Conservation status of newly discovered subpopulations of two globally threatened tree species in the East Usambara Mountains, Tanzania
Two globally threatened tree species, the Critically Endangered Cola porphyrantha (Malvaceae) and the Endangered Gigasiphon macrosiphon (Fabaceae) are narrowly distributed in Kenya and Tanzania. In Tanzania, both species were first located in an isolated, unprotected forest fragment in the East Usam...
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Cambridge University Press
2024-09-01
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| author | Henry J. Ndangalasi Norbert J. Cordeiro |
| author_facet | Henry J. Ndangalasi Norbert J. Cordeiro |
| author_sort | Henry J. Ndangalasi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Two globally threatened tree species, the Critically Endangered Cola porphyrantha (Malvaceae) and the Endangered Gigasiphon macrosiphon (Fabaceae) are narrowly distributed in Kenya and Tanzania. In Tanzania, both species were first located in an isolated, unprotected forest fragment in the East Usambara Mountains in the early 2000s. As no assessment of these subpopulations had been made since then, we surveyed the forest fragment as well as nearby unprotected forest fragments. In contrast to the early 2000s when only five and two mature trees of C. porphyrantha and G. macrosiphon, respectively, were located, we found 18 and five mature trees of these species. We did not find either species in intensive surveys of seven neighbouring unprotected forest fragments but we located a single G. macrosiphon beside a river close to one of the unprotected fragments. Gigasiphon macrosiphon was also previously known from two sites in Amani Nature Reserve in the East Usambara Mountains, but recent surveys, including our own, failed to relocate these subpopulations. Because of heavy anthropogenic disturbance in the one site where the two species still occur and their general absence from adjacent forest, we are working with the local community to protect the isolated fragment. Additionally, in situ planting of locally grown seedlings of both species is being supported by Amani Nature Reserve. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-84244c3be5754519919c8e5d092ad4c9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0030-6053 1365-3008 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-09-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
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| series | Oryx |
| spelling | doaj-art-84244c3be5754519919c8e5d092ad4c92025-01-16T21:50:48ZengCambridge University PressOryx0030-60531365-30082024-09-015861161710.1017/S0030605324000462Conservation status of newly discovered subpopulations of two globally threatened tree species in the East Usambara Mountains, TanzaniaHenry J. Ndangalasi0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3738-6405Norbert J. Cordeiro1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2807-0636Department of Botany, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania IUCN Species Survival Commission Eastern Africa Plant Red List AuthorityDepartment of Biology, Roosevelt University, Chicago, Illinois, USA Negaunee Integrative Research Science & Education, The Field Museum, Chicago, Illinois, USA Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa IUCN Species Survival CommissionTwo globally threatened tree species, the Critically Endangered Cola porphyrantha (Malvaceae) and the Endangered Gigasiphon macrosiphon (Fabaceae) are narrowly distributed in Kenya and Tanzania. In Tanzania, both species were first located in an isolated, unprotected forest fragment in the East Usambara Mountains in the early 2000s. As no assessment of these subpopulations had been made since then, we surveyed the forest fragment as well as nearby unprotected forest fragments. In contrast to the early 2000s when only five and two mature trees of C. porphyrantha and G. macrosiphon, respectively, were located, we found 18 and five mature trees of these species. We did not find either species in intensive surveys of seven neighbouring unprotected forest fragments but we located a single G. macrosiphon beside a river close to one of the unprotected fragments. Gigasiphon macrosiphon was also previously known from two sites in Amani Nature Reserve in the East Usambara Mountains, but recent surveys, including our own, failed to relocate these subpopulations. Because of heavy anthropogenic disturbance in the one site where the two species still occur and their general absence from adjacent forest, we are working with the local community to protect the isolated fragment. Additionally, in situ planting of locally grown seedlings of both species is being supported by Amani Nature Reserve.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0030605324000462/type/journal_articleCola porphyranthaCritically EndangeredEastern Arc Mountainsendemicforest fragmentationGigasiphon macrosiphonrarityTanzania |
| spellingShingle | Henry J. Ndangalasi Norbert J. Cordeiro Conservation status of newly discovered subpopulations of two globally threatened tree species in the East Usambara Mountains, Tanzania Oryx Cola porphyrantha Critically Endangered Eastern Arc Mountains endemic forest fragmentation Gigasiphon macrosiphon rarity Tanzania |
| title | Conservation status of newly discovered subpopulations of two globally threatened tree species in the East Usambara Mountains, Tanzania |
| title_full | Conservation status of newly discovered subpopulations of two globally threatened tree species in the East Usambara Mountains, Tanzania |
| title_fullStr | Conservation status of newly discovered subpopulations of two globally threatened tree species in the East Usambara Mountains, Tanzania |
| title_full_unstemmed | Conservation status of newly discovered subpopulations of two globally threatened tree species in the East Usambara Mountains, Tanzania |
| title_short | Conservation status of newly discovered subpopulations of two globally threatened tree species in the East Usambara Mountains, Tanzania |
| title_sort | conservation status of newly discovered subpopulations of two globally threatened tree species in the east usambara mountains tanzania |
| topic | Cola porphyrantha Critically Endangered Eastern Arc Mountains endemic forest fragmentation Gigasiphon macrosiphon rarity Tanzania |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0030605324000462/type/journal_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT henryjndangalasi conservationstatusofnewlydiscoveredsubpopulationsoftwogloballythreatenedtreespeciesintheeastusambaramountainstanzania AT norbertjcordeiro conservationstatusofnewlydiscoveredsubpopulationsoftwogloballythreatenedtreespeciesintheeastusambaramountainstanzania |