Issue

Vol. 9 No. 1 (2020)

Survivorship of the Reintroduced Kihansi Spray Toads Nectophrynoides asperginis in a Soft Release Experiment at the Kihansi Gorge, Tanzania

https://doi.org/10.56279/jhss.v9i1.38
Nassoro Mohamed
University of Dar es Salaam , College of African Wildlife Management, Mweka, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Magige
University of Dar es Salaam Department of Zoology and Wildlife Conservation University of Dar es Salaam

Corresponding Author(s) : Nassoro Mohamed

magige.fm@gmail.com

Journal of Humanities & Social Science (JHSS), Vol. 9 No. 1 (2020)

Abstract

The Kihansi Spray Toad (KST) Nectophrynoides asperginis is endemic to the unique
wetland habitat surrounding the Kihansi Falls, Tanzania, with which it was associated.
The species was declared extinct in the wild in 2009 by the International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN), following the loss of its unique habitat due to the
diversion of the Kihansi River for hydropower production. This study is an initial
attempt to determine the survivorship and possible sources of mortality of newborn
and adult KSTs placed in cages in their original habitat in the Upper Spray Wetland
(USW) and Lower Spray Wetland (LSW) areas. The cages were made of wooden frames
covered with galvanized wire mesh to prevent the toads from escaping while allowing
their prey (live invertebrates) to enter. There was a significantly higher survivorship of
adult toads in the USW (29.2%) compared to those in the LSW (4.2%) (?
2 = 36.7, DF =
1, P < 0.0001). The newborn toads showed equally high survivorship rates in both USW
(70%) and LSW (80%) (?
2 = 0.1441, DF = 1, P = 0.7042). Newborn toads had a higher
survivorship (75%) than adults (17%) (?
2 = 16.7, DF = 1, P < 0.0001). Thus, we conclude
that newborns were the more suitable life-stage for successful reintroduction of the KST
back into its natural habitat. Therefore, we recommend continual reintroduction of
newborn toads until the population stabilizes. Further studies should be conducted on
other factors affecting the population dynamics of released KST, such as predation,
diseases and both inter- and intra-specific competition. Maintenance of the habitat and
constant monitoring programmes for the reintroduced KST should be continued.

Keywords

extinct in the wild Kihansi Spray Toad reintroduction soft release survivorship
Survivorship of the Reintroduced Kihansi Spray Toads Nectophrynoides asperginis in a Soft Release Experiment at the Kihansi Gorge, Tanzania. (2020). Journal of Humanities & Social Science (JHSS), 9(1). https://doi.org/10.56279/jhss.v9i1.38
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Survivorship of the Reintroduced Kihansi Spray Toads Nectophrynoides asperginis in a Soft Release Experiment at the Kihansi Gorge, Tanzania. (2020). Journal of Humanities & Social Science (JHSS), 9(1). https://doi.org/10.56279/jhss.v9i1.38
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