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Effects of elephant feeding on species of acacia along the Great Ruaha river in Ruaha National park, Tanzania

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dc.creator Qolli, Stephano Niima
dc.date 2014-10-09T07:44:51Z
dc.date 2014-10-09T07:44:51Z
dc.date 2011
dc.date.accessioned 2022-10-25T08:50:23Z
dc.date.available 2022-10-25T08:50:23Z
dc.identifier Qolli S.N(2011).Effects of elephant feeding on species of acacia along the great ruaha river in Ruaha national park, Morogoro. Tanzania .Sokoine Universitry of Agriculture.
dc.identifier https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/178
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/90135
dc.description This study compared the effects of elephant browsing and response between Acacia tortilis and A. kirkii in Ruaha National Park. A total of 30 belt transects were randomly placed in an area of 38.8 km 2 on the northern bank of the Great Ruaha River, where 1007 Acacia trees were assessed for elephant damage. Damage was assessed basing on six browsing categories and four debarking classes. There was no significant difference in browsing (F 1, 10 = 0.6, p>0.05) and debarking (F 1, 6 = 0.16, p > 0.05) between A. kirkii and A. tortilis. Trees were classified into three height classes and twelve diameter classes to determine population structure. A total of 3613 trees < 1 m in height were recorded to represent response in addition to coppices; and a significant difference between the two species was observed only in regeneration potential (F 1,58 = 41.4, p < 0.05). Significant difference was also observed in population structures (F 1, 58 = 42.08, p < 0.05). However, the low regeneration potential, relatively high proportion of severely browsed trees and restricted distribution of A. kirkii in the study area could make it vulnerable to elephant feeding than A. tortilis. The high A. tortilis regeneration potential suggests the likelihood that the area between Msembe and Lunda could become an Acacia bush or woodland if fire is controlled. The study concludes with recommendations for further studies on the variation in vegetation utilisation by elephant along the Great Ruaha River, suppressed regeneration of Acacia trees at Msembe, effects of fire and small browsers on Acacia species as well as continuous monitoring of vegetation and animal trends.
dc.description Tanzania National Park’s (TANAPA) management
dc.format application/pdf
dc.language en
dc.publisher Sokoine Universitry of Agriculture
dc.subject Acacia tortilis
dc.subject Ruaha National park
dc.subject A. kirkii
dc.subject Elephants
dc.title Effects of elephant feeding on species of acacia along the Great Ruaha river in Ruaha National park, Tanzania
dc.type Thesis


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