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12 - Altitudinal zonation and diversity patterns in the forests of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

from Part II - Regional floristic and animal diversity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 May 2011

By
A. Hemp
Edited by
L. A. Bruijnzeel ,
F. N. Scatena  and
L. S. Hamilton
A. Hemp
Affiliation:
University of Bayreuth, Germany
L. A. Bruijnzeel
Affiliation:
Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam
F. N. Scatena
Affiliation:
University of Pennsylvania
L. S. Hamilton
Affiliation:
Cornell University, New York
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Summary

ABSTRACT

Based on an analysis of 600 vegetation plots using the method of Braun-Blanquet (1964) the altitudinal distribution of trees, shrubs, epiphytes, lianas, and herbs along transects spanning an elevation difference of 2400 m was studied in the montane (cloud) forest belt on the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Using the unidimensionally constraint clustering technique, significant discontinuities were observed to occur in parallel in the respective strata. Over 1200 species representing about half of the vascular flora on Mt. Kilimanjaro were found in the studied plots, making the forest belt the most important habitat with respect to plant diversity on the mountain. Species numbers for the different forest strata (except for epiphytes) peaked at two altitudes. The gap between the two diversity peaks can be explained by the long-lasting influence of humans on Kilimanjaro`s landscape. Beside anthropogenic influence, precipitation (especially in the case of epiphytes), minimum temperature (in particular the occurrence of frost) and the variety of habitats were identified as key factors underlying the observed diversity patterns.

INTRODUCTION

Changes in floristic composition on high tropical mountains are well documented, notably for trees and selected taxa. Altitude (or factors related to altitude, such as temperature and precipitation) is by far the biggest determinant of diversity (e.g. Hamilton et al., 1989; Gentry, 1995; Vázquez and Givnish, 1998). However, it is still a matter of debate whether altitudinal changes are continuous (e.g. Lieberman et al., 1996; Vázquez and Givnish, 1998) or rather more discontinuous (e.g. Kitayama, 1992; Friis and Lawesson, 1993; Hemp, 2002; cf. Bach, 2004).

Type
Chapter
Information
Tropical Montane Cloud Forests
Science for Conservation and Management
 , pp. 134 - 141
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2011

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