Gastrointestinal helminths in Amietia sp. (Anura: Pyxicephalidae) from the Albertine Rift of Central Africa

Summary Fourteen Amietia sp. (Pyxicephalidae), from the Albertine Rift of Democratic Republic of the Congo were examined for helminths. Five species of Nematoda were found: Amphibiophilus chabaudi, Aplectana praeputialis, Falcaustra congoensis, Foleyellides duboisi and Orneoascaris chrysanthemoides. Amphibiophilus chabaudi was the most numerous nematode (n = 40) with the highest prevalence (57 %). Five new host records are reported.

Evaluation des connaissances et de l’impact des pratiques des populations riveraines sur la conservation de l’avifaune de la Forêt de Burhinyi (Itombwe, Sud-Kivu, RD Congo)

A l’instar de nombreuses autres forêts des montagnes non protégées, la forêt de Burhinyi, faisant partie du massif d’Itombwe, subit une forte pression due aux activités humaines qui impactent négativement la valeur globale du site. Nous avons évalué les connaissances et l’impact de certaines pratiques des populations riveraines de la forêt de Burhinyi sur la conservation de l’avifaune en vue d’obtenir les données de base susceptibles d’orienter les initiatives de conservation communautaire en cours. Un questionnaire d’enquête a été utilisé pour collecter les données auprès de 188 personnes issues des différents ménages choisis dans 6 villages. Cette étude révèle que les populations riveraines exercent un bon nombre d’activités ayant un effet néfaste sur la biodiversité forestière. Il s’agit notamment des techniques de chasse, des pratiques agricoles et de l’exploitation minière. Sur 22 taxons couramment abattus à Burhinyi, une moyenne de 4,6 oiseaux est tuée journalièrement. Six taxa (Aigles, Hiboux, Corbeaux, Buses montagnardes, Gonoleks et Touracos) sont exploités en médecine traditionnelle et comme ornement des tenues portées par les chefs locaux pendant les cérémonies coutumières. Les connaissances des populations riveraines sur l’avifaune sont larges. Toutefois, elles sont significativement variables selon le groupement d’origine mais pas selon le niveau d’études. L’importance de la conservation des oiseaux a été reconnue par 80,1% des enquêtés contre 14,5% qui s’y opposent et 0,5% d’indécis.Mots clés : Perception, communautés, protection, oiseaux, Rift Albertin. English Title: Assessment of knowledge and impact of practices by riparian populations of Burhinyi Forest (Itombwe, South-Kivu, DR Congo) on the conservation of avifauna Like many other unprotected mountain forests, the Burhinyi forest is under great pressure due to human activities, which negatively impact the global value of the site. We assessed the knowledge and impact of some practices within riparian populations around Burhinyi forest on the conservation of avifauna to obtain baseline data that could guide ongoing community conservation initiatives. A survey questionnaire was used to collect data from 188 people from households selected in 6 villages. This study shows that riparian populations are engaged in a number of activities that have a negative impact on forest biodiversity. These include hunting techniques, agricultural practices and mining. Of the 22 taxa commonly trapped in Burhinyi, an average of 4.6 birds are killed daily. Six taxa (Eagles, Owls, Ravens, Mountain Hawks, Gonoleks and Touracos) are used in traditional medicine and sources of ornaments of attires worn by local leaders during customary ceremonies. The knowledge of the riparian populations about the avifauna is broad. However, they vary significantly by area of origin and not by education level. The importance of bird conservation was recognized by 80.1% of respondents compared with 14.5% who opposed it and 0.5% who were undecided.Keywords : Perception, communities, protection, birds, Albertine Rift.

Geotourism, Iconic Landforms and Island-Style Speciation Patterns in National Parks of East Africa

Many of the national parks in East Africa are equally as famous for their iconic landforms as they are for their diversity and concentrations of fauna and flora. The newly formed Ngorongoro-Lengai Geopark in northern Tanzania is the first geopark to be established in the region, but there is remarkable potential for geotourism in the majority of the national parks. The most spectacular landforms have been shaped by the East African Rift System. Formation of the two major rifts in the region, the Albertine Rift (or western branch) and the Gregory Rift (or eastern branch), was accompanied, or in some cases preceded, by extensive alkaline volcanism. The rifting and volcanism are primarily Late Cenozoic phenomenon that dissected and overprinted the older regional plateaus. Rifting impacted the regional drainage and captured major rivers, including the Victoria Nile. Chains of ribbon lakes formed in the rift valleys. The Albertine Rift consists of a sequence of sedimentary basins with deep freshwater lakes, but the shallow soda lakes of the Gregory Rift are associated with mostly volcanic terrains. Plateau-style volcanic outpourings smoothed out the older land surfaces, created near-lunar landscapes in parts of the rift valley, and built up rift shoulders to tremendous elevations. Magma erupted from central conduits formed giant stratovolcanoes which reveal evidence of explosive, Plinian-style volcanic activity. East Africa includes some of the largest and best preserved calderas on Earth. The Ngorongoro Caldera is a world heritage site. The ice-capped peaks of the two largest volcanoes in the region, Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya, are among the highest free-standing mountains on Earth. The region includes active volcanoes, several of which are potentially hazardous as they are located near urban centres. Examples include Longonot-Hells Gate (Kenya), Mount Meru (Tanzania) and Nyiragongo (Democratic Republic of Congo). East Africa is renowned for the unusual rapidity of Darwinian evolution during the past thirty million years, including evolution of primates and hominins, and it is not a coincidence that significant palaeoanthropological discoveries have been unearthed from the Oldupai Gorge and Laetoli sites in northern Tanzania. The evolutionary period coincides with the onset and persistence of rifting and volcanism. Speciation is following an island-style pattern in East Africa, despite the continental setting, as regional plateaus are being dissected by the ongoing rifting and volcanism into smaller and smaller geological terrains. This is illustrated by restriction of the endangered Mountain gorilla to regions where afromontane forests developed in rift-related uplands isolated by extensive savannah grasslands.