size, flock characteristic