Using Medium and Large Sized Mammals Taxa of Nelson Mandela African
Institution of Science and Technology Campus. Explain Why the Area should be designated
for Biodiversity Conservation.
Matana
Levi
School of Life Science
and Bioengineering, Department of Sustainable Agriculture and Biodiversity and
Ecosystem Management (SABEM), P.O.Box 477, Arusha, Tanzania.
Mob:
+255 767758824, E-mail: levim@nm-aist.ac.tz / ternerboyly@gmail.com
Abstract
Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST)
Campus needs strategic plan for the conservation of the campus's biodiversity.
The formulation of such a plan requires to thoroughly assess the status of taxa
existing within the campus. To understand the status of animals in the area,
one taxa (Mammalia) was chosen, which represented merely proportion of the taxa
found at NM-AIST. The investigation of mammals aimed at determining the species
richness and the habitat types covering the area. We were also looking on the
alternative land uses deployed in the area. In our study we targeted animals
with medium and large sized bodies, where two medium and ten large sized
mammals were encountered. Our result ascertained
decrease in mammalian species due to progressive changes of habitat, as the
land was dispensed for different human activities (as an estate then farming
and now for academic purpose). NM-AIST has restricted movement of large animal’s
taxa because of the fence surrounding the campus. Additionally, institution
campus covers only 199 acres, which is inadequate and could impact essential
ecological and evolutionary processes undesirably. Remarkably for effective
conservation of biodiversity there should be enough areas to accommodate
population of all taxa while supporting ecological and evolutionary processes. In
spite of being small in terms of size, NM-AIST have a variety of species which
are not only locally significant but also of conservation interest. This study
focuses on assessing population dynamics for mammals to be able to tell if the
areas is feasible for conservation of biodiversity.
1.0:
Introduction
NM-AIST campus has
experienced a rapid decline of its biodiversity in past 5 decades, the
condition which presumably is linked with the construction of NM-AIST that transformed
or altered the suitable habitat for biodiversity to be used for institution
infrastructures. The details about population dynamics and persistence have not
been revealed in the area. Furthermore there is still a debate as to whether
the area qualifies criteria for being protected area or should be left for
further expansion of institution housing.
Many studies have looked
on the status of population dynamics and persistence (Soule´ and Terborgh,
1999; Hanski and Ovaskainen, 2000; Reed et al., 2002) as the startup point
prior to conservation planning process. While formulating conservation planning
for biodiversity conservation, a systematic process to identify representative
groups of species should be developed (Pressey et al., 1993; Margules and
Pressey, 2000). Apart from presentation by the surrogate taxa, the plan should also
consider the persistence of the species and their ecological and evolutionally processes
(Cowling et al., 2003). More importantly, all threats to biodiversity should
also be addressed in the formulated plan (Faith and Walker, 1996). In addition
to spatial considerations, conservation of biodiversity requires the reflection
of temporal phenomena in planning.
To understand the status
of animals in the area, one taxa (Mammalia) taxa was chosen which represented
merely proportion of the taxa found at NM-AIST. The investigation of mammals
aimed at determining the species richness of the area. We were also looking on
the habitat type in which these mammals are inhabiting. In our study we
targeted animals with medium and large sized bodies, where two medium and ten
large sized mammals were encountered.
However, in order to design a more representative reserve system to protect all
taxa in the campus, a long term and complementarity process that
includes all taxa was required. Unfortunately the study was done under a very
short period of time for convenient.
Presence, persistence and
viability of biodiversity is more of conservational interest for most
conservationist in the campus. While longing to addressing this problem, three questions
are important; first, is the size NM-AIST sufficient for viability of
populations in the area? Second, is the
biodiversity of the NM-AST satisfactorily protected in the campus? If not, what are the main
challenge? And lastly, does the campus qualify the criteria for being protected
area? NM –AIST requires a strategic plan to address these questions.
This strategic plan should also
address the current threats to biodiversity. To be able to provide answers to
the above questions, a group of
conservation biologists undertook a collaborative effort to assess the current status
of one taxa in NM-AIST. In this study, we used representative taxa that would
represent all the biodiversity component of the campus. We understand that
conservation process is sensitive practice which requires empirical evidence
with regard to all taxa found in the area. However decision should be made for
urgent conservation measures while waiting for further information which may
require lots of resources for a task to be completed. With this little
information the status of large animals and the state of habitats will partly
be revealed, and finally the results obtained from the study will be useful in
formulating a strategic conservation plan of the campus.
NM-AIST campus hosts good
numbers of flora and fauna of conservation concern. The area encompasses variety of species of different taxa,
including mammals, plants, birds, reptiles and amphibians. The presence
of the fence surrounding the campus environment might have impacted the animal’s
movement in and out of the area and consequently restricting gene flow to
medium and large mammals. Furthermost this barrier could have forbidden the
colonization and expurgated the dispersing routes for fauna and flora residing
in the area. Present study aimed at identifying the biodiversity component and
assessing the status of the area. The results obtained from this study
addresses the question of whether the area should be designated as protected
area or not. Specifically the study looked at the species richness particularly
mammal’s taxa which used as surrogate group for conservational planning
process. The study also identified the habitat type of the NM-AIST campus.
2.0:
Methodology
2.1: Study site
Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology is a public
university in northern Tanzania based in Arusha City. It is
locate at 3° 23′ 58″ S, 36° 47′ 48″ E, and
the average rainfall and temperature ranges from 800-1000 mm and 210C -240C
respectively. It is one in a network of Pan-African
Institutes of Science and Technology located across the continent (NM-AIST
website). Previously the area was prominently known as Gomba estate which used
for residents by the British settler during the colonial rule. During 1980s,
the Centre for Agricultural Mechanization and Rural Technology (CAMARTEC) took
over and transformed the area for agricultural practices. Subsequently, the
Government resolved through a Cabinet decision of April 2008 to relocate CAMARTEC,
to allow its premises to serve as a start-up campus of the new institution. The
Government of Tanzania has also financed the rehabilitation and face-lifting of
start-up buildings and infrastructure so inherited as well as other new
start-up constructions. The 199 acre start-up campus in Tengeru had a built
environment currently sufficient to support an initial population of up to
1,000 people comprising students and staff. With further expansion of the built
environment the campus can accommodate a population of up to 2,500 staff and
students (NM-AIST website, 2018).
Figure1: The map of
NM-AIST showing different habitat types and land uses in the area.
NM-AIST campus is made up
of several habitats and land uses including, wooded grassland, grassland, bush
thickets, wetland, farm land and domesticated land (housing). The area hosts a
number of biota including mammals, birds, Mollusca, anthropoids, annelids, reptiles
and amphibians, to mention just a few. Institution buildings comprising
Hostels, Lecture rooms and staffs apartments occupying a large portion of the
habitat that could be used for conservation of biodiversity. With further
expansion of buildings of which some are under construction will eventually
constrict the area available for conservation. NM-AIST land was designated for
academic issues and none of the objectives recognizes the existence of
biodiversity in the campus. There is no doubt that the institution management
authority do not take into consideration the presence of these biodiversity
when planning for expansion of institution infrastructures.
2.2: Method for Data
Collection
Direct and indirect method of observation were made
whereby, we surveyed the entire campus’s fenced area. While walking every
mammals encountered opportunistically was recorded (and classified if
medium/large). We targeted medium and large bodied species with a mass greater than
ca. 2 kg (Chew, 1978) .Only medium and large mammals were considered the rest
were neglected. At every point we encountered a mammal, GPS points was recorded
and the habitat type (grasslands, wooded grassland or the thicket) was
detailed. Human activities and alterative land uses that compete with
conservation were also recorded.
Figure 2: A group of scientists surveying the area
(NM-AIST campus).
On
the other hand, we developed questionnaires, and then conducted a face to face
interview to twenty people to find out the number of mammals species existed at
the site before and after construction of institution housing began. We were
also looking on the habitat change from the experience of indigenous people and
the data obtained were analyzed for more interpretation.
Data
on mammal’s population status were analyzed using descriptive statistical
analysis whilst QGIS software was used to analyze the spatial data (GPS
coordinates) to be able to produce a location map.
3.0:
Results and Discussion
3.1: Habitat change and
Biodiversity loss
Our
study found that, through different period and different land uses, NM-AIST
experience changes in vegetation cover which might have been affecting the
survival of biodiversity in place. Many studies highlight that, habitat loss is
the chief cause of endangerment and extinction for various species in ecosystem
(Diamond, 1984a, 1989; Fahrig & Merriam, 1985; Robinson & Quinn,1992;Caughley,
1994). Animals without their natural habitats, are
unable to protect themselves and care for their young. Our results displays
rapid decrease of large mammals where the number decreased from 12 to 5 species
in year between 1980 and 2018 (see figure1). The field survey conducted shown
that only three species were abundant and common to the area, the other two of
the present species were not encountered in the field but information were
gathered from local people through interview. One of the major threats facing
protected areas (PA) globally, is habitat loss
(Robinson & Quinn, 1992;
Fahrig & Merriam, 1985 )
mainly due to land- use changes. Similarly, NM –AIST land cover is under
progressive changes due to expansion of the institution housing, conversion of wildland
for forming and introduction of invasive like; Tagetes minuta, Pathenium spp and Lantana camara particularly in agricultural demonstration farms.
Figure 3: Invasive species (Lantana Camara)
The
capacity of an area to slow down habitat degradation and to favor habitat
restoration is clearly related to their size (Naro-maciel
& Stering, 2008), with smaller
areas that on average follow the dominant land-use change pattern into which
they are embedded.
Figure4:
the bar graph showing decrease of mammals before and after construction of
NM-AIST Campus.
3.2: The size of the Area
and population viability
The
size of NM-AIST is about 200acre which comprises of Institution buildings,
farms, recreational areas (e.g. football ground) and the grass and acacia
dominated landscape. Generally, the campus has small area with multiple land
uses that compete with goals for conservation of biodiversity. Conservational
biologist have argued that, small area designed for conservation are not viable
in the long term if they are considered as islands surrounded by
human-dominated landscapes (Naro-maciel & Stering,
2008). Even though, problems associated with small sized
area can be addressed by increasing the connectivity (corridors) between
fragments, allowing organisms to move between habitats fragments increasing
survival and genetic diversity of organisms (Naro-maciel
& Stering, 2008). Reversibly,
NM-AIST has small fenced area behaving like an isolated island surrounded by
domesticated landscapes, making it rigid and inflexible and consequently
hindering movement of large vertebrates in and out of the campus. This problem
could be resolved by opting for a large area. Large areas are effective at
protecting the ecosystems, even in areas with significant land-use pressures. However,
small areas can be used, in case the only option available, implying that we
need to devote much more attention to a group of species residing in an area of
conservational interest (Soberón M,1992). The size, shape as well as adequate number of
individuals, is important for population viability. For example large and wide
ranging animals requires large area to accommodate ecological and evolutionally
changes. The survival persistence and viability of the populations depends on
the intactness and connectivity of ecological processes, which allows
species to disperse, migrate and obtain their requirement for reproduction and
persistence. Sufficient size ensures survival upon natural disturbances (Pickett
and Thompson 1978).
Table1:
the table showing the number of species before and after construction of
NM-AIST Campus (“1” indicates present whist “0” stands for
absent).
SN
|
Common Species
|
Scientific Names
|
Size
|
Before
|
After
|
1
|
Buffalo
|
Scincera cafra
|
L
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
Lion
|
Pathera leo
|
L
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
Spotted hyena
|
Cructa Cructa
|
L
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
Leopard
|
Panthera pardus
|
L
|
1
|
0
|
5
|
Wild pig
|
Sus scrofa
|
L
|
1
|
0
|
6
|
Bushbuck
|
Tragelaphus sylvaticus
|
L
|
1
|
1
|
7
|
Wildebeest
|
Connochaetes taurinus
|
L
|
1
|
0
|
8
|
Dikdik
|
Madoqua kirkii
|
M
|
1
|
1
|
9
|
Hare
|
Lipus spp
|
M
|
1
|
1
|
10
|
Kudu
|
Tragelaphus spp
|
L
|
1
|
0
|
11
|
Giraffe
|
Giraffe camelopardalis
|
L
|
1
|
0
|
12
|
Aardvark
|
Orycteropus afer
|
L
|
1
|
1
|
|
Total
|
|
|
12
|
7
|
3.3: Threats to
Biodiversity
Recently,
scientists have reported four main threats to biodiversity which comprises
overexploitation, invasive species, habitat destruction and fragmentation (Caughley, 1994; Soberón M, 1992; Clavero, M &
García-Berthou, 2005). Similarly, the
common threats to biodiversity in NM-AIST campus are human activities, which
includes; habitat destruction as the result of ongoing expansion of institution
infrastructures and Land degradation due to use of agrochemical for farming (in
study farms). Additionally, farming is gradually affecting the susceptibility
of remaining habitat to invasive species. Besides, existence of recreational
areas such as football and basket grounds promotes movement of people in and
out of the campus threating species mainly the ones sensitive to environmental
changes.
3.4: Does NM-AIST campus
qualify the criteria for being areas for conservation of biodiversity?
Criteria
for area to be used for conservation purpose are based on abundance, rarity,
threat levels, distinctiveness,
diversity, and endemism. Even
though, species distributions, irreplaceability and financial aspects should
also be considered. Mostly, areas with higher diversity, endemism, or
threatened taxa are favored when designing area for conservation purpose.
Further
most, when deciding for areas to be used for conservation of biodiversity,
another important aspect to be considered is reserve design. This encompasses
size, shape, replication, complementarity,
and connectivity of a designed area. Larger areas are contiguous in such a way
that, when the area of an island becomes larger, the number of species
increases, while extinction rates decrease. Unlike small areas, large areas are
capable of preserving intact communities of interdependent taxa and maintain
viable populations of large sized species especially large vertebrates and
habitats than would small one. Even though small sites may be
sufficient to protect certain target species with small ranges, such as plants,
small mammals, insects, reptiles and amphibians. Possibly, low dispersing
animals such as amphibians, annelids, mollusks and some reptiles, naturally
occur in small, isolated populations.
Conclusively, NM-AIST
campus, has small size, rigid shape (demarcated
by fence), non-replicable land, lacks
complementarity, and connectivity.
Moreover, the campus has low species richness, endemism, less distinctiveness and replaceable. Conceivably, conservation
goals are compromised and do not correspond to the institutional goals. Finally,
I recommend that, NM-AIST is not suitable area and do not qualify the criteria
for being areas for conservation of biodiversity conservation, in steady it
should be used for academic purpose as stated by institutional goals. However,
small sized species with low dispersing ability like amphibians, annelids and
mollusks can be sufficiently accommodated in remaining undamaged habitat.
4.0:
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