Biology of the wild silkmothAnaphe pandain the Kakamega Forest of Western Kenya

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norbert Mbahin
Keyword(s):  
Western Kenya ◽  
Kakamega Forest

scholarly journals Biology of the Wild SilkmothAnaphe panda(Boisduval) in the Kakamega Forest of Western Kenya

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Mbahin ◽  
S. K. Raina ◽  
E. N. Kioko ◽  
J. M. Mueke
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Incubation Period ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Developmental Period ◽  
The Other ◽  
Western Kenya ◽  
Kakamega Forest ◽  
Pupal Period ◽  
Indigenous Forest

A study on the life cycle of the silkmothAnaphe panda(Boisduval) was conducted in two different habitats of the Kakamega Forest in western Kenya: Ikuywa, an indigenous forest, and Isecheno, a mixed indigenous forest. Eggs were laid in clusters, and the incubation period ranged from 40 to 45 days. Larvae fed onBridelia micrantha(Hochst) and passed through seven instars. The developmental period took between 83 to 86 days in the dry season and 112 to118 days in the rainy season. The pupal period ranged between 158 and 178 days in the rainy season and, on the other hand, between 107 and 138 days in the dry season. But the later caught up in development with those that formed earlier. Moths emerged from mid-October until mid-May. Longevity of adultAnaphe pandamoths took between 4 and 6 days, but generally females seemed to live longer than males. The moth also seems to have higher lifespan in the indigenous forest compared to the mixed indigenous forest.

Effects of habitat fragmentation on the bats of Kakamega Forest, western Kenya

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 260-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul W. Webala ◽  
Jeremiah Mwaura ◽  
Joseph M. Mware ◽  
George G. Ndiritu ◽  
Bruce D. Patterson
Keyword(s):  
Forest Fragmentation ◽  
Open Space ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Tree Density ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Western Kenya ◽  
Kakamega Forest ◽  
Forest Interior ◽  
Human Use

AbstractHabitat loss and fragmentation are major threats to biodiversity worldwide, and little is known about their effects on bats in Africa. We investigated effects of forest fragmentation on bat assemblages at Kakamega Forest, western Kenya, examining captures at edge and interior locations in three forest fragments (Buyangu, 3950 ha; Kisere, 400 ha; and Malava, 100 ha) varying in forest area and human-use regimes. Basal area, canopy cover, tree density and intensity of human use were used as predictors of bat abundance and species richness. A total of 3456 mist-net hours and 3168 harp-trap hours resulted in the capture of 4983 bats representing 26 species, eight families and four foraging ensembles (frugivores, forest-interior insectivores, forest-edge insectivores and open-space insectivores). Frugivores were frequently captured at the edges of the larger, better-protected forests, but also in the interior of the smaller, more open fragment. Forest-interior insectivores and narrow-space foragers predominated in the interiors of larger fragments but avoided the smallest one. Forest specialists showed positive associations with forest variables (canopy cover, basal area and tree density), whereas frugivores responded positively to the human-use indicators. On these bases, specialist species appear to be especially vulnerable to forest fragmentation.

scholarly journals Local indigenous knowledge about some medicinal plants in and around Kakamega forest in western Kenya

F1000Research ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nickson Erick Otieno ◽  
Caleb Analo
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Service Planning ◽  
Medicinal Uses ◽  
Western Kenya ◽  
Kakamega Forest ◽  
Key Species

Kakamega forest is Kenya’s only rainforest and is distinguishably rich in biodiversity but threatened by agricultural encroachment and other forms of human activity. It is also one of Kenya’s Important Bird Areas and a significant source of natural products to neighboring rural communities, such as medicinal plants, food, wood and other fibers. By using structured questionnaires for direct interviews, local indigenous knowledge was tapped through involvement of a focal group of elderly key informants in three blocks of the forest. Forty key species of medicinal plants used by local people were identified and recorded. Fifty-five percent of these were shrubs, thirty-two percent trees, seven-and-a-half percent lower plants such as herbs or forbs while five percent were climbers. About seventy percent of the medicinal plants occurred inside the forest itself and thirty percent around the edge and the immediate surroundings outside the forest. Thirty-eight (95%) of the plants were indigenous to Kenya and two (5%) exotic. Such extensive indigenous knowledge of the medicinal uses of the plants, including their distribution trends in the forest, may be tapped for decision support in rural health service planning, policy formulation for conserving the forest, tracking and mitigation of climate change impacts.

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