Utilizing Pied Crows (Corvus albus) as Bioindicators to Monitor Environmental Health and Promote Biodiversity Conservation in Rubengera Sector, Karongi District, Rwanda

Abstract

This study was carried out in Rwanda's Karongi District's Rubengera Sector. The region is growing quickly due to the tea processing industry, agriculture, and urbanization—all of which have the potential to contaminate the environment and endanger human health. This study evaluated the effectiveness of Pied crows (Corvus albus) as bioindicators to monitor environmental contamination and direct biodiversity conservation efforts. To comply with ethical standards and promote the safety of the Corvus albus, the researcher collected feathers that had fallen off the birds from the roosting location. At the same time, soil samples were taken from the marsh region where the birds were seen feeding and the dumping site. The water sample was taken from the stream between TTC Rubengera and Kibande Village, which runs through the marsh. Using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS), the amount of heavy metals in each sample was measured quantitatively. The procedures of ISO 5667 and ISO 17294 were adhered to for water analysis in order to guarantee precision and consistency of findings. According to the theory, Corvus albus will have higher levels of heavy metals in its tissues in regions with more anthropogenic activity, which would imply environmental deterioration. The findings revealed that all samples had significant levels of heavy metals. The greatest levels of chromium (0.070 mg/kg) and cadmium (0.005 mg/kg) were detected in the feathers, suggesting bioaccumulation. Additionally, the soil from the dumping site had high amounts of Pb (0.011 mg/kg) and Cr (0.056 mg/kg), indicating that it was probably among the sources of contamination. The results validate that Pied Crows are useful bioindicators of environmental health and reflect the pollutant load in their habitat. It is recommended that environmental authorities adopt bird-based bioindicator monitoring systems, prioritize the control of dumping sites, and introduce safer waste management practices to minimize the release of toxic metals.