Assessment of relative abundance, distribution and illegal killing of water birds in Usangu wetland
| dc.contributor.author | Chaula, A. | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-03-14T08:39:07Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-03-14T08:39:07Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2023 | |
| dc.description | Dissertation (MSc Biodiversity Conservation) | |
| dc.description.abstract | Wetlands hold about one-third of the world bird populations. However, they are threatened by socio-economic activities and hence potentially affecting a large assemblage of bird life. Usangu wetland, one of Tanzania's Important Bird Areas (IBAs), is experiencing an increase in farming and illegal killing of waterbirds activities. This study was conducted to determine the factors influencing relative abundance and distribution of water birds, drivers for illegal killing, and mapping the hotspots of water birds killing in Usangu Wetland. Transect sampling was used to determine abundance and distribution of water birds. Household survey, Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and key informants’ interviews were used to assess illegal killing drivers, where 12 species are illegal killed for household consumption and pest bird control. While participatory mapping was employed in mapping hotspots for illegal killing. Data on abundance and distribution were analyzed by t-test in STATA version 16 while illegal killing among species across study sites were analyzed by Kruskal walis and t-test using SPSS and R-Studio 4.0.3. Hotspots for illegal hunting were mapped using Q-GIS 3.2.14. A total of 34 waterbird species were recorded. The three most common abundant species were Gallinula angulata (47.56%), Dendrocygna bicolor (12.01%) and Plegadis falcinellus (10.15%) and the least common were Amaurornis flavirostra 0.01%, Scopus umbreta 0.01%. Water birds are most abundant and distributed in rice fields habitats compared to open grassland and maize farms especially during their reproductive stage of rice. A total of 12 bird species are illegally killed, and the most killed are: Gallinula angulata (66.1%), Gallinula chloropus (10.6%), Dendrocygna bicolor (6.8%), Aldea spp. (5%) and the Palearctic migrant Ciconia ciconia (3.8%). Most of illegal killing are conducted within rice fields. Rice fields was found to play a crucial function of habitat for diverse waterbirds, but has been a suicide bag from illegal killing as most cases are found in rice fields. | |
| dc.identifier.citation | Chaula, A. (2023) Assessment of relative abundance, distribution and illegal killing of water birds in usangu wetland, (Master's Dissertation) The University of Dodoma. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://repository.udom.ac.tz/handle/20.500.12661/4290 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | The University of Dodoma | |
| dc.subject | pest bird control | |
| dc.subject | killing drivers | |
| dc.subject | bird species | |
| dc.subject | Water birds | |
| dc.subject | rice fields | |
| dc.subject | Usangu wetland | |
| dc.title | Assessment of relative abundance, distribution and illegal killing of water birds in Usangu wetland | |
| dc.type | Thesis |