IMPACT OF AGRICULTURAL INTENSIFICATION ON BIODIVERSITY AND SECONDARY SUCCESSION IN THE MID-ZAMBEZI VALLEY, NORTHERN ZIMBABWE By Edwin Munyaradzi Tambara A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy Tropical Resource Ecology Programme Department of Biological Sciences Faculty of Science University of Zimbabwe September 2012 1 Abstract In this thesis, the impact of woodland clearing, cultivation intensity and fallowing on tree species diversity, physiognomy and dominance was tested in the semi-arid mid-Zambezi valley, northern Zimbabwe. This study further tested the impact of agriculture on arthropod biodiversity using butterflies in the genus Charaxes (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) and beetles in the subfamily Cetoniinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). This study also investigated vegetation dynamics within recovering fallow areas. Results showed that, in both intensified and less intensified agricultural areas, conversion of natural woodland areas to cropped fields result in rapid decrease in tree diversity at field level, while at landscape level agricultural activities do not affect woody species diversity, at least in the short term. Instead, through selective cutting down of trees and subsequent crop cultivation negative impacts of woodland conversion is on tree physiognomy and dominance. At a higher trophic level, results showed that woodland clearing resulted in a decrease in abundance and loss of diversity of fruit-feeding butterflies of the genus Charaxes and beetles of the subfamily Cetoniinae with loss recorded in areas homogeneous intensively cultivated areas. Furthermore, results showed that, vegetation dynamics within fallow areas area characterised by a change in floristic composition with high rates of above-ground biomass accumulation driven by dominance of invasive species such as Acacia tortilis subsp spirocarpa. All sets of results in this study indicated that any efforts to conserve biodiversity within agricultural landscapes in the mid-Zambezi valley may have to focus on implementing an agricultural paradigm that maintains a mosaic of different land-use units, each in a different phase of clearance-cultivation-abandonment-recovery-clearance cycle. Keywords: biodiversity; agroecosystems; bio-indicators; agriculture intensity; conservation, vegetation dynamics; biomass accumulation 2 Acknowledgements I am grateful to the contribution and support of several individuals and institutions that made this MPhil thesis a success. First and foremost, I would like to gratefully and sincerely thank my supervisors, Professor S. Kativu and Professor A. Murwira for their guidance, understanding, patience, and most importantly, their friendship during my graduate studies at University of Zimbabwe. Their mentorship was paramount in providing a well-rounded experience consistent with my long-term career goals. They taught me how to think and encouraged me to not only grow as a biologist but also as mentor to others and independent thinker. I would also like to thank Dr. Emmanuel Torquebiau, my co-supervisor for his assistance and guidance which provided me with the foundation and insight I needed in my study. I also want to thank Dr. Dominique Dulieu, for his input in developing my research topic, identification of butterflies and beetles, and identification guides he gave me. I am grateful to the University of Zimbabwe, Tropical Resource Ecology Programme (TREP), Department of Biological Sciences and the Department of Geography and Environmental Science for affording me the opportunity to do my MPhil study. It was not going to be possible to do this study without funding. In this regard, my deepest appreciation goes to the Ministère Français des Affaires Etrangères et Européennes for supporting me through the French Embassy in Zimbabwe (Research Platform-Production and Conservation in Partnership, RP-PCP grant). I also acknowledge the financial support I received from DAAD through the In- Country-Scholarship for postgraduate studies (reference A/10/02929). There are several people at these institutions who contributed immensely to the success of this thesis. I wish to thank all the Biological Science staff led by Mrs Portia Chifamba and the technical staff. I would like to particularly thank Gloria Mugauri for the excellent support she 3 gave me. In the RP-PCP, I want to thank my colleagues, the Chairman Prof. Eddie Mwenje, the Coordinator, Dr. Michel de Garine-Wichatitsky, the Agriculture and Conservation theme leader, Dr Murwira, the Science Steering Committee and all the evaluators with whom I had important discussions and become friends with many. There are many others that I have not mentioned by name but together we made a greater scientific research group. I am grateful to all CIRAD Zimbabwe staff for the excellent service and friendliness. I would like to particularly thank, the administrator Shirley Tachiona, and Billy Butete. I extend my inmost gratitude to the people who assisted me with my field work in Dande. A special thanks to Knowledge Mataya, Edwin Chimusimbe, Edmore Chimimba, Obert and the Mbire District Council without whom my field work would not be possible. I am particularly indebted to Frédéric Baudron and Mbulisi Sibanda for providing me with the farming data and other ancillary data that was critical for my study. I am grateful to Vladimir Grosbois for introducing me to R Statistical software which greatly improved my statistical analysis. I am indebted and highly grateful to a special group of people, my friends Lenin Chari, Tatenda Dalu, Sydney Moyo, Trish Nyarumbu, Gregory Dowo, Tafadzwa Mahere, James Machingura, Paul Chifuruse, Beaven Utete, Joshua Tsamba, Edwin Zingwe and Kudzi Mafuwe whose resourcefulness and ingenious provided a challenging yet comfortable and inspiring working environment. I am also grateful to Willias Tagwireyi, Irene Walter, Rachel Tagwireyi and Nyasha Jongwe for being great friends, we had interesting chats full of advice and humour. I am grateful to the Tropical Biology Association (TBA). The TBA course opened up a new world of ecology and conservation which contributed immensely to my MPhil study and my research skills. Hugs to all TBA coarse participants in Amani, Tanzania 2011. Special hugs to Prof. Muareen Donnelly, and my two brothers, Yared Desta and David Amaning Kwarteng. 4 To the people I treasure the most: my parents, Rhymus and Yemurai Tambara, thank you for your unyielding commitment and love, my siblings Rudo, Sarah, Gamuchirai, Abigal, Admire and Catherine thank you for the love, respect and your faith that allowed me to be as ambitious as I wanted. I also want to thank Tonderai and Rudo Dakudzwa, it was under their watchful eye that I gained so much determination and a capacity to tackle challenges head on. I thank my cousins, nieces (Chiedza, and Jillian Dakudzwa,) and nephews (Dean Dakudzwa, Shingirai Zimbiru and Samuel Anesu Chiremba) for the play, laughter, unending encouragement and support. Most importantly, I would like to express my warm gratitude to Rutendo C. Makotsa, she always supported and encouraged me. With quiet patience and unwavering love she tolerated my occasional impolite behaviour when I was under pressure. To God be all the glory, in this journey, He gave me the serenity to accept things I could not change, courage to change things I could and wisdom to know the difference. 5 Declaration 1: Originality I, Edwin Munyaradzi Tambara declare that the thesis/dissertation, which I hereby submit for the degree of Master of Philosophy at the University of Zimbabwe, is my own work and has not previously been submitted by me for a degree at this or any other tertiary institution. I further declare that all sources cited or quoted are indicated by means of a comprehensive list of references. SIGNATURE: DATE: September 2012 6 Declaration 2: Publication Details that form part and/ or include research presented in this thesis include publications in preparation, submitted, in press and published and give details of the contributions of each author to the experimental work and writing of each publication. Publication 1 Tambara E.1, Murwira A.2, Kativu S.3, Torquebiau E.4 (2012) Farming does not necessarily conflict with tree diversity in the mid-Zambezi valley, Zimbabwe. Agroforestry Systems, 84 (2): 299-309. This work was done by the first author under the guidance and supervision of the second, third and fourth author. 1 Biological Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, P O Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe 2 Geography and Environmental Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, P O Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe 3 Tropical Resource Ecology Program (TREP), University of Zimbabwe, P O Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe 4 Centre for International Research and Development (CIRAD )/Centre for Environmental Studies, University of Pretoria, Geography building 2.1.1, University of Pretoria, 0002 Pretoria, South Africa Publication 2 Tambara E.1, Murwira A.2, Kativu S.3 (2012) From natural woodlands to cultivated land: diversity of fruit feeding butterflies and beetles in the mid-Zambezi valley, northern Zimbabwe. African Journal of Ecology, doi: 10.1111/aje.12034 This work was done by the first author under the guidance and supervision of the second and third authors. 1 Tropical Resource Ecology Program (TREP), Biological Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, P O Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe 2 Geography and Environmental Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, P O Box MP