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Tree Species Diversity and Dominance in Gelai Forest Reserve, Tanzania

Received: 25 May 2014    Accepted: 9 June 2014    Published: 20 June 2014
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Abstract

Tree species diversity and dominance of Gelai Forest Reserve, an isolated montane forest located in an arid area of Northern Tanzania remains unknown. A systematic grid of 390 m x 780 m between 100 plots of 0.02 ha, along nine transects was used during the forest survey. The tree species present, location, diameter above breast height (dbh) and botanical names were recorded including regenerants of tree species and key shrub species. These parameters were then used to determine species diversity index, dominance index, number of tree species regenerants, number of stems per ha and tree basal area per ha. A total of 39 tree species were recorded. The tree species with the highest importance values were Nuxia conjesta (70.7), Olea europaea (44.4) and Crotalaria stulhmanii (40.4). The Simpson index value ranged between 0.0 and 0.034; with Crotalaria stulhmanii having the highest (0.034) index. The tree species diversity index ranged between 0.016 and 0.313. Forest stocking was 377 stems per ha while species basal area ranged between 0.098 m2 and 439 m2 per ha, with Nuxia congesta occupying the highest (439.07 m2 per ha) area and Acacia rovumae the lowest (0.098 m2 per ha), respectively. Seventy nine regenerants were recorded on 9% of the plots. Shrubs, herbs and grasses were found on 55% of the plots mainly without trees dominated by Vernonia galamensis, Leonatis leonorus, Ocimum suave and Solonum incanum. In conclusion, the forest has high tree species diversity which is a good stand characteristic of a natural forest. This survey established a baseline for future monitoring of the forest performance after mitigation of human activities.

Published in Journal of Energy and Natural Resources (Volume 3, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.jenr.20140303.12
Page(s) 31-37
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Baseline, Diversity, Dominance, Gelai Forest, Regenerants, Shrubs, Tanzania, Transects

References
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  • APA Style

    Noah Sitati, Nathan Gichohi, Philip Lenaiyasa, Peter Millanga, Michael Maina, et al. (2014). Tree Species Diversity and Dominance in Gelai Forest Reserve, Tanzania. Journal of Energy and Natural Resources, 3(3), 31-37. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20140303.12

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    ACS Style

    Noah Sitati; Nathan Gichohi; Philip Lenaiyasa; Peter Millanga; Michael Maina, et al. Tree Species Diversity and Dominance in Gelai Forest Reserve, Tanzania. J. Energy Nat. Resour. 2014, 3(3), 31-37. doi: 10.11648/j.jenr.20140303.12

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    AMA Style

    Noah Sitati, Nathan Gichohi, Philip Lenaiyasa, Peter Millanga, Michael Maina, et al. Tree Species Diversity and Dominance in Gelai Forest Reserve, Tanzania. J Energy Nat Resour. 2014;3(3):31-37. doi: 10.11648/j.jenr.20140303.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.jenr.20140303.12,
      author = {Noah Sitati and Nathan Gichohi and Philip Lenaiyasa and Peter Millanga and Michael Maina and Fiesta Warinwa and Philip Muruthi},
      title = {Tree Species Diversity and Dominance in Gelai Forest Reserve, Tanzania},
      journal = {Journal of Energy and Natural Resources},
      volume = {3},
      number = {3},
      pages = {31-37},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jenr.20140303.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20140303.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jenr.20140303.12},
      abstract = {Tree species diversity and dominance of Gelai Forest Reserve, an isolated montane forest located in an arid area of Northern Tanzania remains unknown. A systematic grid of 390 m x 780 m between 100 plots of 0.02 ha, along nine transects was used during the forest survey. The tree species present, location, diameter above breast height (dbh) and botanical names were recorded including regenerants of tree species and key shrub species. These parameters were then used to determine species diversity index, dominance index, number of tree species regenerants, number of stems per ha and tree basal area per ha. A total of 39 tree species were recorded. The tree species with the highest importance values were Nuxia conjesta (70.7), Olea europaea (44.4) and Crotalaria stulhmanii (40.4). The Simpson index value ranged between 0.0 and 0.034; with Crotalaria stulhmanii having the highest (0.034) index. The tree species diversity index ranged between 0.016 and 0.313. Forest stocking was 377 stems per ha while species basal area ranged between 0.098 m2 and 439 m2 per ha, with Nuxia congesta occupying the highest (439.07 m2 per ha) area and Acacia rovumae the lowest (0.098 m2 per ha), respectively. Seventy nine regenerants were recorded on 9% of the plots. Shrubs, herbs and grasses were found on 55% of the plots mainly without trees dominated by Vernonia galamensis, Leonatis leonorus, Ocimum suave and Solonum incanum. In conclusion, the forest has high tree species diversity which is a good stand characteristic of a natural forest. This survey established a baseline for future monitoring of the forest performance after mitigation of human activities.},
     year = {2014}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Tree Species Diversity and Dominance in Gelai Forest Reserve, Tanzania
    AU  - Noah Sitati
    AU  - Nathan Gichohi
    AU  - Philip Lenaiyasa
    AU  - Peter Millanga
    AU  - Michael Maina
    AU  - Fiesta Warinwa
    AU  - Philip Muruthi
    Y1  - 2014/06/20
    PY  - 2014
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20140303.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.jenr.20140303.12
    T2  - Journal of Energy and Natural Resources
    JF  - Journal of Energy and Natural Resources
    JO  - Journal of Energy and Natural Resources
    SP  - 31
    EP  - 37
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-7404
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20140303.12
    AB  - Tree species diversity and dominance of Gelai Forest Reserve, an isolated montane forest located in an arid area of Northern Tanzania remains unknown. A systematic grid of 390 m x 780 m between 100 plots of 0.02 ha, along nine transects was used during the forest survey. The tree species present, location, diameter above breast height (dbh) and botanical names were recorded including regenerants of tree species and key shrub species. These parameters were then used to determine species diversity index, dominance index, number of tree species regenerants, number of stems per ha and tree basal area per ha. A total of 39 tree species were recorded. The tree species with the highest importance values were Nuxia conjesta (70.7), Olea europaea (44.4) and Crotalaria stulhmanii (40.4). The Simpson index value ranged between 0.0 and 0.034; with Crotalaria stulhmanii having the highest (0.034) index. The tree species diversity index ranged between 0.016 and 0.313. Forest stocking was 377 stems per ha while species basal area ranged between 0.098 m2 and 439 m2 per ha, with Nuxia congesta occupying the highest (439.07 m2 per ha) area and Acacia rovumae the lowest (0.098 m2 per ha), respectively. Seventy nine regenerants were recorded on 9% of the plots. Shrubs, herbs and grasses were found on 55% of the plots mainly without trees dominated by Vernonia galamensis, Leonatis leonorus, Ocimum suave and Solonum incanum. In conclusion, the forest has high tree species diversity which is a good stand characteristic of a natural forest. This survey established a baseline for future monitoring of the forest performance after mitigation of human activities.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • African Wildlife Foundation, P.O Box 20 00207, Namanga, Kenya

  • African Wildlife Foundation, P.O Box 20 00207, Namanga, Kenya

  • African Wildlife Foundation, P.O Box 20 00207, Namanga, Kenya

  • African Wildlife Foundation, P.O Box 20 00207, Namanga, Kenya

  • African Wildlife Foundation, P.O Box 20 00207, Namanga, Kenya

  • African Wildlife Foundation, P.O Box 20 00207, Namanga, Kenya

  • African Wildlife Foundation, P.O Box 20 00207, Namanga, Kenya

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