Floristic classification of the vegetation in small wetlands of Kenya and Tanzania

Álvarez, Miguel; Becker, M.; Böhme, Beate; Handa, Collins; Josko, Matthias; Kamiri, Hellen; Langensiepen, Matthias; Menz, Gunter; Misana, Salome; Mogha, Neema; Möseler, Bodo Maria; Mwita, Emiliana; Oyieke, H; Sakané, Nomé

doi:10.7809/b-e.00060

Cited by 14 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…The data were compiled in a vegetation‐plot database (updated version from Alvarez et al. ) with the ID AF‐00‐006 in the Global Index of Vegetation‐Plot Databases (Dengler et al. ), formatted with the TURBOVEG software (Hennekens & Schaminée ), and accessed using the R package vegtables (Alvarez ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Expanding Kenya's protected areas under the Convention on Biological Diversity to maximize coverage of plant diversity

Scherer

Curran

Álvarez

2016

Conservation Biology

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Biodiversity is highly valuable and critically threatened by anthropogenic degradation of the natural environment. In response, governments have pledged enhanced protected-area coverage, which requires scarce biological data to identify conservation priorities. To assist this effort, we mapped conservation priorities in Kenya based on maximizing alpha (species richness) and beta diversity (species turnover) of plant communities while minimizing economic costs. We used plant-cover percentages from vegetation surveys of over 2000 plots to build separate models for each type of diversity. Opportunity and management costs were based on literature data and interviews with conservation organizations. Species richness was predicted to be highest in a belt from Lake Turkana through Mount Kenya and in a belt parallel to the coast, and species turnover was predicted to be highest in western Kenya and along the coast. Our results suggest the expanding reserve network should focus on the coast and northeastern provinces of Kenya, where new biological surveys would also fill biological data gaps. Meeting the Convention on Biological Diversity target of 17% terrestrial coverage by 2020 would increase representation of Kenya's plant communities by 75%. However, this would require about 50 times more funds than Kenya has received thus far from the Global Environment Facility.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Expanding Kenya's protected areas under the Convention on Biological Diversity to maximize coverage of plant diversity

Scherer

Curran

Álvarez

2016

Conservation Biology

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“…Wetland plants recorded in the Lily Wetlands have been recorded in other small wetlands of Kenya and Tanzania (Alvarez et al 2012), as well as other studies conducted to draw comparisons between artificial and natural wetlands in other parts of the world (Efitre et al 2001;Lundkvist et al 2002;Ruhi et al 2012). For instance, four true wetland plants species recorded, including the submergent (Potamogeton spp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

Ecological, recreational and educational potential of a small artificial wetland in an urban environment

Gitau

Ndiritu

Gichuki

2019

African Journal of Aquatic Science

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Pertinent questions remain on whether small, artificial wetlands, such as abandoned quarries play any ecological or socioeconomic role in the environment. To increase information on roles played by small-sized artificial wetlands in the environment, an assessment study was carried out in the Lily Wetland, an abandoned flooded quarry in Karura forest in Nairobi City, Kenya. This study was guided by the idea that artificial wetlands can develop over time to acquire ecological characteristics similar to those of natural wetlands. Ecological information was collected on water physico-chemical characteristics, vegetation, birds and macroinvertebrates, whereas questionnaires were administered to assess recreational and educational values of the Lily Wetland. Inspection of Google Earth maps showed that the pond has not dried in the past fifteen years, with its area remaining relatively constant between dry (0.29 ± 0.03 ha) and wet (0.36 ± 0.06 ha) seasons. Water quality of the wetland was good: pH of 7.5-7.8; dissolved oxygen = 8.73 ± 0.43 mg l −1 ; and clarity (Secchi disk reading) = 24.00 ± 0.43 cm. The biological component included 12 wetland plant species, 11 aquatic macroinvertebrate taxa, four species of wetland birds, and viable populations of fish and frogs. An assessment of the recreational and educational importance of the Lily Wetland, based on 34 respondents showed that 24 of the respondents visited Karura forest for recreational purposes, whereas 10 were there for educational purposes. Further analyses between the different benefits showed that the value of the forest, walking trails and wetland were significantly ranked important, when compared with the value placed on playing in fields and visiting the restaurants. Specifically, the Lily Wetland was regarded as important, because of its scenery, nature and recreational attributes. This study concluded that the Lily Wetland and other small wetlands in the urban environments have potential for recreational and educational use as in situ laboratories and demonstration centers, where benefits of conserving urban biodiversity can be communicated.

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“…In naming syntaxa, we followed the informal approach of Alvarez et al (2012), i.e. the naming of the syntaxa always includes the name of the most diagnostic species and the species with the highest cover.…”

Section: Plant Community Types and Diagnostic Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant communities, diversity and endemism of the Kula Volcano, Manisa, Turkey

̧Ik-Gürsoy

Uğurlu

Oldeland

2015

Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all As

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Volcanoes often harbour specialized plant communities and shelter endemic plant species. Kula Volcano is one of 14 volcanoes in Turkey. Although this volcano is clearly a landmark of the Aegean region, only few botanical studies analysed the vegetation pattern at the Kula Volcano. None performed a phytosociological classification to delimit different plant communities. We applied a stratified random sampling design according to altitude and aspect and sampled 112 vegetation plots. We classified plant community types using a modified TWINSPAN analysis followed by the determination of diagnostic species based on f coefficient fidelity values. Floristic relationships between plant community types were interpreted by ordination and ANOSIM analyses. Further, we used partial correlations of the ordination axes and environmental parameters in order to identify relationships between vegetation zonation and environment. We identified five major plant community types based on 85 diagnostic species. These plant community types were significantly correlated with altitude and aspect. Further, 13 endemic plant species were found from which one was endangered and one was classified as vulnerable according to International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

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Floristic classification of the vegetation in small wetlands of Kenya and Tanzania

Cited by 14 publications

References 39 publications

Expanding Kenya's protected areas under the Convention on Biological Diversity to maximize coverage of plant diversity

Expanding Kenya's protected areas under the Convention on Biological Diversity to maximize coverage of plant diversity

Ecological, recreational and educational potential of a small artificial wetland in an urban environment

Plant communities, diversity and endemism of the Kula Volcano, Manisa, Turkey

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