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Climate change and the abundance of edible insects in the
Lake Victoria region
Monica A. Ayieko1*, Millicent F. O Ndong’a1
and Andrew Tamale2
1Maseno
University, P. O. Box 333-40105, Maseno, Kenya.
2Busoga
University, P. O. Box 154, Iganga, Uganda.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
monica_ayieko@yahoo.com.
Accepted 30 June, 2010. |
Global warming is adversely affecting the
earth’s climate and its profound effects are
virtually on all ecosystem. Every living animal
will be affected in one way or another by
climatic changes and insects being an integral
biotic component of nearly all ecosystems are
not an exemption. However, the various ways by
which change will occur is yet to be determined
by scientists. Insects being an integral biotic
component of nearly all ecosystems will be
affected by the change in a variety of ways not
yet determined by scientists. This partial
review and empirical observation paper discusses
how edible lake flies in Lake Victoria and
termites in the lake region are responding to
climate change and how they are likely to impact
on entomophagy and gastrophagy as part of food
chain among the riparian communities. The
dynamics of the insect population have been
observed by several households that collect the
insects for domestic purposes. The focus is
given to the lake flies (Ephemeroptera and
Diptera), termites (Isoptera) and formicidae
ants (Hymenoptera) which form part of livestock
and human feed. Several factors of climate
change are identified and discussed in relation
to how they influence insect abundance. Ability
to respond successfully to challenges requiring
a lot of collaboration across different fields
of study is solicited. It requires understanding
of all stakeholders, how they will be affected
by climate change and strategic adaptive
measures open to all. Analysis of impact on
humans’ livelihoods with specific focus on
developing countries is discussed. The
interrelationship in the metamorphosis of
entomology and entomophagy in food production in
the region is proposed.
Key words:
Lake flies, termites, climate change, edible
insects, entomophagy.
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