Phytosociological Investigations on the Afroalpine Vegetation of the Ruwenzori Mountains (Uganda)

Salvatore Cambria, Pietro Minissale () and Gianmarco Tavilla
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Salvatore Cambria: Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
Pietro Minissale: Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
Gianmarco Tavilla: National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research (CNR-IIA), c/o Interateneo Physics Department, 70125 Bari, Italy

Land, 2024, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-22

Abstract: This paper presents the results of a phytosociological study on the Afroalpine vegetation of the Ruwenzori Mountains, one of the most prominent mountain ranges in Africa. This study marks the pioneering comprehensive investigation into the plant communities of this region, which holds significant phytogeographic importance. Through statistical analyses, eight distinct plant communities, three new alliances, two new orders, and one new class were identified within the altitudinal range of 3500 to 4600 m above sea level. These communities are well-defined from both floristic and ecological perspectives. Hierarchical classification was conducted using the quantitative Sørensen (Bray-Curtis) distance measure and the beta flexible linkage method. Furthermore, indicator species for each group were determined by calculating fidelity and constancy (occurrence frequency) within the classified dataset. To assess the validity of the classification results, non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) was carried out. These analyses provide the first phytosociological arrangement of the Afroalpine vegetation of the Ruwenzori Mountains, providing a solid framework and valuable insights into its floristic and ecological characteristics.

Keywords: Africa; alpine; ecology; mountain vegetation; plant diversity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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