Avifauna of Boni-Dodori National Reserves, Lamu and Garissa Counties, Kenya

A comprehensive avian survey was conducted between April 2012 and November 2013 in Boni and Dodori National reserves, the connecting Aweer Community Conservancy corridor, and the adjacent forests. Survey methods were Timed Species Counts (TSCs), mist netting and opportunistic observations. Six different habitat types were identified and sampled: 1) grassland with Hyphaene palms 2) a mosaic of forest groves, grassland and Hyphaene palm savanna 3) dense thickets 4) wetlands 5) forest with dense undergrowth and 6) acacia woodlands. A total of 184 bird species was recorded, including two near threatened bird species (Southern Banded Snake Eagle Circaetus fasciolatus and Fischer’s Turaco Tauraco fischeri), 19 Palaearctic migrants, two Afrotropical migrants and 14 East African coastal biome species. There were eight forest specialist and 29 forest generalist species. We recorded sightings of a form of Red-naped Bushshrike Laniarius ruficeps that is not illustrated in bird guidebooks for Africa, and presumed to be of the subspecies kismayensis. Data from this survey led to the upgrading of the Boni-Dodori area from a potential IBA to full IBA status. Even though these forests have species of conservation importance and sufficient habitats to conserve these species, immediate actions need to be taken to ensure their protection. We recommend comprehensive biodiversity surveys in these forests in order to obtain more scientific information such as population trends to enhance the conservation of these important, but neglected sites

Molecular pilot study on peripheral populations of Kenyan greenbul in an afromontane fragmented forest

We provide a molecular study on peripheral populations of three closely related species of African forest-dependent greenbuls: the generalist Eurillas latirostris and the specialists Phyllastrephus cabanisi and Arizelocichla nigriceps. These species co-occur within their range limits in the Kenyan Afromontane forest, Cherangani Hills. This forest has experienced drastic deforestation, which began about 50years ago, that is causing habitat fragmentation. The aims of this study, using the analyses of molecular tools, are twofold: (i) to provide evidence that functional traits (i.e., ecological attributes) may shape different genetic structure in peripheral populations and (ii) to identify the possible effects of forest fragmentation. Blood and plucked feathers were sampled from a total of 124 birds analysed using two molecular approaches: (i) sequencing of cytochrome b mtDNA and (ii) genotyping nuclear DNA at eight microsatellite loci. Molecular diversity indices, minimum spanning network and mismatch distribution analysis of mtDNA results indicated that the peripheral populations showed different demographic trends: a highly variable and bimodal pattern in forest specialist P.cabanisi, a less variable and unimodal pattern in forest generalist E.latirostris and in the montane specialist A.nigriceps. Although this is a pilot study on the Cherangani forest fragmentation, the nuclear results may not exclude the hypothesis of reduced connectivity in all forest-dependent greenbuls.Resume Nous apportons une etude moleculaire des populations peripheriques de trois especes de bulbuls etroitement liees, dependantes de la foret africaine: l'espece generaliste Eurillas latirostris et les especes specialistes Phyllastrephus cabanisi et Arizelocichla nigriceps. Ces especes coexistent, au sein de leur aire de repartition, dans la foret afromontagnarde kenyane des Cherangani Hills. Cette foret subit une deforestation dramatique, qui a commence il y a quelque 50ans et qui provoque une fragmentation de l'habitat. Le but de cette etude, qui utilise une analyse d'outils moleculaires, est double: i) apporter la preuve que des caracteristiques fonctionnelles (c. a d. ecologiques) peuvent modeler differentes structures genetiques dans des populations peripheriques et ii) identifier les effets possibles de la fragmentation forestiere. Du sang et des plumes ont ete preleves sur un total de 124 oiseaux analyses suivant deux approches moleculaires: 1) le sequencage de l'ADN mitochondrial (cytochromeb) et 2) le dechiffrage du genotype de l'ADN nucleaire de huit loci microsatellites. Les resultats des Indices de diversite moleculaire, du Reseau de recouvrement minimum, et de l'Analyse des ecarts de la distribution de l'ADNmt ont montre que les populations peripheriques presentaient des tendances demographiques differentes: un schema tres variable et bimodal chez l'espece specialiste de la foret P. cabanisi, un schema moins variable et unimodal chez la generaliste de la foret E.latirostris et chez la specialiste de montagne A. nigriceps. Bien que ceci soit une etude pilote de la fragmentation de la foret de Cherangani, les resultats nucleaires ne permettent pas d'exclure l'hypothese d'une connectivite reduite entre tous les bulbuls dependant de la foret

The status of flora and fauna in the Nzoia River drainage basin in western Kenya

The species richness of flora and fauna in the Nzoia River drainage basin is documented through a study of museum specimens,  catalogues and databases. The catchment area and basin covers 2.2% (12900/580367 km2) of Kenya’s total land area with an altitudinal range of 1140 to 4300 m and varied ecosystem and land uses. We recorded approximately 9.3% (3239/34677) of Kenya’s current known species of vascular plants, invertebrates (insects and spiders), fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Bird species made up the highest proportion 58.3% (650/1114) of the national total followed by amphibians 37.3% (41/110), reptiles 45.0% (86/191), mammals 31.3% (122/390), vascular plants 17.9% (1251/7000), fish 6.7% (58/872) (32.2% (58/180) for freshwater fish only) and invertebrates (insects and spiders) 4.1% (1031/25000). Ninety-five species recorded in this area are endemic to Kenya and 42 globally threatened. The species recorded contribute to several ecosystem services including pest control, pollination, bio-indicators, medicine and cosmetics, building materials, ecotourism, research and education. Data available differed substantially across counties and taxon groups with gaps apparent in five counties (Bungoma, Busia, Elgeyo Marakwet, Siaya and Usain Gishu) and four taxa plants, invertebrates, fungi and bacteria where a dearth of information exists. To fill these gaps we recommend prioritisng future survey effort on taxa and counties with fewer than 10% of the total numbers of records