http://ir.mu.ac.ke:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/59 2026-06-28T07:22:58Z http://ir.mu.ac.ke:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/10274 Gully mitigation and rehabilitation measures have varying effects on soil macrofauna abundance and diversity in semi-arid lands Churu, Harrison; Kamau, Solomon; Ng'etich, Wilson; Magiroi, Keziah One of the most features of land degradation is soil erosion, which at its extreme, causes formation of gullies. Nonetheless, there is limited understanding on how such gullies, their management or rehabilitation measures inuence soil macrofauna, despite being a critical component of soil ecosystems. Thus, this study evaluated the inuence of gully erosion mitigation and rehabilitation measures on soil macrofauna abundance, diversity and species richness in semi-arid lands with severe degradation and where restoration efforts are being put in place. Soil macrofauna were sampled across two categories of lands under mitigation (terracing) and rehabilitation (sand-damming) efforts in croplands and pasturelands. These were compared with lands where no mitigation or rehabilitative measures were taken up. Therefore, the combinations were as follows: (i) terraced croplands, (ii) unterraced croplands, (iii) terraced pasturelands, (iv) unterraced pasturelands, (v) sand dams, and (vi) degraded lands. Soil samples were also collected in these lands for chemical analysis. Results showed degraded lands to be characterized by low organic C, available P and total N (less than 9.9 g kg−1, 4.7 mg kg−1 and 2.8 g kg−1, respectively) indicative of chemical degradation. Land degradation signicantly reduced total earthworm abundance by more than 80 % when compared with pastureland and croplands. Specic genera were also affected negatively, with abundance of Lumbricus sp. reducing by up to 6 times in degraded lands compared with terraced croplands which had 65 individuals m−2, and by more than 9 times compared with that of terraced pasturelands that had 97 individuals m−2. Beetles also showed similar differences to that of earthworms, with greater abundance in pasturelands than in degraded lands. On the contrary, termites were more abundant in the degraded lands, with an average of 306 individuals m−2 which was more than four times the abundance reported in sand dams and close to 50 % more than that reported in pasturelands. Terracing and sand-damming increased soil macrofauna diversity by more than 21 %, to more than 1.3 units compared with that of degraded lands with 0.99 units. In summary, our study shows that gully mitigation and rehabilitation measures positively affects the most sensitive soil macrofauna groups (earthworms and beetles), which are often used as bioindicators of soil health. Thus, installation of these measures can be a starting point towards restoration and increasing the resilience of these fragile ecosystems 2025-06-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.mu.ac.ke:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/10267 Genome-wide patterns of runs of homozygosity in barka indigenous chickens Ngeno, Kiplangat Runs of homozygosity (ROH) provide insight into population history, inbreeding, and selection. In this study, genome-wide ROH patterns were evaluated in Barka indigenous chicken reared under scavenging systems in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), by stratifying segments by length and assessing their chromosomal distribution and gene content. Average ROH length varied across chromosomes, with the longest tracts observed on chromosomes 1, 2, 3 and 4, and shorter segments on chromosomes 11 and 28, indicating a heterogeneous genomic landscape. Gene-level analysis indicated that significant (P<0.05) associations were confined to a small subset of loci within the intermediate ROH category (1-2 Mb), notably LHX8 and YAP1. LHX8 encodes a LIM homeobox transcription factor essential for oocyte differentiation and early folliculogenesis, while YAP1 is a central effector of Hippo signalling pathway regulating cell proliferation, organ size and tissue homeostasis functions potentially linked to reproductive fitness and adaptive resilience under resource-limited ASAL conditions. These findings suggest that ROH patterns in ASAL-adapted Barka indigenous chickens reflect a combination of recent and historical demographic processes shaped by low-input scavenging systems. The limited but functionally relevant gene enrichment supports the role of localized selection on key biological pathways, while the broader genomic background remains largely neutral. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.mu.ac.ke:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/10237 Soil Texture and Chemical Properties Influence Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Abundance, Diversity, and Richness in East African Rangelands Kamau, Solomon; Nyawira, Lukelysia; Cheruto, Gladys Rangeland degradation in East Africa threatens soil biodiversity. Yet the diversity of native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) remains underexplored in this region, despite their central role in nutrient cycling, soil aggregation, and ecosystem functioning. This study assessed AMF community composition across four rangeland sites located in Kenya (Chepareria and Lokiriama) and Uganda (Matany and Rupa) as inf luenced by three dominant native vegetation types (bushland, grassland and wooded- grassland) and soil texture and chemical properties. AMF spores were identified to genus level, and spore abundance, taxonomic richness and diversity were quantified. Relationships between AMF metrics and soil texture and chemical properties were exam-ined using correlation analysis. Soil properties varied significantly among sites, with higher soil C, N and clay content in Matany and Rupa compared to Chepareria and Lokiriama. Differences among vegetation types were less consistent and site- dependent. AMF abundance, richness and diversity were higher in Matany and Rupa, and lowest in Lokiriama, and were positively corre-lated with soil C, N, and clay content, and negatively correlated with sand content and pH. Glomus was the most dominant genus across all sites and vegetation types, reflecting its broad ecological tolerance. A MF abundance, taxonomic richness, and diversity tended to be higher in grasslands and wooded- grasslands than in bushlands, although these differences were not consistent across sites. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of soil properties in shaping AMF community composition, abun-dance and diversity in semiarid rangelands, with vegetation- related patterns playing a secondary and context- dependent role. Promoting soil organic matter and favorable soil conditions may therefore be key for supporting belowground biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in East African rangelands 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.mu.ac.ke:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/10117 Succession planning practices, organizational culture and survivability of hotels in western Uganda Nansamba, Esther Hotels in Western Uganda continue to face survivability challenges arising from weak succession planning structures and informal cultural practices that undermine leadership continuity. This study examined how succession planning practices (skill development, mentorship, and internal promotion) and organizational culture affect hotel survivability. In addition the study examined the relationships between succession planning practices (skill development, mentorship, and internal promotion) and organizational culture, and further explored the moderating role of organizational culture in the relationship between succession planning practices and hotel survivability. Guided by leadership development, tournament and dynamic capability perspectives, the study adopted a pragmatic, convergent mixed-methods design involving 200 management employees and 10 key informants from forty hotels. Quantitative data were analyzed using structural equation modeling, and qualitative data were thematically analyzed. Findings revealed that organizational culture is a critical determinant of hotel survivability, as it fosters adaptability, resilience, and shared values that sustain business continuity. While skill development, mentorship and internal promotion were not statistically significant, qualitative insights emphasized that financial literacy, innovation, adaptability and leadership training enhance managerial readiness for transition. The study concludes that nurturing a strong and enabling culture and continuous learning climate strengthens leadership pipelines and improves hotel survivability. The study recommends aligning skill development, mentorship and promotion systems with strategic objectives to build sustainable leadership capacity. The findings contribute to hospitality management literature by integrating succession planning and organizational culture into a unified model of hotel survivability, offering practical guidance for managers seeking to institutionalize leadership continuity in the competitive hospitality environments. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z