Skip to main content
WCS
Menu
Library
Library Catalog
eJournals & eBooks
WCS Research
Archives
Research Use
Finding Aids
Digital Collections
WCS History
WCS Research
Research Publications
Science Data
Services for WCS Researchers
Archives Shop
Bronx Zoo
Department of Tropical Research
Browse By Product
About Us
FAQs
Intern or Volunteer
Staff
Donate
Search WCS.org
Search
search
Popular Search Terms
WCS History
Library and Archives
Library and Archives Menu
Library
Archives
WCS Research
Archives Shop
About Us
Donate
en
fr
Title
Tree mortality in the Kibale Forest, Uganda: A case study of dieback in a tropical rain forest adjacent to exotic conifer plantations
Author(s)
Struhsaker T.T., Kasenene J.M., Gaither Jr. J.C., Larsen N., Musango S., Bancroft R.
Published
1989
Publisher
Forest Ecology and Management
Abstract
We report the dieback of three out of five unrelated species of rain-forest canopy trees in a very restricted part of the Kibale Forest, W. Uganda that were monitored since 1977. High mortality rates began about 1978 and continued through 1986, reaching levels of 5-50% year-1. Within the restricted area of mortality, all adults of Newtonia buchananii were dead in 1984, while nearly 90% of Lovoa swynnertonii and 45% of Aningeria altissima were dead in 1986. In contrast, Mimusops bagshawei and Celtis africana experienced relatively low (0.5%) and moderate (1.6%) levels of annual mortality, respectively. Regeneration of the seedling and sapling stages was high for all five species, while the pole class was poorly represented. The single most important variable associated with the dieback was downslope proximity to the conifer plantations. Based on this case study, it is strongly recommended that exotic trees, particularly conifers, should not be planted near natural forests in the tropics. Furthermore, those conifer plantations already existing near the natural forests should be harvested in a manner which encourages the regeneration of native trees and shrubs, thereby replacing exotic plantations with indigenous forest. © 1989.
Keywords
conifer plantation; dieback; forestry; forestry plantation; mortality; rain forest; rainforest; tree dieback; Uganda, Kibale Forest; Uganda, Kibale forest; Aningeria altissima; Celtis africana; Lovoa swynnertonii; Mimusops bagshawei; Newtonia buchananii
Access Full Text
A full-text copy of this article may be available. Please email the
WCS Library
to request.
Back
PUB13035