%0 Journal Article
%T Glade and Forest-Edge Plant Community Attributes for Three Glade Types in Arusha National Park, Tanzania
%A Ladislaus W. Kahana
%A Gerard Malan
%A Teresa J. Sylvina
%J American Journal of Plant Sciences
%P 457-472
%@ 2158-2750
%D 2022
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/ajps.2022.134029
%X The aim of the study was to compare glade and
forest-glade edge plant community attributes for man-made, upper and lower
natural glades. Two plots were set up in twelve glades at 2.5, 12.5 m and three
plots in thirteen glades at 2.5, 12.5 and 22.5 m depending on the size of the
glade. The results showed that plants total abundance, percentage basal cover,
species richness and species diversity for upper and lower natural glades
differed significantly p < 0.05 and p < 0.01 respectively and species
diversity for man-made glades p < 0.001. Plant species abundance, richness
and diversity were highest at the forest-glade edge and decreased towards the
glade interior. Plant species composition of the three glades types differed
significantly (MRPP: T = <span style=\"font-family:;\" \"=\"\">-</span><span style=\"font-family:;\" \"=\"\">4.51, p
&lt; 0.001 and A = 0.17). Grasses¡¯ total abundance and species richness and
forbs species diversity differed significantly for man-made glades p &lt; 0.01.
For upper natural glades, grasses species richness was highly significant p
&lt; 0.001 while for forbs species richness and diversity were significant P &lt;
0.01. Lower natural glades grasses and forbs¡¯ total abundance, species richness
and species diversity differed significantly p &lt; 0.01 and p &lt; 0.001
respectively. Growth forms in the lower natural glades were associated with the
forest-glade edge or glade interior </span><i><span style=\"font-family:;\" \"=\"\">¦Ö</span></i><sup><span style=\"font-family:;\" \"=\"\">2</span></sup><span style=\"font-family:;\" \"=\"\"> = 15.95, df = 4, p &lt; 0.01. Five species (<i>Eleusine</i> <i>jaegeri</i>, <i>Heterogon</i> <i>contortus</i>, <i>Senna</i> <i>mimisoides</i>, <i>Digitaria</i> <i>scalarum</i>, <i>Clutia</i> <i>abyssinica</i>) were habitat indicators for disturbed areas, wet humid
grey/black clay soils for upper natural glades and three (<i>Solanum</i> <i>incanum</i>, <i>Senna</i> <i>didymobotrya</i>, and <i>Pennistem</i> <i>mezianum</i>, were indicators of
overgrazed areas and black clay soils for man-made glades. In conclusion,<b> </b>plant
species abundance, richness and diversity were highest at the forest-glade edge
and decreased towards the glade interior, while plant species composition
differed significantly between the three-glade types. The plant growth form for
lower natural glades was associated with forest-glade edge and glade interior.</span>
%K Forest Glade-Edge
%K Glade Interior
%K Plant Indicator Species
%K Plant Species Diversity
%K Plant Species Richness
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=116594