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Influence of Light Pollution and Biodiversity Awareness on Hawkmoth (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) Diversity and Abundance in Selected Sites in Kenya

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Influence of Light Pollution and Biodiversity Awareness on Hawkmoth (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) Diversity and Abundance in Selected Sites in Kenya INFLUENCE OF LIGHT POLLUTION AND BIODIVERSITY AWARENESS ON HAWKMOTH (LEPIDOPTERA: SPHINGIDAE) DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE IN SELECTED SITES IN KENYA ESTHER N. KIOKO; REG. NO: I501/NRB/20361/2013 A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of a degree of Master of Science in Environmental Management, South Eastern Kenya University. MARCH 2016 i DECLARATION I hereby, declare that this thesis is my original work and has not been presented to any other university or institution for the award of degree. Esther N. Kioko, REG. NO: I501/NRB/20361/2013 Signature…………………………… Date:…………………………… Supervisor This Thesis has been submitted with my knowledge and approval as the University supervisor: Dr. Peter G. Njuru Signature:................................ Date:…………………………… SEKU Dr. Elliud M. Muli Signature:............................... Date:…………………………… SEKU ii DEDICATION This work is dedicated to the memory of many outstanding people who tirelessly worked to improve the state of the environment. I for now single out three of them, Rachael Carson (1907– 964), author of the book, Silent Spring; Professor Thomas Odhiambo (1931–2003), founder of the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology and Professor Wangari Maathai (1940 – 2011), founder of the Green Belt Movement and the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am grateful to my supervisors Dr. Peter G. Njuru and Dr. Elliud M. Muli for their enlightenment and proficient guidance which made it possible for me to successfully undertake this study in the Southern Eastern Kenya University (SEKU). I acknowledge the support received from the Principal and the entire community of Alim High School, Mavoko Constituency in Machakos County while undertaking hawkmoth light trapping in their school compound. The National Museums of Kenya is highly acknowledged for allowing access to the Invertebrate Zoology collection to retrieve information from the Hawkmoth Collection. I appreciate all my colleagues, the 2013/2014 MSc class in the School of Environment and Natural Resource Management, SEKU, Nairobi Campus for their support and encouragement during the entire course and research work. I immensely acknowledge the unfailing love and support given by my family members, husband Joel Kioko and our children, Ndinda, Mueni and Yula. You all gave me the inspiration to keep up till the end of this work. iv ABSTRACT Light pollution is a key biodiversity threat and is defined as one of the global environmental problems threatening key species to extinction and posing a major challenge to biodiversity conservation. The absence of stringent law, good practice and nonexistent environmental standards on light pollution has been a major drawback to management of its effects on biodiversity. This study sought to establish the influence of light pollution and biodiversity awareness on hawkmoth diversity and abundance in Kenya with a focus on two sites, Alim High School within Mavoko Constituency and Mithanga, within Mwala Constituency in Machakos County, Kenya. It engrossed on three objectives; evaluation of the distribution pattern of hawkmoths based on the national insect reference collection at the National Museums of Kenya, determining the influence of light pollution on diversity and abundance of hawkmoths and evaluating the level of awareness by development projects on the impacts of light pollution on biodiversity in Machakos County. Descriptive research design as well as field experiments were adopted. Records were retrieved from hawkmoth specimens housed at the National Museums of Kenya. Field surveys using light trapping were done at two sites, the Alim High School and at Mithanga village. A sample of forty eight randomly selected Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) reports was obtained at the Machakos County NEMA office in Machakos town and outlined Environmental Management Plans reviewed for negative impacts on flora and fauna and possible mitigation measures. The results showed that the hawkmoth collection holds 3,540 hawkmoths records consisting of 210 species, 97 of which are from the whole of Kenya, 33 from the larger former Machakos District and 10 from Machakos County. Light trapping away from the street lights had 18 hawkmoth records consisting of 8 species, while the trap at the street lights had no hawkmoths recorded indicating a possibility of local extinction due to light pollution. A new species record Theretra capensis from Machakos County, was recorded at the Mithanga light trap. None of the EIA reports mentioned light pollution impacts or mitigation measures for light pollution. However, 62 % mentioned impacts and mitigation measures for flora only, 0% for fauna only, 10% for both flora and fauna and 38 % mentioned no issues on mitigation of impacts on flora and fauna. From this study results, it is concluded that hawkmoths are affected by light pollution and that development project proponents are not aware of light pollution and thus are not considering it in their impact mitigation plans. Among the recommendations given is that further field surveys be undertaken to examine hawkmoth species diversity and abundance in differently illuminated geographic areas capturing the effects of light pollution in their population dynamics. v TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ..................................................................................................... ii DEDICATION ....................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................... iv ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................ v TABLE OF CONTENTS ....................................................................................... vi DEFINITIONS OF TERMS ................................................................................... xi CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ..................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Research problem ................................................................................................ 4 1.3 Objectives of study .............................................................................................. 5 1.4 Hypothesis ........................................................................................................... 5 1.5 Scope of study...................................................................................................... 6 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ......................................................... 7 2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 7 2.2 Use of Museum collections to determine hawkmoth species distribution ......... 7 2.3 Factors that determine the diversity and abundance of Hawkmoths ................. 8 2.3.1 Biology and ecosystem functions of hawkmoths ......................................... 9 2.3.2 Hawkmoths as indicators of environmental quality ................................... 11 2.4 Effects of light pollution on moths .................................................................... 12 2.5 Legal framework ................................................................................................ 15 i. The National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP), 1994. ....................................... 16 ii. The Environment and Development Policy (Sessional Paper No. 6 of 1999) .. 17 iii. The National Bio-Diversity Strategy ................................................................ 17 vi iv. Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act No. 8 of 1999, .............. 17 CHAPTER THREE: MATERIALS AND METHODS ........................................ 19 3.1 The study area ................................................................................................... 19 3.2 Capturing of specimen data for mapping of hawkmoth distribution ................ 21 3.3.1 Sample collection, treatment and identification of specimens .................. 25 3.4 Development projects level of awareness to light pollution impacts ............... 26 3.5 Data analysis ...................................................................................................... 26 CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS .............................................................................. 27 4.1 Diversity and distribution pattern of hawkmoths from the National Museums of Kenya collection ....................................................................................................... 27 4.2 Impact of light pollution on hawkmoth species diversity and abundance ........ 35 4.3 Level of awareness by development projects on the impacts of light pollution on biodiversity ......................................................................................................... 42 CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION ......................................................................... 44 5.1 Discussion .......................................................................................................... 44 6.1 Conclusions ........................................................................................................ 53 6.2 Recommendations ............................................................................................ 54 REFERENCES .....................................................................................................
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