Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
Gutman & Karlin, 1980). Given the rapid defor-
estaion occurring in eastern Africa, it would not
be surprising to find hybrid swarms occurring,
although as yet none has been reported.
Concen over forest desrucion in eastern
Africa is not new; both German and Briish col-
onial administraions established forest reserves.
Champion (1933) and Loveridge (1933) expres-
sed concern over deorestaion and soil erosion in
eastern Africa's forests. Loss of forest, soil ero-
sion, reducion in sream flow and poor agri-
cultural producivity are sill major problems in
the region today and have increased with the
burgeoning human populaion. In the Usambaras,
the only forests for which detailed informaion is
available, some natural forest cover has been
reduced by 50% from 1968 up to now (Rodgers
& Homewood, 1982). Hamilton & Bensted-
Smith (1989) have reviewed the history of govern-
ment forest policy in Tanzania and have des-
cribed the ecological effects of both small and
large-scale logging on the Usambara forests.
Little heavy industry is present in the viciniy of
the easten African forests, but an excepion is a
large paper pulp processing plant in the Uzungwa
mountains near Muindi. The polluing potenial
of the paper industry is well known. Amphibians
which rely on streams and rivers for their breed-
ing sites are potenially at risk if water quality is
altered, and there has also been concen expres-
sed that airborne pollutants may have severe
negaive efects on scarp forest above the actory
(Chrisiansson & A shvuud, 1985).
While the main threat to the herpetofauna of
the Eastern Arc forests is forest desrucion, the
past few years have seen the development of com-
mercial collecing of live amphibians and repiles
for the pet trade in Europe. Endemics such as
certain species of chameleons from the Uzungwas
and Usambaras have been exported and reports
indicate that many of these animals die during
ransport. Some of the species collected are
notoriously diicult to maintain in capivity and it
is likely that almost all die after only a short ime.
The Tanzania Wildlife Division has allowed such
uncontrolled exploitaion to take place. In no way
can this be considered wise use of a resource, and
I suggest that no commercial exploitaion for the
pet trade in live animals be permitted from the
species of the Eastern Arc forests.
Further research
A sound knowledge of the inter- and intraspecific
relationships of these faunas is, of course, necess-
ary in order to assess the significance of much
needed physiological and ecological studies on the
orest amphibians and repiles of eastern Africa.
As previously noted, the herpetofaunas of many of
the easten forests have yet to be studied in any
detail, and herpetologists have only just begun to
study mountain ranges such as the Rubeho and
the Uzungwas. But in addiion to the general
surveys uilising new techniques of capture (Vogt,
1987) needed in all the forests, there is also a
need to apply biochemical techniques to study
evolutionay relaionships. Such methods as
microcomplement fixaion and the study of
mitochondrial and ribosomal DNA sequences
(Gutman, 1985) would allow refined insight into
the ages and relationships of each herpetofaunal
assemblage relaive to the others within the
Easten Arc system.
Short (1984) commented on the research
needed for studies on birds in ropical forests. I
believe his observaions apply generally to all
animal groups and have modified them only
slightly. Research prioriies in tropical forests
should include: (i) ideniying and characterising
threatened habitats and their faunas, (ii) success-
ful establishment of sites where long-term studies
can be carried out, (iii) immediate ideniicaion of
areas that are doomed and facilitaion of observa-
ions and salvage collecing at such sites, (iv) the
mapping of species' ranges, (v) determinaion of
densiies of animals studied in diverse habitats
and (vi) monitoring of changes in populaions.
Very much associated with the suggested
studies is the need to train and provide condiions
favourable to research for local, indigenous
researchers. While some short-term survey work
can be done by visiing biologists, the need or
long-term, coninuing work is also great. The
inancial realiies of easten Africa are such that
without intenaional cooperaion and inancial
and academic assistance, one cannot expect the
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