Effects of land-use change after tsetse control on biological diversity: The case of northwestern Zimbabwe

It has been hypothesized that the presence of the tsetse fly has protected the biological diversity of the African continent by preventing over-use of ecosystems by people and their livestock. Our objective was to evaluate how changes in land-use, a likely impact of tsetse control, affect selected a...

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Main Authors: Gardiner, A.J., Reid, Robin S.
Format: Conference Paper
Language:Inglés
Published: OAU/STRC 1999
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/50461
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author Gardiner, A.J.
Reid, Robin S.
author_browse Gardiner, A.J.
Reid, Robin S.
author_facet Gardiner, A.J.
Reid, Robin S.
author_sort Gardiner, A.J.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description It has been hypothesized that the presence of the tsetse fly has protected the biological diversity of the African continent by preventing over-use of ecosystems by people and their livestock. Our objective was to evaluate how changes in land-use, a likely impact of tsetse control, affect selected aspects of biological diversity in three vegetation types at two sites in northwestern Zimbabwe (Busi Valley, Kanyati). This is part of a continent-wide project designed to look at these issues. The taxonomic groups used were large mammals, small mammals, birds, butterflies, dung beetles, herbaceous plants and woody plants. The structure of the vegetation was also analysed. In both Busi Valley and Kanyati, species numbers and abundances were compared in protected areas (used principally by indigenous megaherbivores) to nearby communal farmlands in the wet and dry seasons of 1995 and 1996. These sites were selected to simulate possible ecosystem states before and after tsetse control. Additional information about the effect of land-use change on dung beetles is added from other studies conducted by the first author in western (Hwange and Matopos) and central (wedza) Zimbabwe. A new sampling method was devised to study multiple taxonomic groups on the same transect at a landscape scale of resolution.
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spelling CGSpace504612023-02-15T09:33:50Z Effects of land-use change after tsetse control on biological diversity: The case of northwestern Zimbabwe Gardiner, A.J. Reid, Robin S. land use glossinidae pest control biodiversity It has been hypothesized that the presence of the tsetse fly has protected the biological diversity of the African continent by preventing over-use of ecosystems by people and their livestock. Our objective was to evaluate how changes in land-use, a likely impact of tsetse control, affect selected aspects of biological diversity in three vegetation types at two sites in northwestern Zimbabwe (Busi Valley, Kanyati). This is part of a continent-wide project designed to look at these issues. The taxonomic groups used were large mammals, small mammals, birds, butterflies, dung beetles, herbaceous plants and woody plants. The structure of the vegetation was also analysed. In both Busi Valley and Kanyati, species numbers and abundances were compared in protected areas (used principally by indigenous megaherbivores) to nearby communal farmlands in the wet and dry seasons of 1995 and 1996. These sites were selected to simulate possible ecosystem states before and after tsetse control. Additional information about the effect of land-use change on dung beetles is added from other studies conducted by the first author in western (Hwange and Matopos) and central (wedza) Zimbabwe. A new sampling method was devised to study multiple taxonomic groups on the same transect at a landscape scale of resolution. 1999 2014-10-31T06:09:15Z 2014-10-31T06:09:15Z Conference Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/50461 en Limited Access OAU/STRC
spellingShingle land use
glossinidae
pest control
biodiversity
Gardiner, A.J.
Reid, Robin S.
Effects of land-use change after tsetse control on biological diversity: The case of northwestern Zimbabwe
title Effects of land-use change after tsetse control on biological diversity: The case of northwestern Zimbabwe
title_full Effects of land-use change after tsetse control on biological diversity: The case of northwestern Zimbabwe
title_fullStr Effects of land-use change after tsetse control on biological diversity: The case of northwestern Zimbabwe
title_full_unstemmed Effects of land-use change after tsetse control on biological diversity: The case of northwestern Zimbabwe
title_short Effects of land-use change after tsetse control on biological diversity: The case of northwestern Zimbabwe
title_sort effects of land use change after tsetse control on biological diversity the case of northwestern zimbabwe
topic land use
glossinidae
pest control
biodiversity
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/50461
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