The patterns of rainfall in the Serengeti Ecosystem, Tanzania

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a viral disease of goats and sheep that occurs in Africa, the Middle East and Asia with a severe impact on livelihoods and livestock trade. Many wild artiodactyls are susceptible to PPR virus (PPRV) infection, and some outbreaks have threatened endangered wild populations. The role of wild species in PPRV epidemiology is unclear, which is a knowledge gap for the Global Strategy for the Control and Eradication of PPR. These studies aimed to investigate PPRV infection in wild artiodactyls in the Greater Serengeti and Amboseli ecosystems of Kenya and Tanzania. Out of 132 animals purposively sampled in 2015–2016, 19.7% were PPRV seropositive by ID Screen PPR competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA; IDvet, France) from the following species: African buffalo, wildebeest, topi, kongoni, Grant’s gazelle, impala, Thomson’s gazelle, warthog and gerenuk, while waterbuck and lesser kudu were seronegative. In 2018–2019, a cross-sectional survey of randomly selected African buffalo and Grant’s gazelle herds was conducted. The weighted estimate of PPRV seroprevalence was 12.0% out of 191 African buffalo and 1.1% out of 139 Grant’s gazelles. All ocular and nasal swabs and faeces were negative by PPRV real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Investigations of a PPR-like disease in sheep and goats confirmed PPRV circulation in the area by rapid detection test and/or RT-qPCR. These results demonstrated serological evidence of PPRV infection in wild artiodactyl species at the wildlife–livestock interface in this ecosystem where PPRV is endemic in domestic small ruminants. Exposure to PPRV could be via spillover from infected small ruminants or from transmission between wild animals, while the relatively low seroprevalence suggests that sustained transmission is unlikely. Further studies of other major wild artiodactyls in this ecosystem are required, such as impala, Thomson’s gazelle and wildebeest.

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Comparison of the effects of a broad-spectrum herbicide and a bio-herbicide on insect flower visitation in the Serengeti ecosystem, Tanzania

Journal for Nature Conservation ◽

10.1016/j.jnc.2021.126084 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 126084

Author(s):

Mecklina M. Mbundi ◽

Issakwisa B. Ngondya ◽

Mark Ghaui ◽

Anna C. Treydte

Keyword(s):

Broad Spectrum ◽

Serengeti Ecosystem ◽

Flower Visitation

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Lion and spotted hyena distributions within a buffer area of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-01518-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Stanslaus B. Mwampeta ◽

Clay M. Wilton ◽

Imani J. Mkasanga ◽

Lusato M. Masinde ◽

Peter S. Ranke ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Spotted Hyena ◽

The South ◽

Large Carnivore ◽

Serengeti Ecosystem ◽

Northern Tanzania ◽

Spotted Hyenas ◽

Western Border ◽

Eastern Border ◽

June July

AbstractMost large carnivore populations are declining due to anthropogenic activities including direct persecution, prey depletion, habitat loss and degradation. protected areas (PAs) can help maintain viable large carnivore populations; however, anthropogenic activities occurring near and within PA borders or edges can reduce their effectiveness. We investigated the influence of edge effects on abundance of lions (Panthera leo) and spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) in Maswa Game Reserve (MGR), a part of the Serengeti ecosystem in northern Tanzania. We conducted repeated call-ins to attract and enumerate lions and hyenas at 20 stations in MGR during June–July 2017. We used N-mixture models to estimate hyena and lion abundance in relation to land cover and distance from the south-western MGR borders which are adjacent to villages. We found lowest lion and hyena abundances by the south-western border, with abundance of both species increasing toward the eastern border adjacent to Serengeti National Park. Lions were uniformly distributed among land covers whereas hyenas were more abundant in woodlands. We suggest that reduced lion and hyena abundance near human settlements was in response to depleted prey, due to human actions. We recommend ecologically compatible land uses and effective border patrols to mitigate these adverse effects.

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Benefits and costs of illegal grazing and hunting in the Serengeti ecosystem

Environmental Conservation ◽

10.1017/s0376892906002566 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 32 (4) ◽

pp. 326-332 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

J.W. NYAHONGO ◽

M.L. EAST ◽

F.A. MTURI ◽

H. HOFER

Keyword(s):

Natural Resources ◽

Protected Areas ◽

High Potential ◽

Livestock Grazing ◽

Potential Cost ◽

Travel Costs ◽

Serengeti Ecosystem ◽

Use Of Resources ◽

Herbivore Density ◽

Quasi Experimental

Two forms of natural resource use (meat hunting and livestock grazing) were investigated at three sites in the western region of the Serengeti ecosystem, Tanzania. Statutory management of natural resources in this region was designated as National Park, Game Reserve or village council. A quasi-experimental design examined factors likely to alter the cost and benefit of illegal use by ranking areas within sites in relation to these factors. Factors likely to alter costs were the chance of arrest, determined by the presence or absence of guard posts, and the distance travelled to the site of exploitation. As all sites experienced large fluctuations in the density of migratory herbivores, it was assumed that the benefit acquired from hunting increased with wild herbivore density. Marked seasonal changes in precipitation were considered likely to alter the value of forage and water to livestock owners. Hunting effort (density of snares) increased as the density of wild herbivores increased. The distribution of hunting effort across sites was more consistent with the prediction that high travel costs were more likely to curtail hunting than a high potential cost of arrest. Unlike hunters, livestock owners mostly avoided the use of resources in protected areas probably because of the high potential cost of arrest and confiscation of stock. Natural resources within protected areas were exploited when benefits outweighed likely costs.

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Larger-Scale Influences on the Serengeti Ecosystem

Serengeti III ◽

10.7208/chicago/9780226760353.003.0012 ◽

2013 ◽

pp. 347-378 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Stephen Polasky ◽

Jennifer Schmitt ◽

Christopher Costello ◽

Liaila Tajibaeva

Keyword(s):

Serengeti Ecosystem

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Historical and Future Changes to the Serengeti Ecosystem

Serengeti III ◽

10.7208/chicago/9780226760353.003.0002 ◽

2013 ◽

pp. 7-46 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

A. R. E. Sinclair ◽

J. Grant C. Hopcraft ◽

Han Olff ◽

Simon A. R. Mduma ◽

Kathleen A. Galvin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Serengeti Ecosystem

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Effects of life history stage and climatic conditions on fecal egg counts in plains zebras (Equus quagga) in the Serengeti National Park

Parasitology Research ◽

10.1007/s00436-020-06836-8 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 119 (10) ◽

pp. 3401-3413

Author(s):

Peter A. Seeber ◽

Tetiana A. Kuzmina ◽

Alex D. Greenwood ◽

Marion L. East

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Environmental Conditions ◽

National Park ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Life History Stage ◽

Gastrointestinal Parasite ◽

Serengeti Ecosystem ◽

Life History Stages ◽

Lactating Females ◽

Host Life

Abstract In wildlife, endoparasite burden can be affected by host life history stage, environmental conditions, host abundance, and parasite co-infections. We tested the effects of these factors on gastrointestinal parasite infection in plains zebras (Equus quagga) in the Serengeti ecosystem, Tanzania, using fecal egg counts of two nematode families (Strongylidae and Ascarididae) and the presence/absence of cestode (Anoplocephalidae) eggs. We predicted higher egg counts of Strongylidae and Ascarididae, and increased likelihood of Anoplocephalidae infection in individuals (1) during energetically costly life history stages when resource allocation to immune processes may decrease and in young zebras after weaning because of increased uptake of infective stages with forage, (2) when climatic conditions facilitate survival of infective stages, (3) when large zebra aggregations increase forage contamination with infective stages, and (4) in individuals co-infected with more than one parasite group as this may indicate reduced immune competence. Strongylidae egg counts were higher, and the occurrence of Anoplocephalidae eggs was more likely in bachelors than in band stallions, whereas Ascarididae egg counts were higher in band stallions. Strongylidae and Ascarididae egg counts were not increased in lactating females. Strongylidae egg counts were higher in subadults than in foals. Regardless of sex and age, Ascarididae infections were more likely under wet conditions. Co-infections did not affect Strongylidae egg counts. Ascarididae egg counts in adult females were higher when individuals were co-infected with Anoplocephalidae. We present evidence that parasite burdens in plains zebras are affected by life history stage, environmental conditions, and co-infection.

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The influence of food availability, quality and body size on patch selection of coexisting grazer ungulates in western Serengeti National Park

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr18072 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 46 (1) ◽

pp. 54 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

John Bukombe ◽

Andrew Kittle ◽

Ramadhan B. Senzota ◽

Hamza Kija ◽

Simon Mduma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Size ◽

Body Mass ◽

Niche Overlap ◽

Wildlife Habitat ◽

Management Tool ◽

Conservation Strategies ◽

Patch Selection ◽

Wet Season ◽

Serengeti Ecosystem ◽

Dietary Niche

Context Differences in body size and mouth morphologies influence dietary resource separation among savanna ungulates, and this influences their distribution across landscape. Aim The aim was to understand the influence of body size and mouth morphology differences on both diet and patch selection by ungulate species in western Serengeti. Two hypotheses were tested: (1) for ungulate species, the relative body sizes and muzzle widths (mean muzzle width range: 3.1- 9.85) relate directly to food biomass, and to quality of diets selected in the wet season when food is abundant; (2) in the wet season, if food is not limiting, similar-sized species should exhibit greater dietary niche overlap than ungulate species that differ greatly in body size and muzzle width; moreover, similar-sized species exhibit less dietary niche overlap than ungulate species that differ greatly in body size. Methods In the western Serengeti ecosystem, road transects and direct observation were used to obtain data on the distribution and diet of five ungulate species namely buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, topi and impala; which have of varying sizes (range: 70–630kg) feeding in three different vegetation types. Grassland biomass, structure, nutrient content and ungulate use were measured at sites along transects. Key Results Results indicated that large-bodied ungulates utilised patches of greater food abundance compared with those of smaller ungulates. Body mass was also negatively correlated with diet quality, so that smaller animals ate higher protein and lower-fibre foods, as predicted. Diet niche overlap (niche similarity) showed a strong positive relationship with body mass differences among ungulate species, in support of the second of the two predictions from this hypothesis, namely that dissimilarly sized species could eat the same food. Conclusion Overall, the results suggest that in this savanna system, variation in ungulate body size influences resource separation even in the food-abundant wet season, and that this helps multiple species to co-exist. Implications Implementing more focused conservation strategies will improve wildlife habitat quality by integrating fire as a forage management tool with grazing preferences to promote forage heterogeneity in protected areas.

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Checklist of Serengeti Ecosystem Grasses

Biodiversity Data Journal ◽

10.3897/bdj.4.e8286 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. e8286 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Emma Williams ◽

John Elia Ntandu ◽

Paweł Ficinski ◽

Maria Vorontsova

Keyword(s):

Serengeti Ecosystem

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