Vegetation dynamics of coastal sand dunes near Malindi, Kenya

Abstract

This study describes the composition, structure and distribution of coastal dune vegetation near Malindi, Kenya. The vegetation was made up of 156 plant species. Sixty families were recorded with Gramineae (seventeen species) and Papilionaceae (sixteen species) being the most widely represented. Fifteen plant communities were described in the di¡erent geomorphologic units. The plant communities exhibited a distinct zonal distribution. Halopyrum mucronatum and Ipomoea pes-caprae plant communities were common in the unstable geomorphologic units. Cordia somaliensis and Pluchea dioscoridis plant communities were common in the more stable geomorphologic units. Most of the plants in the more stable geomorphologic units were shrubs and trees. Succulent herbs were identi¢ed inthe slacks and the drowned valley, which have moist and damp environments. Re¨sumeC ette e¨tude de¨crit la composition, la structure et la distribution de lave¨ge¨tation des dunes coª tie© res pre© s de Malindi, au Kenya. La ve¨ge¨tation comprend156 espe© ces ve¨ge¨tales. Ona releve¨la pre¨sence de soixante familles, les Gramine¨es (dix-sept espe© ces) et les Papilionace¨es (seize espe© ces) e¨tant les plus largement repre¨sente¨es. On a de¨crit quinze com-munaute¨s ve¨ge¨tales dans les di¡e¨rentes unite¨s ge¨omorphologiques. Les communaute¨s ve¨ge¨tales montrent une distribution zonale distincte. Les communaute¨s ve¨ge¨tales a© Halopyrum mucronatum et a© Ipomoea pes-caprae e¨taient communes dans les unite¨s ge¨omorphologiques instables. Celles a© Cordia somaliensis et a© Pluchea dioscoridis e¨taient communes dans les unite¨s ge¨omorphologiques plus stables. La plupart des plantes des unite¨s ge¨omorphologiques plus stables e¨taient des arbustes et des arbres. On a identi¢e¨des herbes succulentes dans les terres molles et la valle¨e encaisse¨e, la© ouÁ l'environnement est humide.

Vegetation Dynamics and Succession on Sand Dunes of the Eastern Coasts of Africa

“…In studies on sand dune systems at Malindi (Fig. 5.1) in Kenya, Musila et al (2001) record similar results to Mtunzini with different plant species but without age determination of the dune system. The change in species richness which they recorded across the dune field was from 2-5 species on young dunes to 40-60 species in mature communities, and thus compares to our Mtunzini results (Table 5.2 and Avis 1992).…”

Fluctuating deposition of ocean water drives plant function on coastal sand dunes

“…Tropical and temperate dunes alike exhibit zonal distributions of plant species from the ocean toward the inland (Cowels, 1899;Doing, 1985;Barbour, 1992;Reinert et al, 1996;Musila et al, 2001;Greaver, 2005). Zonal distribution is characteristic of ecotonal communities and is driven by gradients of environmental factors across the dune.…”

Vascular plants, coastal dunes between Pehuen-có and Monte Hermoso, Buenos Aires, Argentina

“…Musila et al 2001;Grootjans et al 2004;Fontana 2005). In this sense, the present work also indicates that the study area preserves a rich flora with high number of native vascular plants.…”