Cultural ecology of Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) habitat management by farmers: winter in farmland trees and shrubs in Senegambia.
Stoate C., Morris R. M., Wilson J. D.
Author Affiliation: The Allerton Research and Educational Trust, Loddington House, Loddington, Leics LE7 9XE, UK.
Journal of Environmental Management 62 : 343-356
Abstract : This paper investigates the use by farmers of savanna farmland in Gambia/Senegal, and in particular the trees and shrubs that provide potential foraging habitats for Whitethroats (Sylvia communis). No Whitethroats were recorded using trees; however, there was a positive relationship between Whitethroat occurrence and total shrub area, and with the area of the shrub species, Guiera senegalensis. Caterpillars and spiders were significantly more numerous in G. senegalensis than in any other tree species in both years while Miridae and Homoptera were more abundant in Mangifera indica and Anacardium occidentale, respectively. Pairwise comparisons were used to identify use-values to villagers of 6 common tree species. Matrices showed that the overall use-values for Faidherbia albida and Combretum glutinosum were lower than those of Daniellia oliveri, Azadirachta indica, Piliostigma thonningii and G. senegalensis. The preferred species were valued for a wide range of uses, of which medicinal uses were the most important. For foraging habitat by Whitethroats, tree value matrices prepared by farmers showed that G. senegalensis was valued more highly for its medicinal uses. Piliostigma thonningii was highly valued for its cultural values, especially the use of branches and dye in Serer and Mandinka initiation ceremonies. F. albida was highly valued for its use as fodder.