IS TANZANIA ONE OF MEGA DIVERSITY COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD OR NOT?

WHY TANZANIA IS CONSIDERED  AS THE ONE OF MEGADIVERSE COUNTRY IN THE WORLD

Tanzania, encompassing the Mainland and Zanzibar Islands, is the largest country in East Africa ,It is located on the east coast of Africa between latitudes 10S and 12°S And longitudes 30°E and 40°E. It extends from Lake Tanganyika In the West to the Indian Ocean in the east; Lake Victoria in the North, to Lake Nyasa and river Ruvuma in the South. The country borders with Kenya and Uganda in the North, Rwanda, Burundi in the North west, Republic of Congo (Zaire) in the West, Zambia to the South- west, and Malawi as well as Mozambique in the South. The total area of Tanzania is 945,000 km2 of which The Zanzibar Islands Cover 2,400 km ². Inland waters cover an area of 61,500 km 2, 88% of which is covered with Lakes Victoria, Tanganyika and Nyasa.

Tanzania is among the Mega diversity countries in the World although there are some claims that Tanzania may not be  one of them. 

To be honest let me remind you that, Tanzania contains some 20 percent of the species of African's large mammals population, found across its reserves, conservation areas, marine parks, and 16 national parks, spread over an area of more than 42,000 square kilometres (16,000 sq mi) and forming approximately 38 percent of the country's territory

Some of Main groups of chordates found in Tanzania are explained bellow,

BIRDS

The avifauna of Tanzania include a total of 1039 species, of which 23 are endemic, four have been introduced by humans and 43 are rare or accidental. Of these, 36 species are globally threatened.

Endemic species are includes  yellow-collared lovebird (Agapornis personatus), Pemba green pigeon (Treron pembaensis), Pemba scops owl (Otus pembaensis), Usambara eagle-owl (Bubo vosseleri), Beesley's lark (Chersomanes beesleyi), Mrs. Moreau's warbler (Scepomycter winifredae), Usambara hyliota (Hyliota usambarae), Usambara akalat (Sheppardia montana), Iringa akalat (Sheppardia lowei), Rubeho akalat (Sheppardia aurantiithorax), banded sunbird (Anthreptes rubritorques), Moreau's sunbird (Nectarinia moreaui), rufous-winged sunbird, Tanzania seedeater (Serinus melanochrous), rufous-tailed weaver (Histurgops ruficauda), Kilombero weaver (Ploceus burnieri), Tanganyika masked weaver (Ploceus reichardi) and Usambara weaver (Ploceus nicolli).  Nearly 1,500 varieties of birds have been reported with the course of time. The well known introduced species are rock pigeon (Columba livia) and Indian house crow (Corvus splendens).

MAMMALS

More than three hundred species of mammals have been reported in Tanzania. Some of the species reported are: African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana), Burchell's zebra (Equus burchellii), Thomson's gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii), hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus), woodland dormouse (Graphiurus murinus), kipunji (Rungwecebus kipunji), Thomas's bushbaby (Galago thomasi), Prince Demidoff's bushbaby (Galagoides demidovii), puku (Kobus vardonii), gerenuk (Litocranius walleri), common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus), pygmy scaly-tailed flying squirrel (Idiurus zenkeri), suni (Neotragus moschatus), mbarapi (Hippotragus niger) and North African crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata).

Predators: these includes are:Lion (Panthera leo), spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas) and serval (Leptailurus serval).

Some of the primate species reported are: chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), and baboons (Papio): anubis baboon (Papio anubis), yellow baboon (Papio cynocephalus), and hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas).

Giraffe as one of large mammals in Tanzania

REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS

Tanzania is internationally recognized as a key country for the conservation of African biological diversity. Its herpeto-fauna numbers about 121 amphibians and over 275 reptiles, many of them strictly endemic and included in the “IUCN” Red lists of different countries. Despite the vicinity of a major road, the rain forests of the South Nguru Mountains in eastern Tanzania were virtually unexplored until 2004, particularly from a herpetological point of view. New surveys have resulted in the discovery of 17 reptile and amphibian species new to science. These species are only known from the Nguru Mountains.  The surveys recorded a total of 92 herpeto-faunal species of which 15 were species previously only known from other areas.Recently there are different researches being conducted to find out whether there new species in Tanzania particularly in the Eastern arc mountain where many heperto-fauna were discovered.

Biological Diversity in Tanzania is generally threatened. Human activities, such as agriculture and felling of trees for fish curing, woodfuel and timber are major threats to forests. Coastal forests have disappeared at an alarming rate as a result of agriculture, pit sawing, charcoal production and mining of salt, limestone and beach sand. Poaching of animals for meat and trophy, particularly in the protected areas and loss as well as fragmentation of wildlife habitats are also a threat to biological diversity. Bio-diversity in wetlands is threatened by pollution and human activities. Because of these threats, the future existence of individual species and ecosystems is in jeopardy. The world community is concerned about the threats to species and their habitats.

Overall, Tanzania is home to more than 11,000 species of plants, 339 mammals, 1036 species of birds, 290 reptiles, 121 amphibians, and more than 331 species of fish. 

Being reach in wild fauna and flora Tanzania is listed  as the one of the Mega diversity Countries of the World.

Mammals	Birds	Reptiles
Mexico (450) Indonesia (436) USA (428) DRC (415) Brazil (394) China (394) Columbia (359) Kenya (359) Peru (344) Uganda (338)	Columbia (1,695) Peru (1,687) Brazil (1,635) Ecuador (1,559) Indonesia (1,531) Venezuela (1,296) Bolivia (1,274) China (1,244) India (1,219) DRC (1,096)	Australia (748) Mexico (687) Columbia (584) Indonesia (511) Brazil (468) India (389) Ecuador (374) China (340) South Africa (299) Peru (298)

The table1: Shows some of Mega diverse country in the World.

Taxon	No. of species
Mammals	339
Birds)	1,036
Reptiles	290
Amphibians	121
Angiospermae (Higher plants)	11,000

Table2: Different species of wild flora and fauna in Tanzania.

These two table may help you to decide whether Tanzania is mega diverse or not, but obviously the answer is that Tanzania is very rich in term of biological species as compared to other countries hence Mega diverse country.

VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK AS THE HOME OF GREATEST APES ( GORILLA) IN THE WORLD.

The name "gorilla" was derived from an ancient account by a Carthaginian explorer who sailed along the west coast of Africa nearly 2,500 years ago. Local people shared their name for the great ape with him - the rough translation of which meant "hairy person".

The Mountain gorilla is one of the largest primates in the World with the male mountain gorilla, known as a Silverback, often growing to twice the size of a female mountain gorilla. The Mountain gorilla has longer fur covering its body when compared to other gorilla species, allowing them to be able to withstand both hot and cold temperatures.

Mountain Gorilla carrying an infant.

Distribution

The mountain gorilla is one of the two subspecies of the eastern gorilla. They are two populations; one is found in Virunga Volcanic Mountains of Central Africa, within three National parks: Mgahinga, in South-West of Uganda; Volcanoes in North-West Rwanda; and Virunga in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), (Stanford, 2001).

Classification

The Mountain gorilla belongs to the Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Mammalia, Order Primates, Family Hominidae, Genus Gorilla, and Binomial name: Gorilla Berengei Berengei.

Historically humans and their extinct ancestors were classified in the Family Hominidae while all great apes (chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans) were classified in the Family Pongidae. However, biomolecular and genetic research along with recent fossil evidence have identified new similarities between species, leading to the reclassification of chimpanzees and gorillas into the Family Hominidae. The gorillas, are closely linked to Human by DNA, gorillas are one of the four species of great apes that are the closet living relatives of humans; like three others; Chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans,

In 2001 mitochondrial DNA research and morphological variances have led to the scientific reclassification of gorillas. Under the new classification gorillas are divided into two species, the eastern gorilla (Gorilla beringei) and the western gorilla (Gorilla gorilla). It is thought that the two species diverged from one another about 2 million years ago and both have two subspecies.

The eastern gorilla's two subspecies are the eastern lowland gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri) and the mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringi).

It has been suggested that there is a third subspecies of eastern gorillas because a small subset of mountain gorillas that inhabit the Bwindi National Park in Uganda possess distinctive characteristics such as morphology, ecology and behavior. Due to the small size of mountain gorilla populations and available samples for testing, it is difficult to determine whether the two populations are physically and genetically distinct enough to be considered two separate subspecies. The western gorilla's two subspecies are the western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and the Cross River gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli).

	CLASSIFICATION OF GORILLA
Eastern Gorilla (Gorilla beringei)			Western Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla)
Eastern lowland Gorilla(G.b.graveri)		Mountain Gorilla (G.b.beringei)	Cross River Gorilla (G.g.diehli)	Western lowland Gorilla(G.g.gorilla)

The table showing the modern classification of gorilla

Unique Features of the Mountain Gorilla

The Mountain gorilla is diurnal and spends most of its waking life eating. Is highly sociable mammal and lives in groups of between 5 and 30 individuals, which includes mix of both male and female mountain gorillas. The alpha male mountain gorilla tends to rule for around 5 years, and as these mountain gorillas are non territorial.

Mountain Gorilla is Omnivore and its favourite food is leaves, seed and Herbs size: 1.5-1.8m, Weight: 204-227 kg, Top speed: 40km/h, Life Span: 35-50 years, Lifestyle: Social. Habitat: Tropical Forest and Jungles in Mountainous regions. Average litter size: 1 baby. Predators: Human, Leopard. Special: Sociable habits and agile hands and feet

The scientific order Primates encompasses about 233 living species classified in 13 scientific families. Most primates live in tropical forests and vary greatly in size. The smallest primate member is the pygmy mouse lemur weighing around 31 g (1.1 oz) and the gorilla is the largest primate weighing up to 220 kg

Feeding behavior

The Mountain gorillas have 32 teeth, the same in number as humans, they have large strong teeth adapted for coarse vegetation they consume, adult male develop big, sharp canines as they mature. They eat variety of plants; favorites include wild celery, bamboo, thistles, stinging nettles, bedstraw and certain fruits. These plants seem to provide sufficient moisture so that gorillas do not need water.

Reproduction

The Mountain gorilla is highly social, and lives in relatively stable, cohesive groups held together by long-term bonds between adult males and Females. Relationships among females are relatively weak ( Stewart.at el., 1987). These groups are non-territorial; the silverback generally defends the group rather than this territory. In the Virunga Mountain Gorillas, the average length of tenure for a dominant silverback is 4.7 years ( Robbins, 1995)

The Mountain gorilla mating is throughout the year, the gestation period is 8.5 months with litter size of 1 baby, Gorilla infants are helpless at birth and weigh about 3-4 Ibs. The Gorilla males are ready to mate when they are approximately 15 years of age, for females it is about 8 years of age. Due to the age maturity and how much time they give to their offspring, each female may only have 3 to 4 of them in their lifetime.

Conclusion

 The Mountain gorilla is a critically endangered species, as the Mountain gorilla population has diminished rapidly through loss of habitat and illegal poaching. For example More than 100,000 people live in the remote areas where mountain gorillas are found, Between 1990 and 1994, large numbers of Rwandan refugees fled to camps at the edge of the Virunga National Park, leading to uncontrolled firewood harvesting as well as increased poaching, also in 2004, 1,500 hectares of prime mountain gorilla habitat were cleared by illegal settlers in Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). All these factors contributed in one way or another in endangering the population of mountain gorilla. However recent data shows that Mountain gorillas are experiencing a population increase this is due to intensive conservation efforts and successful community engagement in conservation process.

Mountain gorillas hunted illegally for trophies in DRC. 

Watching birds along the ocean shores

What is bird watching?

Bird watching is one of the common and well known activities in the study of wild animals this practice enables watchers to identify, classify or even study behaviors of birds. Bird watching is recreational activities which can be done by direct observation with the naked eyes or using devices which magnifies images for clear observation these are binocular and telescopes.

One of the student of The University of Dar es Salaaam watching birds at Mwalim Nyerere Campus in Dar es Salaam 

How bird watching can help in identification of bird species?

To answer this question let us consider the example below,

Identification of the common tern ( Sterna repressa ).

Non breeding common tern caught at oyster bay beach in Dar es salaam

Descriptions

The bird has black cap and pale grey upper parts, under part are washed pale grey, always have black bill but it may sometimes have a red bill with a black tips, Non breeding has the white fore crown and blackish bar across the lesser wing covert. when year old (1st year) are similar but may show few brown fringes above

Location Large number may be seen offshore in mixed feeding flocks, and at estuary roots rarely in inland areas.

why naturalists do identify birds?

Bird watching is one of the important work made by ecologists in understanding the composition and behavior of nature.

OYSTER BAY AS HOME OF MANY ALGAE

Algae is the group of eukaryotic organisms comprises of unicellular such as Chlorella and the diatoms as well as multicellulars such as the giant kelp, Most are autotrophic and lack stomata, xylem and phloem, rhizoids in nonvascular plants, and the roots, leaves, and other organs that are found in vascular plants. The largest and most complex marine algae are called seaweeds.

Algae include organisms having chlorophyll as their primary photosynthetic pigment but lacking a sterile covering of cells around their reproductive cells. Some scientists excludes prokaryotes and thus do not consider cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) as algae.

Examples of algae found at Oyster Bay rock shore includes; sargassum (sea weeds), vulva and green algae.

Green algae arethe group of unicellular organisms containing chlorophylls. Algae derives their energy from photosynthesis but some are heterotrophs (do not manufacture their own food) sometimes parasitic, relying entirely on external energy sources and have limited or no   mechanism of acquiring energy.

Fig 1: Green algae on the Koko beach at oyster bay in Dar es salaam Tanzania.

Sargassum is a genus of brown, family Sargassaceae and class Phaeophyceae (seaweed) in the order Fucales. 

Fig2:The brown algae (sargassum sp) on the Oyster Bay's rocky shore in Dar es salaam Tanzania.

They inhabit shallow water and coral reefs. However, the genus is known for its planktonic (free-floating) species. While most species within the class Phaeophyceae are predominantly cold water organisms that benefit from nutrients upwelling, genus Sargassum appears to be an exception.

Did you know how the lifespan of the lion in the wild differs from that in the captivity ?.

 Lion (Panthera leo) is one of the five big cat in the genus Panthera and member of the family Felidae 

 It is the second-largest living cat after the tiger.

Size: Male lions grow to nine - ten feet long and females grow to seven -eight feet long.

Weight: The males lion has the weight exceeding 250 kg.

Habitat: lion inhabit savanna and grassland , although they may be found in the bushes and forests. 

Social life: Lions lives social life as compared to other cats, these are the only cats known to live in groups, which are known as prides. Lions roar to announce their presence within a territory and to keep members of a pride in touch with one another, a pride of lions consists of related females and offspring and a small number of adult males and groups of female lions typically hunt together. 

Conservation status:The lion is a vulnerable species, its population declined by 30–50% per two decades during the second half of the 20th century.

The reason for decline includes; habitat loss and being killed by humans  

Lion's lifespan: lion lives for 10–18 years in the wild, although in captivity they can live more than 20years(20-30 years). why? this is because in the captive areas lions are intertained and fed properly,they are intertained by tires, ropes, rubbers, balls and their favorite perfumes and cologne which are sprayed around them and whichever they like the best the get.

Very important note is that in the wild, males seldom live longer than 10 years, as injuries sustained from continual fighting with rival males greatly reduce their longevity.

Agriculture bird pests in the Lake zone.

AGRICULTURAL BIRD PEST

The agricultural bird pests are all bird species which attacks and affects the human crops either severely or at tolerant level. There are several bird pests which have been found in Tanzania and other countries in the world.

Most of the societies which are found at the Lake Zone regions of Tanzania (Tabora, Shinyanga and Mwanza regions) like Sukuma (Mwanza and Shinyanga), Nyamwezi (Tabora), Jita and Kerewe (Mwanza) are characterized by small scale agricultural system. These societies mostly perform the subsistence farming, and the most cultivated crops includes maize, rice, beans, millets, sorghum, groundnuts, cassava, and even fruits like oranges, mango, and pawpaw.

There are several agricultural bird pests which are found in Lake Zone regions in Tanzania which attacks the cereals, seeds and even the leaves of many agricultural plants like maize, rice, millet, sorghum, and even variety of fruits.

The following seven birds are the most common and most destructive in Lake Zone in Tanzania; Red billed quelea, Scaly francolin, Speke’s weavers, House sparrow, Speckled Mouse bird, Common bulbul, Duck and Guinea fowls.                                

1: RED BILLED QUELEA,                                 

Classification

Common name;           Red billed Quelea

Species name;              Quelea quelea

Fig : Red billed quelea

Local (Swahili) name;  Kwelea-kwelea

      The crops which are mostly affected by these birds includes the cereals like rice, millet, sorghum, and maize seeds.

      Level of damage by these birds is always severe, they cause critical damage because they always attack in large flocks of about 2 million birds, and each individual of quelea can consume about 18g of grains per day. It is not unusual exploitation, so a flock of 2 million birds can eat up to 50 tons of grain in a day, or 1500 tons within 30 days.

      These birds used to feed on ungerminated seeds and the mature and immature seeds in the fields.

There are several methods which have been used to minimize the effects of the Quelea attacking. These includes the traditional ways and the modern means.

Traditional means includes

·         Chasing them physically when they come to attack either by throwing the stones or making noises.

·         Use of cassette tape threads, tying them around the field which produces the scary noises to birds when they are blown by wind.

·         Use of warning flags to scary them.

·         Use of scary toys which resembles like a man.

·         Also the use of catapults.

Modern ways includes

·         Chemical means, use of pesticides.

2. SCALY FLANCOLIN.

Classification                                                         

Common name;   Scaly francolin

Species name;      Pternistis squamatus

Local (Swahili) name; Kware

Fig 2: Scaly francolin

      The scaly francolin are nut crackers which lives in a small group of family level which includes parents and young, their impacts are moderate as compared to the Quelea quelea this is due to the group size.

      Scaly francolin affects mostly maize, they have double effect because they start to affect the ungerminated seeds then they come to affect the matured corns of maize.

      The damages always occur from the period of planting up to the harvesting period, i.e. (it ranges from October to June).

There are several traditional methods which have been used to minimize the effects of the scaly francolin attacking.

Traditional means includes

·         Chasing them from farms physically sometimes by using dogs.

·         Also the use of catapults.

3. SPEKE’S WEAVERS

Classification

Common name; Speke’s weavers

Scientific name; Ploceus spekei

Local name;     Jinsole (Jita)

Figure 3; a Speke’s weaver

      These birds are always live in groups of large flocks which attack the field in large or medium group of hundreds to thousands of individuals. Their level of damage is moderate which can be tolerated.

      These birds mostly attacks the immature maize corns as well as rice farms.

      Their attacking season are mostly near harvesting period i.e. from November to June.

The methods which have been used to minimize the effects of these weaver attacking includes the traditional ways and the modern means.

Traditional means includes

·         Chasing them physically when they come to attack either by throwing the stones or making noises.

·         Use of tape thread, tying them around the field which produces the scary noises to birds when they are blown by wind.

·         Use of warning flags to scary them.

·         Use of scary toys which resembles like a man.

·         Also the use of catapults.

Modern ways includes

·         Chemical means, use of pesticides.

4. HOUSE SPARROW

Classification

Common name;       house sparrow

Scientific name;      Passer domestica

Local name;              Jorowe (Sukuma)

Figure 4; house sparrows

      These birds lives mostly in small flocks and they affects mostly the grains like seeds of maize, ground nuts, sorghum and millet.

      Their damage level is moderate, that they can be tolerated.

      The level of damage rises at harvesting period due to the fact that it is a time which they reproduce hence they need to feed their young (nestling), otherwise they consume on seeds throughout the year.

Local ways of reducing the effects includes

·         Chasing them physically when they come to attack either by throwing the stones or making noises.

·         Also the use of catapults.

No any modern method is identified to reduce the damage

5. SPECKLED MOUSE BIRD

Classification

Common name;  speckled mouse bird

Scientific name; Colius striatus

Local name;         Suludi (Sukuma in Mwanza),

Figure 5; a speckled mouse bird

      Crops affected by the bird are Fruits like ripen pawpaw and mangoes.

      Level of damage; the damage caused by these birds is relatively low this is due to fact that they do not depend in one kind of food thus can be tolerated.

      The damage occurs through out of the year since the fruits do ripe all over the year in the areas around the lake zone but the level of damage increases in December during the rainy season when most of fruits ripen in these areas around Lake Victoria.

Local ways of reducing the effects includes

·         Chasing them physically when they come to attack either by throwing the stones or making noises.

·         Also the use of catapults.

No any modern method is identified to reduce the damage.

6. COMMON BULBUL

Classification

Common name;      Common bulbul

Scientific name;     Pycnonotus barbatus

Local name;             Magulye (Jita) or Gwengere (in Sukuma) in Mwanza

   

Fig 6: Common bulbul

Crops affected by the species includes fruits like pawpaw, mangoes and tomatoes, Grains like maize, rice, sorghum and millets, as well as insects.

      Level of damage; the damage caused by these birds is relatively low this is due to fact that they do not depend in one kind of food thus can be tolerated.

      The damage occurs through out of the year since the fruits do ripe all over the year in the areas around the lake zone but the level of damage increases in December during the rainy season when most of fruits ripen in these areas around Lake Victoria.

Local ways of reducing the effects includes

·         Chasing them physically when they come to attack either by throwing the stones or making noises.

·         Also the use of catapults.

No any modern method is identified to reduce the damage.

7. DOMESTIC DUCKS AND HELMETED GUINEA FOWLS

Figure 7: Helmeted guinea fowls

Fig 8:Domestic duck

Classification

Common names;         Ducks and Helmeted guinea fowls

Scientific names;         Ducks (Anas spp), Helmeted guinea fowl (Numida meleagris).

Local names;               Ducks (Bata) and helmeted guinea fowl (Kanga) all are in Swahili language.

      Crops affected by this species are Seedlings, Cereals like maize groundnuts, Sorghum, Millets, and Rice. They also feed on the leaves of some crops like Cassava, Banana, Maize, Beans and Vegetables.

      The season in which the crops are damaged differs depending on the kind of crop damaged as shown below

ü  Seedlings are damaged during the rainy season soon after germination begins (from September - January).

ü  Cereals are highly damaged during the harvesting season but the seeds may be continuously damaged even after the harvesting period for instance when the seeds are being dried, the level of damage is high in February to July.

ü  The leaves are destructed through out of the year.

Local ways of reducing the effects includes

·         Chasing them physically when they come to attack either by throwing the stones or making noises.

·         Also the use of catapults.

No any modern method is identified to reduce the damage.