Phytosociological Study of Nyungwe Montane Savannahs

It is uncommon to find savannahs encompassed into tropical montane rainforests. The case of Nyungwe savannahs is one of these particularities and until now no explanation on their origin, structure and dynamics was given. This unprecedented research documented special floristic diversity of montane savannahs of Nyungwe, described the structure of their plant communities to provide data for their sustainable conservation. In this paper origin of these savannahs was discussed. The study was conducted in three sites harbouring five savannahs:Karamba, Nyabitimbo and Muzimu. Eight plant communities (4 in savannah-forest contact zone and other 4 in savannah) were identified with 198 species. Vascular species were distributed in 71 families. Phytogeographic distribution analysis of species showed the predominance of afromontane species (Mo) in sampled savannahs (31%), followed by East African montane species (Mo, EA) with 22% of all species. Montane endemism proved the predominance of ‘relatively restricted endemic species’ identified in 2or3 montane systems (among Kivu-Ruwenzori, ImatongsUsambara, UluguruMlanje, and Ethiopia with 41.1%) followed by ‘afromontane endemic wades’ identified in 4to7 systems representing 39.9%). ‘Local endemic montane species’ represented 31% of all species. Thus, these savannahs are favourable to species coming from almost seven African montane systems. Keywords: Nyungwe, Plant communities, montane savannahs

Influence of ecological factors on the composition and diversity of vegetation units in the Malagarazi landscape (Burundi)

La création d’une aire protégée au niveau du paysage de la Malagarazi est confrontée à des contraintes socioéconomiques qui obligent à la limiter à des zones prioritaires. La présente étude a pour objectif d’analyser la composition et la diversité végétale du paysage en tenant compte de la forte hétérogénéité spatiale des conditions environnementales et des perturbations. L’étude procède par l’identification des groupements végétaux et par leur comparaison par des descripteurs taxinomiques (richesse spécifique, indices de diversité, coefficients de similitude) et non taxinomiques (types fonctionnels, nombre d’espèces menacées ou prioritaires à la conservation). Les résultats attestent l’existence de trois groupements d’espèces différents dont l’analyse met en évidence des différences qui concernent les conditions environnementales et l’ampleur des perturbations. Les proportions d’espèces menacées ou prioritaires à la conservation sont élevées et observées au niveau des trois groupements identifiés. L’identification de ces milieux et des caractéristiques écologiques qui influencent leur composition et leur diversité est un élément important pour le choix des zones représentatives à mettre sous le statut de protection.The creation of a protected area at the level of the Malagarazi natural landscape is confronted with socioeconomic constraints which oblige to limit it to priority zones. The objective of present study is to analyse the composition and plant diversity of the landscape, taking into account the strong spatial heterogeneousness of the environmental conditions and the disturbances. The study proceeds by the identification of plant groupings and by their comparison with taxonomic descriptors (species richness, diversity indices, similarity coefficients) and not taxonomic ones (functional types, number of endangered or priority species for conservation). Results give evidence of three different groupings of species the analysis of which highlights differences related to environmental conditions and scale of the disturbances. The proportions of species which are threatened or considered as priorities for conservation are high and observed in all the three identified groupings. The identification of these units and the ecological characteristics which influence their composition and diversity is an important element for the choice of the representative zones to be put under a protection status

Etude de la flore et de la végétation des marais du Burundi

Doctorat en Sciencesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

Influence des facteurs écologiques sur la composition et la diversité des unités de végétation du paysage de la Malagarazi (Burundi)

Influence of ecological factors on the composition and diversity of vegetation units in the Malagarazi landscape (Burundi). The creation of a protected area at the level of the Malagarazi natural landscape is confronted with socioeconomic constraints which oblige to limit it to priority zones. The objective of present study is to analyse the composition and plant diversity of the landscape, taking into account the strong spatial heterogeneousness of the environmental conditions and the disturbances. The study proceeds by the identification of plant groupings and by their comparison with taxonomic descriptors (species richness, diversity indices, similarity coefficients) and not taxonomic ones (functional types, number of endangered or priority species for conservation). Results give evidence of three different groupings of species the analysis of which highlights differences related to environmental conditions and scale of the disturbances. The proportions of species which are threatened or considered as priorities for conservation are high and observed in all the three identified groupings. The identification of these units and the ecological characteristics which influence their composition and diversity is an important element for the choice of the representative zones to be put under a protection status.La création d’une aire protégée au niveau du paysage de la Malagarazi est confrontée à des contraintes socioéconomiques qui obligent à la limiter à des zones prioritaires. La présente étude a pour objectif d’analyser la composition et la diversité végétale du paysage en tenant compte de la forte hétérogénéité spatiale des conditions environnementales et des perturbations. L’étude procède par l’identification des groupements végétaux et par leur comparaison par des descripteurs taxinomiques (richesse spécifique, indices de diversité, coefficients de similitude) et non taxinomiques (types fonctionnels, nombre d’espèces menacées ou prioritaires à la conservation). Les résultats attestent l’existence de trois groupements d’espèces différents dont l’analyse met en évidence des différences qui concernent les conditions environnementales et l’ampleur des perturbations. Les proportions d’espèces menacées ou prioritaires à la conservation sont élevées et observées au niveau des trois groupements identifiés. L’identification de ces milieux et des caractéristiques écologiques qui influencent leur composition et leur diversité est un élément important pour le choix des zones représentatives à mettre sous le statut de protection.Nduwimana André, Riera Bernard, Bizuru Elias. Influence des facteurs écologiques sur la composition et la diversité des unités de végétation du paysage de la Malagarazi (Burundi). In: Revue d'Écologie (La Terre et La Vie), tome 70, n°3, 2015. pp. 213-230

IoT-Based Real-Time Crop Drying and Storage Monitoring System

Maize flour obtained from the dried corn is one of the most consumed foods in Rwanda. It is imperative that this should be healthy and risk-free for a safe consumption. Therefore, it is vital to keep track of the environmental conditions during the drying process and the characteristics that exist inside maize storage containers. In Rwanda, traditional methods are most commonly used by maize farmers for drying and storage purposes, where no smart system is being used to monitor the environmental conditions under which the maize grains are dried and stored. This mostly affects the quality of maize and flour being produced which will finally affect food security. In this research, temperature, humidity, and light sensors are deployed in the grain storage containers for environmental parameter detection purposes to achieve the primary goal of providing practical, secure, and easily accessible storage in inclement weather. Temperature and humidity are two factors that have an impact on grain quality while in storage. The ThingSpeak platform has been used to help farmers monitor the drying and storing conditions of the maize on a real-time basis. A global system for mobile (GSM) communication module is used to notify farmers by sending a short message in case of critical drying or storing environmental parameters under which the maize grains are stored. The result is shown in the form of humidity, temperature, and light graphs which are displayed on the ThingSpeak platform in real-time mode

An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used in Rwanda for voluntary depigmentation.

Voluntary depigmentation, a very common practice in sub-Saharan Africa, often performed with pharmaceutical products diverted from their pharmacological use, may cause severe dermatological and systemic side effects. The present work aims at investigating whether and which herbs were used in Rwanda for similar purposes before the advent of the current depigmentation craze; this may give clues at herbal treatments possibly advantageous compared to current products.Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tSCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Assessment of traditional ecological knowledge and beliefs in the utilisation of important plant species: The case of Buhanga sacred forest, Rwanda

Traditional ecological knowledge is an integrated part of the African people and indeed the Rwandese for cultural purpose. Buhanga sacred forest is a relict forest of tremendous ecological importance to Rwandan society located in Musanze District. The aim of this study was to assess the traditional ecological knowledge and belief in the utilisation of some important plant species for the conservation of Buhanga sacred forest. Ecological information about ethnomedicinal and traditional practices were collected following structured questionnaire through interview involving eight traditional healers and three focus group discussions. Data were collected from the natural habitats, home gardens, farmlands and roadsides of Buhanga sacred forest. A total of 45 botanical taxa belonging to 28 families were reported to be used by the local community. Species such as Brillantaisia cicatricosa and Senna septemtrionalis were the popular species cited by traditional healers to treat human and animal diseases and ailments, respectively. The results of the study indicated that because of the cultural norms and values associated with the sacred forest, this has led to non-exploitation. The study presents key sites and plant species in which their use and belief can lead to their conservation. However, not only is it imperative to conserve traditional local knowledge for biocultural conservation motives but there is also need to train traditional healers on how to domesticate indigenous species as conservation measure because some species have become susceptible to extinction. Conservation implications: Highlighting indigenous species investigated in this research will provide a powerful tool for ensuring biodiversity conservation through community participation in a country of high population density in Africa. Some plant species that provided satisfactory Local Health Traditions among communities surrounding Buhanga can contribute as good material for further research in Rwanda

Modulation of skin pigmentation by herbal extracts

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Urticaceae leaves with stinging trichomes were already present in latest early Eocene Okanogan Highlands, British Columbia, Canada

Premise: Paleontologists use tooth form to assess diets of fossil mammals. Plants would also be expected to adapt their morphology to respond to herbivory. Fossil nettle leaves with definitive stinging trichomes (tribe Urticeae, family Urticaceae) are described from the early Eocene upland lacustrine floras of the Okanogan Highlands, British Columbia, Canada. This is the first report of stinging trichomes in the fossil record. Their occurrence in western North America at a time of major large herbivorous mammal radiation suggests they acted, as they do today, as a deterrent for mammal herbivory. Methods: Fossil leaf compressions and extant leaves were photographed with standard methods. Focus-shift stacking was used to layer photos of the fossil leaves. Results: Urticaceous fossil leaves from the Okanogan Highlands greatly resemble their modern relatives in leaf morphology and particularly in both stinging and nonstinging trichomes. Nettles are common components of the flora of the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. This region is used as a modern analogue for the Okanogan Highlands, based on comparable elevation, equable conditions that host both similar floras and large folivores. Conclusions: Nettles in tribe Urticeae (Urticaceae) producing leaves with stinging and nonstinging trichomes were already present in the early Eocene of western North America at a pivotal time during the early radiation of modern mammalian herbivore groups. They offer tantalizing evidence of a selective response that plants may have developed to protect themselves from the evolving mammalian herbivores of that time

Above ground biomass in Nyungwe tropical montane forest

The data file contain the following information in separte sheets: (1) Plots, (2) Species, Breast height diameter classes, Above-ground biomass, Recruitment and mortality of trees, (3) Height vs DBH relationship, (4) Wood density, (5) Header definition, (6) Citations, (7) Data use policy