Forest Health Monitoring (FHM) provides a standardized detection-level survey of forest and tree characteristics for large forested areas. We have adopted FHM methods from this temperate-based program to tropical forests in the Eastern Arc Mountains (EAM) of Kenya and Tanzania. This paper reports the first assessment of trend data in the EAM over a period from 2001 to 2006. Growth and diversity statistics are presented for 11 forest plots in Ngangao Forest; only six (of 45) species constitute the predominance (68%) of basal area growth. Four endemic trees were tallied in our survey: Dasylepis integra, Leptonychia usambarensis, Macaranga conglomerata, and Polyscias stuhlmannii. We contrast diversity statistics with the nearby Chawia Forest and confirm the basic principal of species area relationships. Additionally, we examine visual crown assessments and tree damages. Tree crowns appeared healthy overall, although one species (Albizia gummifera) displayed increased dieback and foliage transparency and decreased crown density. Tree damages increased slightly over the survey period with stem decays constituting the most prominent symptom. Overall, we found no significant change in this first remeasurement of forest conditions at Ngangao Forest. The results reported here, however, may require more intense inspection of conditions. The Forest Health Monitoring approach constitutes a detection-level survey; it is dependent on follow-up by local experts to determine more precise causality where initial problems are found.

We describe a new species of Myosorex from Nyika National Park, northern Malawi. Myosorex gnoskei (the Nyika burrowing shrew) represents the first record of the genus from the country. Recently collected between pine plantations and adjacent to the headquarters of a major national park, this new species of shrew highlights the need for further comprehensive sampling of habitats, even those thought to be ‘well-known’ and adjacent to human disturbance. The specimen was taken at an elevation of 2285 m., suggesting a relict montane distribution. In cranial dimensions, this new species of shrew rivals Myosorex kihaulei, and ranks second only to Myosorex schalleri as the smallest described member of the genus. This new record also fills in a major gap in the distribution of the genus in the regions of the Albertine and Malawi Rifts. There are no published records in the region between 3°05′S (just north of Lake Tanganyika) and 14°30′S (south of Lake Malawi). This void includes the countries of Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Democratic Republic of Congo (SE), Tanzania (W), and Zimbabwe (N).

The African violet, Saintpaulia teitensis (Gesneriaceae), is an Eastern Arc global biodiversity hotspot endemic. Forest fragments on the Taita Hills in south-eastern Kenya hold the only known wild populations of this plant. The pollination ecology of S. teitensis was investigated through direct observation. S. teitensis flowers show enantiostyly which may promote xenogamy. Pollinators of this endangered plant species were found to be exclusively wild bee species of the genus Amegilla (Apoidea: Aprocrita: Apidae). Four different species of Amegilla were recorded visiting S. teitensis. Observations of bee floral visitors showed distinctive floral manipulation (buzz pollination) for release of pollen by pollinating bees. Amegilla spp. visiting S. teitensis were observed to feed from other forest-floor plant species (Acanthaceae and Lamiaceae) and on crops in adjacent small-scale mixed agriculture farms. Future conservation and management of this endangered plant needs to take into account the needs and biology of its pollinators.

Ten new Metarbelidae are described. Photographs of the adults, illustrations of their wing venation and genitalia, as well as information on the floristic composition of their habitats, are presented. They are classified as endemics to various centres or subcentres of endemism. Lebedodes johni spec. nov. (potential Kenyan endemic), Metarbela shimonii spec. nov. and Salagena charlottae spec. nov. are from Arabuko-Sokoke, Kaya Muhaka and Gogoni Forest (Kenyan Coast). Salagena quentinlukei spec. nov., Ortharbela sommerlattei spec. nov. (potential East Usambara endemic), Paralebedella estherae spec. nov., Lebedodes willihaberlandi spec. nov. (potential Udzungwa endemic), Metarbela abdulrahmani spec. nov. and Metarbela chidzingai spec. nov. are from the Taita Hills (Kenya), the East Usambaras, the Uluguru and the Udzungwas (Tanzania). The genus Paralebedella is newly recorded for Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania; P. estherae spec. nov. and Lymantria leucerythra (Lymantriidae) show a disjunct distribution between the coastal forests/Eastern Arc Mountains and Mabira Forest (Uganda) indicating that both areas were probably once connected. Salagena bennybytebieri spec. nov. occurs in Ngong and Ololua “dry transitional montane forests” (Kenya). Related are submontane, montane and upper montane Salagena from Nyika National Park (Malawi), Ruwenzori Range (Uganda) and the East Usambaras (Tanzania). Closest related to S. quentinlukei spec. nov. is Salagena meyi from the Brandberg (Namibia). The author found that the Metarbelidae comprise at least 200 species in the Afrotropical Region. They are usually rare but a typical element of the African fauna. The local high diversity and endemism might be an indicator of long-term ecological stable conditions, dating back to the sudden appearance of numerous woody legumes ca. 25 myr BP

From December 2003 through May 2004, a survey was conducted on patas monkeys Erythrocebus patas in Kenya to determine the historic distribution, current distribution, conservation status, and threats. Patas were found in Laikipia District, Busia, West-Pokot, Turkana, Makueni and Taita Taveta Districts. Historically, patas were present in west, northwest, central and south Kenya. The geographic range of patas in Kenya has declined from ca. 88 800 km² to roughly 48 200 km² and the gaps among populations has increased. The current geographic range is ca. 54% of the known historic range, or ca. 8% of Kenya's land surface area. All survey sites have their unique patas conservation challenges. Patas are occasionally killed as a consequence of crop raiding and for consumption. Water shortage is a threat to the survival of patas at some sites in Kenya. Habitat loss and degradation (due to human activities or wildlife) are the primary conservation problems for patas at all sites. This study and its recommendations should be taken as a basis for patas conservation action in Kenya.

Englerina collinsii sp. nov., a striking dark red flowered hemiparasite is described from two rocky inselbergs and the intervening plains in central/south Kenya, in and around the northern end of the Tsavo East National Park. Its conservation status is provisionally assessed as Near Threatened.

Surveys of the Kenya lesser galago (or bushbaby) Galago senegalensis braccatus on Mpala Ranch near the Mpala Research Centre, Kenya, were conducted in June and July 1995. Data were collected along two transects. Galago s. braccatus reached its highest density in Fever Tree Acacia xanthophloea riverine woodland and was found primarily at a height of 4–6 m above the ground, followed by 14–16 m. Within A. xanthophloea, G. s. braccatus was closely associated with trees having dense liana tangles. We suggest that lianas provide G. s. braccatus with protection both while sleeping during the day and while foraging at night.