Influence of wildfire on the avian community of the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
| dc.contributor.author | Nkwabi, Ally Kiyenze | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2020-06-30T14:34:04Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2020-06-30T14:34:04Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2007 | |
| dc.description | Available in printed form, East Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, Class mark (THS EAF SD420.73.N558) | en_US |
| dc.description.abstract | This study investigated the influence of disturbance produced by wildfire on the avian community of the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania between May 2004 and January 2005. Avifauna was counted using a standard “point count” method in three vegetation types, namely long grass plains, Acacia and Terminalia woodlands. Analyses were made on species richness and abundance of avifauna. A total of 120 species in 77 genera, 41 families and 13 orders of ground feeding avifauna were recorded, of which 92 were insectivorous and 28 were either granivorous or frugivorous. The rarefaction curve showed an increase of avifauna species richness and abundance from 43 species in unbumt areas to 65 species in burnt long grass areas. In Acacia woodlands, a total of 110 species were recorded in unbumt areas while 107 species recorded in burnt areas. Also, 87 species in unbumt areas and 85 species in burnt areas were recorded in Terminalia woodlands. Avifauna species richness and abundance in Acacia and Terminalia woodlands were not influenced with burning activities. The Somali short-toed lark (Calandrella Somalica), rattling cisticola (Cisticola chiniana), Tabora cisticola (Cisticola angusticauda) slate- coloured boubou (Laniarius funebris) and tawny-flanked prinia (Prinia sub/lava) were found to be prevalent and widely distributed in unbumt areas whereas, Fischer’s sparrow-lark (Eremopterix leucopareia), red-capped lark (Calandrella cinerea) and helmeted guineafowl (Numida meleagris) were restricted in burnt areas. Insect food supply was not an important environmental factor affecting the species richness and abundance of insectivorous avifauna. This study recommends conservation of avifauna habitats by implementing prescribed burning and reducing late burning for preservation of grassland avifauna. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.citation | Nkwabi, A. K (2007) Influence of wildfire on the avian community of the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. Master dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam. Dar es Salaam. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://41.86.178.5:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/12883 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.publisher | University of Dar es Salaam | en_US |
| dc.subject | Wildfires | en_US |
| dc.subject | Serengeti National Park | en_US |
| dc.title | Influence of wildfire on the avian community of the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania | en_US |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_US |