Browsing by Author "Mulungu, Loth"
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Item Application of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) to forecast rodent population abundance in smallholder agro-ecosystems in semi-arid areas in Tanzania(ResearchGate) Hieronimo, Proches; Isabirye, Moses; Kifumba, David; Mulungu, Loth; Kimaro, Didas N; Makundi, Rhodes H.; Leirs, Herwig; Mulungu, Loth S.; Mdangi, Mashaka E.; Massawe, Apia W.Item Application of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) to forecast rodent population abundance in smallholder agro-ecosystems in semi-arid areas in Tanzania(ResearchGate, 2019-05) Hieronimo, Proches; Isabirye, Moses; Kifumba, David; Mulungu, Loth; Kimaro, Didas N; Makundi, Rhodes H.; Leirs, Herwig; Mulungu, Loth S.; Mdangi, Mashaka E.; Massawe, Apia W.This study aimed to evaluate the potential use of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) from satellite- derived remote sensing data for monitoring rodent abundance in semi-arid areas of Tanzania. We hypothesized that NDVI could potentially complement rainfall in predicting rodent abundance spatially and tem- porally. NDVI were determined across habitats with differ- ent vegetation types in Isimani landscape, Iringa Region, in the southern highlands of Tanzania. Normalized differ- ences in reflectance between the red (R) (0.636–0.673 mm) and near-infrared (NIR) (0.851–0.879 mm) channels of the electromagnetic spectrum from the Landsat 8 [Opera- tional Land Imager (OLI)] sensor were obtained. Rodents were trapped in a total of 144 randomly selected grids each measuring 100 × 100 m 2 , for which the corresponding values of NDVI were recorded during the corresponding rodent trapping period. Raster analysis was performed by transformation to establish NDVI in study grids over the entire study area. The relationship between NDVI, rodent distribution and abundance both spatially and tempo- rally during the start, mid and end of the dry and wet sea- sons was established. Linear regression model was used to evaluate the relationships between NDVI and rodent abundance across seasons. The Pearson correlation coefficient (r) at p ≤ 0.05 was carried out to describe thedegree of association between actual and NDVI-predicted rodent abundances. The results demonstrated a strong linear relationship between NDVI and actual rodent abundance within grids (R 2 = 0.71). NDVI-predicted rodent abundance showed a strong positive correlation (r = 0.99) with estimated rodent abundance. These results support the hypothesis that NDVI has the potential for predicting rodent population abundance under smallholder farming agro-ecosystems. Hence, NDVI could be used to forecast rodent abundance within a reasonable short period of time when compared with sparse and not widely available rainfall data.hItem Evaluation of thiram and cinnamamide for protection of maize seeds against multimammate mice, Mastomys natalensis, in TanzaniaNgowo, Victor H.; Mulungu, Loth; Lodal, Jens; Makundi, Rhodes H.; Massawe, Apia W.; Leirs, HerwigItem Influence of land preparation methods and vegetation cover on population abundance of Mastomys natalensis in Morogoro, TanzaniaMassawe, Apia W.; RWAMUGIRA, Winifrida; Leirs, Herwig; Makundi, Rhodes H.; Mulungu, LothItem Influence of land preparation methods and vegetation cover on population abundance of Mastomys natalensis in Morogoro, Tanzania(2005-12) Massawe, Apia W.; RWAMUGIRA, Winifrida; Leirs, Herwig; Makundi, Rhodes H.; Mulungu, LothA Capture-Mark-Release study was carried out in Morogoro, Tanzania, from April 1999 to April 2001 to investigate the effects of land preparation methods and cropping systems on population abundance of Mastomys natalensis in crop fields. Two land preparation methods (tractor ploughing; slash and burning) and two cropping systems (mono-cropping with maize; inter-cropping with maize and beans) were included in the study. The experi- mental design was a Complete Randomized Design with 2x2 factors, with two replicates. In slash and burn fields, rodent population abundance and distribution were strongly influenced by vegetation cover regardless of the type of cropping system. Higher rodent population peaks occurred in dense vegetation cover in slash and burn relative to tractor ploughed fields. In contrast, there were no obvious associations between vegetation cover and population abundance in the tractor ploughed fields, particularly in the mono-cropping system. A negative correlation between vegetation cover and population abundance of M. natalensis was obtained in fallow land surrounding the crop fields (r = -0.63; p ≤ 0.05). The results show that the effect of vegetation cover on population abundance of M natalensis in crop fields is strongly influenced by the type of land preparation methods. Tractor ploughing and clearance of fal- low land surrounding crop fields could be a useful method to reduce the invasion of crops by M. natalensis.Item Population dynamics and breeding patterns of Multi-mammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis (Smith 1834) in irrigated rice field in Eastern Tanzania(Wiley Online Library) Mulungu, Loth; Ngowo, Victoria; Mdangi, Mashaka; Katakweba, Abdul; Tesha, Protas; Mrosso, Furaha; Mchomvu, Mary; Sheyoe, Paul; Kilonzo, BukhetItem Rodent population fluctuations in three ecologically heterogeneous locations in northeast, central and south- west Tanzania(Belg. J. Zool) Makundi, Rhodes H.; Massawe, Apia W.; Mulungu, LothItem Soil type limits population abundance of rodents in crop fields: case study of the multimammate rat Mastomys natalensis Smith, 1834 in Tanzania(Blackwell Publishing) Massawe, Apia W.; RWAMUGIRA, Winnie; LEIRS, Herwig; Makundi, Rhodes H.; Mulungu, Loth; Ngowo, V.; Machang'u, Robert S.