Assessment of land use change in the Thuma forest reserve region of Malawi, Africa

A study was conducted in Thuma area in central Malawi to quantify contemporary land cover and to explore the degree of land use change in the Thuma forest reserve area of Malawi by analysing and comparing satellite-derived land cover maps from 1997, 2007 and 2017. The study was carried out using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS), focusing on analysis of Landsat 5 ETM and Landsat 8 ORI/TIRS satellite images. The classification was conducted for the following distinct classes; closed forest, open forest, shrubland, savanna grassland, agriculture fields, and water. The analysis revealed that closed forest diminished from 19% in 1997 to 10% in 2007 to 6% in 2017. Open forest reduced from 30% to 21% from 1997 to 2007 but increased to 22% in 2017. Agriculture area almost doubled from 37 % in 1997 to 64 % in 2017. Actual area from 1997 to 2017, shows that closed forest has reduced from 7,000 ha to 3,000 ha while open forest from 12,900 ha to 7800 ha. Savanna grassland has doubled from 5,900 ha to 13,000 ha. However, future studies should use modern satellites such as Sentinel and Landsat 9 for improved quantification of changes. The findings show that even the protected forest reserve (previously dominated by closed forest) is not fully protected from deforestation by local communities. Government and other stakeholders should devise measures to meet the needs of the surrounding communities and the ecological/biophysical needs of the reserves. Based on this study, issues of re-demarcation of the forest reserve and accessed area should also be explored. This study serves as a reference for the management of Thuma Forest Reserve as a refuge for natural tree species, rivers that harbour endemic fish species (Opsaridium microlepis and Opsaridium microcephalis) and the sustainable management of endangered elephants in the reserve.

An attempt to determine the size of the Common Barn-owl’s (Tyto alba) hunting area based on its prey composition

The relative abundance of small mammal species detected from Common Barn-owl pellets reflects the landscape structure and habitat pattern of the owl’s hunting area, but it is also affected by the size of the collected pellet sample and the size of the supposed hunting area. The questions arise: how many pellets should be collected and analyzed as well as how large hunting area should be taken into consideration in order to reach the best correspondence between the owl’s prey composition and the distribution of habitats preferred by small mammals preyed in supposed hunting areas? For this study, we collected 1045 Common Barn-owl pellets in a village in southern Hungary. All detected small mammal species were classified into functional groups (guilds) preferring urban, open, forest and wetland habitats. The proportion of functional groups was compared to the proportion of these habitats around the pellet collection site within circles of one, two, and three km radius. Saturation curves showed that at least 300 pellets or ca. 600 mammalian remains are required for the detection of the 19 small mammal species. The share of small mammals detected in the prey and their functional groups according to their habitat preference showed an increasing consistency with the distribution of real habitats in the potential hunting area of a radius of 3 km around the owl’s breeding or resting place.

Analyse phytosociologique de la végétation de la réserve naturelle forestière de Vyanda au Sud-Ouest du Burundi

La réserve naturelle forestière de Vyanda subit des pressions anthropiques permanentes et risque de disparaître avant qu’elle ne soit étudiée. La présente étude a pour objectif de déterminer la composition et la diversité de la végétation de cette réserve et de motiver la prise des mesures de conservation localement adaptées. L’étude a procédé par l’inventaire de la végétation suivant la méthode du relevé phytosociologique de Braun Blanquet (1932). Des spectres bruts et pondérés des formes biologiques, des types de diaspores et des types phytogéographiques ont été établis. Les résultats de l’inventaire floristique ont fait état de 108 espèces réparties en 81 genres et 41 familles. Sur le plan des formes biologiques et des types de diaspores, les phanérophytes et les sarcochores dominent tandis que les hémicryptophytes de même que les sclérochores sont bien représentés. Sur le plan phytogéographique, l’étude a mis en évidence une forte représentativité de l’élément paléo-africain, de l’élément soudano-zambézien et de l’élément guinéo-congolais. Ces spectres attestent la spécificité de cette réserve comme forêt claire du type miombo tout en mettant en évidence l’impact des perturbations dont elle est victime. L’étude met en évidence la richesse spécifique de la réserve et démontre l’intérêt qu’il y a de prendre des mesures visant à arrêter les perturbations anthropiques et à bien gérer ce milieu naturel. Sa diversité est en effet grande comparé aux autres réserves naturelles du voisinage. English title: Phytosociological analysis of the vegetation of the Vyanda natural forest reserve in southwestern Burundi The Vyanda natural forest reserve is under constant human pressure and is in danger of disappearing before it is studied. The objective of this study is to determine the composition and diversity of the vegetation of this reserve and to motivate the taking of locally adapted conservation measures. The study carried out a vegetation inventory using the Braun Blanquet (1932) phytosociological approach. Spectra of life forms, phytogeographical elements and diaspores morphology were established. The results of the floristic inventory revealed 108 species divided into 81 genera and 41 families. In terms of life forms and types of diaspores, phanerophytes and sarcochores dominate when hemicryptophytes as well as sclerochores are well represented. Phytogeographically, the study revealed a strong representativeness of the Paleo-African element, the Sudano-Zambezian element and the Guinean-Congolese element. These spectra attest to the specificity of Vyanda natural forest reserve as an open forest of the miombo type while highlighting the impact of the disturbances that affect it. The study highlights the specific richness of the reserve and its diversity and demonstrates an urgent need to take measures to stop anthropogenic disturbances and well managing this natural ecosystem. Its diversity is indeed great compared to other natural reserves in the region.

The taxonomy, ecology, leaf anatomy and utilization of Freycinetia macrostachya, Pandanaceae in New Guinea

Freycinetia macrostachya is a Pandanaceae species that was first published by Martelli in 1910. The species occur majority on Coastal Forest in both northern and southern bird’s head Papua until East New Guinea. Many species of Freycinetia have only narrowest distribution and become dying on the open area, It is different to F. macrostachya. This species has ability to live both on primary and secondary forest. Purposed of the study were to obtain delimitation of species concepts, to know the phylogenetic classification of the species and relationship among other New Guinea Freycinetia species, to understanding more about ecological aspect and the ability to live on the extreme habitat, and to know about nutrient contain for developing food product from the species. Method of the study is descriptive method with revision of taxonomy as a step working and phylogenetic analysis using PAUP program with Sararanga as an out group, survey as a research technique to ecological study and it was followed by collected some specimen for anatomy leaf study. Analysis of nutrient content of F. macrostachya bracts, i.e. moisture content, ash, crude fat (soxhlet extraction), and protein (micro kjeldahl), while carbohydrates was determined using by difference method. The result showed that the species has three layers of epidermis tissue compare to other species like F. javanica that only has one layer. This is why the species could be living on the open forest. New Guinea Freycinetia have 4 groups below the genus, the first group name F. macrostachya are belonging to the imbricate leave species, now have about 40 species and the group name was given because of F. macrostachya is an older name of all species in the group. Phylogenetic analysis trees showed that this species become an old species among all New Guinea Freycinetia species. Analysis proximate of bracts show that the carbohydrate inside is about 77 %, it is meaning that we can make many food products from bracts.

A review on markhor (capra falconeri) survival features in mountain regions

Markhor (MK) is a wild goat and one of Pakistan's (PK’s) most stunning wild animal species. The species likes to live on difficult and steep cliffs of the mountains to guard themselves from assaults by snow leopards (Pantheraunica) and wolves (Canis lupus). These high cliffs also offer a safe haven from the hunters who want at least one MK pride in their life of hunting. The male MK is prettier when the horns are long and twisted. These species play an important part in the mountain's food web to ensuring that they remain in shape for nature and for people alike. PK contains 7 Caprinae populations from the hills of the Southern Desert up to the extreme Alpine regions of the Himalayas, with 11 subspecies occupying habitats. The majority of people in Caprinae in the world live in PK at lower altitudes use steep cliffs, open forest covered with cows, providing rock bluffs as escape land. In general, the flare horn MK (C. f.falconeri) and the direct horned MK are split into two categories; (C. f.megaceros).

ESPACE BOISE DE LECOFERME DE LOKOLI (SINEMATIALI, NORD DE LA COTE DIVOIRE) : UN CAS DE COMPENSATION ECOLOGIQUE

When ecosystems are well managed, they are carbon sinks. The objective of this study is to know the state of the plant biodiversity of the wooded area of the Lokoli Ecofarm and its contribution to the regulation of the climatic regime, with a view to better conservation decision-making.A floristic inventory made it possible to determine the diversity and the floristic composition of the ligneous plants in the different Ecofarm habitats. Dendrometric measurements were carried out to determine the structural profile and the sequestered carbon stock of each habitat. The floristic study made it possible to identify 63 woody species divided into 251 classified into 22 families. The open forest has proven to be the richest in species and the most diverse. The structure in diameter classes reveals that the different biotopes are dominated by young tree stems, with a strong tendency to regenerate. The amount of carbon contained in the total biomass was found to be greater in the fallow (8.87 t / ha) than in the open forest (6.53 t / ha) and savannah (6.88 t / ha). The sequestered atmospheric carbon is estimated at 108.98 t / ha in total, for an economic value varying from 27,799.34 to 124,279.41 euros depending on the different carbon markets. In addition, this study showed that fallow significantly contributes to increasing the carbon sequestration potential of the Ecofarm.

Open Forest Data: Digitalizing and building an online repository

Poland is characterised by a relatively high variety of living organisms attributed to terrestrial and water environments. Currently, close to 57.000 species of living organisms are described that occur in Poland (Symonides 2008), including lowland and mountain species, those attributed to oceanic and continental areas, as well as species from forested and open habitats. Poland comprehensively represents biodiversity of living organisms on a continental scale and thus, is considered to have an important role for biodiversity maintenance. The Mammal Research Institute of Polish Academy of Sciences (MRI PAS), located in Białowieża Forest, a UNESCO Heritage Site, has been collecting biodiversity data for 90 years. However, a great amount of data gathered over the years, especially old data, is gradually being forgotten and hard to access. Old catalogues and databases have never been digitalized or publicly shared, and not many Polish scientists are aware of the existence of such resources, not to mention the rest of the scientific world. Recognizing the need for an online, interoperable platform, following FAIR data principles (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable), where biodiversity and scientific data can be shared, MRI PAS took a lead in creation of an Open Forest Data (OFD) repository. OpenForestData.pl (Fig. 1) is a newly created (2020) digital repository, designed to provide access to natural sciences data and provide scientists with an infrastructure for storing, sharing and archiving their research outcomes. Creating such a platform is a part of an ongoing development of life sciences in Poland, aiming for an open, modern science, where data are published as free-access. OFD also allows for the consolidation of natural science data, enabling the use and processing of shared data, including API (Application Programming Interface) tools. OFD is indexed by the Directory of Open Repositories (OpenDOAR) and Registry of Research Data Repositories (re3data). The OFD platform is based entirely on reliable, globally recognized open source software: DATAVERSE, an interactive database app which supports sharing, storing, exploration, citation and analysis of scientific data; GEONODE, a content management geospatial system used for storing, publicly sharing and visualising vector and raster layers, GRAFANA, a system meant for storing and analysis of metrics and large scale measurement data, as well as visualisation of historical graphs at any time range and analysis for trends; and external tools for database storage (Orthanc) and data visualisation (Orthanc plugin Osimis Web Viewer and Online 3D Viewer (https://3dviewer.net/), which were integrated with the system mechanism of Dataverse. Furthermore, according to the need for specimen description, Darwin Core (Wieczorek et al. 2012) metadata schema was decided to be the most suitable for specimen and collections description and mapped into a Dataverse additional metadata block. The use of Darwin Core is based on the same file format, the Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A) which allows for sharing data using common terminology and provides the possibility for easy evaluation and comparison of biodiversity datasets. It allows the contributors to OFD to optionally choose Darwin Core for object descriptions making it possible to share biodiversity datasets in a standardized way for users to download, analyse and compare. Currently, OFD stores more than 10.000 datasets and objects from the collections of Mammal Research Institute of Polish Academy of Sciences and Forest Science Institute of Białystok University of Technology. The objects from natural collections were digitalized, described, catalogued and made public in free-access. OFD manages seven types of collection materials: 3D and 2D scans of specimen in Herbarium, Fungarium, Insect and Mammal Collections, images from microscopes (including stereoscopic and scanning electron microscopes), morphometric measurements, computed tomography and microtomography scans in Mammal Collection, mammal telemetry data, satellite imagery, geospatial climatic and environmental data, georeferenced historical maps. 3D and 2D scans of specimen in Herbarium, Fungarium, Insect and Mammal Collections, images from microscopes (including stereoscopic and scanning electron microscopes), morphometric measurements, computed tomography and microtomography scans in Mammal Collection, mammal telemetry data, satellite imagery, geospatial climatic and environmental data, georeferenced historical maps. In the OFD repository, researchers have the possibility to share data in standardized way, which nowadays is often a requirement during the publishing process of a scientific article. Beside scientists, OFD is designed to be open and free for students and specialists in nature protection, but also for officials, foresters and nature enthusiasts. Creation of the OFD repository supports the development of citizen science in Poland, increases visibility and access to published data, improves scientific collaboration, exchange and reuse of data within and across borders.