Mulanje Mountain Research Articles

Editorial Preface

In this world of modern science and technological advancement, causes of ill health and modern epidemiology are rampant. By modern epidemiology, this refers to those conditions or diseases that are predominantly caused by exotic life styles from affluent societies to those that are not. For instance, when I was growing up in a typical rural and impoverished community in the outskirts of Mulanje mountain in the Southern region district of Malawi, to find a case of hypertension or obesity was a rare occurrence if not non-existent. Men and women, let alone children died prematurely and if by luck aged, died while the teeth were white and intact with white heads. Today, in the same area, the opposite is happening in that you would not know who lives in the rural or urban areas. Cases of obesity, hypertension and other cardiovascular accidents are not uncommon, therefore a mixed bag due to changes in the life styles.

Neurological letter from Malawi

Malawi is a country in Southern Africa (figures 1 and 2) and gained its independence from the British Colony in 1964. Currently 17.5 million people live in Malawi, and about...

Variation in seed rain from Widdringtonia whytei growing in different conditions on Mulanje Mountain in Malawi

Mulanje Mountain is one of the examples of tropical montane landscapes with plant populations varying in size from small fragments of less than 1 ha to riverine strips and stands of more than 100 ha. Seed availability is a potential limiting factor in vegetation recovery in such landscapes. Field observation on seed rain and seed limitation was conducted in 2008 and 2009 in three sizes of forest fragments at three sites on the mountain to investigate: (1) whether size of Widdringtonia whytei forest patches influences seed-rain density; (2) whether W. whytei seed rain occurs in a specific season; and (3) if seed limitation differs from within forest patches to the adjacent non-forest patch habitats. The results showed that there was a distinct difference in seed-rain density among fragments where large fragments (>20 trees) collected higher seed-rain density (10.4 ± 0.9 seeds m−2 y−1) than small fragments (1.1 ± 0.4 seeds m−2 y−1). The seed-rain density differed significantly between 2008 (2.1 ± 0.6 seeds m−2 y−1)and 2009 (6.1 ± 1.1 seeds m−2 y−1). Seed rain was recorded every month of the year but the densities were not significantly different among months. Seed-rain density was highest inside the forest fragments (12.04 ± 2.3 seeds m−2 y−1) and decreased drastically and very significantly at the edges (1.0 ± 0.8 seed m−2 y−1) and outside the forest fragments (0.11 ±0.1 seed m−2 y−1). Seed limitation was strong (0.98) on all sites; 0.95 in large fragments and 0.99 in medium and small fragments, respectively. Therefore, it can be concluded from this study that the presence and retention of more seed trees ensures the continued availability of W. whytei seed on the forest floor within the context of limited seed dispersal.

Effect of population size, tree diameter and crown position on viable seed output per cone of the tropical conifer Widdringtonia whytei in Malawi

Abstract:The tropical montane conifer tree Widdringtonia whytei is found in small fragments on Mulanje Mountain in Malawi. A study was conducted with the objectives of determining the effect of population size, tree stem diameter and crown position on the proportion of viable seeds per cone produced by W. whytei at three sites (Sombani, Chambe and Lichenya) on Mulanje Mountain. Three population sizes, namely small (fragments with ≤10 cone-bearing trees), medium (fragments with 11–20 cone-bearing trees) and large (fragments with >20 cone-bearing trees) and isolated trees were sampled at each study site. In each fragment, four cone-bearing trees were randomly located, 20 mature cones were collected from each tree and the viability of seeds was tested. Only 23% of the seeds per cone were viable but seed viability per cone was highly variable among fragments. Large fragment populations produced the highest proportion of viable seeds per cone (30%), followed by similar proportions in small fragments (28.3%) and isolated trees (26.1%), with the lowest proportions in medium-sized fragments (18.7%), indicating a non-linear relationship between viable seed output per cone and population size. Tree stem diameter and crown position had no effect on the proportion of viable seeds per cone. Further studies are needed to identify the factors that lead to the low viable seed output per cone, and how this influences whole-tree seed production in W. whytei.

<strong>British bryological society expedition to Mulanje Mountain, Malawi. 19. Metzgeriaceae and other unpublished records</strong>

Localities and habitats are provided of 6 Metzgeria species collected on Mulanje Mountain. Additional records of some other hepatic species are included; four of them, Riccardia amazonica, Riccardia longispica, Drepanolejeunea ternatensis and Drepanolejeunea vandenbeghenii, are new to Malawi.

British Bryological Society expedition to Mulanje Mountain, Malawi. 18. Cololejeunea lichenyae, a new species of Lejeuneaceae (Jungermanniopsida) from Malawi

Cololejeunea lichenyae sp. nov. is described and illustrated from the Lichenya Plateau, Mulanje Mountain, Malawi, and compared with the other known species of Cololejeunea with auriculate, heart-shaped perianths.

Saving the Island in the Sky: the plight of the Mount Mulanje cedar Widdringtonia whytei in Malawi

The Endangered Mulanje cedar Widdringtonia whytei, endemic to the Mount Mulanje massif in Malawi, has undergone a drastic decline due to increased fire incidence and illegal logging. Valued for its fine timber, attractive fragrance, and pesticide-resistant sap, the tree has been regarded as highly desirable since its discovery in the late 19th century. Because of its steep slopes and isolated high altitude plateau, Mount Mulanje is also a refuge for a number of other endemic plant species. The first assessment of the Mulanje cedar since 1994 was commissioned by the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust to ascertain the species' current extent and status. This study identified an area of 845.3 ha of Mulanje cedar, which represents a loss of 616.7 ha over the previous 15 years. Of the recorded trees 32.27% (37,242 m3) were dead cedars. Therefore, under current Department of Forestry harvest licensing, there remains in theory sufficient dead cedar to last >30 years. At this stage it is imperative that cedar nurseries are established and saplings planted out across the mountain on an annual basis, small cedar clusters are protected to facilitate regeneration, and a strict monitoring programme is followed to prevent the cutting of live cedar.

British Bryological Society Expedition to Mulanje Mountain, Malawi. 8. Lejeuneaceae: Colura (Hepaticae)

Five species of Colura are reported from Mulanje Mountain, of which four, C. ealyptrifolia (Hook.) Dum., C. digitalis (Mitten) Steph., C. hattoriana Pócs and C. tenuicornis (Evans) Steph. are new for Malawi. C. hattoriana is also reported new for mainland Africa. A key to sub-Saharan taxa is provided.

British Bryological Society Expedition to Mulanje Mountain, Malawi 7. Adelanthaceae, Porellaceae, Schistochilaceae (Hepaticae)

Two members each of the Adelanthaceae and Schistochilaceae and three of the Porellaceae are recorded from Mulanje Mountain, of which Adelanthus lindenbergianus (Lehm.) Mitt., Porella abyssinica (Nees) Trev. var. hoehnelii (Steph.) Pócs, Porella capensis (Gott.) Mitt. and P. subdentata (Mitt.) Steph. are first records for Malawi.

British Bryological Society Expedition to Mulanje Mountain, Malawi 6. Hypopterygiaceae (Musci)

Three taxa from the Hypopterygiaceae are recognized for Africa, of which two are recorded from Mulanje Mountain, Malawi (Lopidium struthiopteris and Hypopterygium laricinum). A key is provided to all three taxa occurring in Africa, together with descriptions, distribution information and ecological requirements.

British Bryological Society Expedition to Mulanje Mountain, Malawi 5. Neckeraceae (Musci)

Seven members of the Neckeraceae are recorded from Mulanje Mountain, Malawi, of which four, Homaliodendron piniforme (Brid.) Enroth, Neckera remota Bruch & Schimp. ex C. Müll., Pinnatella minuta (Mitt.) Broth. and Porothamnium variifolioides De Sloover, are first records for Malawi. Porotrichum dentatum Gepp is reinstated as a species distinct from P. madagassum Kiaer ex Besch. and P. molliculum Broth. is synonymised with P. usagarum Mitt. A key is provided to Malawian taxa of the family.

British Bryological Society Expedition to Mulanje Mountain, Malawi 1. Background, itinerary and procedures

In June 1991 a nine-man British Bryological Society Expedition collected bryophytes and made ecological observations in many parts of Mulanje Mountain, Malawi. Mulanje Mountain is an isolated member of the Afro-montane archepelago where the rich and distinctive ecosystem is under threat from a range of human activities. Over 4500 specimens were collected and it is clear that they will add many species to the known bryophyte flora of Malawi, as well as providing phytogeographical and ecological data and indicating priority sites for conservation. The present paper, the first in a series reporting the work of the Expedition, describes the objectives, itinerary, logistic arrangements and collecting procedures.

British Bryological Society Expedition to Mulanje Mountain, Malawi 2. Checklist of Malawi bryophytes

A checklist of all bryophytes identified from Malawi at May 1991 is presented, with synonyms and references. The list is derived from literature and unpublished collections, and contains 197 mosses and 106 hepatics. The checklist was produced to provide a basis for describing plants new to Malawi, particularly for the British Bryological Society Expedition to Mulanje Mountain, Malawi in 1991. Distribution information is included, and the species accounts include published references and collection numbers where known. All information is held on a computer database.

Determination of the origin of Widdringtonianodiflora on Zomba Mountain in Malawi by the aid of allozymes

Five enzymes (α-esterase, β-esterase, glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, malate dehydrogenase, and 6-phosphogluconic dehydrogenase) were scored in diploid tissue for 14 loci to determine the probable origin of the seed used to establish the plantation of Widdringtonianodiflora (L.) Powrie on Zomba Mountain, Malawi. Samples were drawn from the Zomba plantation and from Chambe and Thuchila natural forests on Mulanje Mountain. There were departures from Hardy–Weinberg expectations at most loci, which is a result of a deficiency in heterozygotes. Both the unweighted pair group method and single linkage clustering using genetic distances showed that the Zomba Mountain plantation seed source is more closely related to the Chambe population than to the Thuchila population.

Biogeography of Montane Small Mammals in Malawi, Central Africa

Small mammals were surveyed in montane forests and grasslands on Zomba Plateau, Nyika Plateau and Mulanje Mountain in Malawi. Nine species were recorded, all confined in Malawi to montane habitats. Community densities varied from 20/ha on Nyika Plateau to 29/ha on Zomba Plateau. Five or six species were livetrapped in each region, but only four species (Lophuromys flavopunctatus Thomas, Mus triton (Thomas), Thamnomys sp. and Praomys delectorum (Thomas)) occurred in all regions. Each species has a different habitat preference. Tests of similarity between these small mammal faunas showed that each region was different but with considerable similarity between them. There was little difference between similar habitats within a region. Each species has had a different evoluti9nary history and pattern of dispersal, and the present mixture of species is a result of these differences and the past changes in climate and vegetation. The present species composition may be explained by the continuous presence of a forest-grassland mosaic which must have shown altitudinal change in response to changing climates in the past.

Conservation of plants on Mulanje Mountain Malawi

Mulanje massif in Malawi rises steeply from the surrounding plain, a landmark for miles around. An endemic cycad grows on its slopes and the plateau grassland is rich in endemic plants, including everlasting flowers and a heath. The mountain is also the stronghold of the Mulanje cedar, which Malawi has just declared as its national tree. The author, who prepared a report for the Malawi Government on cedar resources on Mulanje, found that the Forestry Department's fire control programme is effective, and that attention now needs to be given to the threat from alien plant invasion.

Kniphofia monticola (Liliaceae), a new species from Malawi

Kniphofia monticola Blackmore sp. nov., from Mulanje Mountain in Malawi is described. This new species is most closely related to K. splendida E. A. Bruce, a widely distributed species in tropical and southern Africa.