Applicant notifications on access to genetic resources
ACCESS TO GENETIC RESOURCES
Details of Applicant
Finote Aster Gijsman Kelemu
Project title
Disentangling Ecological Cascades. How the Loss of Megafauna affect Dung Beetle Food Webs and Ecosystem Services in African Savanna.
Sponsor
Rufford Foundation (6,000 Euros) and the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies (5,200 Euros).
Activity
Disentangling Ecological Cascades.
Genetic Resource to be accessed
Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaedae) (Tissues, Microbial gut contents).
Specific Site in which access will be undertaken
Mpala Research Centre, Laikipia, Kenya (00 17’ N 370 52’ E)
Methods to be used
Pitfall traps consisting of cups buried flush with the ground and baited with 20g of fresh herbivore dung.
Project duration
July 2023-2025
Purpose of Research
- Characterize Dung Beetle communities across seasons and environmental gradients to; Establish which species of dung beetles are present at Mpala Research Center, Describe dung beetle food preferences across seasons and environmental gradients to understand patterns of community assembly and Facilitate dung beetle taxonomy and species identification by creating a barcode library of specimens collected at Mpala Research Center.
- Uncover the chemical mechanisms driving Dung Beetle interactions with Large Mammalian Herbivores to; Characterize the odor profiles of LMH dung and identify diagnostic chemicals and assess the attractiveness of dung and their diagnostic odors to dung beetles.
- Examine the effects of species richness on species-mediated ecological processes to; Evaluate ecosystem services (dung removal, nutrient cycling) provided by dung beetle assemblages of different sizes (i.e., species numbers).
The research aims at understanding of the structure and composition of dung beetle communities in African savannas.
ACCESS TO GENETIC RESOURCES
Details of Applicant
Charles Kivasu Maingi
Project title
Social and Environmental Factors Affecting Fecal Glucocorticoids in Wild Female Tana River Mangabeys (Cercocebus galeritus).
Sponsor
Support from the Rutgers University (Internal funding).
Activity
Social and Environmental Factors Affecting Fecal Glucorticoids.
Genetic Resource to be accessed
Wild Female Tana River Mangabeys (Fecal samples).
Specific Site in which access will be undertaken
Lower Tana River forest fragments, Tana River Primate National Reserve.
Methods to be used
Habituation of groups and follow-up where samples will be collected non-invasively - Opportunically once feaces are dropped from a known individual.
Project duration
Saturday, July 01, 2023
Purpose of Research
- Determine the effect of environmental factors on the social behaviors of female Tana River Mangabeys.
- Determine effect of social behavior on the fecal glucocorticoids (GCs) metabolites levels among the Tana River Mangabeys.
- Determine effect of reproductive state on the seasonal variation of fecal GCs metabolites of female individuals.
The research aims at understanding the social and environmental factors affecting Fecal Glucocorticoids in Tana River.
ACCESS TO GENETIC RESOURCES
Details of Applicant
Name
Dr. Ben Jonathan Evans
Project title
Sex chromosomes of the Marsabit Clawed frog, Xenopus borealis and other insights into frog diversity in Kenya.
Sponsor
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
Activity
Sex chromosomal determination in frogs Xenopus borealis.
Genetic Resource to be accessed
Frogs (Xenopus borealis).
Specific Site in which access will be undertaken
Taita Taveta, Kwale and Kakamega.
Methods to be used
Baited traps made from buckets, and hand held nets.
Project duration
June 1, 2022 – May 31, 2032
Purpose of Research
- Study how sex determination works in X. borealis.
- Contribute to understanding and documentation of amphibian (frog) diversity in Kenya.
The research aims at studying and understanding sex chromosomes in frogs.
ACCESS TO GENETIC RESOURCES
Details of Applicant
Name
Dr. Nicholas Pilfold
Project title
Social and Environmental Factors Affecting Fecal Glucocorticoids in Wild Female Tana River Mangabeys (Cercocebus galeritus).
Sponsor
Zoological Society of San Diego d/b/a San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA).
Activity
Integrating ecological and social science into community- based conservation.
Genetic Resource to be accessed
African Leopard (Panthera pardus pardus)
Specific Site in which access will be undertaken
Laikipia, Isiolo and Samburu counties.
Methods to be used
Non- invasive collection in the environment and immobilization.
Project duration
September 2023 – August 2024
Purpose of Research
- Mitigate Human Leopard conflicts in Northern Kenya’s rangelands.
The research aims at understanding the drivers of Human- Wildlife conflicts.
ACCESS TO GENETIC RESOURCES
Details of Applicant
Name
Paul Odhiambo Mireji
Project title
Expanding the Toolbox for Tsetse control in Kenya.
Sponsor
National Institutes of Health - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH-NIAID), (Grant No: R01AI169503)
Activity
Tsetse control in Kenya.
Genetic Resource to be accessed
Monitor Lizards, Bush Pigs, Warthogs, Antelopes and other bovines and angulates
Specific Site in which access will be undertaken
Ndere Island National Park, Shimba Hills National Reserve, Arabuko Sokoke National Reserve
Methods to be used
Bait traps.
Project duration
Friday, September 01, 2023
Purpose of Research
- Expand the toolbox available for tsetse population control.
- Develop Decision Support System (DSS) to monitor tsetse transmitted disease risk in Kenya.
The research aims at controlling tsetse fly transmitted diseases in Kenya.
ACCESS TO GENETIC RESOURCES
Details of Applicant
Name
Save The Elephants
Project title
Elephant Program of Save The Elephants.
Sponsor
Save The Elephants
Activity
Tracking the African Elephant through collaring.
Genetic Resource to be accessed
Elephants
Specific Site in which access will be undertaken
Samburu County, Marsabit County, Meru County, Laikipia County, Taita Taveta County, Kajiado County, Isiolo County
Methods to be used
Elephant Immobilization.
Project duration
Continuous
Purpose of Research
- Determine the eco-evolutionary causes underlying the peculiarity of elephant social and reproductive behaviors.
- Determine the environmental and anthropogenic factors affecting large-scale elephant movements in the Samburu-Laikipia and Tsavo ecosystems
- Investigate the impact of human activities as drivers of elephant population dynamics, with special attention to illegal killings due ivory poaching and human-elephant conflicts, among other objectives.
The research aims at developing viable and innovative long term strategies for Elephant conservation.
ACCESS TO GENETIC RESOURCES
Details of Applicant
Name
Prof. Marina Ann Cords
Project title
The Kakamega Monkey Project: Blue monkey population monitoring for life history and
social behavior.
Sponsor
None
Activity
Monitoring the study population, including the life history and behavioral trends of
individual animals, in the unique ways possible when a population has a substantial
history of study.
Genetic Resource to be access
Blue monkey
Specific Site in which access will be undertaken
Kakamega forest station, Kakamega County
Methods to be used
Observational data collection
Project duration
Monday, January 15, 2024 to 2025
Purpose of Research
1. To enhance understanding of the reproductive biology and life history of
Kakamega Forest blue monkeys, including how these biological traits change
with age, social circumstances and environment.
2. To enhance understanding of the extent and significance of social variation, both
between and within groups, focusing on group size and within-group variation in
social profiles, and to see how such factors influence reproduction and survival.
3. To document rare but important social changes in the study animals and the
groups in which they live, such as group fissions, migrations and dynamic male
residence patterns; this documentation may contribute to Goals 1 and 2.