Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-18T18:53:31.079Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Elevational and latitudinal changes in tree associations and diversity in the Eastern Arc mountains of Tanzania

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

Jon C. Lovett
Jon C. Lovett*
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Economics and Environmental Management, University of York, Heslington, York Y01 5DD, UK
*
1 Correspondence should be send to: Dr. J. Lovett, Department of Environmental Economics and Environmental Management, University of York, Heslington, York YO1 5DD, UK.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

A total of 200 variable-area plots covering 20.3 ha containing 4000 trees with a basal area of 921.4 m2 were assessed over a combined elevational range of 410–2180 m in the moist forests of three Tanzanian Eastern Arc mountains: West Usambara, Nguru and Udzungwa. Plot data were ordinated on the basis of species presence/absence, frequency and basal area. Axis 1 of ordinations based on species presence/absence are correlated with elevation. Axis 1 of the frequency-weighted ordination was correlated with elevation in the Nguru and Udzungwa mountains, but plots from the West Usambara showed a rainfall-related discontinuity. Axis 1 of the West Usambara basal area-weighted ordination showed evidence of long-term dynamics of Ocotea usambarensis and in the Udzungwa mountains was determined by presence of Parinari excclsa. Plot diversity was not correlated with elevation or latitude, but was lower in disturbed, low rainfall or more seasonal forest. Stem density was positively correlated with elevation and was greater on ridge tops than valley sides and valley bottoms.

Keywords

diversityelevational variationordinationstructuretropical forestTanzania
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 12 , Issue 5 , September 1996 , pp. 629 - 650
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

LITERATURE CITED

ABACUS CONCEPTS. 1991. Statview II. Abacus Concepts, Berkeley.Google Scholar
Backéus, I. 1982. Report on a study tour to the indigenous forests of the West Usambara Mountains, Tanzania, with special reference to regeneration. Meddelanden från Växtbiologiska Institutionen 1:1–52.Google Scholar
Boughey, A. S. 1955. The nomenclature of the vegetation zones of the mountains of Africa. Webbia 11:413–423.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chapman, J. D. & White, F. 1970. The evergreen forests of Malawi. Commonwealth Forestry Institute, University of Oxford. 190 pp.Google Scholar
Connell, J. H. & Lowman, M. D. 1989. Low-diversity tropical rain forests: some possible mechanisms for their existence. American Naturalist 134:88–119.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Friis, I. 1992. Forests and forest trees of northeast tropical Africa – their natural habitats and distribution patterns in Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia. Kew Bulletin Additional Series XV. Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. 396 pp.Google Scholar
Friis, I. 1993. Additional observations on forests and forest trees of Northeast tropical Africa (Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia). Opera Botanica 121:119–124.Google Scholar
Friis, I. & Lawesson, J. E. 1993. Altitudinal zonation in the forest tree flora of Northeast Tropical Africa. Opera Botanica 121:125–127.Google Scholar
Gentry, A. 1982. Patterns of neotropical plant species diversity. Evolutionary Biology 15:1–84.Google Scholar
Gentry, A. 1988. Changes in plant community diversity and floristic composition on environmental and geographical gradients. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 75:1–34.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gentry, A. 1989. Speciation in tropical forests. Pp. 113–134 in Holm-Nielsen, L. B., Nielsen, J. C. & Balslev, H. (eds). Tropical forests: botanical dynamics, speciation and diversity. Academic Press, London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Griffiths, C. J. 1993. The geological evolution of East Africa. Pp. 9–21 in Lovett, J. C. & Wasser, S. K. (eds). Biogeography and ecology of the rain forests of eastern Africa. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 341 pp.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Griffiths, J. F. 1972. Climate. Pp. 106–118 in Morgan, W. T. W. (ed.). East Africa: its peoples and resources. Oxford University Press, Nairobi.Google Scholar
Hall, John B. 1990. Succession in a natural forest at Mazumbai. Pp. 24–38 in Hedberg I. & Persson, E. (eds). Research for conservation of Tamzan.ian catchment forests. Proceedings from a workshop held in Morogoro, Tanzania, 13–17 03 1989. Uppsala. 176 pp.Google Scholar
Hall, John B. 1991. Multiple-nearest-tree sampling in an ecological survey of Afromontane catchment forest. Forest Ecology and Management 42:245–266.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hall, J. B. & Swaine, M. D. 1976. Classification and ecology of closed-canopy forest in Ghana. Journal of Ecology 64:913–951.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hamilton, A. C. 1975. A quantitative analysis of altitudinal zonation in Uganda forests. Vegetatio 30:99–106.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hamilton, A. C. 1989. The climate of the East Usambaras. Pp. 97–102 in Hamilton, A. C. & Bensted-Smith, R. (eds). Forest conservation in the East Usambara Mountains, Tanzania. IUCN, Gland. 392 pp.Google Scholar
Hamilton, A. C. & Macfadyen, A. 1989. Climatic change on the East Usambara. Pp. 103–108 in Hamilton, A. C. & Bensted-Smith, R. (eds). Forest conservation in the East Usambara Mountains, Tanzania. IUCN, Gland. 392 pp.Google Scholar
Hamilton, A. C., Ruffo, C. K., Mwasha, I. V., Mmari, C. & Lovett, J. C. 1989. A survey of forest types on the East Usambara using the variable-area tree plot method. Pp. 213–225 in Hamilton, A. C. & Bensted-Smith, R. (eds). Forest conservation in the East Usambara Mountains, Tanzania. IUCN, Gland. 392 pp.Google Scholar
Hedberg, O. 1951. Vegetation belts of East African mountains. Svensk Botanisk Tidskrift 45:140–202.Google Scholar
Högberg, P. 1989. Root symbioses of trees in savannas. Pp. 121–136 in Proctor, J. (ed.). Mineral nutrients in tropical forest and savanna ecosystems. Special Publication No. 9 of the British Ecological Society. Blackwell, Oxford.Google Scholar
Iversen, S. T. 1991. The Usambara mountains, NE Tanzania: phytogeography of the vascular plant flora. Symbolae Botanicae Uppsalienses 29:1–234.Google Scholar
Jensen, F. P. & Brøgger-Jensen, S. 1992. The forest avifauna of the Uzungwa Mountains, Tanzania. Scopus 15:65–83.Google Scholar
Kimariyo, P. E. 1971. Regeneration of Ocotea usambarensis Engl. at Sungwi, West Usambaras. Tanzania Silvicultural Research Note 21:1–3.Google Scholar
Kimariyo, P. E. 1972. Initial intensive and medium thinnings increase DBH growth in second growth Camphor regeneration. Tanzania Silviculture Research Note 26:1–8.Google Scholar
Latham, R. E. & Ricklefs, R. E. 1993. Global patterns of tree species richness in moist forests: energydiversity theory does not account for variation in species richness. Oikos 67:325–333.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Legendre, L. & Legendre, P. 1983. Numerical ecology. Elsevier, Amsterdam. 419 pp.Google Scholar
Legendre, P. & Vaudor, A. 1991. The R Package: multidimensional analysis, spatial analysis. Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal. 142 pp.Google Scholar
Lovett, J. C. 1990a. Classification and status of the Tanzanian forests. Mitteilungen aus dem Institut für Allgemeine Botanik in Hamburg 23A:287–300.Google Scholar
Lovett, J. C. 1990b. Altitudinal variation in large tree community associations on the West Usambara Mountains. Pp. 48–53 in Hedberg, I. & Persson, E. (eds). Research for conservation of Tanzanian catchment forests. Proceedings from a workshop held in Morogoro, Tanzania, 13–17 03 1989. Uppsala. 176 pp.Google Scholar
Lovett, J. C. 1991a. Notes on the Shume-Magamba forest of the West Usambara mountains. East Africa Natural History Society Bulletin 21:27–28.Google Scholar
Lovett, J. C. 1991b. Notes on the Baga Forest, West Usambara mountains. East Africa Natural History Society Bulletin 21:28–29.Google Scholar
Lovett, J. C. 1991c. Notes on the forests at Ambangulu and Kunga in the West Usambara mountains, Tanzania. East Africa Natural History Society Bulletin 21:29–30.Google Scholar
Lovett, J. C. 1991d. Notes on Mkussu forest, West Usambara, Tanzania. East Africa Natural History Society Bulletin 21:2.Google Scholar
Lovett, J. C. 1991e. Notes on Shagayu forest in the West Usambara mountains. East Africa Natural History Society Bulletin 21:2–3.Google Scholar
Lovett, J. C. 1993a. Temperate and tropical floras in the mountains of eastern Tanzania. Opera Botanica 121:217–227.Google Scholar
Lovett, J. C. 1993b. Climatic history and forest distribution in eastern Africa. Pp. 23–29 in Lovett, J. C. & Wasser, S. K. (eds). Biogeography and ecology of the rainforests of eastern Africa. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 341 pp.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lovett, J. C. 1993c. An ordination of large tree associations in the moist forests of the West Usambara mountains, Tanzania. Pp. 71–78 in Temu, A. B. & Malimbwi, R. E. (eds). Multi-product inventory of tropical mixed forests. Proceedings of the IUFRO Conference, Arusha, 5–9 08 1991. 125 pp.Google Scholar
Lovett, J. C. 1993d. Some local names and uses of trees and shrubs in the University Forest Reserve at Mazumbai in the West Usambara mountains, Tanzania. East Africa Natural History Society Bulletin 22:24–27.Google Scholar
Lovett, J. C. 1993e. Eastern Arc moist forest flora. Pp. 33–55 in Lovett, J. C. & Wasser, S. K. (eds). Biogeography and ecology of the rainforests of eastern Africa. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 341 pp.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lovett, J. C., Bridson, D. M. & Thomas, D. W. 1988. A preliminary list of the moist forest angiosperm flora of the Mwanihana forest reserve, Tanzania. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 75:874–888.Google Scholar
Lovett, J. C. & Friis, I. In press. Some patterns of endemism in the tropical north-east and eastern African woody flora. Proceedings of the 1994 AETAFT Congress.Google Scholar
Lovett, J. C. & Pócs, T. 1993. Assessment of the condition of the catchment forest reserves, a botanical appraisal. Catchment Forestry Report 93.3. Dar es Salaam. 300 pp.Google Scholar
Lovett, J. C. & Stuart, S. N. In press. Avifauna and vegetation of the Shume Juniperus forest of the West Usambara mountains, Tanzania. Scopus.Google Scholar
Lovett, J. C. & Thomas, D. W. 1986. The ecology of pteridophytes in the Mwanihana Forest Reserve, Tanzania. Fern Gazette 13:103–107.Google Scholar
Lovett, J. C. & Thomas, D. W. 1988. A report on a visit to the Nguru Mountains, Tanzania. East Africa Natural History Society Bulletin 18:19–22.Google Scholar
Magurran, A. E. 1988. Ecological diversity and its measurement. Croom Helm, Australia. 179 pp.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Malloch, D. W., Pirozynski, K. A. & Raven, P. H. 1980. Ecological and evolutionary significance of mycorrhizal symbioses in vascular plants (a review). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 77:2113–2118.Google ScholarPubMed
Moreau, R. E. 1935. A synecological study of Usambara, Tanganyika Territory, with particular reference to birds. Journal of Ecology 23:1–43.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moyer, D. C. & Lovett, J. C. In press. Ecology, community structure and conservation status of forest birds in the southern Udzungwa mountains, Tanzania. Scopus.Google Scholar
Mugasha, A. G. 1978. Tanzania natural forests silvicultural research: review report. Tanzania Silvicultural Technical Note (New Series) 39:1–41.Google Scholar
Mugasha, A. G. 1983. The silvicuture of Tanzania indigenous tree species. IV Cephalosphaera usambarensis. Tanzania Silviculture Technical Note (New Series) 00:58.Google Scholar
Newbery, D. McC. 1991. Floristic variation within kerangas (heath) forest: re-evaluation of data from Sarawak and Brunei. Vegetatio 96:43–86.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Newbery, D. McC., Campbell, E. J. F., Lee, Y. F., Ridsdale, C. E. & Still, M. J. 1992. Primary lowland dipterocarp forest at Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia: structure, relative abundance and family composition. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, London B 335:341–356.Google Scholar
Pianka, E. R. 1966. Latitudinal gradients in species diversity: a review of the concepts. American Naturalist 100:33–46.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pigott, C. D. 1981. Nature of seed sterility and natural regeneration of Tilia cordata near its northern limit in Finland. Annales of Botanici Fennici 18:255–263.Google Scholar
Pigott, C. D. & Huntley, J. P. 1978. Factors controlling the distribution of Tilia cordata at the northern limits of its geographical range. I. Distribution in north-west England. New Phytologist 81:429–441.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pigott, C. D. & Huntley, J. P. 1981. Factors controlling the distribution of Tilia cordata at the northern limits of its geographical range. III. Nature and causes of seed sterility. New Phytologist 87:817–839.Google Scholar
Pitt-Schenkel, C. J. W. 1938. Some important communities of warm temperate rain forest at Magamba, West Usambara, Tanganyika. Journal of Ecology 26:50–81.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pócs, T. 1976a. Bioclimatic studies in the Uluguru mountains (Tanzania, East Africa) II. Correlations between orography, climate and vegetation. Acta Botanica Academiae Scicntiarum Hungaricae 22:163–183.Google Scholar
Pócs, T. 1976b. Vegetation mapping in the Uluguru mountains (Tanzania, East Africa). Boissiera 24:477–498.Google Scholar
Pócs, T., Temu, R. P. C. & Minja, T. R. A. 1990. Survey of the natural vegetation and flora of the Nguru mountains. Pp. 135–146 in Hedberg, I. & Persson, E. (eds). Research for conservation of Tanzanian catchment forests. Uppsala Universitet, Uppsala.Google Scholar
Reid, C. M. 1991. Storm damage and deforestation in the West Usambara mountains, Tanzania: a study using GIS. Unpublished BSc Thesis, University of Aberdeen. 51 pp.Google Scholar
Rhode, K. 1992. Latitutinal gradients in species diversity: the search for the primary cause. Oikos 65:514–527.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rodgers, W. A. & Homewood, K. M. 1982a. Species richness and endemism in the Usambara mountain forests, Tanzania. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 18:197–242.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rodgers, W. A. & Homewood, K. M. 1982b. Biological values and conservation prospects for the forests and primate populations of the Uzungwa mountains, Tanzania. Biological Conservation 4:285–304.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rosenzweig, M. L. 1992. Species diversity gradients: we know more and less than we thought. Journal of Mammalogy 73:715–730.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rosenzweig, M. L. & Abramsky, Z. 1993. How are diversity and productivity related? Pp. 52–65 in Ricklefs, R. E. & Schulter, D. (eds). Species diversity in ecological communities: historical and geographical perspectives. University of Chicago Press, Chicago and London. 414 pp.Google Scholar
Scharff, N. 1990. Spiders of the family Linyphiidae from the Uzungwa mountains, Tanzania (Araneae). Entomologica Scandinavica, Supplement 36:1–95.Google Scholar
Schmidt, P. R. 1989. Early exploitation and settlement in the Usambara mountains. Pp. 75–78 in Hamilton, A. C. & Bensted-Smith, R. (eds). Forest conservation in the East Usambara mountains, Tanzania. IUCN, Gland. 392 pp.Google Scholar
Stevens, G. C. 1989. The latitudinal gradient in geographical range: how so many species coexist in the tropics. American Naturalist 133:240–256.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stevens, G. C. 1992. The elevational gradient in altitudinal range: an extension of Rapoport's latitudinal rule to altitude. American Naturalist 140:893–911.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Terborgh, J. 1973. On the notion of favorableness in plant ecology. American Naturalist 107:481–501.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Terborgh, J. 1985. The vertical component of plant species diversity in temperate and tropical forests. American Naturalist 126:760–776.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Van Der Willigen, T. A. & Lovett, J. C. 1979. Report of the 1979 Oxford expedition to Tanzania. Mimeograph. Oxford. 94 pp.Google Scholar
Van Steenis, C. G. G. J. 1984. Floristic altitudinal zones in Malesia. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 89:289–292.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wasser, S. K. 1993. The socioecology of interspecific associations among the monkeys of the Mwanihana rain forest, Tanzania: a biogeographic perspective. Pp. 267–280 in Lovett, J. C. & Wasser, S. K. (eds). Biogeography and ecology of the rainforests of eastern Africa. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 341 pp.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
White, F. 1976. The taxonomy, ecology and chorology of African Chrysobalanaceae (excluding Acioa). Bulletin des Jardins Botanique Naturelle, Belgium 46:265–350.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
White, F. 1981. The history of the Afromontane archipelago and the scientific need for its conservation. African Journal of Ecology 19:33–54.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
White, F. 1983a. The vegetation of Africa. UNESCO, Paris. 356 pp.Google Scholar
White, F. 1983b. Long-distance dispersal and the origins of the Afromontane flora. Sonderbildung Naturwissen ver. Hamburg 7:87–116.Google Scholar
Whitmore, T. C. 1984. Tropical rain forests of the Far East (2nd edition). Clarendon Press, Oxford.Google Scholar
Willan, R. L. 1965. Natural regeneration of high forest in Tanganyka. East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal 31:43–53.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wright, D. H., Currie, D. J. & Maurer, B. A. 1993. Energy supply and patterns of species richness on local and regional scales. Pp. 66–74 in Ricklefs, R. E. & Schulter, D. (eds). Species diversity in ecological communities: historical and geographical perspectives. University of Chicago Press, Chicago and London. 414 pp.Google Scholar