The forest avifauna of Arabuko Sokoke Forest and adjacent modified habitats
- Authors: Chiawo, David O , Kombe, Wellington N , Craig, Adrian J F K
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/449953 , vital:74867 , https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.04.19.440426
- Description: Arabuko Sokoke Forest (ASF) is the largest area of coastal forest remaining in East Africa and a major Important Bird Area in mainland Kenya. The study analysed data from point count surveys over 15 months in three land use types; primary forest (PF), plantation forest (PL), and farmlands (FM), and compared these to the first comprehensive bird checklist for the forest, as well as recent surveys from other studies. Avifaunal diversity and abundance were compared using multivariate analysis to determine bird responses to different land use characteristics. The primary forest held a distinctive bird community, while the bird communities of farmlands and plantation forest were more similar to each other. Land use had a significant effect on overall avian diversity and abundance. The current forest avifauna was divided into forest specialists (16 species), forest generalists (26 species) and forest visitors (30 species). Seven species of forest specialist and generalists recorded prior to 1980 may no longer occur in the forest. Of 38 specialists and generalists recorded in our point counts, 19 were also recorded on farmland and 28 in plantations. One forest specialist, the Green Barbet, was most encountered outside the forest. Future research should focus on habitat use by these bird species, and the extent of movement by forest birds between the remaining patches of coastal forest. Patterns of habitat use by birds in the area suggest that vegetation heterogeneity and habitat complexity are especially significant in sustaining diverse and abundant bird populations. The management of plantations and farmland will be critical for the conservation of forest generalists and forest visitors.
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- Date Issued: 2021
Bird responses to land use change: Guild diversity in a Kenyan coastal forest and adjoining habitats
- Authors: Chiawo, David O , Kombe, Wellington N , Craig, Adrian J F K
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/448820 , vital:74763 , https://doi.org/10.1080/01584197.2018.1431052
- Description: Land use change can have profound effects on forest ecology, particularly on the avian community. Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, one of the Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Kenya, is under threat due to ongoing land use change in the surroundings that could affect species composition of many bird guilds. However, information on the response of different guilds in tropical land use systems is sparse in Africa. We examined the effects of land use on bird guilds in primary forest (Arabuko-Sokoke Forest), adjoining plantations, and neighbouring farmland. Point counts were distributed equally in the three land use systems to survey bird populations. A total of 2600 bird observations was recorded, representing 97 species in five main feeding guilds (frugivores, nectarivores, insectivores, carnivores, and granivores). Granivores were most abundant and diverse in farmland, while carnivores (primarily raptors) utilised all habitats. Insectivores were most diverse in primary forest where vertical heterogeneity of the vegetation and the presence of large fruiting trees significantly influenced their occurrence. Specialist nectarivores were most frequent in primary forest, whereas occasional nectarivores were less abundant there. Contrary to expectation, frugivore diversity showed no significant effect of land use.
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- Date Issued: 2018
Conservation and human livelihoods at the crossroads: Local needs and knowledge in the management of Arabuko Sokoke Forest
- Authors: Chiawo, David O , Kombe, Wellington N , Craig, Adrian J F K
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/448843 , vital:74765 , https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.12462
- Description: Arabuko Sokoke Forest is the largest remaining single block of indigenous dry coastal tropical forest in Eastern Africa. Households within a 5 km buffer zone depend heavily on the forest for their livelihood needs, and the pressure on forest resources is on the increase. In May 2015, 109 households were interviewed on resources they obtain from the forest, in terms of the self‐reported level of monthly income. We found household income and farm size significantly positively correlated with benefits from the forest, highlighting the possible influence of household wealth in exploiting forest resources. A large proportion of households (32%) had limited knowledge of local birds, while human–bird conflict was reported by 44% of the households. While many households were keen to participate in conservation projects that maintain the forest, 44% had no knowledge of the forest management plan, and 60% of those interviewed had no idea of how forest zones were designated for particular activities. Drivers for local community participation in conservation projects appear to be sustainable income and fulfilment of basic household needs.
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- Date Issued: 2018