Structure, composition, and environment of some woodland vegetation types of the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Abstract

Woody vegetation constituted 60% of the Park. It was classified into 8 physiognomically or physiographically defined Vegetation Types and 41 compositionally defined Species Types. The woody vegetation of the Park was essentially a Deciduous to Semi-Deciduous Acacia Thorn Tree Woodland, reasonably uniform physiognomically and, at the generic level, compositionally. However, composition at the species level was heterogenous. Physiognomy, composition, and diversity reflected a gradient of increasingly mesic climate 'southeast-northwest across the Park as well as a variety of soil catenas. Physiognomy and composition were more complex and ecological succession of woody plant communities more apparent in the dry sub-humid north than in the semi-arid south of the Park. Thus, the north of the Park appeared to have greater biological potential than in the south. Growth in height and diameter was slower than previously recorded for Acacia tree species in East Africa. Life cycles for Acacia Senegal and A. hockii and for A. tortilis and A. xanthophloea ranged from 45 to about 100 years and from 100 to about 300 years, respectively. Slower growth and delayed maturity in Acacia tortilis occurred on drier sites. The Evergreen Forest Vegetation Type and Acacia senegal-Acacia hockii Species Type had community and population structures which were well balanced, stable and persistent. Those of the remaining 3 Species Types were unbalanced and unstable. However, regeneration potential indicated the dominant populations to be persistent through time..