Research Fellow Partnership Programme (RFPP)Research fellow (Post-doc)Walter Okello Ogutu, CABI Africa, KenyaSupervisorsHeinz Mueller-Schaerer,University of Fribourg /Peter J. Edwards, <strong>ETH</strong> ZurichCollaboratorsMeshack Nyabenge, World Agroforestry<strong>Centre</strong>, Kenya / Roger Day, JohnMauremootoo, CABI Africa, Kenya /Urs Schaffner, CABI Europe, DelémontDurationJanuary <strong>2006</strong> – December 20<strong>07</strong>Prosopis in arid and semi-arid regions of Kenya –A case of ecological meltdown?another with sweet pods, “karat” and no thorns, and the lastwith many flowers, bitter pods and widespread. Awarenessof the pathway of spread (mainly goats and runoff) is veryhigh (> 80 %). Most scientists and local administrators considerProsopis as a resource that can improve livelihoods inthe area, the local people on the other hand have conflictingviews with 30 % considering it as useful while 70 % calling forits complete eradication. Although there are few arthropodsand microorganisms on Prosopis, trees attacked by a cerambycidbeetle are characterised by sap stains, entry holes ontrunks and dieback. Field observations and preliminary GISand remote sensing data indicate that the spread of Prosopisis limited to some of the introduction sites and tends to followwaterways and goats’ grazing trails.Stem of Prosopis tree showing tunnels created by hardwood stem borerThe objective of this project is to determine the spread andthe species diversity of Prosopis and to quantify the associatedbiodiversity.The research approach consists of• A literature review on the introduction, mapping, molecularand biodiversity studies on Prosopis;• Assessing the knowledge and perception of key informantson Prosopis using questionnaires;• Testing different GIS and remote sensing techniques fordistinguishing Prosopis; and• Characterising Prosopis introduction sites and developingprotocols for assessing biodiversity.Several studies have been conducted on Prosopis in othercountries which can be adapted in Kenya. Knowledge ofintroduced species is very poor (< 10 %) but the local people56 can recognise three types, one with pods and no thorns,In conclusion, the introduction of Prosopis in Kenya was donewithout background information and education of the localcommunities and administrators. The level of spread is lowbut intense in the few affected areas. Sharing the knowledgethat goats and runoffs are the key pathway for the spread ofProsopis can be used as a basis to develop managementstrategies including regulated grazing to reduce its continuedspread.In memory of Walter Ogutu, (1970 – 20<strong>07</strong>)We will always keep Walter in our memory. Walter wasdoing so well. He was always eager to learn somethingnew, making the most out of his stay in Switzerland toadvance his research.On the few occasions we took a day off, he would lookfor gifts for his wife and children.He was building so many bridges, between Africa andEurope, between his rural community and Nairobi,and between the many researchers involved in themanagement of Prosopis in Africa and worldwide, toname only a few.Now he has left us over the bridge back to God, much toearly for all of us. We will always keep him in our memoryand may his family be assured: He was such a sunshine.Heinz Müller-Schärer
Research fellowApollin Fotso Kuate, IITA CameroonSupervisorsPeter Nagel, University of Basel /Rachid Hanna, IITA, BeninCollaboratorsMaurice Tindo, IITA, Cameroon /Georg Goergen, IITA, BeninDurationNovember <strong>2006</strong> – October 2009Research Fellow Partnership Programme (RFPP)Options for controlling African root and tuber scaleon cassava in Central Africa – Understanding theecology of the associated ant Anoplolepis tenellaAnoplolepis tenella is an afro-tropical ground-dwelling antspecies with widespread distribution in the forest zones ofCentral Africa, where it is largely found in association withthe African Root and Tuber Scale (ARTS) Stictococcus vayssiereiRichard, an emerging pest of cassava in Central Africa. Amajor effort is presently underway to identify factors thataffect the abundance of ARTS, and to develop sustainablepractices for its management on cassava and other affectedfood crops. While the nature of the interactions betweenA. tenella and ARTS is not well-understood, present evidencesupports the hypothesis that the scale needs the ant toremove its honeydew secretions, otherwise the scale woulddrown in its own secretions; and most likely to move crawlerswithin and between plants. As ARTS cannot survive withoutA. tenella, management options that disrupt scale-ant associationwould be most effective in controlling damagingscale populations. Such efforts, however, require solidand sufficient understanding of the biology and ecology ofA. tenella and its impact on ARTS life cycle and ecology.We will first determine the effect of habitat characteristics(e.g., vegetation, temperature, humidity, rainfall, co-occurringant diversity, abundance of ARTS and other ant-tendedhomopteran insects) on patterns of A. tenella distributionand abundance in <strong>South</strong>ern Cameroon, where ARTS distributionis well known. Secondly, we will determine the level andnature of interactions between A. tenella and co-occurringant species, assess their impact on ARTS development andsurvivorship, and conduct farmer-participatory trials toevaluate the effects of ant exclusion on ARTS abundance anddamage severity on cassava. In a third component, we willdetermine the role of A. tenella workers and queens in ARTSdispersal.Findings from this project will feed into IITA’s cassava, IPM andbiodiversity projects, and the biogeography programmes ofthe University of Basel, with the broad aim of developing sustainablepractices to reduce ARTS infestation on cassava, anddocumenting and conserving biodiversity in Central Africa.Cassava cutting infested with Stictococcus vayssierei57
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Table of contentsZIL members. . . .
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EditorialThe present Annual Report
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