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Tree hyraxes (Dendrohyrax spp.) are highly vocal, elusive nocturnal mammals that live in forests across much of Sub-Saharan Africa. Here, we studied how tree hyrax acoustic communication activity varies during the year in a moist montane forest in Taita Hills, Kenya. Our study increases the knowledge about the seasonal and diel variation in tree hyrax calling activity and on the impact of exogenous factors on the calling behavior of the species. A group of tree hyraxes called 700–2000 times during the night, and calling rate was highest during dry season months. Calling activity was bimodal, with peaks between 19.00 and 20.00 h in the evening and between 04.00 and 05.00 h in the morning; however, counter-calling bouts occurred throughout the night. Singing peaked in May, possibly coinciding with the species' mating season. Calling activity decreased during full moon phases, probably because the animals felt vulnerable to predation. Tree hyrax calling was suppressed by rain, as rainfall is a powerful acoustic competitor. Annual changes in night temperature, the background chorus of vocalizing orthopterans, or the competing calls of nocturnal primates did not reduce tree hyrax calling rates. The latter suggests that sympatric nocturnal mammals have adapted to each other's calls as an intrinsic feature of the soundscape of their forest habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Termites are a significant natural source of greenhouse gases (GHGs), but quantifying emissions especially from large termite mounds is problematic as they rarely fit in measurement chambers. Predicting fluxes based on internal and atmospheric concentrations could provide an indirect way to assess mound emissions, but developing such models necessitates better understanding of the concentration levels and their variance.We used gas chromatography to measure carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) concentrations within nests of two co‐occurring species of fungus‐growing termites in both dry and wet seasons in Kenya, with termite Macrotermes michaelseni building mounds with a closed and Macrotermes subhyalinus with an open ventilation system.Gas concentrations were 3–100 times higher in mounds than the global averages in atmosphere, implying that termite mounds are sources of all three GHGs. Carbon dioxide concentrations were higher in closed than in open mounds. Methane concentrations remained constant in open mounds, whereas closed mounds exhibited considerable variation between nests and across seasons. Concentrations of both CH4 and N2O correlated positively with mound volume during the wet season, whereas interactions with mound size were not observed in CO2 concentrations or during the driest sampling period.These findings underline that among fungus‐growing termites, mound size, ventilation type and precipitation affect nest gas concentrations and with this likely the magnitude of mound GHG emissions. Potential reasons behind the observed relationships are discussed, including differences in population size, biomass of fungus gardens and CH4 oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We surveyed tree hyrax populations living in forests, limestone rocky formations, and caves in coastal Kenya to identify the species and estimate the threat‐level populations are in. Tree hyrax vocalizations were recorded in three different habitats with passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) for a total of 84 h in January and February 2022. We also observed tree hyrax behavior with thermal imaging camera and photographed individuals. Tree hyraxes in coastal Kenya are vocally active throughout the night, with most calls emitted between 23.00 and 04.00. We identified four different calls: snort, hac, hac ping‐pong, and wheeze. Their calling range is between 220 and 15,000 Hz. Calls of tree hyraxes from the coast of Kenya were compared with calls stored by the Oxford Brookes University's Nocturnal Primate Research Group and identified as eastern tree hyrax, previously recorded from Tanzania. Here, we present what are, to our knowledge, the first photographs of live D. validus from Kenya. These tree hyraxes live in social groups. Due to strong pressure from humans, conservation measures are necessary to prevent the extinction of these isolated D. validus populations in Kenya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied a previously almost unknown nocturnal mammal, an apparently undescribed species of tree hyrax (Dendrohyrax sp.) in the moist montane forests of Taita Hills, Kenya. We used thermal imaging to locate tree hyraxes, observe their behavior, and to identify woody plants most frequently visited by the selective browsers. We also documented acoustic behavior in forest fragments of different sizes. Data on calling type and frequency were analyzed together with lidar data to estimate population densities and to identify forest stand characteristics associated with large populations. Viable populations were found only in the largest forest fragments (> 90 ha), where tree hyraxes preferred most pristine forest stands with high, multilayered canopies. The estimated population sizes in smaller forest fragments were very limited, and hyraxes were heard to call only during late night and early morning hours, presumably in order to avoid detection. While we frequently recorded tree hyrax songs in the largest forest fragments, we almost never heard songs in the small ones. All remaining subpopulations of the Taita tree hyrax are under threat of human disturbance and further habitat deterioration. Conservation efforts should include protection of all remaining habitat patches, but also reforestation of former habitat is urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass is a key variable for crop monitoring and for assessing carbon stocks and bioenergy potential. This study aimed to develop an allometric model for predicting the dry leaf biomass of sisal, an agave plant with crassulacean acid metabolism grown for fibre production in the tropics and subtropics and whose biomass can be utilised as a feedstock to produce biogas through anaerobic digestion. The allometric model was used to estimate leaf biomass and productivity across different stand ages in a sisal plantation in semi-arid region in south-east Kenya (annual rainfall 611 mm and temperature 24.9 °C). Based on a sample of 38 leaves, the best predictor for biomass was leaf maximum width and plant height used as a combined variable in a log-log regression model (cross-validated R2 = 0.96 and root-mean-square error = 7.69 g). The mean productivity in nine 26- to 36-month-old plots was 11.1 Mg ha−1 yr−1, which could potentially yield approximately 3000 m3 CH 4 ha−1 yr−1. The leaf biomass in 55 field plots (400 m2 in area) ranged from 2.7 to 42.7 Mg ha−1, with mean at 13.5 Mg ha−1, which equals to 6.3 Mg C ha−1. The yielded allometric equations can be utilised for predicting the leaf biomass of sisal in similar agro-ecological zones. The estimates on plantation biomass can be used in assessing the role of sisal plantations as a regional carbon storage. In addition, the results provide reference on the productivity of agave and crassulacean acid metabolism in semi-arid regions of East Africa, where such reports are few. • New allometric models for sisal leaf biomass. • Leaf maximum width and plant height predict leaf biomass with high accuracy. • Models can be used to estimate biomass, productivity and bioenergy potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]