Browsing by Author "Yahya, Batuli Mohammed"

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    The status of intertidal Molluscan resources collected by women of Fumba and Unguja Ukuu, Zanzibar
    (University of Dar Es Salaam, 2013) Yahya, Batuli Mohammed
    Molluscan resources are collected mostly by women in many parts of Zanzibar. However the status of these resources is unknown. The present study describes the status of collected intertidal Molluscan resources (bivalves and gastropods) by the women of Zanzibar, using Fumba and Unguja Ukuu as case studies and Ukombe and Pungume Islets as control sites. This was accomplished by assessing both the insitu abundance and diversity of the intertidal molluscs and the catch composition of those gleaned by women for the period of three months during low tide. Systematic sampling was carried out using 1m quadrats along 100m transects to assess the insitu abundance patterns within intertidal habitats. Gleaned molluscs were sampled randomly among women in the sampling villages. For insitu samples overall 26 species of molluscs were encountered in all sites. For gleaned samples a total of 35 taxa of the molluscs were recorded. The insitu abundance of molluscs was observed to range from 4.62 to 10.10 ind./m2, with generally higher abundances on Islets than main Islet and for the gleaned samples, the highest average catch per person was observed at Ukombe Islet and lowest at Pungume Islet. In terms of sizes most species were collected below their maximum size and most of them were collected at the size of their first sexual maturity stage. The habitat accessibility has an impact on molluscan abundance and species composition. This study conclude that the status of molluscan resources collected by women is still good in Islets, but the intense collection can result in change in intertidal molluscan population structures with negative consequences for biodiversity.