Abundance and Structure of African Baobab (Adansonia digitata) across Different Soil Types in Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe
| Autor: | Edson Gandiwa, Clayton Mashapa, Patience Zisadza-Gandiwa, Shakkie Kativu |
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| Rok vydání: | 2013 |
| Předmět: |
education.field_of_study
Article Subject lcsh:QH1-199.5 biology Ecology National park Population Forestry Soil classification lcsh:General. Including nature conservation geographical distribution PE&RC biology.organism_classification complex mixtures Substrate (marine biology) Belt transect Geography Abundance (ecology) Wildlife Ecology and Conservation lcsh:QH540-549.5 Life Science lcsh:Ecology Adansonia digitata education Environmental gradient |
| Zdroj: | International Journal of Biodiversity, Vol 2013 (2013) International Journal of Biodiversity 2013 (2013) International Journal of Biodiversity, 2013 |
| ISSN: | 2314-4157 2314-4149 |
| DOI: | 10.1155/2013/874713 |
| Popis: | This study investigated the abundance and structure of African baobab (Adansonia digitata) across soil group strata in Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe. The study was based on a stratified random sampling design composed of the following soil group substrates: (i) granophyres, (ii) malvernia, and (iii) rhyolite. Belt transects of 0.3×0.1 km were randomly laid across soil group. Baobab abundance and population structure were determined from the density and size class distribution, respectively. There were significant differences in plant height and plant density across Gonarezhou soil groups. Study sites on granophyres derived soil group indicated viable abundance and recruitment of baobab population. Whereas the study highlighted a concern over the unbalanced size structure distribution of baobab population on malvernia derived soil group, our results indicated that baobabs are in danger of extirpation on malvernia derived soil group. Baobab community in Gonarezhou tends to occur more densely along environmental gradient of soil group type as influenced by the underlying geological soil substrate of granophyres. Malvernia derived soil group is likely less ideal for baobab recruitment. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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