Floristic Composition, Structure, and Species Associations of Dry Miombo Woodland in Tanzania

Ezekiel Edward Mwakalukwa,Henrik Meilby,Thorsten Treue

doi:10.1155/2014/153278

Ezekiel Edward Mwakalukwa, Henrik Meilby + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/153278

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Abstract

For the majority of forest reserves in Tanzania, biodiversity is poorly documented. This study was conducted to assess species richness (woody species), diversity, and forest structure and to examine relationships between species occurrence and topographic and edaphic factors in the Gangalamtumba Village Land Forest Reserve, a dry Miombo woodland area in Tanzania. A total of 35 nested circular plots with radii of 5, 15, and 20 m were used to collect data on woody species and soil samples across the 6,065 ha community-managed forest reserve. Stumps were measured 20 cm above ground. A total of 88 species belonging to 29 families were identified. Generally forest structure parameters and diversity indices indicated the forest to be in a good condition and have high species richness and diversity. Vegetation analysis revealed four communities of which two were dominated by the family Caesalpiniaceae, indicating large variation of site conditions and possible disturbances in the study area. The high level of diversity of woody species and the high basal area and volume indicate that the forest is in good condition, but the effect of anthropogenic activities is evident and stresses the need for proper management to maintain or enhance the present species diversity.

Highlights

Miombo woodland is the most widespread and dominant dry forest formation in Eastern, Central, and Southern Africa
Including all size categories a total of 88 species (29 plant families) of standing trees and shrubs/small trees were identified in the Gangalamtumba Village Land Forest Reserve (GVLFR) (Table 1)
Similar deviations exist between the results obtained by Banda et al [26], in the Katavi-Rukwa ecosystem, where they observed that Terminalia and Combretum were the dominant genera, and the findings of Giliba et al [27] and Njana [43], who both noted the dominance of the two common miombo genera Brachystegia and Julbernardia

Summary

Introduction

Miombo woodland is the most widespread and dominant dry forest formation in Eastern, Central, and Southern Africa. It is characterized by an abundance of tree species in the legume subfamily Caesalpinoideae, including the three dominant genera of Brachystegia, Julbernardia, and Isoberlinia [1, 2]. Habitat loss due to deforestation reduces the number of species in the ecosystem and the number and extent of places where species coexist Activities such as charcoal production, firewood collection for subsistence use and for tobacco curing, conversion of woodlands to farmland, and seasonal forest fires are among the major drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in the Miombo region [13,14,15,16,17]. Syampungani et al [5, p. 151] stated that “loss of biodiversity and extinction of most of the woodland resources are imminent if the current intensive exploitation of Miombo resources continues unchecked.” FAO (2000a, cited by Syampungani et al [5]) reported that 191 tree species in the Miombo ecoregion are endangered due

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