121,827 research outputs found
Advances in Coastal Ecology: people, processes and ecosystems in Kenya.
No full textManagers of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are faced with many demands and often do not have the opportunity to reflect on the results of their actions. Management evaluations allow managers to learn from successes and improve management through time. This first assessment of the management effectiveness of the Kisite-Mpunguti MPA used existing information to evaluate the actions and outcomes measured against the MPA's goals as outlined in the MPA management plan. Selected biophysical, socio-economic and governance indicators were used for this purpose. The Kisite-Mpunguti MPA showed progress towards meeting the tested objectives. The coral reef habitats in the MPA had higher biomass of fish, higher coral cover and fewer urchins and showed signs of recovery from the late 1980s. Community initiatives geared primarily to improve the livelihoods of MPA-dependent communities showed good progress with increased incomes and food security. Resources for managing the MPA including staff and infrastructure increased overtime at pace with the development needs of the MPA but not with the operational and recurrent needs of the MPA. The number of partnerships and relationships with MPA stakeholders also increased with time. Areas that showed less progress included the lack of a formal mechanism for stakeholder participation, decreasing fisheries catches in the marine reserve, lack of MPA specific regulations and financial stability of the MPA. Weaknesses in the management plan and conflicts due to overlapping mandates with other natural resource institutions further reduced the effectiveness of management actions while, external factors such as global warming and terrorism had a negative impact on biodiversity and the financial sustainability of the MPAs respectively. Revision of the MPA plan to more closely target objectives, creation of formalized communication mechanisms, improving financial sustainability and retention of technical expertise and systematizing data gathering to inform management were recommended.Publishe
Recent advances in coastal ecology: studies from Kenya
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This collective volume presenting recent environmental research on the Kenya coast contains 27 contributions differing widely in scope. Subjects range from coral reef restoration to butterfly breeding, from river sediments to Kaya forests, and from marine fisheries to elephant management. Following the introduction by Jan Hoorweg and Nyawira Muthiga, the papers are presented in six sections, viz. Coral reefs, intertidal and littoral communities (contributions by Priscillah N. Boera, T.R. McClanahan, S. Manohar, R.M. Mdodo, C.M. Muthama, N. Muthiga, G.A. Mwayuli, D. Obura, J.B. Okeyo-Owuor, M.P. Tole, J.N. Uku, B.C.C. Wangila); Sediments, erosion and pollution (contributions by J.O.Z. Abuodha, P.D. Jungerius, Samuel Maende, T.M. Munyao, Muendo Muthini, Marifa Ali Mwakumanya, Dismas Otieno, M.wakiop. Tole); Marine fisheries (contributions by Bernerd Fulanda, Jan Hoorweg, Edward N. Kimani, Anthony King, T.R. McClanahan, Delphine Malleret-King, S. Mangi, Joseph G. Tunje); Mangroves and terrestrial forests (contributions by Ian Gordon, Francis Karanja Kamau, Koen Maes, A.M. Makee, M.T.E. Mbuvi, K.A. Mwendwa, Mwakiop. Tole); Biodiversity (contributions by T.M. Dzeha, A.N. Githitho, S.M. Halevy, Randal Jeske, Moses Litoroh, W.R.Q. Luke, Z.N. Otieno-Ayayo, W.A. Overholt); Community participation (contributions by Washington O. Ayiemba, H. Becha, I. Gordon, Ted Kombo, M.T.E. Mbuvi, J.M. Maweu, K.A. Mwendwa, Joseph Rasowo). [ASC Leiden abstract]ASC – Publicaties niet-programma gebonde
Advances in Coastal Ecology: people, processes and ecosystems in Kenya.
No full textA comparative survey of shallow water (< 2m) holothurian fauna was undertaken to determine patterns of distribution, abundance and diversity, and the possible role of management, habitat (reef flat and lagoon), topographic complexity and substrate cover, in six sites within protected and unprotected reefs near Mombasa. Visual surveys were done by use of belt transects (100m by 4m) and search sampling (1-h time counts), and 10m-line intercept transects for substrate cover and rugosity. A total of ten different species belonging to 2 orders (Aspidochirotida and Apodida) and 3 families (Holothuriidae, Stichopodidae and Synaptidae) were recorded, four most abundant being Holothuria leucospilota, H. atra, Synapta maculata and Stichopus chloronotus in descending order. Three least abundant species were H. hilla, H. impatiens and Stichopus herrmanni. The total holothurians fauna was typified by low densities and high diversity, although no significant differences occurred in diversity (Simpson's Index) between management and habitats. Protected reefs had higher densities on the reef flats and in lagoons than the unprotected reefs. Between-subjects effects analysis indicated that management was more powerful than habitat in controlling holothurian population densities. Rugosity was higher in the MPA than unprotected sites, and there was a positive significant correlation between rugosity and sea cucumber densities and abundance. The nine broad substrate categories indicated high variability between lagoons under different management regimes. Coral cover was higher in protected than unprotected areas, whereas algal turf, sand and seagrass were dominant in the unprotected sites. Hard coral had a positive significant correlation with sea cucumber density, whereas algal turf and sand, showed negative and positive significant correlations respectively. Sand also correlated negatively, but significantly with sea cucumber species diversity. Apart from S. maculata, all the other nine species recorded in the study area have commercial value, varying from medium to low. The overall average density of sea cucumbers of commercial value in the study area was 5.20/400 m2. The most abundant commercial species in the study area was the low value H. leucospilota. Commercial sea cucumber densities in protected and unprotected sites were 11.00/400m2 and 2.30/400m2, respectively. Resource assessment of holothurian populations can be useful for designing, developing and evaluating sea cucumber fishery management plans and strengthening conservation of the resource.Publishe
Enforcement In Kenya’s Marine Protected Area Network
No full textThe Kenyan coastline is approximately 500 km long, with a well developed fringing reef system except where major rivers (Tana and Athi Sabaki) discharge into the Indian Ocean (Hamilton and Brakel, 1984). Additionally patch reefs occur in Malindi and Kiunga in the north and Shimoni in the south on the Kenya Tanzania border (Fig. 1). Coral reefs are the predominant marine ecosystem in terms of ecology and economy but seagrass beds and mangrove forests also contribute to the economy of the coastal communities ( Muthiga ITMEMS). The coastal topography, climate and habitats of the Kenyan coast have been described in McClanahan 1988, McClanahan and Young 1986, Obura et al 2000).
In order to conserve and manage these important ecosystems, the government of Kenya has established a system of marine parks and reserves managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). Kenya has four marine parks including (from north to south) Malindi, Watamu, Mombasa and Kisite and 6 marine reserves including Kiunga, Malindi-Watamu, Mombasa, Diani-Chale and Mpunguti marine reserves (Fig. 1). All these marine protected areas encompass important marine habitats including coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangrove forests, but are ecologically and economically dominated by coral reefs
Recent advances in coastal ecology: studies from Kenya.
No full textElevated sea water temperature in March and April 1998 caused by the El Nino Southern oscillation caused mass coral bleaching along the Kenyan coast. Over 90% bleaching and mortality was recorded in the region. Chlorophyll-a concentration ranged between 0.002-0.284 mg/cm super(2) for bleached corals and 0.176-0.795mg/cm super(2) for normal corals. Zooxanthellae density ranged between 0.7x10 super(6)-5xl0 super(6) per cm super(2) for normal corals and 0.02x10 super(6)-0.2x10 super(6) per cm super(2) for bleached coral (total loss of zooxanthellae and pigment was recorded in a few coral fragments).Publishe
Advances in Coastal Ecology: People, processes and ecosystems in Kenya. Coastal Ecology Conference IV.
No full textThis paper examines attitudes towards marine conservation among fishers from two villages in Kilifi District, Kenya. It focuses on how the views of fishers have contributed to their willingness to engage in marine conservation and considers how these attitudes developed. Uyombo is situated near the Watamu Marine National Park and Reserve and the fishers from this village have encountered formal methods of conservation in their daily fishing activities. There is no marine park in the vicinity of Takaungu but fishers in Takaungu have used informal methods of conservation in the past, unlike those employed in Uyombo. These traditional ways have, however, lost most of their effectiveness. Data were collected in 2000, 2001 and 2003 and the study shows how experiences have shaped fishers' attitudes towards conservation and their perceptions of how conservation efforts should, or should not, be carried out. The fishers from Uyombo, as a result of their experiences with the Marine National Park, have developed such a negative attitude towards marine conservation that it may be difficult to involve them in any meaningful activities in the future. The fishers in Takaungu, on the other hand, are willing to participate in marine conservation activities provided these do not endanger their livelihoods and are on an equal partnership basis.African Studies Collection Vol. 20Publishe
A Multi-Language Comparison of Influences on Author Verification using Character N-Grams
No full textWe create a new multi-language corpus for author verification based on Wikipedia talkpages, and evaluate the influence that differences in topic and time have on character n-gram author profiles. Topic alignment between two texts is found to increase author verification precision, and an authors writing style is found to change over time, but not more significantly after 3 years than after 1 year.Information ArchitectureWISElectrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Scienc
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
No full textWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Advances in Coastal Ecology: people, processes and ecosystems in Kenya.
No full textThe fishing practices of fishers at ten landing sites in Malindi and Kilifi Districts that were surveyed in 1999 as part of a larger research project are discussed in this article. The focus of the research was on income diversification among fishers, pressure on marine resources and the relationship between the two. It was hypothesized that fishers with additional resources strengthen livelihood strategies and improve household security, and those who succeed in diversifying their incomes can be expected to have a more positive attitude towards conservation measures and will exact less pressure on marine resources. Two types of income diversification were distinguished: 1) 'activity' diversification at the individual level where fishers had other income besides fishing, and 2) 'earner' diversification at the household level where fishers belonged to a household with more than one income earner. Key indicators were selected that represented four features of artisanal fishing, namely: (1) the number of fishers; (2) the fishing grounds; (3) the type of equipment; and 4) the frequency of fishing. There was no significant relationship between 'earner' diversification and fishing practices while 'activity' diversification correlated significantly with two selected indicators. Fishers with 'multiple' activities used more destructive gear and fished inshore grounds more often, while there was no sign that they were more willing to stop fishing in favour of alternative employment. It was concluded that an activity diversification of fishers did not reduce the pressure on the marine environment. Instead the opposite occurred, fishers who had other employment onshore fished less prudently.Publishe
The vanishing author in computer-generated works: a critical analysis of recent Australian case law
No full textAbstract
The use of software is ubiquitous in the creation of many copyright works, yet the requirement in copyright law that every work have a human author who engages in independent intellectual effort means that its use may prevent copyright subsistence. Several recent Australian cases have refocused attention on authorship as an essential criterion of copyright subsistence, and these cases suggest that much computer-produced output may be authorless and thus lack copyright protection. This article, the first in a two-part series, analyses how each case deals with the question of authorship of computer-produced works and why the use of software diminishes copyright protection for a significant number of computer-generated works. The article critiques the application of conventional notions of human authorship developed in the pre-computer age to modern productions and suggests alternative approaches to authorship that satisfy both the major objectives of copyright policy and the need to adapt to the computer age. The article argues that, without a broader judicial approach to authorship of computer-generated works, Parliament must remedy the lacuna in protection for these ‘authorless’ works. Possible solutions for reform are suggested. In a forthcoming article, the author comprehensively examines those reform proposals
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