25 research outputs found
Determinants of access patterns to goods and services from wetlands in Tanzania and the impact on sustainable wetland management
Wetlands perform vital role in providing useful goods and services to mankind. Because of their
importance, human beings interactions with the wetlands’ physical environment have caused some of
them to be highly degraded. Due to characteristic nature of wetlands being a common pool resource
(CPRs), most researchers claim their degradation to be a result of poor institutions governing the
interactions. Wetlands in Tanzania are very useful especially, in areas where agriculture is most
prevalent. High pressure to exploit fertile and moist land in those areas has caused wetlands to be
highly degraded. This study focused on the rules and regulations governing the resources access from
the wetlands using Kilombero Valley as a case study. The study used choice modelling to identify the
determinants of the access patterns and their impacts on wetland sustainable management. The results
showed that physical nature of resources and characteristics of the users such as location, income and
education determine what type of access one chooses to accrue products and services from the
wetlands. To ensure wetland sustainable management, the policy makers and conservationists should
consider these factors in enacting rules and regulation which would govern human interactions in the
wetlands. Payment for environmental services could be used to enhance such options
Variations of Concentrations of Lead, Zinc, Iron, Copper and Cadmium in Urine of Primary School Pupils in Relation to Age, Sex and Academic Performance
This study was conducted in order to assess the variations and correlations in the concentrations of lead, zinc, iron, copper and cadmium metals in the urine samples of selected primary school pupils with respect to their sex, age and academic performance. Urine samples were collected from 240 pupils in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and then digested in concentrated acids and analysed using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Lead, zinc, iron and copper were detected in most of the urine samples. Cadmium was not detected in any of the samples. The mean concentrations of lead, zinc, iron and copper in the samples from different classes ranged between 0.27–0.90, 0.59–0.78, 1.56–2.32 and 0.005–0.01 mg/L, respectively in pupils with high academic performance, and 0.37–0.71, 0.56–0.81, 1.79–2.55 and 0.005–0.01 mg/L, respectively in pupils with low performance. The overall mean concentrations of the metals ranged between 0.01–2.04 and 0.01–2.17 mg/L in males and females, respectively. There were no significant differences in most of the concentrations of the heavy metals in pupils’ urine samples between the two sexes. The findings indicated some significant positive correlations between the pupils’ age and the concentrations of lead and iron in urine samples, while there were no significant correlations for zinc and copper. Some of the concentrations of the heavy metals showed significant negative or positive correlations with the academic performance of the pupils. Therefore, the concentrations of the heavy metals were correlated with age, sex and academic performance in some samples. The concentrations of lead were generally alarming.
Keywords: Heavy metals; children urine; age; sex; academic performance; Tanzani
The development of effective behaviour change interventions to support the use of malaria rapid diagnostic tests by Tanzanian clinicians.
BACKGROUND: Parasitological confirmation is now recommended for all cases of suspected malaria. The roll-out of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) is hoped to enable this goal in low resource settings through point of care testing. However, simply making RDTs available has not led to high uptake of the tests or adherence to results by clinicians, with malaria continuing to be overdiagnosed in many settings. We undertook to design an evidence-based intervention package that would be sufficient to support the introduction of RDTs at dispensaries in Tanzania, to be evaluated through the Targeting Artemisinin Combination Therapy (TACT) cluster randomised controlled trial. METHODS: We describe five steps in our intervention design: formative research, review of existing evidence and theory, a workshop to define the intervention approach and content and results of formative research, engagement with behaviour change theory and literature, detailed design of intervention materials and piloting and pretesting of intervention materials. This involved fieldwork with a total of 19 health workers and 212 community members in northeast Tanzania. RESULTS: The formative research suggested that RDTs were a potential source of conflict in the health worker-patient interaction, but that health workers used various techniques to resolve this, including provision of antimalarial drugs for RDT-negative patients. Our reviews showed that evidence was mixed regarding the effectiveness of different methods and theories to support change in prescribing practice. Our design process is presented, drawing from this collective evidence. We describe the final TACT intervention package (including interactive small group workshops, feedback text messages, motivational text messages and patient information leaflets and posters) in terms of its programme theory and implementation theory. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that evidence-based design of complex interventions is possible. The use of formative research to understand malaria overdiagnosis in context was central to the design of the intervention as well as empirical research to test materials and methods prior to implementation. The TACT interventions may be appropriate for other settings where clinicians face similar challenges with malaria diagnostics. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT01292707
Grain Yield Performance of Biofortified Climbing Common Bean Genotypes (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) Evaluated Across Different Agro-ecologies in Tanzania
Assessment study on yield performance and consumer preferences characteristics of iron and zinc fortified bean genotypes was conducted between 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons at different agro-ecologies of Tanzania. The objective of the study was to improve nutrition and income of smallholder farmers through growing and selling of high yielding and iron bean genotypes. The experiments consisted of five high iron enhanced climbing common bean genotypes namely: MAC 44 (80.3 mg/kg), RWV (78 mg/kg), MAC9 (64 mg/kg), MAC49 (66.6 mg/kg) and Selian (35.2 mg/kg). These planting materials were planted in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications in Arusha at ARI-Selian farm, Lambo in Kilimanjaro, ARI-Uyole in Mbeya and in Kagera at ARI-Maruku. The sites ARI-Selian and Maruku represented mid altitude agro-ecologies, ARI Uyole (high altitude) and Lambo site is low agro-ecology. Grain yield and disease reaction scores data was collected and analysed using GenStat 15th edition software. Results showed significance difference (P≤0.05) for grain yield and diseases. Grain yield ranged from 1538kg/ha to 4314 kg/ha. Genotype RWV1129 produced 3091 kg/ha in 2014/2015 where as MACC44 yielded relatively higher (3530kg/ha than RWV1129 at Selian site in 2015/2016 season. The farmers’ participatory variety selection approach used in selecting of new improved bean genotypes depicted high yield, high market demanded, and resistant to diseases as the key important criteria. Genotypes MACC44 and RWV 1129 were the best genotypes accepted by farmers due to their high yield, and high market value. Therefore, the study recommended them to be registered and released as nutritionally improved varieties for farmers’ cultivation and consumption thereby to relief the iron deficient vulnerable groups in Tanzania. Keywords: Climbing bean, Biofortification, Performance, Iron and Zinc DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/9-4-0
Levels of heavy metals in urine samples of school children from selected industrial and non-industrial areas in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Objectives: The levels of lead, zinc, iron, copper and cadmium metals
in the urine samples of selected school children in industrial and
non-industrial areas in Dar es Salaam were investigated. Methods: Urine
samples were collected from 120 children in industrial areas and 120
children in non-industrial areas then digested in concentrated acids
and analysed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). Results:
The concentrations of the heavy metals in the urine samples ranged from
below detection limit/non-detectable (ND) to 1.92 mg/L for lead, ND to
2.55 mg/L for zinc, ND to 8.98 mg/L for iron and ND to 0.05 mg/L for
copper. Cadmium was not detected. Significant differences were found
between the concentrations of heavy metals in urine of pupils from the
industrial areas and those from non-industrial areas. The mean
concentrations of lead and copper in samples from industrial areas were
significantly higher than those found in non-industrial areas (p <
0.002), while the mean concentrations of zinc and iron found in samples
from non-industrial areas were significantly higher than those found in
industrial areas (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The contamination levels
were generally high in samples from both areas indicating exposure from
various sources. The findings indicate public health risks
Global patterns in endemicity and vulnerability of soil fungi
Fungi are highly diverse organisms, which provide multiple ecosystem services. However, compared with charismatic animals and plants, the distribution patterns and conservation needs of fungi have been little explored. Here, we examined endemicity patterns, global change vulnerability and conservation priority areas for functional groups of soil fungi based on six global surveys using a high-resolution, long-read metabarcoding approach. We found that the endemicity of all fungi and most functional groups peaks in tropical habitats, including Amazonia, Yucatan, West-Central Africa, Sri Lanka, and New Caledonia, with a negligible island effect compared with plants and animals. We also found that fungi are predominantly vulnerable to drought, heat and land-cover change, particularly in dry tropical regions with high human population density. Fungal conservation areas of highest priority include herbaceous wetlands, tropical forests, and woodlands. We stress that more attention should be focused on the conservation of fungi, especially root symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungi in tropical regions as well as unicellular early-diverging groups and macrofungi in general. Given the low overlap between the endemicity of fungi and macroorganisms, but high conservation needs in both groups, detailed analyses on distribution and conservation requirements are warranted for other microorganisms and soil organisms
Global patterns in endemicity and vulnerability of soil fungi
Fungi are highly diverse organisms, which provide multiple ecosystem services.
However, compared with charismatic animals and plants, the distribution patterns and
conservation needs of fungi have been little explored. Here, we examined endemicity
patterns, global change vulnerability and conservation priority areas for functional
groups of soil fungi based on six global surveys using a high-resolution, long-read metabarcoding approach. We found that the endemicity of all fungi and most functional
groups peaks in tropical habitats, including Amazonia, Yucatan, West-Central Africa,
Sri Lanka, and New Caledonia, with a negligible island effect compared with plants
and animals. We also found that fungi are predominantly vulnerable to drought, heat
and land-cover change, particularly in dry tropical regions with high human population
density. Fungal conservation areas of highest priority include herbaceous wetlands,
tropical forests, and woodlands. We stress that more attention should be focused on
the conservation of fungi, especially root symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungi in tropical regions as well as unicellular early-diverging groups and
macrofungi in general. Given the low overlap between the endemicity of fungi and
macroorganisms, but high conservation needs in both groups, detailed analyses on
distribution and conservation requirements are warranted for other microorganisms
and soil organisms
FungalTraits:A user-friendly traits database of fungi and fungus-like stramenopiles
The cryptic lifestyle of most fungi necessitates molecular identification of the guild in environmental studies. Over the past decades, rapid development and affordability of molecular tools have tremendously improved insights of the fungal diversity in all ecosystems and habitats. Yet, in spite of the progress of molecular methods, knowledge about functional properties of the fungal taxa is vague and interpretation of environmental studies in an ecologically meaningful manner remains challenging. In order to facilitate functional assignments and ecological interpretation of environmental studies we introduce a user friendly traits and character database FungalTraits operating at genus and species hypothesis levels. Combining the information from previous efforts such as FUNGuild and Fun(Fun) together with involvement of expert knowledge, we reannotated 10,210 and 151 fungal and Stramenopila genera, respectively. This resulted in a stand-alone spreadsheet dataset covering 17 lifestyle related traits of fungal and Stramenopila genera, designed for rapid functional assignments of environmental studies. In order to assign the trait states to fungal species hypotheses, the scientific community of experts manually categorised and assigned available trait information to 697,413 fungal ITS sequences. On the basis of those sequences we were able to summarise trait and host information into 92,623 fungal species hypotheses at 1% dissimilarity threshold
Connecting the multiple dimensions of global soil fungal diversity
How the multiple facets of soil fungal diversity vary worldwide remains virtually unknown, hindering the management of this essential species-rich group. By sequencing high-resolution DNA markers in over 4000 topsoil samples from natural and human-altered ecosystems across all continents, we illustrate the distributions and drivers of different levels of taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of fungi and their ecological groups. We show the impact of precipitation and temperature interactions on local fungal species richness (alpha diversity) across different climates. Our findings reveal how temperature drives fungal compositional turnover (beta diversity) and phylogenetic diversity, linking them with regional species richness (gamma diversity). We integrate fungi into the principles of global biodiversity distribution and present detailed maps for biodiversity conservation and modeling of global ecological processes