VEGETATION DYNAMICS PRIOR TO WILDLIFE REINTRODUCTIONS IN SOUTHERN UMFURUDZI PARK, ZIMBABWE

ABSTRACT Vegetation assessments are critical in the status and success of reintroduction programs and are an important aspect in ecological restoration. Vegetation structure and composition influences the suitability and availability of unique habitats for different wildlife species. The objectives of this study were to (1) establish the vegetation structure and composition, and (2) determine the soil-vegetation associations in southern Umfurudzi Park, Zimbabwe, prior to the reintroduction of wildlife species. Using a stratified random design, 15 rectangular plots from three strata were assessed in April and May 2012. A total of 23 woody plants from 58 tree and 68 shrub families as well as 30 grass species were recorded. Tree basal area, canopy cover, tree density, tree and grass species diversity, and tree height for the riverine strata were significantly different from the miombo and vlei strata. The influence of soil properties on the occurrence and diversity of woody and grass species was evident across the three strata. Long-term changes in the vegetation dynamics and primary productivity in southern Umfurudzi Park due to the reintroduced mega-herbivores is recommended for the success of the restoration program

Securing Africa’s health sovereignty : why investing in science and innovation matters

This paper aims at provoking broad-based dialogues and debates on ways and means of securing Africa’s health sovereignty. It argues that health sovereignty is about the realization of specific national constitutional and policy objectives on citizens’ access to and enjoyment of good health, resilient to COVID-19 and related disease pandemics. The paper also emphasizes the urgency of African countries fulfilling their commitments under global and regional declarations on health research. Investing in research, knowledge and innovation is critical to fight and win the war against COVID-19 and other diseases that undermine economic productivity and competitiveness of African countries. There is also a need for venture capitalists to demonstrate bankable ideas emanating from the science academies and funded by National Science Foundations. The base teachings at school level need to significantly invest in the “African philosophy” to create a shift in mind-set from the “grab and own without use mentality that is currently predominant on the continent. The paper recommends that executive, political and science leadership are needed to strengthen national health research and innovation systems through improved evidence-based policy implementation. With these thrusts working effectively together, rather than in silos, will afford the African continent to emerge victoriously in the combat against COVID-19 and other disease burdens

Investigation of the impact of stocking density on the production of Oreochromis niloticus fry in hapas

The aim of this study was to determine the stocking density that maximises the commercial production of O. niloticus fry in hapas at Lake Harvest Aquaculture.  The study was conducted over a period of nine weeks.  Three stocking densities of 4500 (A), 8000 (B) and 11500 (C) fry/hapa with four replicates each were used in the study.  The stocking density of 4500 was used as the control.  Fry were fed with a mixture of fry meal (40% Crude Protein) and crumbles (30% Crude Protein) in a ratio of 1:2 respectively using the Lake Harvest Aquaculture Feed Chart.  Weekly random fry sampling was done, with a sampling intensity of 60% for all replicates to determine average body weight per treatment.  The average body weight was used to determine fry growth, feed conversion ratio and the computation of fry survival rates after the final harvest.  Data was tested for normality using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov (p<0.05). A one way analysis of variance was computed for all variables at 5% level of significance.  Stocking density had no significant influence on fry growth (p=0.603), fry survival, (p=0.774) and feed conversion ratio (p=0.304).  Since the stocking densities used in this study did not influence fry growth, survival and feed conversion ratio, we conclude that the current stocking density at the farm was low and rather conservative.  Consequently, we recommend that Lake Harvest Aquaculture use a stocking density of 575 fry/m3in order to increase fry production.  For a more convincing validation of this study, it would be necessary to conduct a replica of this study with much higher stocking densities for the optimization of fry production at Lake Harvest.Keywords : Oreochromis niloticus, Fry, Feed conversion ratio, Hapa, Stocking densit