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Bugeranus Carunculatus) in Malagarasi Wetlands, Tanzania

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Bugeranus Carunculatus) in Malagarasi Wetlands, Tanzania Tanzania Journal of Science 45(1): 32-43, 2019 ISSN 0856-1761, e-ISSN 2507-7961 © College of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Dar es Salaam, 2018 Plant Diet Selectivity and Some Environmental Parameters at Foraging Sites of Wattled Crane (Bugeranus carunculatus) in Malagarasi Wetlands, Tanzania Jasson R.M. John Department of Zoology and Wildlife Conservation, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Dar es Salaam, P. O. Box 35064, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. E-mail address: [email protected] Abstract Wattled Crane Bugeranus carunculatus is a threatened wetland-dependent bird species of sub- Saharan Africa with a declining population throughout its range due to habitat degradation. Ecological studies on this species have come from large populations in Botswana and Zambia. Little is known of the isolated small populations, especially those in Tanzania where about 200 individuals survive. This study reports observations made on vegetation height, water depth and consumption of plant tubers at foraging locations of the Wattled Crane in Malagarasi- Muyovozi Ramsar Site. Foraging birds preferred wet habitats with short vegetation. Birds fed mainly on Pycreus nitidus and Cyperus articulatus plant tubers but not those of Eleocharis, a chief food plant in southern Africa, which in this study was restricted to deep water levels along lakeshores. As water gradually recedes, the swamp provides good foraging environment for the Wattled Crane. Moreover, it is during the same period when human activities especially livestock grazing and burning increase in the swamp. These human activities are likely to interfere with water level balance and change wetland vegetation structure. Furthermore, if such activities are not controlled could affect productivity, availability and accessibility of the plant tubers, the predominant food of the globally threatened Wattled Crane. Keywords: Eleocharis, Pycreus nitidus, tuber selectivity, wetland-dependent birds. Introduction Wattled Cranes are abundant in The Wattled Crane Bugeranus Botswana and Zambia where about 80% of carunculatus [Gmelin 1789] is an endemic the global population survives, and there bird species to wetlands in sub-Saharan are two smaller isolated populations in Africa with a global population of about South Africa and Ethiopia (Beilfuss et al. 8,000 individuals, which is declining in 2007). Other small populations (< 500 many of its range states due to habitat birds) are found in Angola, Malawi, degradation as a result of burning, grazing Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Democratic and conversion of swamps for agriculture Republic of Congo and Tanzania (BirdLife (Beilfuss et al. 2007, BirdLife International International 2018). In Tanzania, the 2018). Illegal trapping for international species has been nearly extirpated from its animal live trade is also among the major historic range (Elliott 1983), and the only threats to the Wattled Crane in southern viable population (c. 200 birds) is found in Africa (Morrison and van der Spuy 2006, Malagarasi-Muyovozi Ramsar Site John 2015). The species is listed as (Beilfuss et al. 2007). Previous aerial ‘Vulnerable’ by the IUCN and on CITES- surveys have indicated that the lake Appendix II (BirdLife International 2018). swamps and adjacent grasslands host a significant portion of this population at one 32 http://journals.udsm.ac.tz/index.php/tjs www.ajol.info/index.php/tjs/ Tanz. J. Sci. Vol. 45(1), 2019 particular season (Parker 1984, Kaaya et al. In addition to vegetation height and water 2007). Seasonal fluctuation in the Wattled depth at foraging locations, the study Crane numbers has also been reported in investigated the plant tuber selection the floodplain of Malagarasi (John 2013) because in other countries (e.g., Zambia), suggesting seasonal use within the Ramsar the Wattled Crane feeding activity is highly Site. However, there is still limited correlated with the presence of plant tubers information on the possible factors that especially that of Eleocharis (Douthwaite determine the Wattled Crane’s habitat use. 1974, Ndirima 2007). Although the Wattled Crane use upland habitats and sometimes agricultural Materials and Methods land, e.g., in Ethiopia (Abebe 1998), it Study area remains the most wetland-dependent of the The Malagarasi wetlands (3–6°S, 30– six species of crane in Africa (Beilfuss et al. 32°E) were designated as the first Ramsar 2007). Other species are Black Crowned site for Tanzania in 2000 (Nkotagu and Crane Balearica pavonina, Grey Crowned Ndaro 2004). Located in the northwestern Crane B. regalorum, Blue Crane Tanzania, it remains the largest Anthropoides paradiseus, Demoiselle (approximately 3.25 million ha) Ramsar Crane A. virgo and the migratory Eurasian Site in the country. The core area or central Crane Grus grus. Wattled Cranes are highly drainage of the Ramsar Site comprises dependent on wetlands for foraging, shallow lakes with the major being roosting and nesting (Meine and Archibald Nyamagoma (53 km2) and Sagara (328 1996, John et al. 2012) making them more km2). Additionally, there is open water in susceptible to degradation and major the dry season covering about 250,000 ha hydrological deteriorations, both of which together with a permanent papyrus swamp have increased in recent decades due to of about 200,000 ha with large peripheral pressures for developments (Mumba and floodplains that fluctuate widely on a yearly Thompson 2005, Wetlands International basis depending on the amount of rainfall 2010). but cover up to 1.5 million ha (Kashaigili Like many non-diver waterbirds, and Majaliwa 2010). The wetland habitats Wattled Cranes have to wade through are surrounded by very extensive miombo shallow water for foraging. Few large woodlands and wooded grasslands. The waterbirds can forage in water deeper than Malagarasi wetland habitats could be the lengths of their legs and/or beak grouped into several types (Kashaigili and (Ntiamoa-Baidu et al. 1998). Wattled Majaliwa 2010): floodplain grassland, Cranes predominantly feed on sedge roots, floodplain woodlands, permanent swamps, rhizomes and bulbs in shallow and soft open water bodies, riverine, and ground ground (Douthwaite 1974); however, they forest. The floodplains, in the peripheral of will also take grass sward and seed, and permanent swamps, and those associated animals including small aquatic snails, fish with the rivers are inundated by floods, and frogs (Hockey et al. 2005). which vary in level as much as 6 m over a Accessibility of plant tubers and other food series of dry or wet years in the more resources may depend on water depths and southerly regions of the wetland. These other habitat configurations such as floodplains have saline alkaline soils of a vegetation height (Bayliss and Yeomans mineral hydromorphic nature (Nkotagu and 1990, Whittingham and Evans 2004, Traill Ndaro 2004). and Brook 2011). The present study reports The present study focused on the foraging observations of a small population central drainage (Figure 1) of the Ramsar of the Wattled Crane in western Tanzania. Site due to the presence of representative 33 John - Plant diet selectivity and some environmental parameters in Malagarasi wetlands habitats, more important is the presence of (Parker 1984). Specific study sites included a large area of marshes and floodplains the Lumbe swamp south of Lake Sagara (Hughes and Hughes 1992, Kashaigili and and areas surrounding the Lake Majaliwa 2010). Aerial counts during the Nyamagoma (within < 35 km perimeter dry season have suggested that the Ramsar from open water). At Lake Nyamagoma, Site central drainage basin could host c. south-west (Kasisi) and north-east swamps 50% of the estimated Tanzanian population (Chagu) of the lake were treated as different of the Wattled Crane (Parker 1984, Kaaya sites. Most of Lumbe Plain is covered with et al. 2007). Moreover, the southern part of perennial grass swamp, which collapses as the Kigosi-Muyovozi Game Reserve the flood recedes. The fieldwork took place around the Lake Nyamagoma is known to between April 2010 and December 2011. be an important site for the Wattled Crane Figure 1: Map of the study sites within the core wetland area of Malagarasi-Muyovozi Ramsar Site (MMRS); the present study concentrated in the swamps near the three villages; Lumbe, Kasisi and Chagu. Methods navigation. Ten locations were selected; Vegetation four from inland swamp and six from lake Vegetation sampling was conducted in swamps. At each location, between 17 and August 2010, which is a transition from 23 quadrats (1 m x 1 m) were sampled at 50 high to low floods. At this time it was m apart along a transect emanating from neither too dry (which is usually followed four cardinal directions from the centre of by burning and grazing) to complicate the station (modified from Coppedge et al. identification nor too wet to limit 2008). Within a 1 m2 wooded frame, 34 Tanz. J. Sci. Vol. 45(1), 2019 vegetation was surveyed to establish a laboratory/herbarium identification at the species list, and assess the relative University of Dar es Salaam. frequency and species percentage cover. Species accumulation curves were used to Data analyses determine the minimum quadrats in each Data were analysed using the SPSS vegetation sampling location. At all the for Windows Release 16.0 (SPSS Inc., study sites, the curves flattened at 12-15 Chicago, Illinois) and BioDiversity quadrats indicating adequate sampling. Professional software (McAleece et al. 1997). Several statistical analyses were Birds, vegetation height, and water depth performed and normality and A telescope (Bushnell: 20 x 40 x 60) homoscedasticity of the data were tested by and binoculars (8 x 42 FOV430') were used examining the residuals and calculating to scan the wetlands (at the three sites) for Levene tests, respectively. When data did birds from April 2010 to September 2011. not meet the requirements (e.g., non-normal Focal observations (Altmann 1974) were distribution), non-parametric statistics were conducted for 30 min for each of 222 birds used otherwise parametric tests were to confirm the foraging activity before preferred.
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