Variations in floristic diversity with distance around North Mara gold mine in Tanzania
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Date
2012-05
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Abstract
Plant-heavy metal interactions and resultant variations in plant diversity are widely documented. However, such
information was scanty at the study area. Three parallel line transects, each of 3500 m, 100 m apart were established opposite the mine wastes. Data were collected at Kwinyunyi (within 1 km from mine wastes) and at Masangora (within 3 km from mine wastes). Abundance of plant species was systematically recorded using nested quadrats; also, soils were sampled at each point. Soils were analyzed for bioavailable heavy metals by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer and for pH. The highest diversity index, richness and evenness were recorded within 1 km from mine wastes, while, the lowest diversity index and richness of plant species were recorded within 3 km from the waste. The lowest evenness of plant species was recorded within 1 km from mine wastes. T-test showed that the diversity, richness and evenness of plant species were not significantly different between Kwinyunyi and Masangora (p > 0.05). The levels of bioavailable chromium, cadmium, lead and nickel were above the internationally permissible ones. This study probably confirms that the ecosystem is robust and resilient in that plant communities sometimes adapt to conditions despite of alarmingly high levels of heavy metals.
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Keywords
Plant species diversity, heavy metal toxicity