Spatially continuous dataset at local scale of Taita Hills in Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania

Climate change is a global concern, requiring local scale spatially continuous dataset and modeling of meteorological variables. This dataset article provided the interpolated temperature, rainfall and relative humidity dataset at local scale along Taita Hills and Mount Kilimanjaro altitudinal gradients in Kenya and Tanzania, respectively. The temperature and relative humidity were recorded hourly using automatic onset THHOBO data loggers and rainfall was recorded daily using GENERALR wireless rain gauges. Thin plate spline (TPS) was used to interpolate, with the degree of data smoothing determined by minimizing the generalized cross validation. The dataset provide information on the status of the current climatic conditions along the two mountainous altitudinal gradients in Kenya and Tanzania. The dataset will, thus, enhance future research.Peer reviewe

Land use and land cover data changes in Indian Ocean Islands: Case study of Unguja in Zanzibar Island

Land use and land cover changes will continue to affect resilient human communities and ecosystems as a result of climate change. However, an assessment of land use and land cover changes over time in Indian Ocean Islands is less documented. The land use/cover data changes over 10 years at smaller geographical scale across Unguja Island in Zanzibar were analyzed. Downscaling of the data was obtained from SERVIR through partnership with Kenya-based Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) database (http://www.servirglobal.net), and clipped down in ArcMap (Version 10.1) to Unguja Island. SERVIR and RCMRD Land Cover Dataset are mainly 30 m multispectral images include Landsat TM and ETM+Multispectral Images. Landscape ecology Statistics tool (LecoS) was used to analysis the land use and land cover changes. The data provide information on the status of the land use and land cover changes along the Unguja Island in Zanzibar. The data is of great significance to the future research on global change

Records of Arthropod Species Sampled from Avocado Plant (Persea americana Mill) in Smallscale Agro-ecosystems at Taita Hills and Mount Kilimanjaro

Avocado, Persea americana Mill, plays a central role in distribution of both beneficial and detrimental arthropods thereby influencing local species diversity in agro-ecosystems adjacent to Afromontane forests at Mount Kilimanjaro in North-eastern Tanzania and Taita Hills in South-eastern Kenya. However, little is known about arthropod species that inhabit avocado trees in the two study areas despite the fact that the crop forms the major part of agro-ecosystem in the East African highlands. A novel survey was, therefore, carried out for two years between August 2012 and July 2014 to establish arthropod species in avocado orchards along South-eastern slopes of both Mount Kilimanjaro and Taita Hills. A total of sixty one species of arthropods were recorded from the avocado crop through fruit observation and canopy sampling. The present arthropod checklist provides baseline knowledge for scientists in evaluating beneficial and pest status of each species inhabiting avocado plant in the East African agro-ecosystems.Peer reviewe

Datasets on abundance of common blossom thrips and weather variables in small-scale avocado orchards at Taita Hills and Mount Kilimanjaro

Avocado, Persea americana Miller (Lauraceae), is an important fruit crop cultivated by small-holder farmers along Afrotropical highlands of Taita Hills in South-eastern Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro in Northern Tanzania. The small-holder farmers in these East African regions generate substantial food and cash from avocado fruits. However, the avocado crop is faced with challenges of infestation by insect pests such as the common blossom thrips (Frankliniella schultzei Trybom) which feeds on pollen and floral tissue thereby reducing productivity of the trees. Moreover, there is no information describing distribution patterns of Frankliniella schultzei and associated weather in East African avocado orchards despite the fact that small-scale farming is dependent on rainfall. This article was, therefore, initiated to provide dataset on abundance of Frankliniella schultzei from the avocado plants that relates with monthly rainfall and air temperatures at Taita Hills and Mount Kilimanjaro. Frankliniella schultzei was collected using white coloured beating tray and camel brush whereas air temperatures (°C) and rainfall (mm) was recorded daily using automatic data loggers and rain gauge, respectively. The survey at the two transects commenced during peak flowering season of avocado crop in August up to end of harvesting period in July of the following year. Temporal datasets were generated by Kruskal-Wallis Chi-square test. Current temporal datasets presents strong baseline information specifically for Kenya and Tanzania government agencies to develop further agricultural strategies aimed at improving avocado farming within Taita Hills and Mount Kilimanjaro agro-ecosystems.Peer reviewe

Spatial characterization of common blossom thrips (Frankliniella schultzei) in smallholder avocado orchards along slopes of Taita Hills and Mount Kilimanjaro

Frankliniella schultzei Trybom (Thysanoptera:Thripidae) is an important flower pest of avocado crop (Persea americana Mill) at Taita Hills in South-eastern Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro in North-eastern Tanzania. However, its geographical distribution is not known in the East African avocado cropping systems. In order to generate the spatial data of the common blossom thrips (Frankliniella schultzei), a survey was carried out in smallholder avocado orchards along altitudinal gradient (900 -1800m.a.s.l.) of Taita Hills and Mount Kilimanjaro using a white coloured beating tray and camel brush. Once the specimens of thrips were taxonomically verified, the abundance data was tabulated into three altitudinal zones, namely; lowland (900-1199m.a.s.l.), sub-montane (1200-1499m.a.s.l.) and montane (1500-1799m.a.s.l.). Frankliniella schultzei was recorded in all altitudinal zones of both transects with mean abundance being highest at Taita Hills (5.4) compared to Mount Kilimanjaro (0.9). However, abundance of the pest was greater in cooler highlands (>1200m.a.s.l.) than warmer lowland areas (<1200m.a.s.l.) of both transects. The findings of this study contributes significantly towards spatial mapping of Frankliniella schultzei in East Africa and this information is important in developing strategies aimed at controling infestation of avocado flowers by the insect pest at the two study transects.Peer reviewe

Potential distribution dataset of honeybees in Indian Ocean Islands: Case study of Zanzibar Island

Honeybees (Apis mellifera) are principal insect pollinators, whose worldwide distribution and abundance is known to largely depend on climatic conditions. However, the presence records dataset on potential distribution of honeybees in Indian Ocean Islands remain less documented. Presence records in shape format and probability of occurrence of honeybees with different temperature change scenarios is provided in this article across Zanzibar Island. Maximum entropy (Maxent) package was used to analyse the potential distribution of honeybees. The dataset provides information on the current and future distribution of the honey bees in Zanzibar Island. The dataset is of great importance for improving stakeholders understanding of the role of temperature change on the spatial distribution of honeybees

Change in the establishment, abundance and activity indices of <i>C</i>. <i>partellus</i> and <i>C</i>. <i>flavipes</i> study along the Taita hills transect; <i>C</i>. <i>partellus</i> current distribution, (A) (ERI), (B) (GI), (C) (AI); <i>C</i>. <i>flavipes</i> current distribution (D) (ERI), (E) (GI), (F) (AI); absolute establishment index change between 2013 and 2055, (G) <i>C</i>. <i>partellus</i>, (H) <i>C</i>. <i>flavipes</i>; (K) <i>C</i>. <i>partellus</i> and <i>C</i>. <i>flavipes</i> synchrony under future climate for the establishment index between 2013 and 2055.

<p>ERI = Establishment Index, GI = Generation Index, AI = Activity Index.</p

Characteristics of soils in selected maize growing sites along altitudinal gradients in East African highlands

International audienceMaize is the main staple crop in the East African Mountains. Understanding how the edaphic characteristics change along altitudinal gradients is important for maximizing maize production in East African Highlands, which are the key maize production areas in the region. This study evaluated and compared the levels of some macro and micro-elements (Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na and P) and other soil parameters (pH, organic carbon content, soil texture [i.e. % Sand, % Clay and % Silt], cation exchange capacity [CEC], electric conductivity [EC], and water holding capacity [HC]). Soil samples were taken from maize plots along three altitudinal gradients in East African highlands (namely Machakos Hills, Taita Hills and Mount Kilimanjaro) characterized by graded changes in climatic conditions. For all transects, pH, Ca, K and Mg decreased with the increase in altitude. In contrast, % Silt, organic carbon content, Al and water holding capacity (HC) increased with increasing altitude. The research provides information on the status of the physical–chemical characteristics of soils along three altitudinal ranges of East African Highlands and includes data available for further research

Minimum and maximum temperatures curves for current (2013) and future (2055); (A) Miwaleni (764 m.a.s.l); (B) Marua (1683 m.a.s.l) along Mount Kilimanjaro transect; (C) Kipusi (832 m.a.s.l); (D) Vuria (1800 m.a.s.l) along Taita hills transect.

<p>Bars above the x-axis indicate the maize-cropping season and oval indicates the starting of rainy season.</p

Changes in the establishment, abundance and activity indices of <i>B</i>. <i>fusca</i> and <i>C</i>. <i>sesamiae</i> study along the Taita hills transect; <i>B</i>. <i>fusca</i> current distribution, (A) ERI, (B) GI, (C) AI; <i>C</i>. <i>sesamiae</i> current distribution (D) ERI, (E) GI, (F) AI; absolute establishment index change between 2013 and 2055, (G) <i>B</i>. <i>fusca</i>, (H) <i>C</i>. <i>sesamiae</i>; (K) <i>B</i>. <i>fusca</i> and <i>C</i>. <i>sesamiae</i> synchrony under future climate for the establishment index between 2013 and 2055.

<p>ERI = Establishment Index, GI = Generation Index, AI = Activity Index.</p