Nutritional factors associated with distribution of Mopani Worms in Mopani woodlands in Tsholotsho and Gwanda Districts, Zimbabwe: A comparative survey.
Sci Rep
; 9(1): 17320, 2019 11 21.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31754197
Mopani worms are abundant in Gwanda and sporadic in Tsholotsho though the two areas have similar climatic conditions. The study sought to determine nutritional factors that could be associated with distribution of Mopani worms in these two districts. Ten sampling points in undisturbed Mopani woodlands were established in each district. Samples were collected and analysed in the lab to determine the levels of crude protein, tannin and natural detergent fibres levels in leaves and pH, Nitrates, Phosphates and Potassium levels in soil and Welch's test, Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney, Analysis of Variance and the Bonferroni Confidence Intervals were employed to test for significance in the observed differences. Findings showed differences in tree size and leaf length whilst the differences of all other variables (non-extractible tannis, extractible tannis crude protein levels and natural detergent fibres) relating to leaf sample analysis were not statistically significant. Findings on soil sample analysis pointed out that Gwanda had higher pH, Phosphorus and Potassium levels whilst Nitrates were significantly higher in Tsholotsho. Differences in the tree sizes and leaf sizes of the samples from the two sites show that there could be host selection based on these variables.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Comércio
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Distribuição Animal
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Insetos Comestíveis
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Lepidópteros
Tipo de estudo:
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Animals
País como assunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2019
Tipo de documento:
Article