Evaluation of branched GDGTs and leaf wax n-alkane δ2H as (paleo) environmental proxies in East Africa

The role of mountain evolution on local climate is poorly understood and potentially underestimated in climate models. One prominent example is East Africa, which underwent major geodynamic changes with the onset of the East African Rift System (EARS) more than 250 Myr ago. This study explores, at the regional East African scale, a molecular approach for terrestrially-based paleo-climatic reconstructions that takes into account both changes in temperature and in altitude, potentially leading to an improved concept in paleo-climatic reconstructions. Using surface soils collected along pronounced altitudinal gradients in Mt. Rungwe (n=40; Southwest Tanzania) and Mt. Kenya (n=20; Central Kenya), we investigate the combination of 2 terrestrial proxies, leaf wax n-alkane δ2H (δ2Hwax) and branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether (br GDGT) membrane lipids, as (paleo) elevation and (paleo) temperature proxies, respectively. At the mountain scale, a weak link between δ2Hwax and altitude (R2 = 0.33) is observed at Mt. Kenya, but no relationship is observed at Mt. Rungwe. It is likely that additional parameters, such as decreasing relative humidity (RH) or vegetation changes with altitude, are outcompeting the expected 2H-depletion trend along Mt. Rungwe. In contrast, br GDGT-derived absolute mean annual air temperature (MAAT) and temperature lapse rate (0.65 °C/100 m) for both mountains are in good agreement with direct field measurements, further supporting the robustness of this molecular proxy for (paleo) temperature reconstructions. At the regional scale, estimated and observed δ2H data in precipitation along 3 mountains in East Africa (Mts. Rungwe, Kenya and Kilimanjaro) highlight a strong spatial heterogeneity, preventing the establishment of a regional based calibration of δ2Hwax for paeloaltitudinal reconstructions. Different from that, an improved regional soil calibration is developed between br GDGT distribution and MAAT by combining the data from this study (Mts. Rungwe and Kenya) with previous results from East African surface soils along Mts. Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) and Rwenzori (Uganda). This new regional calibration, based on 105 samples, improves both the R2 (0.77) and RMSE (root mean square error; 2.4 °C) of br GDGT-derived MAAT over the global soil calibrations previously established (R2 = 0.56; RMSE = 4.2 °C) and leads to more accurate (paleo) temperature reconstructions in the region

Ethnobotany of the Samburu of Mt. Nyiru, South Turkana, Kenya

Traditional plant use is of extremely high importance in many societies, and prevalent in African communities. This knowledge is however dwindling rapidly due to changes towards a more Western lifestyle. The influence of modern tourism cannot be neglected in this context. This paper examines the plant use of the Samburu of the Mt. Nyiru area in Northern Kenya. The Samburu pastoralists of Kenya are still amongst the most traditional communities of the country and have retained most of their knowledge about the use of a large part of the plants in their environment for a wide variety of purposes. The results indicate that the local population has a very high knowledge of the plants in their surroundings, and attributes a purpose to a large percentage of the plants found. 448 plant species were collected, identified and their Samburu names and traditional uses recorded. 199 species were reported as of "no use". The high proportion of 249 plant species however had some traditional use: The highest number (180 species) was used as fodder, followed by 80 species that had medicinal use. Firewood (59 species), construction (42 species), tools (31 species), food (29 species) and ceremonial use (19 species) ranked far behind. Traditionally the Samburu attribute most illnesses to the effect of pollutants that block or inhibit digestion. This can include "polluted" food, contagion through sick people as well as witchcraft. In most cases the treatment of illness involves herbal purgatives to cleanse the patient. There are however frequent indications of plant use for common problems like wounds, parasites, body aches and burns. The change from a nomadic to a more sedentary lifestyle, often observed in other areas of the country, has affected the Samburu of remote Mt. Nyiru to a much lesser extent and did so far not lead to a major loss of traditional plant knowledge. However, overgrazing and over-exploitation of plant resources have already led to a decline of the plant material available

Weather based agro-advisory for Mutomo

This advisory was developed on 5th March 2010 based on the deliberations held between research and extension staff representing Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD), Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), International Crops Research Institute for Semi-arid Tropics (ICRISAT), and University of Nairobi (UoN) and Agricultural Extension Department of the Ministry of Agriculture on earlier occasions during which various management options for farmer to consider under different sea-sons were discussed and identified. This advisory presents the potential options for MAM season of 2010. This advisory is mainly aimed at supporting the farm level decision making in Mutomo area while planning agricultural operations for the 2010 Long Rain Season. Applicability to other areas depends on the similarities in soil and climatic conditions of such places with those of these areas

Weather based agro-advisory for Mwingi

This advisory was developed on 5th March 2010 based on the deliberations held between research and extension staff representing Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD), Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), International Crops Research Institute for Semi-arid Tropics (ICRISAT), and University of Nairobi (UoN) and Agricultural Extension Department of the Ministry of Agriculture on earlier occasions during which various management options for farmer to consider under different sea-sons were discussed and identified. This advisory presents the potential options for MAM season of 2010. This advisory is mainly aimed at supporting the farm level decision making in Mwingi area while planning agricultural operations for the 2010 Long Rain Season. Applicability to other areas depends on the similarities in soil and climatic conditions of such places with those of these areas.The table of contents for this item can be shared with the requester. The requester may then choose one chapter, up to 10% of the item, as per the Fair Dealing provision of the Canadian Copyright Ac

Weather based agro-advisory for Mutomo

This advisory was developed on 16th and 17th September 2009 by a team representing scientists from Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD), Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), International Crops Research Institute for Semi-arid Tropics (ICRISAT), and University of Nairobi (UoN) and officers from the Agricultural Extension Department of the Ministry of Agriculture. This advisory is mainly aimed at supporting the farm level decision making in Mutomo area in planning agricultural operations for the 2009 Short Rain Season. Applicability to other areas depends on the similarities in soil and climatic conditions of such places with those of Mutomo district

Weather based agro-advisory for Kitui

This advisory was developed on 16th and 17th September 2009 by a team representing scientists from Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD), Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), International Crops Research Institute for Semi-arid Tropics (ICRISAT), and University of Nairobi (UoN) and officers from the Agricultural Extension Department of the Ministry of Agriculture. This advisory is mainly aimed at supporting the farm level decision making in Kitui area in planning agricultural operations for the 2009 Short Rain Season. Applicability to other areas depends on the similarities in soil and climatic conditions of such places with those of these areas

Weather based agro-advisory for Mwingi

This advisory was developed on 16th and 17th September 2009 by a team representing scientists from Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD), Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), International Crops Research Institute for Semi-arid Tropics (ICRISAT), and University of Nairobi (UoN) and officers from the Agricultural Extension Department of the Ministry of Agriculture. This advisory is mainly aimed at supporting the farm level decision making in Mwingi area in planning agricultural operations for the 2009 Short Rain Season. Applicability to other areas depends on the similarities in soil and climatic conditions of such places with those of the Mwingi district

Weather based agro-advisory for Kitui

This advisory was developed on 9th October 2008 by a team representing scientists from Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD), Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), International Crops Research Institute for Semi-arid Tropics (ICRISAT), University of Nairobi (UoN) and officers from the Agricultural Extension Department of the Ministry of Agriculture. This advisory is mainly aimed at supporting the farm level decision making in Kitui in planning agricultural operations for the 2008 Short Rain Season. Applicability to other areas depends on the similarities in soil and climatic conditions of such places with those of Kitui

Weather based agro-advisory for Kitui

This advisory was developed on 5th March 2010 based on the deliberations held between research and extension staff representing Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD), Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), International Crops Research Institute for Semi-arid Tropics (ICRISAT), and University of Nairobi (UoN) and Agricultural Extension Department of the Ministry of Agriculture on earlier occasions during which various management options for farmer to consider under different seasons were discussed and identified. This advisory presents the potential options for MAM season of 2010. This advisory is mainly aimed at supporting the farm level decision making in Kitui area while planning agricultural operations for the 2010 Long Rain Season. Applicability to other areas depends on the similarities in soil and climatic conditions of such places with those of these areas

Weather based agro-advisory for Mutomo

This advisory was developed on 9th October 2008 by a team representing scientists from Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD), Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), International Crops Research Institute for Semi-arid Tropics (ICRISAT), University of Nairobi (UoN) and officers from the Agricultural Extension Department of the Ministry of Agriculture. This advisory is mainly aimed at supporting the farm level decision making in Mutomo in planning agricultural operations for the 2008 Short Rain Season. Applicability to other areas depends on the similarities in soil and climatic conditions of such places with those of Mutomo