Breeding population status and habitat preferences of white- backed vulture in Ikorongo- Grumeti Game Reserves and Ikona Wildlife Management area in Western Serengeti

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dc.contributor.authorVainess, Solomon Laizer
dc.date.accessioned2024-07-11T09:04:54Z
dc.date.available2024-07-11T09:04:54Z
dc.date.issued2024-05
dc.descriptionMSc Dissertation
dc.description.abstractWhite -backed vulture (Gyps africanus) is a critically endangered species since its population has significantly declined across its geographical ranges. Apparently, vultures provide the ecosystem with cleaning service hence reduced risk of disease spread through their feeding behaviour. Studying the breeding population status and habitat of these species is of paramount importance in maintaining a healthy population as well as managing and mitigating threats to the species and their associated habitats. This study aimed at investigating the breeding population status and the nesting preferences of the Gyps africanus population in the Ikorongo-Grumeti Game Reserves and Ikona wildlife management area (WMA) in the western corridor of the Greater Serengeti Ecosystem along the primary riparian zones (PRZ). The PRZ consisted of the Grumeti, Manchira, Nyabeu, Samisami, Rokare, Romoti, Maruru and Muyambi Rivers and their tributaries. This study used the project historical aerial surveys data gathered from 2013 to 2021 to produce breeding population trend and conducted ground nest surveys in 2021 and 2022 to estimate the breeding success and nesting preferences of the species. Due to the colonial nesting behaviour of the species, cluster analysis was used to group the nesting hotspots as well as remote sensing analysis to assess the tree cover in their breeding habitat. According to results of the aerial survey data, the breeding population in the game reserves and their contiguous WMA has declined by 56%, and based on the active nest survey, breeding success was 29%, that being lower than the previously documented information for the Greater Serengeti Ecosystem which was 90%. Individuals were found nesting along the rivers in the Ficus and Vachellia and Senegalia woodlands. Majority of the nests (57%) were found on Ficus sycomoras whereas the least number (1%) was found on Ficus indica. The tree height was the most significant tree factor for nesting tree as observed from the generelized linear model. Nesting hotspots were classified as former or intermittent hotspots, and none were classified as persistent hotspots. Net tree loss was observed in all hotspot categories, and a 28% reduction in riparian tree cover was detected. The study concludes that the Gyps africanus population in the area is declining, parallel with dropping breeding success and deteriorating breeding habitats. Seemingly, habitat loss/deterioration is a driving factor, which together with other potential threats to the population, need further investigation. Such baseline information is of critical importance to the management and conservation efforts of vultures and their overall breeding habitats in the ecosystem.
dc.description.sponsorshipThe Grumeti Fund (GF)
dc.identifier.urihttps://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/6295
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherSokoine University of Agriculture
dc.subjectWhite-Backed Vulture
dc.subjectbreeding population
dc.subjectbreeding success
dc.subjecttree cover
dc.subjectGreater Serengeti Ecosystem
dc.titleBreeding population status and habitat preferences of white- backed vulture in Ikorongo- Grumeti Game Reserves and Ikona Wildlife Management area in Western Serengeti
dc.typeThesis

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