The Riparian Vegetation Diversity along the Mulunguzi River in Zomba Mountain, Zomba, Malawi

Abstract

ABSTRACT The riparian vegetation composition, structure and diversity along Mulunguzi River have been least studied in Zomba Mountain, Zomba District, Malawi. The study aimed to investigate riparian plant communities along the Mulunguzi River, with much focus on variations of species composition and diversity on the river�s courses. The relationships between elevation change and the distribution of woody species richness and diversity was also considered. The study targeted natural riparian vegetation that occured in study plots on river courses from an elevation range of 900�1800m asl.The nested plot method was used to sample vegetation in the riparian zone with quadrat dimensions of 20m x 20m, 5m x 5m and 1m x 1m for trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants, respectively.A total of 151 species belonging to 99 genera and 24 families were recorded in this study. The most diverse family was Fabaceae (23 species) followed by Asteraceae (22 species) and Poaceae (20 species). Herbaceous life forms dominated all riparian vegetation with 44.4% portion, this was followed by trees at 32.5% and shrubs at 17.9%. The species richness and diversity were discovered to be different on the courses and were decreasing when moving downstream. Three plant communities of the Koeleria�Loudetia�Setaria , Parinari�Vernonia�Newtonia and Syzygium�Parinari�Vernonia were discovered. The Parinari�Vernonia�Newtonia and Syzygium�Parinari�Vernonia communities were closely related as their species overlapped with each other in their study plots. The distribution of woody species richness and diversity were related to elevation gradient change with a negatively correlated relationship. These relationships resulted in a monotonic decrease pattern of woody species distribution when elevation increases. An elevation gradient change had a significant role in determining species distribution apart from the hydrology of the river on riparian vegetation.?????????????????? ????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? 900�1800 ??????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? 20 ?. x 20 ?., 5 ?. x 5 ?. ??? 1 ?. x 1 ?. ???????????? ??????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????? 151 ????????????? 99 ??????? 24 ???? ????????????????????????????????? ???????? (Fabaceae) ??????? 23 ???? ????????? ???????????? (Asteraceae) ??????? 22 ???? ??? ???????? (Poaceae) ??????? 20 ???? ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? 44.4% ??????????? 32.5% ??????????????? 17.9% ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????? ?????? Koeleria�Loudetia�Setaria, Parinari�Venonia�Newtonia ??? Syzygium�Parinari�Venonia ???????????????? , Parinari�Venonia�Newtonia ??? Syzygium�Parinari�Venonia ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????