Population structure and regeneration status of woody species in a remnant tropical forest: A case study of South Nandi forest, Kenya
The study was conducted to investigate the population structure and regeneration status of South Nandi forest and document uses of trees using 35 nested - plots of size 600 m2 (30 m × 20 m) each. A total of 68 species from 37 families and 60 genera of woody plants were encountered in the study area....
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2020-03-01
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| Series: | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989419303282 |
| _version_ | 1819020761956876288 |
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| author | James Odhiambo Maua Harrison MugatsiaTsingalia Joshua Cheboiwo David Odee |
| author_facet | James Odhiambo Maua Harrison MugatsiaTsingalia Joshua Cheboiwo David Odee |
| author_sort | James Odhiambo Maua |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The study was conducted to investigate the population structure and regeneration status of South Nandi forest and document uses of trees using 35 nested - plots of size 600 m2 (30 m × 20 m) each. A total of 68 species from 37 families and 60 genera of woody plants were encountered in the study area. The plants were categorized into seedlings, saplings and adults based on DBH classes then status of natural regeneration category determined. A Shannon-Weinner index mean value of 2.64 was obtained suggesting high species diversity in South Nandi forest. About 16.2% of woody species in the forest showed none to poor regeneration; good to fair regeneration (36.6%) and new regeneration of 47.2%.The population structure of the woody species showed an inverse-J curve when all species were considered. However, individual species showed varying patterns; for example, Olea capensis, Albizia gummifera, Maesopsis eminii and Mimulopsis arborenscens did not show the inverse -J curve. The density and basal area for whole forest was 537.3 ± 74.8 stems ha−1 and 26.8 ± 12.0 m2ha-1 respectively. Solanum mauritianum has become invasive in the forest and quick action is required to check its spread. Species with low Importance Value indices and those species with none to poor regeneration status should be prioritized for conservation. Over 78% of the plant species had multiple uses suggesting that this forest played an important role in the household's subsistence and income contribution. Detailed regeneration studies are recommended to fully understand the causes and probable mechanisms that could promote natural regeneration. Keywords: Basal area, Conservation, Density, Population structure, Regeneration status, Tropical forest |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T03:56:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cbc6e483325845aaa71f1963b42b1397 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2351-9894 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T03:56:21Z |
| publishDate | 2020-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| spelling | doaj.art-cbc6e483325845aaa71f1963b42b13972022-12-21T19:16:49ZengElsevierGlobal Ecology and Conservation2351-98942020-03-0121Population structure and regeneration status of woody species in a remnant tropical forest: A case study of South Nandi forest, KenyaJames Odhiambo Maua0Harrison MugatsiaTsingalia1Joshua Cheboiwo2David Odee3Moi University, School of Biological and Physical Sciences, P.O. Box 3900-30100, Eldoret, Kenya; Kenya Forestry Research Institute, P.O. Box 20412-00200, Nairobi, Kenya; Corresponding author. Moi University, School of Biological and Physical Sciences, P.O. Box 3900-30100, Eldoret, Kenya.Biological Sciences, Bondo, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Box 210, Kisumu, 40601, Bondo, KenyaKenya Forestry Research Institute, P.O. Box 20412-00200, Nairobi, KenyaKenya Forestry Research Institute, P.O. Box 20412-00200, Nairobi, KenyaThe study was conducted to investigate the population structure and regeneration status of South Nandi forest and document uses of trees using 35 nested - plots of size 600 m2 (30 m × 20 m) each. A total of 68 species from 37 families and 60 genera of woody plants were encountered in the study area. The plants were categorized into seedlings, saplings and adults based on DBH classes then status of natural regeneration category determined. A Shannon-Weinner index mean value of 2.64 was obtained suggesting high species diversity in South Nandi forest. About 16.2% of woody species in the forest showed none to poor regeneration; good to fair regeneration (36.6%) and new regeneration of 47.2%.The population structure of the woody species showed an inverse-J curve when all species were considered. However, individual species showed varying patterns; for example, Olea capensis, Albizia gummifera, Maesopsis eminii and Mimulopsis arborenscens did not show the inverse -J curve. The density and basal area for whole forest was 537.3 ± 74.8 stems ha−1 and 26.8 ± 12.0 m2ha-1 respectively. Solanum mauritianum has become invasive in the forest and quick action is required to check its spread. Species with low Importance Value indices and those species with none to poor regeneration status should be prioritized for conservation. Over 78% of the plant species had multiple uses suggesting that this forest played an important role in the household's subsistence and income contribution. Detailed regeneration studies are recommended to fully understand the causes and probable mechanisms that could promote natural regeneration. Keywords: Basal area, Conservation, Density, Population structure, Regeneration status, Tropical foresthttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989419303282 |
| spellingShingle | James Odhiambo Maua Harrison MugatsiaTsingalia Joshua Cheboiwo David Odee Population structure and regeneration status of woody species in a remnant tropical forest: A case study of South Nandi forest, Kenya Global Ecology and Conservation |
| title | Population structure and regeneration status of woody species in a remnant tropical forest: A case study of South Nandi forest, Kenya |
| title_full | Population structure and regeneration status of woody species in a remnant tropical forest: A case study of South Nandi forest, Kenya |
| title_fullStr | Population structure and regeneration status of woody species in a remnant tropical forest: A case study of South Nandi forest, Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | Population structure and regeneration status of woody species in a remnant tropical forest: A case study of South Nandi forest, Kenya |
| title_short | Population structure and regeneration status of woody species in a remnant tropical forest: A case study of South Nandi forest, Kenya |
| title_sort | population structure and regeneration status of woody species in a remnant tropical forest a case study of south nandi forest kenya |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989419303282 |
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