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    Threshold change in forest understory vegetation as a result of selective fuelwood extraction in Nairobi, Kenya

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    Date
    2011
    Author
    Takuya, Furukawaa
    Kazue, Fujiwarab
    Samuel, Kiboic
    Chalo, Mutiso PB
    Type
    Article
    Language
    en
    Metadata
    Show full item record

    Abstract
    We examined whether heavy fuelwood collection can cause threshold change in understory forest community and evaluated how selective wood extraction might lead to delayed forest recovery in an urban forest of Nairobi, Kenya. Piecewise regression which represents strongest support for threshold change provided the best fit for the relationships between understory floristic composition (i.e. DCA axis 1) and human disturbance gradients (i.e. canopy cover, and distance from the slum), where threshold changes were detected at c.a. 350 m from the slum and c.a. 30% canopy cover. Only one tree species significantly indicated communities beyond the threshold while an aggressive invasive alien plant (IAP) Lantana camara was strongly represented. Total species diversity along the two human disturbance gradients peaked before the threshold was reached, suggesting that decline in species diversity along the prevailing disturbance gradient might be able to forecast threshold change. Tree species richness in the understory rapidly declined as the threshold was surpassed while other growth forms (i.e. shrubs, herbs and climbers) were relatively unaffected. The effect of selective tree cutting was indirectly impacting the forest understory as species richness pattern of preferred and non-preferred species paralleled that of trees and shrubs, respectively. Thickets of L. camara can negatively affect indigenous flora and its establishment was favored under selective fuelwood extraction removing certain tree species while leaving the IAP untouched. Shading can readily eliminate the IAP, but weak tree regeneration beyond the threshold suggested forest recovery might be delayed for longer than expected because of the interaction between selective fuelwood use and the IAP
    URI
    http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112711003173
    http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/35119
    Citation
    Volume 262, Issue 6, 15 September 2011, Pages 962–969
    Publisher
    College of Physical and Biological Sciences
    Collections
    • Faculty of Science & Technology (FST) [4284]

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