- Investigation of expansion mechanism of Mesquite trees using remotely sensed methods
（2012/11/30-2012/12/15、Sudan）
Rakuno Gakuen University, Professor・Buho Hoshino
I performed a field work in Sudan from November 30 to December 15, 2012, as a core member of the Nawata project. In this trip we succeeded in the investigation under the cooperation of coworkers of the local people and Sudan University of Sciences and Technology for the collection of very good quality originality data. The field measurement contents are
follows:
1. Measurement of leafs stomatal conductance [mmol m-2 s-1] using SC-1 Leaf Porometer
2. Measurement of soil moisture using The HydroSense Soil Water Content Measurement System.
3. GPS tracking of livestock behavior of donkeys, goats, camels and sheep’s.
4. Measure of Photosynthetic efficiency of Acacia trees and mesquite.
5. Measurement of vegetation coverage and distribution of plants species along the Atbara River.
We succeeded in tracking the behavior of the domestic animal of donkey which used a tree of Mesquite (invasion species) for the first time. We also succeeded in measuring leafs evapotranspiration of difference between Mesquite trees and the native species. We field confirmed the Mesquite expansion in the river is within 500m, and in the wadi are concentrated within 20m. The mesquite was densely covered inside of the curve of the river. Because the mesquite seed are easy to germinate and seedling inside of the curve of the river grow successfully.
Many domestic animals did not eat Mesquite, but it was confirmed that some domestic animals such as a donkey or the goat ate Mesquite.
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