ISSN 2756-3367
Research Article
African Journal of Ecology and Ecosystems ISSN 9428-167X Vol. 2 (6), pp. 159-169, August, 2015. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Floristic composition of herbaceous flowering plant species in Lalay and Tahtay Michew Districts, Central Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia
Mrs. Genet Atsbeha,1 Prof. Sebsebe Demissew2, Prof. Zerihun Woldu3 and Mrs. Sue Edwards4
1Adama Science and Technology University, E-mail: [email protected]
2Addis Ababa University, E-mail: [email protected]
3Addis Ababa University, E-mail: [email protected]
4Institute for sustainable development, Addis Ababa. E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 10 August, 2015
Abstract
This study was carried out in Lalay and Tahtay Maichew districts, Central Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia. The main objectives of the study were to: identify herbaceous flowering plant species found in the study area and to identify community types of the vegetation of the study area. Within 65 sample quadrats, different herbaceous species were collected for taxonomic identification using preferential sampling method and coded for an analysis from 1m x 1m sub-quadrats placed within 20m x 20m quadrat. A total of 132 herbaceous flowering plant species of vascular plants belonging to 99 genera and 34 families were identified. With regards to species number, the most dominant plant family is Poaceae (34 species), followed by Asteraceae (16 species), Fabaceae (14 species). Four community types were also identified at 47.94% to 31.42% similarity levels.
Key words: Floristic composition, taxonomic identification, community types, herbaceous plant species, Lalay and Tahtay Maichew districts.
Genet Atsbeha, Sebsebe Demissew, Zerihun Woldu and Sue Edwards
Page: 159 - 169
Research Article
African Journal of Ecology and Ecosystems Vol. 2 (4) pp. 146-150, April, 2015. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Biological reclamation of the Lu'an mining territory in China: An incorporated model
Bingbing Wen Ziyi
Department of Ecology, Faculty of Biological science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Email: [email protected]
Accepted 13 March, 2015
Abstract
Variances in the natural-environmental and artificial factors of the mining industry and of mining production were analyzed to achieve scientifically the ecological restoration of the Lu’an mining land system. The eco-environmental pressure of the evaluation index system was established. Each unit of land system was exposed to a different eco-environmental pressure, which resulted in differences in land eco-function performance. The land system can be categorized into the productive, protective, consumptive, and mixed land types based on eco-environmental performance. The Lu’an mining area was divided into four regions, namely, the uncultivated land consumptive zone (23.33 km2, 4.09%), the wetland and mining subsidence protective zone (109.23 km2, 19.16%), the flatland productive zone (373.89 km2, 65.57%), and the artificial mixed zone (63.76 km2, 11.18%), and a total of eleven eco-function types. The regions’ area ratios were 6.50, 19.16, 8.77, and 65.57%, respectively. Productive and consumptive land was oversized, whereas mixed and protective land was very small, indicating an undesirable land use system. Based on the analysis, an integrated model involving 19 models (e.g, shrub and grassland rehabilitation, steep slope protection, ecological village building model, etc.) was proposed for the development of the local eco-environment based on the eco-function type of mining land.
Key words: Mining area, ecological division, eco-function type, eco-environmental pressure, China.
Bingbing Wen Ziyi
Page: 146 - 150
Research Article
Full Length Research Paper
Biology of Andaman Sea: past, present and future
Anushka Dixit Mukerji
Department of Ecology, Faculty of Biological science, Andhra Pradesh Open University, Hyderabad, India.
Email: [email protected]
Accepted 04 March, 2015
Abstract
The marine resources are a major source of food, a reservoir of minerals, major suppliers of oxygen, regulator of climate and also an ultimate dumping ground for the mounting burden of human waste material. Due to unchecked anthropogenic activity in recent years, the physico-chemical and biological status of the marine environments have changed significantly, which in turn resulted in the changing environmental scenario of the world. The Bay of Bengal, of which Andaman sea is a part, is one of the largest Bay in the world known to receive large flow of sediments from several rivers and other water bodies from India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Indonesia etc., Many of these rivers bring along with them, a large quantity of effluents from cities / towns located on either side of these rivers, thus making the Bay nutrient rich. This Bay also plays a major role in determining the climatic conditions of India and other South East Asian countries. Thus its ecology is of paramount interest. Apart from the above, the Bay is also known for its oligotrophic nature as well as low productivity, thus resulting in high diversity of flora and fauna. In addition to the above, the marine zooplankton species, known to act as bioindicators, indicates the quality of water / environment. The ecological status of the Bay has a direct bearing on the lifescape of the Bay, and therefore, a study was undertaken to understand the ecological status of the Bay and to understand the marine bio-indicators, that will throw light on the status of abiotic factors of the Bay. Based on the observations, the study recommends certain appropriate measures to be taken to conserve the ecology of one of the largest Bay in the world.
Key words: Ecology, Andaman Sea, zooplankton.
Anushka Dixit Mukerji
Page: 143 - 145
Research Article
African Journal of Ecology and Ecosystems Vol. 2 (4) pp. 128-142, April, 2015. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Environmental behavior and biogeography of endemic types of the class Piper L. in Africa: An instance of the Guineo-Congolean area
*Ephraim Yang, E. V sadou and Mafany Inoni
Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 01 March, 2015
Abstract
The aim of this study was to establish the ecology and the distribution patterns of the endemics Piper L. in the Guineo-Congolean region including the Lower Guinea, the Higher Guinea, the Congo Basin and the Mosaic of Lake Victoria. The distribution stretches from Senegal to Tanzania. Piper capensis and Piper guineense are both represented in Lower Guinea and Congo Basin; these phytochoria are eco-regions of endemism in Africa. P. guineense, hemi-epiphyte liana, appears mostly in fragmented vegetations. Its distribution is extended up to 1,500 m. P. capensis is mostly abundant between 1,000 to 2,500 m where homogeneous populations are often made in the gaps. Members of P. capensis are dwarves at the level of the understory and rarely attain 1 m in height; however, those from gaps are often between 2 to 3 m. The variation in the height of individuals is closely related to light; a phytosociological study has shown an abundance of herbs within the population of P. capensis. The dwarfism of the individuals in the understory is assigned to an adaptation character of the species. This dwarfism is a consequence of its plagiotropic branches that is beneficial for photosynthesis. The “ late turning green” of leaves save the individuals of the understory from leaf predators; in the gap where the sunlight boosts the process of photosynthesis, certain individuals establish “opportunist” symbiosis with ants. The flowering is related to the humid periods of the year. Fruits are mostly abundant during the dry season.
Key words: Adaptation, distribution, Guineo-Congolean region, Piper, symbiosis.
E. V sadou and Mafany Inoni, *Ephraim Yang
Page: 128 - 142
Research Article
African Journal of Ecology and Ecosystems Vol. 2 (3) pp. 123 -127, March, 2015. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Group association, biological dispersion and differing qualities of trees and Shrubs in Selected ranges of Branwar Forest of Kashmir Himalaya
Moham E. Raman
Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India.
Email: [email protected]
Accepted 26 February, 2015
Abstract
Periodic studies were conducted in four selected sites of Branwar foresfiet area of Kashmir Himalaya in the year 2010 to 2011 for assessing ecological distribution and diversity of trees and shrubs. The Plant Community Organizational features, ecological distribution and diversity of different study sites in the Branwar Forest during 2010 to 2011 are markedly variable with regard to the life-forms namely, trees and shrubs. A total of five tree species belonging to four families were recorded at the different study sites. Near village (NS) site (I) had five species and riparian forest (RS) site (II) had three tree species, while dam forest (DS) site (III) and protected forest (PS) site (IV) had two species each. Among the trees Abies pindrow and Pinus wallichiana were present at all the study sites. The shrub species present at the study sites ranged from 03 for protected forest (PS) site and 06 for near village (NS) site. The number of shrub species present at near village (NS) site was 06, at riparian forest (RS) site, 05 species were present; while, at dam forest (DS) site and protected forest (PS) site, 04 and 03 species of shrubs were present, respectively. Among the shrub species Indigofera heterantha was present at all the study sites. In the present study, low tree species diversity index was found at the unprotected sites of near village site and riparian site compared to the protected sites of dam forest site and protected forest site. With increasing disturbance in the forests the plant species diversity, richness and evenness are significantly reduced. The increase in shrub diversity and evenness at near village (NS) site and riparian forest (RS) site may be due to less competition and availability of more space due to less vegetation.
Key Words: Richness, Species Diversity, community, Habitat, dispersal, Vegetation
Moham E. Raman
Page: 123 - 127
Review
African Journal of Ecology and Ecosystems Vol. 2 (3) pp. 118-122, March, 2015. © International Scholars Journals
Review
Standardizing ecological risks for 'open needs': Destruction of Forest for drinking water supply in Kerala, India
Mohammed Singh Fasiadab
Department of Ecology, Faculty of Life science, Andhra Pradesh Open University, Hyderabad, India.
Email: [email protected]
Accepted 14 February, 2015
Abstract
Natural resource exploitation is increasingly being considered as a technical issue with the assumption that it can be compensated for. The public concern shifts towards such destruction only when it affects the normal course of day to day life. Immediate needs often undermine the process of institutionalizing knowledge to ensure conservation of natural resources. The question of immediate needs often acts as the determining factor in decision making. This paper is focused on such an environmentally-legal issue in ensuring water availability through the destruction of rain forest. This paper discusses this issue in detail and raises the question of failure of institutionalizing knowledge.
Key words: Sustainability, institutionalizing disasters, beneficiary group, neo-liberalism.
Mohammed Singh Fasiadab
Page: 118 - 122