Late Pleistocene and Holocene Afromontane vegetation and headwater wetland dynamics within the Eastern Mau Forest, Kenya
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Date
2021-01-11
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Abstract
The Mau Forest Complex is Kenya's largest fragment of Afromontane forest, providing critical ecosystemservices, and has been subject to intense land use changes since colonial times. It forms the upper catchment of rivers thatdrain into major drainage networks, thus supporting the livelihoods of millions of Kenyans and providing important wildlifeareas. We present the results of a sedimentological and palynological analysis of a Late Pleistocene–Holocene sedimentrecord of Afromontane forest change from Nyabuiyabui wetland in the Eastern Mau Forest, a highland region that hasreceived limited geological characterization and palaeoecological study. Sedimentology, pollen, charcoal, X‐rayfluorescence and radiocarbon data record environmental and ecosystem change over the last ~16 000 cal a BP. Thepollen record suggests Afromontane forests characterized the end of the Late Pleistocene to the Holocene with dominanttaxa changing from Apodytes, Celtis, Dracaena, Hagenia and Podocarpus to Cordia, Croton, Ficus, Juniperus and Olea. TheLate Holocene is characterized by a more open Afromontane forest with increased grass and herbaceous cover. ContinuousPoaceae, Cyperaceae and Juncaceae vegetation currently cover the wetland and the water level has been decreasing overthe recent past. Intensive agroforestry since the 1920s has reduced Afromontane forest cover as introduced taxa haveincreased (Pinus, Cupressus and Eucalyptus).
Sustainable Development Goals
SGD-2: Zero Hunger
Keywords
Afromontane vegetation, Mau Forest, Pollen, Tropical wetlands, Water towers