Browsing by Author "Ndimubenya, Mathias"

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    The status of mangrove forests in selected areas along the Bagamoyo coast within the context of climate change
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2016) Ndimubenya, Mathias
    This study aimed to assess the current states of mangrove forests in selected areas along the Bagamoyo coastline in contests to climate change. Three major mangrove stands were selected including the Kiharaka, Kondo and Kaole mangrove stands. Eight mangrove species were found in both Kondo and Kaole mangrove stands which are Sonneratia alba, Avicennia marina, Ceriops tagal, Rhizophora mucronata, Xylocarpus granatum, Herritiera littoralis, Lumnitzera racemosa and Bruguiera gvmnorrhiza while only five mangrove species were found at Kiharaka mangrove stand which are Avicennia marina, Ceriops tagal, Rhizophora mucronata, Xylocarpus granatum and Lumnitzera racemosa. Forest cover and structure was determined by measuring the heights and diameter (DBH) of mature trees, saplings and seedlings. Average heights of different species in different mangrove stands were statistically analyzed (by using one — way ANOVA) to justify the difference in height, the results show the value of height in these three mangrove stands do not differ. Mangrove vegetation characteristics were assessed using two important indices namely; complex index (CI) and importance value index (IVI). Based on the analysis of IVI of mangrove vegetation, results showed that the composition of vegetation in the three observed locations has high homogeneity, but it has low level heterogeneity. Mangrove zonation in Kondo and Kaole mangrove stands is very clear but is unclear within the Kiharaka mangrove stand. The study also discovered that the human encroachment has been the primary cause of mangrove loss in study areas compared to the effect of climate change.