Mabira Forest Research Articles

Nucleation by isolated emergent native trees can push back the shade-intolerant invader Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) L'Hér. ex Vent.

The facilitatory role that isolated trees play in the regeneration of degraded areas that are not under the cover of invasive exotic plants is well recognized. In contrast, the influence of isolated trees in restoring sites invaded by exotic plants has hardly been studied. Such studies are needed because conditions that favor native tree regeneration under isolated trees, such as microclimate amelioration, increased nutrient levels, and facilitated dispersal, may also be favorable to certain species of exotic plants. Using transects, we studied species richness, abundance and resilience (as indicated by re-sprouting) of trees regenerating underneath the crowns of 15 isolated native trees that are emergent over a near continuous canopy of paper mulberry Broussonetia papyrifera in a degraded area of Mabira Forest, Uganda. Data collected beneath emergent tree crowns were matched by control data from the area immediately beyond the crowns. Native tree species abundance and richness were significantly higher beneath than beyond crowns; while the opposite was true of the density of B. papyrifera seedlings and saplings. Species richness was significantly higher beneath than beyond crowns for late-, but not early-succession trees. Polynomial regressions of species richness and abundance showed that B. papyrifera abundance increased significantly from stem bases to crown edges and leveled-off beyond crowns; while the density of native tree species was constant from stem bases to crown edges and decreased thereafter. Native tree species richness peaked at crown edges. The proportion of re-sprouts assigned to cutting of native tree species was significantly higher beyond than beneath crowns. We attribute the higher abundances and species richness of native species underneath crowns to both facilitation by isolated trees and the apparent shade-intolerance of B. papyrifera. Significantly higher levels of re-sprouting by native tree species could be an indication that the regeneration underneath crowns is less resilient to disturbance than that beyond, or that less resilient species occur beneath crowns. Overall, the results suggest that in sites invaded by mulberry, isolated trees have potential to accelerate recovery of native tree species while suppressing mulberry. Peaking of species richness at crown edges is not a commonly reported finding for isolated trees and needs to be further investigated.

The potential of natural succession to restore degraded areas of a Ugandan rainforest dominated by the exotic paper mulberry Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) L'Hér. ex Vent

There are many studies on the applicability of natural regeneration for recovery of degraded forests. Studies of the potential of natural regeneration and succession to restore degraded forest areas under invasive exotic plants are few in comparison. This study examined the potential of these processes to bring about the recovery of large areas under the exotic paper mulberry Broussonetia papyrifera in Mabira Forest, Uganda. The areas of focus were degraded by farming but abandoned and invaded by mulberry 30 years ago. Sampling was conducted in three mulberry-dominant stands (Int 1, Int 2, and Hv) that were differentiated by the degree of mulberry cutting by local communities and other anthropogenic disturbances. Primary forest (Nt) was a fourth stand used as a reference. Data were collected using Modified-Whittaker Plots, transects and other plot types adapted to record impact of disturbance. Analyses of stem density showed that both mulberry and native trees occurred in all the stands in varying densities and age classes from seedling to tree class size. Non-metric multidimensional scaling showed Int 1 (a relatively undisturbed stand with fully grown mulberry) to be closest to Nt floristically, followed by Int 2 (a disturbed stand with fully grown mulberry). Hv (a disturbed stand with low stature mulberry) was least similar to Nt. Overall, Int 1 was closer to Nt than to any of the other stands; while Int 2 was closer to Hv than to Int 1 or to Nt. Most analyses of seedling and sapling densities and species diversity of native trees showed a pattern whereby Hv < Int 2 < Int 1 < Nt. Numbers of forest-typical species varied between stands but not significantly. Inter-stand differences in the levels of disturbance were pronounced with Hv and Int 2 having significantly higher incidences of illegal indigenous tree cutting and charcoal kilning than Int 1. Regressions of percent cover values on seedling densities, sapling densities and species richness showed negative relationships between mulberry cover and native tree seedling density and species richness but not sapling density. Indigenous tree sapling densities were positively correlated with indigenous tree species cover. These findings suggest that anthropogenic disturbance and to a smaller extent mulberry factors; and not differences in rates of species colonization and degrees of species performance explain the current state of recovery of the stands. Natural regeneration and succession therefore have potential to recover the degraded sites and reverse the dominance of mulberry if the ongoing human disturbance is stopped.

Restoration of Citropsis articulata, a Species at Risk from Medicinal Overharvesting in a Ugandan Rainforest Reserve

Citropsis articulata, the African cherry orange, is considered to be threatened in Ugandan forests as a result of its purported aphrodisiac properties. This study, part of an ongoing effort to address restoration needs of Mabira Central Forest Reserve in Uganda, demonstrates the feasibility of restoring depleted C. articulata populations using seedlings transplanted from nursery-grown seeds. Phenology of 20 Mabira forest plants was monitored with the aim of collecting seeds. One hundred and fifty-six ripe fruits were collected, and 233 of the extracted seeds were planted in pots in a nursery during January–March 2019. During November-December 2019, seedlings were planted near the sites from which fruits were collected. Seed germination success rate was 89%, and fifteen months after transplanting, in situ survival was 100%. These results suggest that depleted C. articulata populations may be restored in situ using nursery-grown seeds.

Status of Nahan’s Partridge Ptilopachus nahani (Dubois, 1905) (Aves: Galliformes: Odontophoridae) in Uganda

We carried out a survey of Nahan’s Partridge Ptilopachus nahani in the Ugandan forests of Mabira, Bugoma, and Budongo from December 2016 to December 2017, using a point count method employing a call playback technique. The aim was to establish the population status of this globally threatened species, which was last surveyed in 2003. Separate analyses of the number of groups per point and those involving use of the Distance Program yielded the same density estimates, indicating that either method reliably estimates the density of the species. The density estimates for the three reserves were 31.6, 25.2, and 13.3 groups per km2 for Bugoma, Budongo, and Mabira forest reserves, respectively. In the last 14 years, it appears that the density of the species for Uganda has increased from 16.3 to 23.4 groups per km2, which when extrapolated translates to 16,000 and 23,000 groups, respectively. This represents a 44% increase in density, or a group growth rate of 450 per year. The lowest density and population increment was registered in Mabira and we attribute this to the apparently high incidence of disturbance and degradation of this forest compared to the other two. Since Mabira, Bugoma, and Budongo are the only remaining large tropical rainforest reserves in Uganda, strengthening their conservation or upgrading their conservation status to national parks is required to save the species.

Traditional use of wild edible plants in the communities adjacent to Mabira Central Forest Reserve, Uganda

Background: Wild edible plants have been collected and consumed by humans since pre-historic times. They act as safety nets in times of food shortage and improve the livelihoods of rural communities. Evidence has proven that they contribute to nutritional health. However, dependence on wild edible plants is being threatened by loss of indigenous knowledge, environmental degradation, and limited scientific validation.Methods: This study focused on documentation of indigenous knowledge, identity of, and use of wild edible plants in 13 villages of Mabira Central Forest Reserve (CFR). Data were collected through structured and semi-structured interviews, field visits, and free listing. A literature review was carried out to obtain nutritional data on the identified plants.Results: The twenty-seven plant species identified were distributed in 24 genera and 22 families. The majority of wild edible plant species were trees (41%) while climbers (3%) were the least likely to be edible. Fruits (66%) were the major parts consumed while tubers and roots were the least (4%). Most fruits (74%) were consumed raw; in contrast all the vegetables were cooked. Aframomum angustifolium (Sonnerat) K. Schum was the predominant wild food consumed by 74% of the 57 households surveyed. Reviewed nutritional data showed that the identified plants possess a variety of minerals and antioxidants that improve human health and nutrition.Conclusion: Wild edible plants play a significant role in the nutritional health of consumers. Therefore, research on priority plants for domestication, value addition and standardization into food supplements is recommended. Results on such aspects might motivate local communities to conserve forest biodiversity through sustainable use and management of wild edible plants.Key words: Indigenous knowledge; livelihoods; nutritive value; Mabira Forest Reserve; wild edible plants.

Cultural knowledge of forests and allied tree system management around Mabira Forest Reserve, Uganda

The cultural universe is sometimes confusing, surprising and murky, so many cultural maps get drawn, discussed and envisioned. A study was undertaken around Mabira Forest Reserve in central Uganda to identify the trees and shrubs culturally managed on-farm, assess the cultural practices of forest and tree system management and determine the relationship between farmer gender and forest and tree system management. We engaged 203 farmers in focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews to collect data. Qualitative data were jointly evaluated with farmers; quantitative data were analyzed in SPSS 20.0. The results showed a high likelihood for involvement of local people in tree or forest management for economic gain, as timber and fast-growing species were highly ranked. Food and medicinal species were also regarded as important, suggesting high prospects of integrating them into the local farming system or protecting them in the forest. Numerous cultural practices (including rituals, trenching, bark slashing, ring barking, spot weeding and use of organic manure and pesticides) of forest and tree system management were acknowledged. However, their knowledge was mixed and unclear about distinct cultural and supportive arrangements for natural forest and tree restoration. While gender was not a significant cultural attribute for knowledge of the forest and allied tree system management, age substantially affected farmer propensity for various timber products. Also farmer’s family size influenced the collection of tree wildings and fodder. We encourage considering gender disparities and livelihood needs including income, during selection of cultural practices for forest and tree restoration.

Implication of forest zonation on tree species composition, diversity and structure in Mabira Forest, Uganda

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Detection of Self Incompatibility Genotypes in Prunus africana: Characterization, Evolution and Spatial Analysis.

In flowering plants, self-incompatibility is an effective genetic mechanism that prevents self-fertilization. Most Prunus tree species exhibit a homomorphic gametophytic self-incompatibility (GSI) system, in which the pollen phenotype is encoded by its own haploid genome. To date, no identification of S-alleles had been done in Prunus africana, the only member of the genus in Africa. To identify S-RNase alleles and hence determine S-genotypes in African cherry (Prunus africana) from Mabira Forest Reserve, Uganda, primers flanking the first and second intron were designed and these amplified two bands in most individuals. PCR bands on agarose indicated 26 and 8 different S-alleles for second and first intron respectively. Partial or full sequences were obtained for all these fragments. Comparison with published S-RNase data indicated that the amplified products were S-RNase alleles with very high interspecies homology despite the high intraspecific variation. Against expectations for a locus under balancing selection, frequency and spatial distribution of the alleles in a study plot was not random. Implications of the results to breeding efforts in the species are discussed, and mating experiments are strongly suggested to finally prove the functionality of SI in P. africana.

A review of genera and described Afrotropical species of Tetracampinae (Hymenoptera: Tetracampidae), with description of a new genus from East Central Africa.

The genera and described Afrotropical species of Tetracampinae Förster (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea, Tetracampidae) are reviewed. Despite the vague nature of some generic concepts, eight genera are recognized for the subfamily, i.e. Cassidocida Crawford, Diplesiostigma Girault, Dipriocampe Bouček, Epiclerus Haliday, Foersterella Dalla Torre, Niticampe Bouček, Tetracampe Förster, and the newly described Kilomotoia Gumovsky gen. n. The latter genus is established for Kilomotoia kitoko Gumovsky sp. n., collected from abandoned cultivated areas in the humid forest zone of North East Democratic Republic of Congo (Ituri forest, Ituri Province, environs of Mongbwalu village) and Central Uganda (Mabira forest, environs of Najembe village). Kilomotoia is distinguished from other tetracampine genera by the possession of a flattened dorsum, large abrupt pronotum, relatively long and laterally depressed gaster having gastral tergites II-V with medially emarginate posterior margins, and the hypopygium extending to the apex of gaster as sharply pointed mucro. The four hitherto described Afrotropical tetracampine species are reviewed based on available museum material, with Cassidocida africana Ferrière transferred to Foersterella as F. africana (Ferrière) comb. n., E. agromyzae (Risbec) and E. plectroniae (Risbec) confirmed as species of Epiclerus (as transferred earlier from Foersterella by Bouček 1958 and Bouček & Askew 1968), and Cassidocida orthopterae Risbec transferred to Closterocerus (Eulophidae, Entedoninae) as C. orthopterae (Risbec) comb. n. New diagnostic characters are proposed for the subfamily and some genera, and a comparative character table provided for tetracampine genera.

Plant functional group responses in an African tropical forest recovering from disturbance

Background: Newly protected, tropical forests recovering from logging and clearance are increasingly important targets for conservation. Recovery is typically evaluated or monitored by using a few easily identified species groups, but this may not be sufficient as unmonitored groups of equivalent ecological importance are unlikely to respond in a similar manner due to physiological or dispersal differences.Aims: We compared four groups of plants: large trees, shrubs and saplings, herbs and ferns in a forest recovering from disturbance. We quantified the relative importance of disturbance history and local environmental conditions in determining species richness and community composition of these groups and assessed whether the groups could act as surrogate indicators for one another.Methods: Vegetation was surveyed on a gradient of disturbance intensity and recovery time (20–60 years) in Mabira Forest, Uganda. We looked for correlations between species groups in richness or composition across sites and used constrained ordinations to identify important environmental variables.Results: Neither species richness nor composition patterns were correlated between groups. All groups were weakly related to disturbance history; trees and shrubs were related to soil, herbs to microhabitat and ferns to microclimate.Conclusions: No group acted as an indicator for another. The relative influence of disturbance and local environmental effects varied in the manner predicted, with disturbance stronger for trees and environment stronger for ferns.

Insurgent Urbanism, Citizenship and Surveillance in Kampala City: Implications for Urban Policy in Uganda

A great deal of work has been done on the nature of rights and the definitions of citizenship. However, little work has been done that explores how people perceive their citizenship rights and how they act on these perceptions especially in growing cities. High and low intensity protests have inscribed their presence and voice in Kampala city’s streets, thereby becoming integral components of the city landscape. The paper uses critical urban theory, insurgent urbanism and citizenship as its conceptual framework to: 1) examine the terrain of struggle and militancy and, how Kampala residents engage with the state beyond formal processes; and, 2) assess government surveillance actions aimed at (de) constructing of citizenship in the city. The paper illuminates these questions and elaborates the notion of insurgent urbanism using Mabira forest demonstrations, September 2009 Buganda riots, and Walk-to-Work’ (W2W) protests in Kampala City. The paper argues that the currents of militancy are very active across the city and the institutionalization and planning for insurgent claims and associated government responses in the broader urban policy terrain across the country.

Has the evolution process of forestry policies in Uganda promoted deforestation?

SUMMARY The dynamics in livelihood needs of people at the fringes of tropical forests have increased the stakes and management challenges of biodiversity worldwide. Since the adoption of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the importance of biodiversity has been emphasized in several international agreements. However, the incentives to implement such agreements in poor countries are lacking. The present study characterised the determinants of deforestation, and forest management practices within Mabira Forest Reserve (MFR) in central Uganda. This was done within the context of the evolution of the policy and legal frameworks of Uganda. Literature on MFR as well as the policy and legal framework on forests and related resources was reviewed. The results show that evolution of the forest policy was characterised by limited input from key stakeholders. Moreover, there has been political interference and limited sharing of benefits amid failure to harmonize the forestry policy wi...

Tree species diversity and abundance in coffee farms adjacent to areas of different disturbance histories in Mabira forest system, central Uganda

Coffee production in Uganda is done on small-scale farms containing a very significant tree component. However, there is little information on how tree species abundance, richness and diversity change in coffee farms as distance from forest changes. The main objectives of this study, therefore, were to assess (a) abundance and (b) diversity of tree species in the coffee production systems in proximity to disturbed and undisturbed forest around Mabira forest, one of Uganda’s Robusta coffee-growing areas. Seventy-nine 0.1 ha plots were established in nine villages close to undisturbed and disturbed forest, and over 5 km from the forest. A total of 875 trees belonging to 63 species were recorded. There was significant similarity in species composition among the three study sites (analysis of similarity R = 0.09, p < 0.01; analysis of variance: F3,12 = 0.353, p = 0.79). Non-metric dimensional scaling supported these findings (stress value = 0.224 at k = 2) and showed that tree species composition in the three proximity categories was very similar. These results demonstrate that tree species composition and diversity is similar in coffee farms regardless of their distance from the nearest natural forest and forest exploitation history.

A phylogeny of Central African Boaedon (Serpentes: Lamprophiidae), with the description of a new cryptic species from the Albertine Rift

The Central African house snake Boaedon olivaceus has a large distribution from the forests of West Africa to Mabira Forest in Uganda. We sequenced two mitochondrial (cyt b and ND4) and two nuclear (c-mos and RAG1) genes from several populations of B. olivaceus in Central Africa and recovered two highly divergent lineages (Congo Basin and Albertine Rift) attributable to this species. Dating analyses with BEAST suggest the two lineages last shared a common ancestor during the mid-Miocene approximately 12 million years ago, and data from RAG1 showed consistent differences in two amino acids for topotypic Congo Basin B. olivaceus compared to the Albertine Rift lineage and all other examined species of Boaedon. Based on these striking molecular differences and significant differences in ventral scale counts and the number of supralabials contacting the eye, we describe the Albertine Rift lineage as a new species. The recognition of this new species bolsters the importance of the Albertine Rift as an important region for endemism and conservation in continental Africa. Based on the results of our phylogenetic analyses, the poorly known taxon Lycodonomorphus subtaeniatus upembae is elevated to full species status and transferred to the genus Boaedon. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D0C0E5B5-DBE9-4D21-B5FE-86221DDF60BA

Civil Society and Land Use Policy in Uganda: The Mabira Forest Case

Over the past few years, the Ugandan government has repeatedly initiated proceedings to clear one-fourth of the Mabira natural forest reserve in central Uganda and give the land to a sugar company controlled by a transnational business conglomerate. Each time the government took steps to execute the Mabira project, civil society groups organised large-scale protests that pressurised the government into shelving its plans. The Save Mabira Forest campaign has been widely cited as an example of how sustained protests by civil society groups serve as a corrective of democratic deficits in decision-making processes pertaining to the commons and as a deterrent to profit-driven business schemes hatched in collusion with carefree or corrupt bureaucrats and politicians. However, an in-depth analysis of the campaign suggests that ecological and social justice concerns are mixed up with identity politics and exclusionist agendas. Examining the complex web of interactions between state, big business and civil society in Uganda, this paper sheds light on the multi-layered and often ambiguous role played by non-governmental organisations in post-conflict societies of sub-Saharan Africa.

Strategies for empowering the local people to participate in forest restoration

Within various parts of the tropics and temperate regions, there are increasingly more efforts towards reforestation or restoration. Interventions in the tropics however, have not adequately addressed the needs of local people compelling them to degrade forests. We conducted a study in and around Mabira Forest Reserve in Uganda with the aim of assessing locally proposed restoration techniques and conditions for empowering local people to raise their willingness to participate in forest restoration practices. We specifically set out to; (i) identify proposed techniques to restore the degraded forests, and (ii) determine the pre-conditions for supporting local people’s participation in restoration activities. Data were collected using individual semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and participatory forest surveys. The findings show that the local people mainly engaged in practices that address their needs concurrently. The most reported practices include: planting trees on farm, enrichment tree planting in the forest, control of soil erosion, and control of invasive alien species. The main pre-conditions for their participation in forest restoration is assurance for more access to forest resources. The efficiency of local people in restoration will be enhanced by strengthening their capacity for collaborative forest management, raising their awareness on restoration, building their capacity, as well as continuous monitoring by forest managers.

Asian capitalism, primitive accumulation, and the new enclosures in Uganda

The new scramble for farmlands, similar to the colonial practice of allocating productive land for plantation agriculture, needs analysis. The failure of a dual economy resulted in the emergence of Asian capitalism, progressively changed from a colonial cotton frontier to a more lucrative sugar industry. The existence of relatively balance domestic power relations during British colonialism protected the local indigenous population from land alienation. A maximum cap of 10,000 acres was institutionalized to limit the amount of land owned by non-Africans. However, both Metha and Madhvani companies circumvented the cap to acquire more land, an insight not really being appreciated in the current land grab discourse. Using economic historical analysis, this article reviews how Metha and Madhvani accumulated more land, and compares with their current quest for primitive accumulation of 7100 hectares in Mabira Forest Reserve and 40,000 hectares of communal land in Amuru district.

English

Communities around protected areas frequently complain of wild animals destroying already limited crop fields, with little or no assistance offered by conservation stewards towards the mitigation of crop raiding losses. The aim of this study was to find out whether forest disturbance gradient and crop mixtures influence the level of crop raiding by the red-tailed monkey (Cercopithecus ascanius larvatus) and the grey-cheeked mangebey (Lophocebus ugandae). The study was conducted in sample plots from seven village enclaves surrounding the Mabira Forest Reserve in central Uganda. Crop raiding was highest in the maize-cassava (Zea mays-Manihot esculenta) and least in banana-coffee (Musa sp.Coffea sp.) cropping mixtures. Crop raiding among disturbance zones was higher in the more disturbed production zone, but did not differ between the low and moderate disturbance zones (nature reserve and recreation buffer). Results show that crop raiding by the two primate species is enhanced by forest disturbance that encourage either very limited or extensive forest disturbance. However, the gravity of crop raiding is also determined by the cropping systems practices by communities around the forest. Planting mixtures of highly susceptible crops such as maize and less susceptible ones such as coffee, as well as following recommended weeding regimes can reduce the level of raiding. Compensation schemes should be disaggregated according to disturbance (or management zones).

Editorial: Nodding Disease or syndrome: What is the way forward?

Nodding disease or syndrome is one of those conditions that recently appeared to be of public health concern in some countries in Africa. The disease has been reported to occur in South Sudan, Tanzania, northern Uganda and Liberia. In South Sudan the disease is mainly concentrated along Yei River1, 2. Nodding syndrome is a mentally and physically disabling disease that affects children3, typically between the ages of 5 and 15. The disease is characterized by episodes of repetitive nodding of the head, with progression to generalized tonic-clonic seizures, mental deterioration and physical incapacity1, 3. During seizures the children lose consciousness and they may fall into fire or hurt themselves. They usually drop out of school because of deterioration in cognitive function and inability to cope with the school environment. A disease similar to nodding syndrome was first reported in Uganda by Raper 4 in 1950. This disease was called ‘nakalanga’ because of the pathological dwarfism and the affected persons were incapable of procreation. It occurred among the dwellers of Mabira forest near the source of the Nile in Uganda. The forest was heavily infested by the black fly. The disease occurred among any of the tribes living in the area provided they had lived in the forested area for a sufficient number of years. The children born by uneventful pregnancies became thin, weak and listless around the time of weaning with progressive mental and physical retardation with maximal severity occurring around 8 to 15 years. The local inhabitants, who had long recognized the disease, had incriminated the bites of the black fly. Similarly, a high number of patients with epilepsy and retarded growth was reported in an endemic area for onchocerciasis in western Uganda5. However, a study that evaluated the role of Onchocerca volvulus in the development of epilepsy in rural Tanzania reported no difference in microfilaria density between participants with epilepsy and those without6. Since 2009, about 4000 cases of nodding disease have been reported in northern Uganda. For over 20 years northern Uganda was a conflict area and most people lived in camps for the internally displaced. Following a cease-fire in 2006, most of the people have returned to their villages and this period has coincided with increased numbers of nodding disease, with some families reporting more than two cases7. In this issue of African Health Sciences, Tumwine and others8 report clinical and epidemiological characteristics of nodding syndrome in Mundri county, South Sudan. The study was carried out in poor rural communities that had been characterised by several displacements between 1994 and 1997. The prevalence of Nodding Syndrome in the study areas was 2.1% and 4.6% in the endemic communities. Similar to the epidemic in northern Uganda, some families have more than one affected child. The ratio of male to female cases was 1.2. The age at onset of suspected cases ranged from 2 to 18 years, with a median of 12 years, and the mean duration of illness had been reported to be 3.0 years. Previous case-control studies had shown a positive association between cases and infestation with Onchocerca volvulus microfilaria, evidenced by positive skin snips. The nodding was reported to be worse during meals or upon walking up in the morning, and on the traditional carbohydrate based diet compared to the western style diet. For some children, head nodding did not disrupt eating or the ability to follow commands. Episodes of abnormal behaviour associated with shouting, screaming or running were reported. Physical examination revealed stunting of growth, dwarfism, mental retardation, and poor development of secondary sexual characteristics. Electroencephalographic examination was consistent with progressive epileptic encephalopathy. The authors concluded that Nodding Syndrome was strongly associated with Onchocerca volvulus. There was no evidence to suggest an environmental pollutant, chemical agent, or other toxic factor. The authors recommend larger studies to elucidate the etiology and optimal treatment for these children. It has been proven that symptomatic treatment with anticonvulsants and other supportive measures such as nutrition rehabilitation improves the quality of life, though not a cure. On going studies in northern Uganda speculate that the disease is associated with vitamin B6 deficiency and probably high doses of vitamin B6 may be beneficial to these children. The disease seems to be more prevalent in the poor communities. Improved social economic status, environmental control measures for microfilaria will go along way to reduce morbidity due to nodding syndrome.

Potential distribution of vulnerable Entandrophragma angolense (Welw.) C. DC. (Meliaceae) in East Africa

AbstractThe various human‐induced threats imposed on nature have recently triggered the study of species' distributions. We developed potential suitability models using two algorithms for a threatened African mahogany, Entandrophragma angolense, in three East African countries; Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The effect of features selection and modelling algorithm selection on potential suitability predictions was explored. Occurrence records and high‐resolution environmental data were used. The two species distribution modelling techniques were genetic algorithm rule for prediction; and maximum entropy modelling. With Maxent, the area under the receiver characteristic operating curve (AUC) for potential distribution models tested on independent data ranged from 0.942 to 0.972 when using automatic features and from 0.974 to 0.666 with target or specific features. With GARP, AUC for potential distribution models ranged from 0.591 to 0.736 with all rule types and from 0.388 to 0.805 for specific rule types (Tables and ). The area under the E. angolense potential suitability was best predicted by soil, rainfall and aspect using GARP. Potential suitability increased with increasing aspect and decreased with increasing slope. Low rainfall and elevation increased potential suitability, while high levels of either variable decreased potential suitability. Potential suitability maps for vulnerable species require using a multi‐algorithm, fine scale data approach and incorporation of environmental variables like soil, slope, land use and elevation. Species distribution models can offer insight on the distribution requirements of vulnerable species and help guide the development of management plans. Results of this study suggest that E. angolense management plans should promote the protection of terrestrial forests surrounding water bodies including Mabira forest in Uganda.