Abstract: The scarce and low nutritive livestock forage resource base in semi arid Kenya limits livestock production in these regions. The major factor contributing to this situation is inadequate and erratic rainfall patterns accompanied by long dry spells often culminating into drought. To exploit the full potential of the ASALs for livestock production there is need to expand the forage resource base through introduction of climate smart forage species. This study was carried out to evalu...
Abstract: The study wa s conducted to assess the performance indices of frame hive beekeeping technology. The objectives were to establish the factors influencing the adoption of frame hives within selected beekeeping groups in Kitui County and compare honey production and household incomes among beekeepers using frame and traditional hives . Data were collected through formal inter views by way of a structured questionnaire , in four locations of Kitui County. Systematic random sampling was...
Abstract: Africa is a water scarce country depending primarily on reservoirs and lakes for socio-economic wellbeing. Most of these reservoirs are contaminated with nutrients making them either eutrophic or even hypertrophic. The algae blooms are common amongst these reservoirs. There is however a worrying trend of an increasing number of reservoirs with cyanobacterial blooms. Cyanobacterial blooms produce cyanotoxins which may result in human and animal deaths. Therefore, it is important to ...
Abstract: The leafhopper Mgenia fuscovaria Stål (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) is a vector of aster yellows phytoplasma (AY), 'Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris', in grapevine, Vitis vinifera L. (Vitaceae), in South Africa. In a previous study, M. fuscovaria was preferentially attracted to AY-infected compared to uninfected grapevine branches, although the mode of attraction was not determined. Phytoplasma infection may alter the volatile profiles of plants, rendering them more attractive to the in...
Abstract: Farm credit offered by AFC is an important tool in poverty alleviation through creation of working opportunities for beneficiaries. The facility improves the economic and social status through poverty alleviation, employment creation and income generation for low income farmers with limited opportunities. Through this facility, the government mainly targets to improve the livelihood and food sufficiency among the rural populace. However, loan repayment is faced by high levels of de...
Abstract: Woodlands cover about 80% of the total land area in Kenya, support 60% of the livestock and are important sources of fuelwood especially charcoal for urban areas. The woodlands of Naivasha, Kenya are dominated by a tree/shrub species Tarchonanthus camphoratus L. which is used for charcoal production using traditional earth kilns. A study focussing on woodland characterisation with respect to species composition and stocking and distribution of T camphoratus and its regeneration cha...
Abstract: Eight stations with over 30 years of rainfall record were selected in the dry region of Kenya, east of 37°E longitude, to study the nature of the crop growing seasons during the short and the long rains (October through June). The rainfall data were reduced to soil moisture based upon area wide assumptions on the soil characteristics. The start, end and duration of the crop growing seasons were determined and tested for normality using a 10 mm soil moisture threshold value at each...
Abstract: v ABSTRACT Mango ( Mangifera indica L.) fruit is produced and consumed globally, regionally, and locally. The fruit is a potential sou rce of essential nutrients including potassium, phosphorous, magnesium and is an excellent source of vitamin A and C . Mangoes can also be sold to earn income . However, most smallholder mango farmers in Matinyani Sub - county experience lack of clean planting materials, ina dequate production technolo gies , inadequate mango varieties with long pro...
Abstract: Emerging chemical pollutants (ECPs) are defined as new chemicals which do not have a regulatory status, but which may have an adverse effect on human health and the environment. Sources and environmental pathways of these ECPs have been increasingly associated with waste and wastewaters arising from industrial, agricultural and municipal activities. The ECPs of current concern include a wide range of compounds including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocar...
Abstract: Amphibians have long been recognized as excellent indicators of both biological and ecological health of ecosystems, as they occupy many habitats and environments and have a diverse range of impacts on their immediate environments. It is thus important to investigate the critical habitat requirements, as well as the preferred environmental variables that are associated with different amphibian species in order to provide insight into conservation and management plans, and to predic...
Abstract: Thirty - seven species of cetacean are recorded from southern African waters. Four thousand, five hundred and thirty - seven records of approximately 60 000 cetaceans were analysed to defme distribution patterns of these species, including dedicated sightings (both scientific and commercial), incidental sightings, commercial catches and specimens. Records of dedicated scientific sightings and incidental sightings were analysed by water depth, sea surface temperature and salinity an...
Abstract: Conservation management approaches for elephants in southern Africa, and particularly in the Kruger National Park, have changed. Recently, Kruger’s managers adapted their approach from artificially manipulating elephant numbers to reinstating and embracing densitydependent processes that could limit or regulate the elephant population. However, few studies have evaluated whether changes in Kruger’s elephant management approach were effective in achieving the desired outcomes. T...
Abstract: Global climate change is expected to increase average surface temperatures by 1.5 to 4.5 °C by the end of the 21st century. Major variation in climatic conditions is predicted to occur, including more frequent droughts and heat waves as well as higher mid-summer temperatures. Water-deficit stress may lead to increased nitrogen levels in plants, which in turn may increase their suitability for insect herbivores. In addition, the higher nutritional quality of the insect herbivore di...
Abstract: The current study is about the evolution and the morphology of dung beetles, subfamily Scarabaeinae. The study includes the systematics of the tribe Canthonini and an exhaustive analysis of the morphological variation of male genitalia including species from the 11 tribes of the subfamily, mainly Canthonini, Ateuchini, Scarabaeini and Coprini. With the aim to go deep in the phylogenetic relationships of the tribe Canthonini, the largest of the subfamily Scarabaeinae, with 91 genera...
Abstract: The ecology and life history of the vlei rat, Otomys irroratus (Brants, 1827), were studied in a population on the Van Riebeeck Nature Reserve near Pretoria. Two main procedures were used to collect the basic information and material for the project. First, a permanent live-trapping grid was established where 333 animals were captured, marked, released, and recaptured over a period of 26 months, Second, snap-trapping and live-trapping were conducted elsewhere in the study area for ...