The aftermath of environmental disturbance on the critically endangered Coffea kihansiensis in the Southern Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania
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Date
2011-01-01
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Sagepub.com
Abstract
The endemic Coffea kihansiensis was monitored in the Kihansi gorge over a three year period following diversion of the Kihansi River underground for hydropower production and its associated catastrophic effect on the gorge biota. We assessed the growth status of the coffee population by measuring, along an altitudinal gradient, the height and diameter of 450 randomly selected coffee stems in 18 sampling plots covering ca 1800 m2. We also collected microclimatic data to compare with that collected prior to river diversion. Coffee infestation by parasites was examined by recording the number of stems with signs of infestation. There was no significant change in size of Coffea kihansiensis during the study period. However, the size for immature plants differed between the two sites; LWF and UCF. Parasite infestation differed between reproductive age classes and was greater at lower elevation (800 – 850 m a.s.l …
Description
Tropical Conservation Science, 2011; 4 (3):359-372,
Keywords
Coffea kihansiensis, Population status, Conservation threats, Udzungwa mountains
Citation
Rija, A. A., Mwamende, K. A. and Hassan, S. N.. The aftermath of environmental disturbance on the 2011. critically endangered Coffea kihansiensis in the Southern Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania. Tropical Conservation Science Vol. 4(3):359-372. Available online: www.tropicalconservationscience.org