Compositional gradients of plant communities in submontane rainforest of Eastern Tanzania

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dc.contributor.authorWentworth, T
dc.contributor.authorMunishi, P. K. T.
dc.contributor.authorShear, T. H.
dc.contributor.authorTemu, R. A. P. C.
dc.date.accessioned2022-05-19T12:34:05Z
dc.date.available2022-05-19T12:34:05Z
dc.date.issued2007-01
dc.description.abstractThis study classified plant communities and examined the environmental correlates of community compositions in two submontane rainforests on the ranges of Eastern Arc Mountains, Tanzania. Using agglomerative cluster analysis, indicator species analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMS) ordination, based on importance value of tree species, five distinct plant communities were identified in the Usambara and six in the Uluguru mountains. The communities corresponded closely to variations in topography and soil physical and chemical properties. The different communities occurred on clay soils in lower elevations and on sandy-clay to sandy-clay-loam soils in higher elevations. Two topographic and 14 edaphic factors were significant correlates of plant community composition. Elevation was the strongest correlate of community composition on individual mountain range followed by percent clay and soil pH. Landform index and soil Na concentration were the major factors in separating plant communities on the west Usambara and Uluguru Mountains. There were appreciable variations in plant community compositions and patterns on the two mountain ranges. The results suggest that plant community patterns in the Eastern Arc Mountains vary from one range to another and are influenced by a complex of local heterogeneity in topographic and edaphic factors. The complex of factors influencing plant distribution can have a big bearing in species restoration and biodiversity conservation in the Eastern Arc Mountains.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/4184
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherResearchGateen_US
dc.subjectCluster analysisen_US
dc.subjectEastern Arc Mountainsen_US
dc.subjectWest Usambaraen_US
dc.subjectNorth Uluguruen_US
dc.subjectOrdinationen_US
dc.subjectBiodiversityen_US
dc.subjectNon-metricen_US
dc.subjectMultidimensional scalingen_US
dc.subjectSpecies associationen_US
dc.titleCompositional gradients of plant communities in submontane rainforest of Eastern Tanzaniaen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
dc.urlhttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/228658162en_US

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