Species communities and associations formed by the family Cyperaceae Juss. in some of Uganda’s wetlands
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Date
2008
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Journal of Ecology
Abstract
This study was conducted between August 2000 and April
2001 in ten wetlands areas of Uganda and these included
Lakes Bisina, Nakuwa and Opeta, including the Doho Rice
Scheme in the Lake Kyoga basin; Mabamba and Lutembe
bays, Lake Nabugabo, Musambwa islands and Lutoboka
peninsula in the Lake Victoria basin; and Nyamuriro
swamp in Kigezi region. This study focused on Cyperaceae
because of their known abundance in wet or damp areas.
The aim was to assess the diversity and examine the
communities and associations formed by sedges. Floristic
data were collected using quadrats along transects. Cluster
analysis was used to analyse for species associations.
Principal components analysis was used to determine the
descriptive species of the sites of the wetlands. A total of
113 taxa in 107 species belonging to 17 genera and
classified into seven tribes were identified. The most rare
species included Eleocharis dulcis (Burm. f.) Henschel and
Cyperus iria L. Using cluster analysis the ten sites of the
wetlands were classified into sedge assemblages that generally
reflected ecoregional differences between the Lake
Kyoga and Victoria basins. The three distinct clusters
formed from cluster analysis also revealed species assemblages
that represented associations of these sedges found
in the sites of each cluster.
Description
Keywords
Associations, Communities, Cyperaceae, Wetlands
Citation
Ssegawa, P., & Kalema, J. (2008). Species communities and associations formed by the family Cyperaceae Juss. in some of Uganda’s wetlands. African Journal of Ecology, 46, 98-108.