An investigation on the effects of edaphic and anthropogenic factors on woody plant species distribution in pande game reserve, Dar es Salaam region
Loading...
Date
2004
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
The relationship between environmental variables and woody plant species distribution in Pande Game reserve was studied using multivariate gradient analysis. Vegetation data were collected in 20 established releves using the stratified random sampling method. For each releve established environmental data on edaphic factors and anthropogenic disturbances were also collected. The plant species were classified using a FORTRAN computer program TWINSPAN and detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) in which three major plant communities were identified. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) revealed significant relationship between environmental factors and the distribution of woody plant species in which, phosphorus (p < 0.015). disturbance (p < 0.01). clay (p< 0.035), and soil moisture (p < 0.01) were the most significant factors at the respective levels. The Shannon - Weaver species diversity index was used to find the mean a- diversity of the woody plant species in the three communities identified. The Moderately disturbed community had the highest mean a-diversity (1.5007 ± 0.1272). followed by the undisturbed community (1.4787±0.241) and the highly disturbed community had the lowest mean value (0.7282 ± 0.4230). The Turkey - Kramer Multiple Comparison test showed that, there were significant differences in a-diversity between the highly disturbed forest community and the moderately disturbed forest community (p < 0.05). Furthermore, there was a very significant difference in a-diversity between the undisturbed forest and the highly disturbed forest (p < 0.01). But there was no significant difference between the a- diversity indices of the undisturbed community and the moderately disturbed community despite the fact that the index of the moderately disturbed community was slightly higher. Thus, moderate anthropogenic disturbances increased species diversity in the study area but severe disturbance decreased the species diversity of the woody plants that constitute typical forest vegetation.
Description
Available in print form, East Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, Class mark (THS EAF QK325.Y6)
Keywords
Distribution, Investigation
Citation
Yohana, L (2004) An investigation on the effects of edaphic and anthropogenic factors on woody plant species distribution in pande game reserve, Dar es Salaam region, Master dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam. Dar es Salaam.