A Comparative Study of Plant Species Composition of Grasslands in Saiwa Swamp National Park and Kakamega Forest, Kenya
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Date
2010
Authors
Akwee, P.E.
Palapala, V.A.
Gweyi, Joseph Onyango
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Abstract
Kakamega forest is a tropical rain forest ecosystem while Saiwa Swamp National Park (SSNP) is a riverine
ecosystem. A study was conducted to determine plant species diversity of the grasslands in both the ecosystems with emphasis
on herbs and grass species, and the structure of the ecotones. The objective of study was to compare the plant species richness
of these two ecosystems with an aim of proposing some conservation strategies. Species diversity was determined using inverse
Simpson Index. The sampling sites were determined using stratified random sampling. The random quadrats (1x1M), line
intercept, and nested quadrat sampling methods were used to collect data from the clear grassland. A 5x5M sampling plot was
used to collect data from the bushed-grassland community of both ecosystems. All plants species present were identified and
recorded. The density, frequency, foliage cover, importance value indices and relative values were calculated. Temperature and
relative humidity were determined. Results clearly show that Kakamega forest grassland community had the highest species
diversity of 0.9 and an abrupt ecotone compared to Saiwa National Park of species diversity of 0.8 and a blending ecotones
These results confirmed that, there is great variation in species diversity in both ecosystems and discontinuity of ecotones due
to influence of environmental conditions.
Description
Available at www.mmust.ac.ke/index2.php?option=com...task...
Keywords
Swamp National Park, Forest Grasslands, Plant Species, Diversity. Ecotones
Citation
J Biodiversity, 1(2): 77-83 (2010)