Interpreting Resource Gradients and Patches for the Conservation of Woody Plant Diversity at Mt. Kasigau, Kenya

Medley, Kimberly E.; Mwandoe, Zaphania; Mwamodo, Moses; Zungi, Juma; Mwatate, Danson; Njege, Nashon

doi:10.17348/era.8.0.49-60

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…The elevation of the surrounding plains ranges from 480–700 m a.s.l. ( Medley and Kalibo 2005 ; Medley et al 2010 ), from which there are steep rises within short distances forming a series of ridges peaking at 2228 m a.s.l. on Vuria summit ( Beentje 1988 ; Thijis et al 2013 ).…”

Section: Materials and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Taita Hills, Eastern Arc Mountain

Watuma¹,

Kipkoech²,

Melly³

et al. 2022

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Taita Hills forests are an ecological island within the Tsavo plains and are the northern-most part of the Eastern Arc Mountains in southeast Kenya. They are highly fragmented forests embedded in a mosaic of human settlements and farms on the slopes and hilltops. Despite their intensive degradation, they exhibit a high degree of plant diversity and endemism, and therefore are regarded as a biodiversity hotspot. In spite of their distinct importance to the biodiversity of the region as well as supporting the livelihoods of the surrounding communities, floristic studies in these hills have been finite. Through repetitive floral expeditions, herbarium records from the East African Herbarium (EA), Global Biodiversity Information (GBIF), and the Integrated Digitized Biocollections (iDigbio) databases, as well as plant lists from literature and monographs, we provide a comprehensive checklist of 1594 taxa representing 159 families, 709 genera, 1530 species, 39 subspecies, 27 varieties, and 2 hybrids. Out of these, 75 are endemic or near-endemic, 59 are exotic, and 83 are listed as either endangered or near endangered as evaluated in the IUCN Redlist. Zehneria tuberifera G.W.Hu & Q.F.Wang, a new species to science, which has previously been described, was also discovered from the Ngangao forest fragment. Information on the habit(s), habitat(s), and altitudinal range of each taxon is provided in this study. This checklist is an updated inventory of the vascular plants of the Taita Hills. It confirms the high plant diversity of the hills and provides a clear baseline for strategic conservation and sustainable management of plant resources and diversity under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

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Section: Materials and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Taita Hills, Eastern Arc Mountain

Watuma¹,

Kipkoech²,

Melly³

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Matheka (2011-2012), J. Muasya (2005-2007), and F.N. Gachathi (2002-2004 Mean species richness for the sample plots equaled 9.4 and ranged from as low as two species, with Dobera glabra and Manilkara mochisia as dominants for one low-elevation bushland plot in black cotton soil at 520 m, and 22 for a mid-elevation mixed evergreen-deciduous forest along the dry river channel (Siriri) above Kiteghe village at 957 m. Highest species richness for woody plants >10 cm dbh occurred between evergreen forest above 1000 m and the deciduous bushland below 650 m (figure 3), a trend also shown for all woody plant resources >1 m in height in a corresponding ethnobotanical study (Medley et al, 2010).…”

Section: Aterials and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 76%

Biogeographic Patterns of Forest Diversity at Mount Kasigau, Kenya

Medley

Maingi

2015

Journal of East African Natural History

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Conservation of Woody Plant Diversity in Kenya

Medley

Maingi

Mutiti

2017

Sustainable Development and Biodiversity

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Interpreting Resource Gradients and Patches for the Conservation of Woody Plant Diversity at Mt. Kasigau, Kenya

Cited by 5 publications

References 33 publications

An annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Taita Hills, Eastern Arc Mountain

An annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Taita Hills, Eastern Arc Mountain

Biogeographic Patterns of Forest Diversity at Mount Kasigau, Kenya

Conservation of Woody Plant Diversity in Kenya

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Interpreting Resource Gradients and Patches for the Conservation of Woody Plant Diversity at Mt. Kasigau, Kenya

Cited by 5 publications

References 33 publications

﻿An annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Taita Hills, Eastern Arc Mountain

﻿An annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Taita Hills, Eastern Arc Mountain

Biogeographic Patterns of Forest Diversity at Mount Kasigau, Kenya

Conservation of Woody Plant Diversity in Kenya

Contact Info

Product

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An annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Taita Hills, Eastern Arc Mountain

An annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Taita Hills, Eastern Arc Mountain