Changes in Forest Composition, Edaphic Factors and Exploitation Pressure Between Edge and Interior Habitats in The Kimboza Forest in Morogoro Region, Tanzania
Corresponding Author(s) : David S.
Journal of Humanities & Social Science (JHSS),
##issue.vol## 5 ##issue.no## 2 (2016)
##article.abstract##
Biodiversity loss is linked to the destruction and fragmentation of tropical forest
ecosystems. This study was conducted at Kimboza forest located in Morogoro region,
Tanzania. The main goal was to compare the forest edge and interior habitats in terms
of tree species richness, stand structure, soil moisture, organic matter and
exploitation pressure. All trees with DBH ? 10cm were sampled from 6 plots of
0.04ha placed in each habitat. A total of 217 individuals from 49 tree species and 21
families were recorded in both habitats. Of the total recorded species, 37% were
common, while 22% and 41% occurred exclusively at the edge and interior,
respectively. The species richness, tree density, basal area, soil organic matter and
moisture were significantly higher in the forest interior than the edge. On the
contrary, the number of stumps per hectare was significantly higher in the edge (3.8)
than interior (1.8). The Sørensen coefficient of similarity among the two habitats was
0.54, signifying the presence of uniqueness among the habitats. In summary, the
findings suggest that the two habitats are unique and different in terms of species
composition, species richness, stand structure, soil moisture, organic matter and
anthropogenic exploitation pressure.
##submission.howToCite.downloadCitation##
##plugins.generic.citationStyleLanguage.download.ris####plugins.generic.citationStyleLanguage.download.bibtex##
- Ahrends, A. 2005. Patterns of Degradation in Lowland Coastal Forests in Coastal Region Tanzania.
- Dissertation, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University of Greifswald, Germany.
- Benitez-Malvido, J. 1998. Impact of Forest Fragmentation on Seedling Abundance in a Tropical
- Rain Forest. Conservation Biology, 12(2): 380–389.
- Caseneva, J.L., J.P. Pelotto & J. Protomastro. 1995. Edge-Interior Differences in Vegetation
- Structure and Composition in a Chaco Semi-Arid Forest, Argentina. Forest Ecology and
- Management, 72: 61–69.
- Cochrane, M.A & W.F Laurance. 2002. Fire as a Large-Scale Edge Effect in Amazonian Forests.
- Journal of Tropical Ecology, 18(3): 311–325.
- Didham, R.K. & J.H. Lawton. 1999. Edge Structure Determines the Magnitude of Changes in
- Microclimate and Vegetation Structure in Tropical Forest Fragments. Biotropica, 31(1): 17–30.
- Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO). 2003 Forests. a Life–Giving Resources. Food and
- Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Rome, Italy.
- —. 2010. Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010: Main Report FAO Paper 163. Rome, Italy.
- Fontoura, S.B., G. Ganade & J. Larocca. 2006. Changes in Plant Community Diversity and
- Composition across an Edge between Araucaria Forest and Pasture in South Brazil. Brazilian
- Journal of Botany, 29(1): 79–91.
- Gascon, C., T.E. Lovejoy., R.O. Bierregaard Jr,, J.R. Malcom., P.C. Stouffer., H.L. Vasconcelos., W.F.
- Laurance., B. Zimmerman., M. Tocher & S. Borges. 1999. Matrix Habitat and Species Richness
- in Tropical Forest Remnants. Biological Conservation, 91: 223–229.
- Jose, S., A.R. Gillespie., S.J. George & B.M. Kumar .1996. Vegetation Responses Along Edge-ToInterior Gradients in a High Altitude Tropical Forest in Peninsular India. Forest Ecology and
- Management, 87(1-3): 51–62.
- Kacholi, D.S. 2013a. Effects of Habitat Fragmentation on Biodiversity of Uluguru Mountain Forests
- in Morogoro Region, Tanzania. Phd Thesis Submitted at Georg-August University Goettingen,
- Published By Cuvillier Verlag Goettingen, Germany.
- —. 2013b. Floristic Composition, Diversity and Structure of the Kimboza Forest in Morogoro
- Region, Tanzania. Journal of Education Humanities and Sciences 2(2): 84–95.
- Kacholi, D.S., Whitbread, A.M. & Worbes, M. 2015. Diversity, Abundance, and Structure of Tree
- Communities in the Uluguru Forests in the Morogoro Region, Tanzania. Journal of Forestry
- Research, 26(3): 557–569.
- Karanth, K.K., L.M. Kurran & J.D. Reunig-Scherer. 2006. Village Size and Forest Disturbance in
- Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Ghats, India. Biological Conservation, 128(2): 147–157.
- Laurance, W.F., L.V. Ferreira, J.M. Rankin-Demerona & S.G. Laurance. 1998. Rain Forest
- Fragmentation and the Dynamics of Amazonian Tree Communities. Ecology, 79(6): 2032–2040.
- Magurran, A.N. 2004. Measuring Biological Diverisy, Blackwell Science, Melden, Germany.
- Malimbwi, R.E., D.T.K. Shemweta., E. Zahabu., S.P. Kingazi., J.Z. Katani & D.A. Silayo. 2005. Forest
- Inventory for Mvomero District, Morogoro-Tanzania. FORCONSULT Unpublished Report.
- Modest, R.B., S.L.S. Maganga, S.N. Hassan, S.B. Mariki & M. Muganda. 2010. Population Structure
- and Extraction of Three Commercial Trees in Nguru Ya Ndege Forest Reserve, MorogoroTanzania. Ethiopian Journal of Environmental Studies and Management 3(3): 41–48.
- Murcia, C. 1995. Edge Effects in Fragmented Forests: Implications for Conservations. Tree, 10(2):
- –62.
- National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). 2012. Basic Demographic and Socio-Economic Profile Report
- Tanzania Mainland. Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
- Newmark, W.D. 2001. Tanzanian Forest Edge Microclimatic Gradient: Dynamic Patterns.
- Biotropica, 11(1): 2–11.
- —. 2002. Conserving Biodiversity in East African Forests. a Study of the Eastern Arc Mountains, Springer,
- New York, NY, USA.
- Ranney, J., M. Bruner & J. Levenson. 1981. The Importance of Edge in the Structure and Dynamics
- of Forest Island. In: R. Burgess and D. Sharpe (Eds). Forest Islands Dynamics in ManDominated Landscapes. Springer, New York.
- Sagar, R., A.S. Raghubanshi & J.S. Sigh. 2003. Tree Composition, Dispersion and Diversity Along a
- Disturbance Gradient in a Dry Tropical Forest Region of India. Forest Ecology and Management,
- (1-3): 61–71.
- Saunders, D. A., R.J. Hobbs & C.R. Margules. 1991. Biological Consequences of Ecosystem
- Fragmentation: a Review. Conservation Biology, 5(1): 18–32.
- Seaby, R.M. & P.A. Henderson. 2006. Species Diversity and Richness Version 4, Pisces Conservation
- Ltd, Lymington, UK.
- Tabarelli, M., J.M.C. Silva & C. Gascon, 2004. Forest Fragmentation, Synergisms and the
- Impoverishment of Neo-Tropical Forests. Biodiversity Conservation, 13(7): 1419–1425.
- Temu, R.P.C. & S.M. Andrew. 2008. Endemism of Plants in the Uluguru Mountains, Morogoro,
- Tanzania. Forest Ecology and Management 255(7): 2858–2869.
- Turner, I.M. 1996. Species Loss in Fragments of Tropical Rain Forest: a Review of the Evidence.
- Journal of Applied Ecology, 33(2): 200–209.
- Wassie, A., F.J. Sterck & F. Bongers. 2010. Species and Structural Diversity of Church Forests in a
- Fragmented Ethiopian Highland Landscape. Journal of Vegetation Science, 21(5): 938–948.
- Williams-Linera, G. 1990. Vegetation Structure and Environmental Conditions of Forest Edges in
- Panama. Journal of Ecology, 78(2): 356–373.
- Yan, Y., Z. Zhong & J. Liu. 2007. Habitat Fragmentation Impacts on Biodiversity of Evergreen
- Broadleaved Forests in Jinyun Mountains, China. Frontiers of Biology in China, 2(1): 62–68
##journal.references##
Ahrends, A. 2005. Patterns of Degradation in Lowland Coastal Forests in Coastal Region Tanzania.
Dissertation, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University of Greifswald, Germany.
Benitez-Malvido, J. 1998. Impact of Forest Fragmentation on Seedling Abundance in a Tropical
Rain Forest. Conservation Biology, 12(2): 380–389.
Caseneva, J.L., J.P. Pelotto & J. Protomastro. 1995. Edge-Interior Differences in Vegetation
Structure and Composition in a Chaco Semi-Arid Forest, Argentina. Forest Ecology and
Management, 72: 61–69.
Cochrane, M.A & W.F Laurance. 2002. Fire as a Large-Scale Edge Effect in Amazonian Forests.
Journal of Tropical Ecology, 18(3): 311–325.
Didham, R.K. & J.H. Lawton. 1999. Edge Structure Determines the Magnitude of Changes in
Microclimate and Vegetation Structure in Tropical Forest Fragments. Biotropica, 31(1): 17–30.
Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO). 2003 Forests. a Life–Giving Resources. Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Rome, Italy.
—. 2010. Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010: Main Report FAO Paper 163. Rome, Italy.
Fontoura, S.B., G. Ganade & J. Larocca. 2006. Changes in Plant Community Diversity and
Composition across an Edge between Araucaria Forest and Pasture in South Brazil. Brazilian
Journal of Botany, 29(1): 79–91.
Gascon, C., T.E. Lovejoy., R.O. Bierregaard Jr,, J.R. Malcom., P.C. Stouffer., H.L. Vasconcelos., W.F.
Laurance., B. Zimmerman., M. Tocher & S. Borges. 1999. Matrix Habitat and Species Richness
in Tropical Forest Remnants. Biological Conservation, 91: 223–229.
Jose, S., A.R. Gillespie., S.J. George & B.M. Kumar .1996. Vegetation Responses Along Edge-ToInterior Gradients in a High Altitude Tropical Forest in Peninsular India. Forest Ecology and
Management, 87(1-3): 51–62.
Kacholi, D.S. 2013a. Effects of Habitat Fragmentation on Biodiversity of Uluguru Mountain Forests
in Morogoro Region, Tanzania. Phd Thesis Submitted at Georg-August University Goettingen,
Published By Cuvillier Verlag Goettingen, Germany.
—. 2013b. Floristic Composition, Diversity and Structure of the Kimboza Forest in Morogoro
Region, Tanzania. Journal of Education Humanities and Sciences 2(2): 84–95.
Kacholi, D.S., Whitbread, A.M. & Worbes, M. 2015. Diversity, Abundance, and Structure of Tree
Communities in the Uluguru Forests in the Morogoro Region, Tanzania. Journal of Forestry
Research, 26(3): 557–569.
Karanth, K.K., L.M. Kurran & J.D. Reunig-Scherer. 2006. Village Size and Forest Disturbance in
Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Ghats, India. Biological Conservation, 128(2): 147–157.
Laurance, W.F., L.V. Ferreira, J.M. Rankin-Demerona & S.G. Laurance. 1998. Rain Forest
Fragmentation and the Dynamics of Amazonian Tree Communities. Ecology, 79(6): 2032–2040.
Magurran, A.N. 2004. Measuring Biological Diverisy, Blackwell Science, Melden, Germany.
Malimbwi, R.E., D.T.K. Shemweta., E. Zahabu., S.P. Kingazi., J.Z. Katani & D.A. Silayo. 2005. Forest
Inventory for Mvomero District, Morogoro-Tanzania. FORCONSULT Unpublished Report.
Modest, R.B., S.L.S. Maganga, S.N. Hassan, S.B. Mariki & M. Muganda. 2010. Population Structure
and Extraction of Three Commercial Trees in Nguru Ya Ndege Forest Reserve, MorogoroTanzania. Ethiopian Journal of Environmental Studies and Management 3(3): 41–48.
Murcia, C. 1995. Edge Effects in Fragmented Forests: Implications for Conservations. Tree, 10(2):
–62.
National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). 2012. Basic Demographic and Socio-Economic Profile Report
Tanzania Mainland. Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
Newmark, W.D. 2001. Tanzanian Forest Edge Microclimatic Gradient: Dynamic Patterns.
Biotropica, 11(1): 2–11.
—. 2002. Conserving Biodiversity in East African Forests. a Study of the Eastern Arc Mountains, Springer,
New York, NY, USA.
Ranney, J., M. Bruner & J. Levenson. 1981. The Importance of Edge in the Structure and Dynamics
of Forest Island. In: R. Burgess and D. Sharpe (Eds). Forest Islands Dynamics in ManDominated Landscapes. Springer, New York.
Sagar, R., A.S. Raghubanshi & J.S. Sigh. 2003. Tree Composition, Dispersion and Diversity Along a
Disturbance Gradient in a Dry Tropical Forest Region of India. Forest Ecology and Management,
(1-3): 61–71.
Saunders, D. A., R.J. Hobbs & C.R. Margules. 1991. Biological Consequences of Ecosystem
Fragmentation: a Review. Conservation Biology, 5(1): 18–32.
Seaby, R.M. & P.A. Henderson. 2006. Species Diversity and Richness Version 4, Pisces Conservation
Ltd, Lymington, UK.
Tabarelli, M., J.M.C. Silva & C. Gascon, 2004. Forest Fragmentation, Synergisms and the
Impoverishment of Neo-Tropical Forests. Biodiversity Conservation, 13(7): 1419–1425.
Temu, R.P.C. & S.M. Andrew. 2008. Endemism of Plants in the Uluguru Mountains, Morogoro,
Tanzania. Forest Ecology and Management 255(7): 2858–2869.
Turner, I.M. 1996. Species Loss in Fragments of Tropical Rain Forest: a Review of the Evidence.
Journal of Applied Ecology, 33(2): 200–209.
Wassie, A., F.J. Sterck & F. Bongers. 2010. Species and Structural Diversity of Church Forests in a
Fragmented Ethiopian Highland Landscape. Journal of Vegetation Science, 21(5): 938–948.
Williams-Linera, G. 1990. Vegetation Structure and Environmental Conditions of Forest Edges in
Panama. Journal of Ecology, 78(2): 356–373.
Yan, Y., Z. Zhong & J. Liu. 2007. Habitat Fragmentation Impacts on Biodiversity of Evergreen
Broadleaved Forests in Jinyun Mountains, China. Frontiers of Biology in China, 2(1): 62–68