Zoology Research Papers/Topics

An assessment of demographic parameters of African rhinoceros species (Diceros bicornis and Ceratotherium simum) and their significance to management in captivity

Abstract: Captive-breeding has been identified as an integral part of the conservation of threatened species. The black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) as a species is currently listed by the IUCN as critically endangered (CR), while the white rhinoceros’s (Ceratotherium simum) current status is near-threatened (NT). Three African rhinoceros subspecies currently occur in captive populations in regional population management programmes, namely the South-central black rhinoceros (Diceros bicor...

Impacts of a specialist diet on aardwolf ecology

Abstract: The diet of an animal plays a fundamental role in its ecology, and the consequence of a specific diet may be more pronounced in mammals with a specialised diet that are more reliant on a specific food type. This can have a dramatic effect on its activity patterns, home range size and the interaction with heterospecifics. Investigating the diet of specialist mammals and the subsequent effects it will have on their ecology is thus vital to the management and subsequent conservation o...

Population structure and predation in the harvester termite, Trinervitermes trinervoides

Abstract: Little information is available on the termite species in southern Africa, especially Trinervitermes trinervoides (Sjöstedt). This is an endemic, non-detrimental harvester termite that performs vital ecosystem functions in the semi-arid grassland ecosystem of southern Africa. T. trinervoides is the only termite species that does not compete with grazers for foraging material since they harvest litter grass. T. trinervoides are highly eusocial, mound-building, nasute termites. The ...

Ecotourism success story in Zimbabwe: The case of Tsholotsho CAMPFIRE project

Abstract: This study exposes the untold success story of Zimbabwe's ecotourism projects. Literature is awash with publications on the failure by Zimbabwe to come up with, and run sustainable ecotourism projects that significantly benefit the community with very little or no effort being put on telling the positive side of the ecotourism story. It is against this background that the researchers, using an exploratory design, investigated the story of the Ngamo CAMPFIRE project in Tsholots...

The natural history of Myrmarachne melanotarsa, a social ant-mimicking jumping spider

Abstract: Myrmarachne melanotarsa, an ant-like jumping spider (Salticidae) from East Africa, is an accurate mimic of Crematogaster sp. and associates unusually closely with its models. M. melanotarsa is remarkable in that it forms dense aggregations and builds large nest complexes (numerous individuallyoccupied nests connected to each other by silk).Other salticids (Pseudicius spp., Menemerus spp.) live with M. melanotarsa in the same nest complex.These aggregations, which can exceed 50 cons...

Observations of Portia africana, an araneophagic jumping spider, living together and sharing prey

Abstract: Instances are documented of finding individuals of Portia africana in the field living aggregated in the webs of other spiders, in the nest complexes of other salticids, around solitary nests of other salticids, and around the nests of oecobiid spiders. Aggregation members included all active juvenile stages of P. africana, as well as adult males and females. More than one individual of P. africana sometimes fed on the same prey. Small juveniles of P. africana were more often than ...

Arboviruses and blood-meal sources in zoophilic mosquitoes at human-wildlife interfaces in Kenya.

Abstract: Background: Zoophilic mosquitoes play an important role in the transmission of arboviruses of medical importance at human-wildlife interfaces, yet arbovirus surveillance efforts have been focused mostly on anthropophilic mosquitoes. Understanding the diversity of zoophilic mosquitoes and their associated feeding patterns and arboviruses can inform better vector control strategies. Materials and Methods: We morphologically identified mosquitoes collected from two game reserves in Ke...

A Review of African Blastobasinae (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Coleophoridae), with New Taxa Reared from Native Fruits in Kenya

Abstract: Adamski, David, Robert S. Copeland, Scott E. Miller, Paul D. N. Hebert, Karolyn Darrow, and Quentin Luke. A Review of African Blastobasinae (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Coleophoridae), with New Taxa Reared from Native Fruits in Kenya. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, number 630, vi + 68 pages, 62 figures, 13 maps, 2 tables, 2010. — Twenty-five species of African Blastobasinae (Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae) are reviewed; 12 species are redescribed, and 13 species are described a...

The Population Dynamics of the Cassava Green Spider Mite, Mononychellus Tabajoa 9Bondar) (Acarina : Tetranychidae) in Relation to its Predators and Environmental Factor in Western Kenya

Description: A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Science in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Zoology, Kenyatta University.

Vector potential of Aedes (Stegomyia) spp. populations and risk of dengue and yellow fever virus transmission in three Kenyan cities

Abstract: Dengue (DENV) and Yellow fever (YFV) viruses are medically important flaviviruses that are transmitted by Aedes mosquito vectors of the subgenus Stegomyia especially Aedes aegypti and Aedes bromeliae, respectively, in East Africa.Urbanization has been identified as a major driver in the emergence of these diseases because of the permissive environment it creates promoting the convergence of susceptible human hosts and local vectors. However, while dengue outbreaks have mainly been ...

Studies on Native Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) for Biocontrol of Selected Lepidopteran Pests in Kenya

Abstract: Trichogramma species parasitise eggs of Lepidoptera and have been extensively used in augmentative biological control. Studies were conducted during 1997-2001 on the native egg parasitoids occurring in Kenya. The objectives of the study were (i) to identify the native egg parasitoids that attack Helicoverpa armigera and Plutella xylostella, (ii) to study the conventional and molecular taxonomy of the native Trichogramma species, (iii) to evaluate the response of two native Trichogr...

Bio-ecological studies of Amaranth’s Lepidopteran Defoliators and Development of IPM Technologies for their Management

Abstract: One of the most important and largely consumed African Indigenous Vegetables (AIV) is amaranth. It is known to have a high nutritional value, agronomical assets and economic attributes. Amaranth production is however constrained by numerous biotic factors such as insect pests, occurring as a complex of species among which lepidopteran defoliators are found to be the most destructive. Investigations on their bio-ecological and control options were conducted. Field experiments were c...

Induction of Resistance to Rhipicephalus Appendiculatus Neumann in New Zealand White Rabbits through Immunisation with Commercial Moulting Hormones and Tick-Derived Haemolymph

Abstract: This study was conducted to assess the possibility of immunising rabbits against Rhipicephalus appendicuatu Neumann, the vector for East Coast fever and Corridor disease, the most important tick-borne diseases in East and Central Africa. The antigens whose efficacy in the control of this vector were assessed included commercially available insect moulting hormone, beta-ecdysone and tick haemolymph components. However, since antibodies play a major role in the acquisition of tick re...

One Health approach to vector biology and epidemiology of arboviruses, Rickettsia,and protozoain smallholder livestock systems in western Kenya

Abstract: Background:Vector-borne pathogens (VBP) present a seriousthreat to both animal and humanhealth globally due to their zoonotic potential.‘One Health’ epidemio-surveillance systems that integrate human, animal, and arthropod vector facetsof VBP transmission enhance detection and can give rise to informed effective multi-sectoral vector-borne disease control options. The most important vectors are ticks and mosquitoes, which have a cosmopolitan distribution due to their ecological...

Molecular Phylogenetics and Phylogeography of sand lizards, Pedioplanis (Sauria: Lacertidae) in southern Africa

Abstract: The present study aims to determine the phylogenetic relationships among the sand lizards, Pedioplanis. In addition, a single mitochondrial gene is used to investigate the geographic genetic structure of the widey distributed P. burchelli. With 11 species, Pedioplanis is the most speciose genus among the southern African genera of the family Lacertidae. All the species are restricted to the subcontinent with the exception of three (P. namaquensis, P. undata and P. benguellensis), w...


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