Browsing by Author "Sande, Eric"
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Item Avian guild assemblages in forest fragments around Budongo Forest Reserve, western Uganda(Ostrich, 2017) Uwimbabazi, Moreen; Eycott, Amy E.; Babweteera, Fred; Sande, Eric; Telford, Richard J.; Vandvik, VigdisRemnant forest fragments provide an opportunity for conservation in fragmented landscapes but some patches are more useful than others. Forest fragments around Budongo Forest Reserve, an Important Bird Area in western Uganda, were surveyed to explore the effects of different aspects of habitat fragmentation on bird guild composition. We recorded 1 128 individuals of 75 bird species over 7 056 net hours. The greatest number of birds and species were recorded in the forest fragments that were large, near to the continuous forest and surrounded by subsistence farmland. However, rarefied species richness was not affected by distance, size or matrix type; instead, forest specialist species were replaced by generalists and visitors with increasing fragmentation. The proportion of forest specialists and of terrestrial insectivores decreased with distance from the main forest, canopy openness and matrix intensity but not with fragment area. The findings show that bird assemblages vary in their response to habitat fragmentation but within guilds the response to fragmentation can be consistent, and can make ecological sense. Forest bird conservation can therefore benefit from information on species ecology when deciding which bird species and which parts of the landscape are to be prioritised for conservation or monitoring purposes.Item Breeding requirements of Nahan’s Francolin, Francolinus nahan, in Budongo forest reserve, Uganda(African Journal of Ecology, 2010) Sande, Eric; Dranzoa, Christine; Wegge, Per; Carroll, John P.The Nahan’s Francolin Francolinus nahani is a globally threatened species associated with remnant forests of the eastern equatorial lowlands of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. We studied the species in the Budongo Forest Reserve during March 1998 to January 2000 in an attempt to document some aspects of breeding requirements. We located nests by physically searching the forest and through following radio-tagged adults. We measured demographical and habitat parameters associated with each nest. Our data suggest that trees of large diameter at breast height with appropriate buttress formation are important for long-time survival of Nahan’s Francolins.Item Decomposition and nutrient release patterns of municipal solid waste compost in two agro‑ecological zones of Uganda(Agriculture & Food Security, 2022) Kiiza Kabasiita, Juliet; Opolot, Emmanuel; Sande, Eric; Malinga, Geoffrey MaxwellDeteriorating soil fertility is a major constraint to agricultural production and food security among smallholder farmers in Uganda and throughout sub-Saharan Africa, where the majority of the population relies on subsistence farming for its livelihoods. Unfortunately, inorganic fertiliser used as a significant soil nutrient replenishment is unsustainable, causing adverse environmental effects, including soil acidification and pollution of water bodies. Therefore, finding alternative, more sustainable, low-cost nutrient management systems is vital. This study assessed the decomposition and nutrient release patterns of municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) in a 36 weeks litter bag experiment under field conditions in two agro-ecological zones (AEZs) of Uganda. Results: We found a higher rate of decomposition in the South-western Grass Farmlands (SGF) agro-ecological zone (0.041 week− 1, with 20% of initial compost mass remaining after 36 weeks of decay) compared to Southern and Eastern Lake Kyoga Basin (SEKB) (0.043 week− 1, 32% of initial litter mass remaining). The half-life values were 16 and 17 weeks for SGF and SEKB AEZs, respectively. The nutrient release rates differed between the two study sites. The macronutrient release pattern in both sites followed the order K > P > N. The secondary macronutrients release followed the order Ca > Mg in the SGF, while in SEKB, the order was reversed. The micronutrients followed the order Cu > Mn > Fe > Zn and Cu > Mn > Zn > Fe in SGF and SEKB AEZs, respectively. The MSWC mass loss during decomposition was negatively correlated with rainfall in both AEZs and with temperature in SGF AEZ, while it was positively correlated with temperature in SEKB AEZ. However, the relationship with nutrient release rates was inconsistent in both AEZs. Conclusions: Our results showed consistent release of nutrients in all AEZs throughout the study period, which coincides with the two cropping seasons in Uganda, suggesting that smallholder farmers can use MSWC as a soil amendment to address soil fertility decline and improve crop productivity. However, because most nutrients were released almost right away in both AEZs, planting should be done at the beginning of high rainfall months when soil moisture is high to synchronise nutrient release from MSWC with crop demand and maximise nutrient uptake by crops while minimising losses to the environment. Furthermore, the inconsistent relationships between the climatic variables and nutrient release suggest that other factors, such as site-specific microbial composition, influenced MSWC nutrient release. Therefore, long-term research is needed to examine other factors affecting nutrient release in these AEZs.Item Ethnobotanical survey of plants locally used in the control of termite pests among rural communities in northern Uganda(CABI Agriculture and Bioscience, 2022) Okori, Betty C.; Oryema, Christine; Opiro, Robert; Amos, Acur; Obici, Gilbert I.; Rutaro, Karlmax; Malinga, Geoffrey M.; Sande, EricTermites are the most destructive pests in many agricultural and forest plantations in Uganda. Current control of termites mostly relies on chemical pesticides. However, the adverse effects of chemical insecticides necessitate the need to search for and popularize the usage of environmentally safer options. Plants represent one of the most accessible resources available for termite control by communities in Uganda. However, limited documented information exists for their contribution in the management of except through verbal sharing. This study aimed at assessing the communities’ knowledge about plants traditionally used in controlling termites among selected communities in Apac District, northern Uganda. Method: An ethnobotanical survey was conducted between November 2016 and February 2017 in 12 randomly selected villages in the sub counties of Apac and Ibuje of Apac District, northern Uganda. Open-ended questionnaire interviews were used to gather ethnobotanical and sociodemographic data. A total of 381 indigenous people were interviewed [male, 281 (73.8); female, 100 (26.2)]. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), and the relative frequency of citation (RFC) was determined. Results: Overall, 70.9% of the respondents were knowledgeable about plants used for control of termites. There was a significant association between respondents’ knowledge of pesticidal plants with age and gender but not with education status. A total of 11 plant species belonging to eight families were identified to be in use for control of termites in Apac. Solanaceae, Eurphorbiaceae and Asteraceae were the most represented families with two species each, while the rest of the families had only one species mentioned. According to the relative frequency of citation (RFC), Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth. (RFC = 0.43), Vernonia amygdalina Delile (0.18) and Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray (0.10) were the most used in the control of termites in the study area. Fruits (45.9%) and leaves (29.2%) were the most used plant parts. Squeezing, crushing and chopping of the plant materials were the most popular methods of preparation and water extract was the commonest mode of formulation of plant parts. Conclusions: The study has shown that rural populations of the targeted localities possess indigenous knowledge on anti-termitid plants. However, screening is urgently needed to validate their bioactivity and to determine the bioactive constituents responsible for killing the invertebrates in pest management. Furthermore, simple methods for local propagation and cultivation are needed to ensure a sustainable supply of termicidal plant biomass.Item Faecal analysis of Nahan’s Francolin Francolinus nahani, Budongo Forest Reserve, Uganda(African Journal of Ecology, 2007) Sande, Eric; Moreby, Steven; Dranzoa, Christine; Wegge, PerNahan’s Francolin Francolinus nahani is an endangered, shy tropical forest bird species (Urban, Keith & Fry, 1986; Bennun, Dranzoa & Pomeroy, 1996; Plumptre, 1996; BirdLife International, 2000). Therefore, it is difficult to follow and observe their foods and feeding in their natural environment. Records show that they eat insects, small mollusks, green shoots, seeds and bulbs (Urban et al. 1986, Fuller, Carroll & McGowan, 2000). The faecal analysis method for determining the principal foods eaten by birds is good because neither the adults nor the chicks are affected or harmed (Moreby, 1988). However, limited information is available on identifying the arthropod components (Green, 1984; Moreby, 1988, 1993). Our goal was to understand the constituents of the food eaten by Nahan’s Francolin.Item Home ranges and survival of Nahan’s Francolin Francolinus nahani in Budongo Forest, Uganda(African Journal of Ecology, 2009) Sande, Eric; Dranzoa, Christine; Wegge, Per; Carroll, John P.We studied home ranges, habitat use and survival of radiotagged Nahan’s Francolin in Budongo Forest Reserve, Uganda during July 1998–December 1999. We studied Nahan’s Francolin in an unlogged nature reserve, in a compartment logged in 1947–1952 and in a compartment logged twice, in 1963–1964 and 1996–1997. Mean home range was 14.22 ± 1.35 ha (n = 17). The home range was significantly larger in the nature reserve than in the recently logged compartment. Birds spent more time during the day in areas with high understorey vegetation density but preferred to roost and nest between buttresses of large trees. Understorey vegetation density and canopy openness were significantly greater in the logged forest than in the nature reserve. Annual survival of adult Nahan’s Francolins was 20.09 ± 7.33% (n = 23). Our results suggest that the maintenance of large trees and areas with high understorey vegetation density are both important for Nahan’s Francolin.Item Infestation Levels of Some Pests, Predators and Enemies of Honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) in Two Agro-Ecological Zones of Uganda(Journal of Biology and Nature, 2018) Chemurot, Moses; Onen, Hudson; Kasangaki, Patrice; Kityo, Robert; Sande, Eric; De Graaf, Dirk C.Globally, honeybees are threatened by human-mediated factors like pests, diseases and pesticides. In this study, 370 honeybee colonies were surveyed for selected invertebrate and vertebrate pests in wet and dry seasons (December 2014 to September 2015). Observations were made on human activities, apiary characteristics, landscape and land use type. Counts of selected pests were made by carefully opening, smoking hives before physically searching for the target pests. The pests recorded included; rats (Graphiurus sp.), lizards (Agama sp.), small hive beetle (Aethina tumida), wax moth (Galleria mellonella) and ants (Dorylus sp.). Infestation levels of wax moths were significantly higher in wet season (0.6±2.9) than in the dry season (0.0±0.0) (P < 0.01). In addition, there was a significant negative correlation between wax moth infestation level and elevation (rho = - 0.194, n = 161, P = 0.014). Furthermore, wax moths infestation levels varied significantly across apiaries of different dominant vegetation types (P = 0.001). Old farmlands had significantly higher infestation level of pests wax moths, ant and lizard compared to new farmlands and protected areas (P<0.05). The results support locating apiaries in less disturbed habitats to reduce pest infestation.Item Phylogenetic affinities of evolutionarily enigmatic African galliforms: the Stone Partridge Ptilopachus petrosus and Nahan’s Francolin Francolinus nahani, and support for their sister relationship with New World quails(Ibis, 2012) Cohen, Callan; Wakeling, Julia L.; Mandiwana-Neudani, Tshifhiwa G.; Sande, Eric; Dranzoa, Christine; Crowe, Timothy M.; Bowie, Rauri C. K.The monotypic Stone Partridge Ptilopachus petrosus (Galliformes: Phasianidae), restricted to arid rocky areas of the northern savanna belt including the Sahel on the southern border of the Sahara Desert, is a taxonomic enigma. Historically, it has been grouped with Asian forest partridges (Galloperdix and Bambusicola spp.). However, recent DNA-based phylogenetic research has suggested that its closest relative is Nahan’s Francolin Francolinus nahani, another taxonomically enigmatic African galliform, and a globally threatened, narrow endemic species associated with the interior of remnant primary forests of the eastern equatorial lowlands of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. This hypothesis is investigated in greater detail using additional DNA evidence and information on behaviour and vocalizations. Phylogenetic analyses of the combined sequences from three nuclear and four mitochondrial markers (5554 bases for 84 galliform taxa) overwhelmingly support the sister relationship between F. nahani and P. petrosus. They, in turn, are the distantly related sister taxon of the New World quails (Odontophoridae), and are not related to any other Old World galliform.