Abstract
The current ecological status of the Kagoro/Tsonje riparian forest was assessed and information was gathered on the flora and bird fauna, water quality parameters and soil status. Other data collections were phytoplankton types and population. Physiocochemical properties of the soil were tested .Modified Whittakker plots were used to evaluate woody species for density, diversity and similarity measure. One metre by one metre quadrats were used to evaluate herbaceous plants for same parameters in addition to dry matter determination. Density and diversity of algal groups in the water were determined using methods described by APHA., while physicochemical parameters of water were tested instrumentally and by laboratory procedures. Results showed that the population of the woody plants in this riparian forest had declined within the period of one year of study. The forest had a woody population of 336 plants in the encroached area per hectare and 97 woody plants in the farmed area per hectare before the farming season. After the farming season, the population of woody plants decreased to 121 and 31 respectively. As a result of the disturbances of the forest, the important Avian species Vannellus supercilliosus, Chrysococyx flavigularis, Cassypha natalensis and Camphephage quiscalina which made the forest to be known for its ornithological importance were not sighted at the time this study was undertaken. The result of the water analysis showed abundance of phytoplakton and Baccillariophyta as the highest algal division at all seasons. The population of this division in the wet season was higher than the dry season [119 and 36] respectively. This trend was similar for Chlorophyta, Cyanophyta and Euglenophyta. Soil particle size of the riparian forest showed a non significant (P> 0.05) difference between farmed and encroached forest segments indicating the variability of soils in a riparian area. The organic carbon content also showed a significant (P < 0.05) difference.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page - - - - - - - - - i Declaration - - - - - - - - - ii Certification - - - - - - - - iii Dedication - - - - - - - - - iv Acknowledgements - - - - - - - v Abstract - - - - - - - - - vii Table of Content - - - - - - - - viii List of Tables - - - - - - - - xii List of figures - - - - - - - - xiii List of Plates - - - - - - - - xiv
CHAPTER ONE 1.0 Introduction - - - - - - - - 1 1.1 Statement of the Problem - - - - - - 3 1.2 Justification - - - - - - - - 4 1.3 Aim of the Study - - - - - - - 4 1.4 Objective - - - - - - - - 5 1.5 Hypothesis - - - - - - - - 5
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CHAPTER TWO 2.0 Review of Related Literature - - - - - 6 2.1 Introduction - - - - - - - - 6 2.2 Riparian Plant Communities - - - - - 9 2.3 The Soils of Kagoro/Tsonje Forest - - - - 10 2.4 Riparian Animal Communities - - - - - 11 2.5 Aquatic Communities - - - - - - 13 2.6 Effects of Riparian Cover on Stream Water Chemistry - 18 2.7 Impact of Human Activity in Riparian Areas - - - 20 2.8 Importance of Riparian Forest - - - - - 22
CHAPTER THREE 3.0 Material and Methods - - - - - - 26 3.1 Study Area - - - - - - - - 26 3.2 Vegetation Area - - - - - - - 26 3.3 Avian Study - - - - - - - - 28 3.4 Water Samples - - - - - - - 28 3.5 Soil Samples - - - - - - - 28 3.6 Flora and Fauna Analysis - - - - - - 29 3.7 Data Analysis - - - - - - - 30
xCHAPTER FOUR 4.0 Results - - - - - - - - 31 4.1 Density of Woody Plants in Areas of Riparian - - 31 4.2 Basal Area (Stem Cover) - - - - - - 31 4.3 Woody Plant Wilding Population - - - - 33 4.4 Dry Matter Yield - - - - - - - 35 4.5 Avi Fauna Occurrence in Kagoro/Tsonje Riparian Forest - 37 4.6 Water Physicochemical Parameters - - - - 39 4.7 Algal Groups and Populations with Seasons - - - 40 4.8 Soil Physicochemical Characteristics - - - - 42
CHAPTER FIVE 5.0 Discussion - - - - - - - - 47 5.1 Woody Plants Population - - - - - 47 5.2 Herbage Biomass - - - - - - - 49 5.3 Soil Physical Characteristics - - - - - 49 5.4 Soil Chemical Characteristics - - - - - 50 5.5 Bird Fauna Occurrence Population - - - - 51 5.6 Physicochemical Characteristics of Riparian Stream Water- 52 5.7 Phytoplankton Abundance and Diversity - - - 54
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CHAPTER SIX 6.0 Summary and Conclusion - - - - - 55 6.1 Recommendation - - - - - - - 57 References - - - - - - - - 59 Appendices - - - - - - - - 67