Abstract: The south coast of South Africa represents the extreme western end of the range of the Indo-Pacific humpback (Sousa chinensis, plumbea type) and Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus), which are both confirmed to range as far west as False Bay (Jefferson & Karczmarski, 2001; Hammond et al., 2008). Individual ranging behaviour for both species however is not well resolved. Recent genetic analyses suggest that animals currently considered as plumbea type Sousa chinensis ...
Abstract: Although protected areas have been used as principal conservation tools, most of them are suffering from human-induced threats. Consequently, a good understanding of such human-driven threats on biodiversity and identifying early warning systems for habitat change in protected areas is necessary for effective conservation of natural resources. To examine the impact of human disturbance on avifaunal assemblages and to assess the potential application of birds as bioindicators of for...
Abstract: Winged Rhopalosiphum padi in search of good quality host plants transmit the non-persistent Potato virus Y (PVY) to seed potatoes. Planting a non-virus host plant as a border around the main crop can reduce PVY incidence, because aphids tend to land in high numbers at the edge of a field and the crop border acts as a virus sink. Using a trap crop could increase the number of aphids landing in the border. During host-plant searching behaviour, alate (winged) aphids respond to short ...
Abstract: In the past 3 decades, arboviruses have become a major cause of re-emerging epidemic diseases in the world. Amongst the arboviruses, dengue and chikungunya fevers which are transmitted by Aedes spp have become more prevalent and have spread far beyond traditional areas of distribution - mainly in Africa and Asia - to cause severe morbidity, mortality, and economic harm. Currently control of these diseases solely depends on vector control as there is no treatment or vaccine. This ca...
Abstract: The evidence of the effects of human mediated climate change is already evident in most ecosystems. The IPCC projects that there could be as much as a 4˚C increase in global average temperatures by the end of this century. In Mpumalanga the average temperature is projected to increase by as much as 2.8˚C, and annual precipitation levels by as much as 60 mm. Climate change, along with other human mediated factors such as land use changes and the over exploitation of natural resour...
Abstract: Water scarcity is an emerging threat to human security in contemporary time. Cases of natural resource conflicts arc on the increase 4-sin-daily in the Africa region which is home to more than 80 shared fresh water resources. Water insecurity in this respect is a growing international relations discipline arising from the ever evolving international politics .The negative climatic variations being currently experienced in various parts of the World as a result of a general increase...
Abstract: Many refugee hosting countries in Sub-Saharan Africa experience long-term environmental impacts. The presence of refugee settlements in Northern Kenya has been associated with the environmental and natural resource degradation. This research focused on the impact of refugees on the woodland, water and land resources in Kenya's refugee affected areas, notably Kakuma and Dadaab. The study methodology included a review of the existing literature (i.e. secondary data sources) on the en...
Abstract: Africa is highly vulnerable to climate change according to the United Nations and IPCC (2014). This study investigated the effects of climate change in Africa and its influence towards asylum seeking and refugee status. Information from the selected sample studies indicates that climate change would influence human wellbeing, the ecosystem, and infrastructure in Africa. Furthermore, climate change has prompted displacement of the populace in the regions most affected. The most pred...
Abstract: This study focuses on the assessment of the link between renewable energy and goal 7 of Sustainable Development Goals in Kenya, a case study of Kikuyu constituency in Kiambu County. Though the renewable energy sector is not relatively new, its growth in Kenya is at a low pace as compared to the other developing countries. Despite the huge potential of renewable energy especially biogas in Kenya, most renewable energy especially biogas systems technology market penetration is notabl...
Abstract: Existing evidence shows that Nairobi is experiencing a serious housing problem. The existing housing stock is wholly deficient while the existing conventional housing supply mechanisms, both private and public, are not able to meet the housing 'demand' leave alone the 'need'. This situation is worsened by the rapid urbanization process Kenya is experiencing accompanied by the accelerated growth of the urban population through natural increase and the unprecedented movement of peopl...
Abstract: Efficiency and Effectiveness in governance is fundamental for management of water resources. Several countries across the world are racing to institute sound reforms to ensure people have access to clean, safe water in enough quantities. Kenya is among the countries that have strived to come up with a raft of reforms to ensure effective management and access to water resources for sustainable development. Whereas significant steps have been made to ensure there is reliable access t...
Abstract: This thesis is organized in the following manner: First, chapter one presents the background of the study, the problem statement and research objectives the study is seeking to answer; justification of the study, and the scope of the study. It covers the background of Busia County, one of the 147 counties of Kenya and its County Water Department. The chapter also introduces the concept of Value for Money in project planning and management. Chapter two of this proposal examines avai...
Abstract: The existing historical economic and political accounts of Africa and Europe fails to fully explain the divergence of commerce, state power, and development between the two regions. The patterns of differences in these two regions have far more significant underlying factors. They go beyond historical experiences of Africa's of slavery and slave trade, colonialism and imperialism. The over-emphasis on unique history as the primary cause of the gap in state power and development vei...
Abstract: The main objective of this study was to make a contribution in the direction of efforts to lessen the vulnerability of the people of Kajiado County in light of the rising effects of global climate change taking place in their environments. The specific objectives included the following: To establish social-cultural adaptations necessitated by climate change in Kajiado County; to establish economic adaptations necessitated by climate change in Kajiado County; to assess the relevance...
Abstract: Vehicle exhaust fumes emission, as one of leading major source among smoke producing air pollutants, was examined in this study. Nairobi, a mega-city with increasingly high levels of air pollution was studied with special emphasis on one of its roads, Waiyaki Highway. Objectives were to find if there is air pollution, air pollution effects growth and stress of plants. This road was investigated to gain scientific understanding of the effects of vehicle fumes on plants. Hotspots (IC...