Land Cover Change and Disease Ecology: The Unintended Impacts of Prosopis juliflora in Kenya

Mark H. DeVisser, Michigan State University, devisse6@msu.edu (Presenter)
Joseph P. Messina, Michigan State University, jpm@msu.edu

Tsetse flies are the primary vector for African trypanosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease that affects both humans and livestock throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. Several factors can lead to changes in tsetse spatio-temporal distributions (DeVisser et al., 2010); including the introduction of non-native plant species. One such plant species theorized to impact the amount of suitable tsetse land cover is Prosopis juliflora (KOEE, 2008).

Prosopis juliflora, commonly known as mesquite, is a woody plant species native to the semi-arid and arid regions of the Americas (Pasiecznik et al., 2001). The species is well suited to survive in the semi-arid regions of East Africa, and has been officially classified as invasive in Kenya. Multiple studies have examined the impact of Prosopis juliflora on local agro-pastoral and socioeconomic systems throughout East Africa (e.g., Mugas et al., 2000; Dalle et al., 2006). However, the potential for Prosopis juliflora to expand suitable tsetse habitat has not been investigated.

This study aims to analyze the suitability and impact of Prosopis juliflora with regards to tsetse habitat in Kenya using remotely sensed data (PALSAR synthetic aperture radar [SAR] and LANDSAT ETM+ data), spatial analysis, in situ field observations, and dynamic modeling. A study site in the Lake Baringo region of Kenya has been selected due to the presence of both Prosopis juliflora and tsetse. Based on preliminary analysis and field data collection, Prosopis juliflora is expanding the extent of suitable tsetse habitat, thus expanding tsetse distributions and increasing the risk of disease transmission.

Presentation Type:  Poster

Session:  Global Change Impact & Vulnerability   (Tue 11:30 AM)

Associated Project(s): 

• Messina, Joseph: NESS Fellowship: Land Cover Change and Disease Ecology: The Unintended Impacts of Prosopis juliflora in Kenya ...details

Poster Location ID: 152