Impact of Removal of Copper Leaf (<i>Acalypha fruticosa</i>Forssk.) on Plant Species Diversity and Abundance at Chemeron, Baringo County, Kenya
Impact of Removal of Copper Leaf (<i>Acalypha fruticosa</i>Forssk.) on Plant Species Diversity and Abundance at Chemeron, Baringo County, Kenya作者机构：Department of Environmental Science Egerton University Njoro Kenya Dryland Research Training & Ecotourism Centre Chemeron Egerton University Njoro Kenya
出 版 物：《Open Journal of Ecology》 (生态学期刊（英文）)
年 卷 期：2020年第10卷第6期
页 面：341-355页
学科分类：0710[理学-生物学] 071001[理学-植物学] 07[理学]
主 题：Baringo Copper Leaf Diversity Indices Invasive Species Plant Diversity
摘 要：Invasive plant species may significantly alter plant species community composition and structure thereby negatively impacting on ecosystem services. Their impacts on plant communities may be both direct and indirect. The direct effects may include a reduction in the abundance and diversity of palatable plant species that constitute important forage for livestock, wildlife, and medicines for the local communities. Declines in ecosystem resilience are of the notable indirect effects of invasive species. The aim of this study was to assess the impacts of a plant species, copper leaf (Acalypha fruticosa) on floral diversity and abundance at Chemeron, Baringo County in Kenya. The study was guided by three questions: What is the plant composition in terms of grasses, herbs, shrubs, and trees in the study area? Are there any variations in plant abundance between the two sites (sites with and without Acalypha fruticosa)? Are there variations in plant species diversity between the two study sites? Two sites (one with A. fruticosa and another two without this invasive species) were selected within the Chemeron Research Centre. Two belt transects measuring 100 m × 20 m on each site were laid parallel to each other. Plant samples were collected from five 1 m × 1 m quadrats that were laid at intervals of 20 m. The plant species or specimens were identified to the species level using available taxonomic keys. Various indices including Shannon-Wiener (H’), Evenness Index, Richness Index and Simpson’s Index of Diversity Index (SDI) were calculated. All the diversity, richness and evenness indices were considerably higher in the site without A. fruticosa compared to that where this invasive species was present. Higher H’ (3.14 to 3.21) and SDI (0.93 to 0.94) values were noted in sites without the invasive species compared to H’ (2.11 to 2.20) and SDI (0.77 to 0.85) in sites with A. fruticosa present. Out of the
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