A Contribution to the Study of the Flora and Vegetation of Mnemba Island, Zanzibar

Diversity Pub Date : 2024-09-13 DOI:10.3390/d16090579
Alan Barrett, Lorraine Raby Bronkhorst, Leslie Brown
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Abstract

Swahili coastal forests, spanning the Kenyan and Tanzanian coastlines and the Zanzibar Archipelago, are integral to the biodiverse Eastern Arc and Coastal Forest region. These forest ecosystems face considerable anthropogenic threats. This study contributes to the available knowledge on the floral composition and plant community assemblages of Mnemba Island, a small sandy cay in the Zanzibar Archipelago, which helps to establish baseline data for conservation purposes. Two main coastal forest plant communities were identified: (1) the Casuarina cunninghamiana–Suriana maritima open to closed sandy dry coastal forest, and (2) the Eugenia capensis–Mimusops obtusifolia coastal forest. A total of 91 different plant species belonging to 54 plant families were identified for the island. Community 2, an indigenous forest, supports diverse bird breeding colonies and is a crucial habitat for the threatened Aders’ duiker. Understory development is limited due to the historical Suni antelope overpopulation. Environmental factors like salt spray, allelochemicals, herbivore browsing, and climate fluctuations influence the vegetation abundance and composition. The study underscores differences in species diversity and composition between the planted Casuarina community and the natural atoll vegetation. The natural vegetation shows affinities with the Zanzibar–Inhambane edaphic coral-rag scrub forest and the transitional rainforest. Several species characteristic of Indian Ocean atolls were identified, providing insights into invasion ecology and conservation strategies. The study contributes conceptually to our understanding of vegetation dynamics in island ecosystems by highlighting the interplay between plant communities, environmental processes, and human activities. The fragile yet resilient nature of Mnemba’s unique ecosystem is emphasised, offering insights for conservation management, long-term monitoring, and adaptive approaches tailored to island environments.
对桑给巴尔姆内巴岛植物和植被研究的贡献
斯瓦希里沿海森林横跨肯尼亚和坦桑尼亚海岸线以及桑给巴尔群岛,是生物多样性丰富的东部弧形地带和沿海森林地区的组成部分。这些森林生态系统面临着巨大的人为威胁。这项研究有助于人们了解姆内巴岛(桑给巴尔群岛的一个小沙礁)的花卉组成和植物群落组合,有助于为保护目的建立基线数据。确定了两个主要的沿海森林植物群落:(1)Casuarina cunninghamiana-Suriana maritima 开放到封闭的沙质干燥沿海森林,(2)Eugenia capensis-Mimusops obtusifolia 沿海森林。该岛共发现了隶属于 54 个植物科的 91 种不同植物。群落 2 是一片原生林,支持着多种鸟类的繁殖,也是濒危的阿德斯杜鹃鸟的重要栖息地。由于历史上苏尼羚羊数量过多,林下植物发展有限。盐雾、等位化学物质、食草动物的啃食和气候波动等环境因素影响着植被的丰度和组成。研究强调了种植的卡苏阿瑞纳群落与自然环礁植被在物种多样性和组成方面的差异。自然植被与桑给巴尔-伊尼扬巴内的珊瑚-砾石灌丛森林和过渡雨林有相似之处。研究发现了一些印度洋环礁特有的物种,为入侵生态学和保护策略提供了启示。这项研究通过强调植物群落、环境过程和人类活动之间的相互作用,从概念上加深了我们对岛屿生态系统植被动态的理解。研究强调了姆内巴岛独特生态系统的脆弱性和恢复力,为保护管理、长期监测和针对岛屿环境的适应性方法提供了启示。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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