Crop raiding patterns of solitary and social groups of red-tailed monkeys on cocoa pods in Uganda

Crop damage by wildlife is a very prevalent form of human-wildlife conflict adjacent to protected areas, and great economic losses from crop raiding impede efforts to protect wildlife. Management plans are needed to decrease damage by raiding wildlife, yet conservation biologists typically lack the basic information needed for informed conservation strategies. Red-tailed monkeys (Cercopithecus ascanius) raid a variety of crops adjacent to protected forests in East Africa; however, the role of group structure on crop raiding has not been explored. Here, crop raiding patterns of solitary males and social groups were investigated during 10 months in a plantation of mature cocoa in Uganda. Monkeys gained access to the plantation via trees planted as wind breaks and shade trees, and the sighting frequency of groups was negatively related to the distance from the forest edge. In contrast, solitary males were sighted more frequently far from the forest edge and caused proportionately greater damage than members raiding in a social group. These results highlight that for social animals, crop raiding behavior can vary among types of social groupings; appropriate strategies to cope with raiding must therefore respond to this variation. Deborah Baranga, G. Isabirye Basuta, Julie A. Teichroeb, and Colin A. Chapman

Training Report: Training of trainers and farmers’ training on validated sweetpotato silage making and use in Masaka and Kamuli districts.

European UnionInternational Fund for Agricultural Developmen

Synthesis and Oxidation of Cobalt(II) Pheophytin-a Complex

Abstract: The mechanism of oxidation of natural pheophytin-a incorporated with cobalt as the central metal ion has been investigated. Natural pheophytin-a extracted from spinach was metallated with cobalt(II) to form the complex, cobalt(II) pheophytin-a [Cophe]. The complex was characterized by Ultraviolet and Visible, Fourier Transform Infrared and Electrospray ion Mass Spectroscopy. The synthesis of cobalt(II) pheophytin-a was carried out and the effect of the substitution on the chlorophyll macrocycle was studied by the reaction of hexaaquachromium(III) cation. The presence of cobalt as the central metal ion increases the energies of the chlorophyll main absorption transitions. The oxidation of the cobalt(II) pheophytin-a, [Cophe] by hexaaquachromium(III) cation in dilute hydrochloric acid has been studied and found to follow first-order kinetics. Rate constants for the oxidation reaction at 313, 322.8 and 332.9 K were found to be 5.4x10 -5 , 1.8x10 -4 and 5.9x10 -4 /s respectively. An outer-sphere mechanism has been proposed for the oxidation of cobalt(II) pheophytin-a

Characterization of Historical Seasonal and Annual Rainfall and Temperature Trends in Selected Climatological Homogenous Rainfall Zones of Uganda

There is general lack of scientific consensus on the trend and distribution of annual and seasonal rainfall and temperature in Uganda. This study used both observational and AgMerra rainfall and temperature data for the period 1980-2010 to characterize the trend and variability in seasonal and annual rainfall, maximum and minimum temperatures across 12 different rainfall homogenous zones (K, H, ME, L, J, F, MW, D, E, A1, A2, and I) of Uganda. Trends analysis was done using regression method, while coefficient of variation and ANOVA techniques were used to analyze variability. The results show statistically significant increasing trends (P ≤ 0.05) in annual rainfall amount in zone A1 and a declining trend for zone K (P<0.05)

The value of figs to chimpanzees

Nine Ugandan figs have consistent differences in nutrient concentration between the pulp and seed fractions. Pulp has more water-soluble carbohydrates, complex carbohydrates, calories, and ash, while the seed fraction has more condensed tannins, lipids, and fiber. Because species differ, nutrient concentration in pulp could not be predicted from analysis of whole figs. Chimpanzees in Kibale Forest relied heavily on figs throughout 29 months, feeding relatively intensely at large trees. Fig size varied between species, between individuals of the same species, and between fruiting cycles of the same tree. Larger figs had higher water concentrations but still led to higher rates of nutrient intake per minute for chimpanzees, monkeys, and hornbills. Chimpanzees ate more than 40 cal/min, excluding calories derived from insoluble fiber, when harvesting large figs.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/44560/1/10764_2005_Article_BF02192634.pd

Mapping the medical outcomes study HIV health survey (MOS-HIV) to the EuroQoL 5 Dimension (EQ-5D-3L) utility index

10.1186/s12955-019-1135-8Health and Quality of Life Outcomes1718

Synthesis and Oxidation ofCobalt(II) Pheophytin-α Complex

The mechanism of oxidation of natural pheophytin-a incorporated with cobalt as the central metal ion has been investigated. Natural pheophytin-aextracted from spinach was metallated with cobalt(II) to form the complex, cobalt(II) pheophytin-α [Cophe]. The complex was characterized by Ultraviolet and Visible, Fourier Transform Infrared and Electrospray ion Mass Spectroscopy. The synthesis of cobalt(II) pheophytin-a was carried out and the effect of the substitution on the chlorophyll macrocycle was studied by the reaction of hexaaquachromium(III) cation. The presence of cobalt as the central metal ion increases the energies of the chlorophyll main absorption transitions. The oxidation of the cobalt(II) pheophytin-α, [Cophe] by hexaaquachromium(III) cation in dilute hydrochloric acid has been studied and found to follow first-order kinetics. Rate constants for the oxidation reaction at 313, 322.8 and 332.9 K were found to be 5.4×10-5, 1.8×10-4 and 5.9×10-4/s respectively. An outer-sphere mechanism has been proposed for the oxidation of cobalt(II) pheophytin-α

Soil resource information and linkages to agricultural production

No Abstract