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A photographic census of flamingos in the Rift Valley lakes of Tanzania
Author(s) -
WOODWORTH B. L.,
FARM B. P.,
MUFUNGO C.,
BORNER M.,
OLE KUWAI J.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
african journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.499
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1365-2028
pISSN - 0141-6707
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2028.1997.098-89098.x
Subject(s) - tanzania , rift valley , census , geography , crater lake , population , east african rift , fishery , ecology , rift , impact crater , biology , demography , paleontology , environmental planning , structural basin , sociology , astrobiology
An aerial photographic census of flamingos ( Phoenicopterus minor and P. ruber) was conducted on 20 July 1994 on nine lakes in Tanzania: Lakes Natron, Manyara, Magadi (Ngorongoro), Burungi, Embagai, Eyasi, Lagarja, Masek, and Ambussel. This census, conducted concurrently with a survey in Kenya, documented the numbers and distribution of flamingos in the Rift Valley Lakes of East Africa. The total population size of flamingos in the Tanzanian lakes surveyed was |mF907,000. The largest concentrations in Tanzania were found in Lake Natron and Embagai Crater Lake. Although flamingos are known to breed in Lake Natron, no evidence of breeding was observed during the survey. The total estimate for the southern Kenya and northern Tanzania Rift Valley was |mF2·8 million. Trends in flamingo populations, survey methodology, and future monitoring needs are discussed.