Gishwati Forest Boundary

Kinyekanda

Results

Introduction Methods (continued)

References

Discussion• Gishwati forest lies within the Albertine Rift and contains high biodiversity but has undergone significant deforestation.

• Conservation efforts have preserved the forest and it is home to a small population of chimpanzees.

•As part of restoration efforts, a Rwandan NGO, Vision 2012, planted around 400 Ficus sp cuttings in 2011.

•Our goal was test the one year survivorship of these cuttings.

•Our hypothesis was that there will be high one year survivorship when vegetative propagation is utilized.

• This is important because this data will help decide whether Ficus sp. is a viable option to plant a corridor to connect the three forest fragments in Rwanda.

•Locate plant cuttings in forest.•Tag with metal tags with unique numbers for identification.•Use Garmin GPS to plot each clipping found.•Measure height and diameter at breast height in centimeters.•Count number of leaves on each living clipping.

• One year survivorship results correlated with previous study done by Danthu et. al. (2002) who found 0-77% rooting abilities. One year survivorship varied due to the type of Ficus species planted. Initial condition of the clipping was also an important factor in root success.

• Since we found a correlation between the height of the individual and its leaf count (Figure 1), we concluded that the initial height of the clipping may be a predictor of vitality.

•Initial size and health may be a predictor; however, Danthu et. al. (2002) found that the time of year the clipping was planted may also determine the outcome. March clippings had a 57% rooting ability, where the September had a 5% rooting ability. Vision 2012 planted the Ficus sp. starting in October through December.

•Given 57.1% survivorship of the Ficus sp., we conclude that this species is a good candidate for corridor construction. Chancellor (2012) discovered that Ficus is a popular fall back food for Chimpanzees during the dry season; therefore, the Ficus sp. can help facilitate migration through the corridor.

Figure 1. Three viable corridor routes.

•57.1% of the clippings survived through the year.•A significant correlation was found between the height of the individual and its leaf count (Figure 2) demonstrating that a larger initial branch clipping had more vigorous growth. •Of the 57.1% that survived, 51.2% had at least 11 leaves per 25cm of growth (Figure 3) showing that many clippings produced new growth.

Figure 2. The correlation of leaf count to tree height is illustrated here. Individuals tend to have more leaves the taller they are.

Figure 3. Frequency diagram of leaves per 25 cm of Height.

Acknowledgements

Danthu, P., P. Soloviev, A. Gaye, A. Sarr, M. Seck, and I. Thomas. "Vegetative Propagation of Some West African Ficus Species by Cuttings." Agroforestry Systems 55 (2002): 57-63. Print.

Laman, Timothy G. "Ficus Stupenda Germination and Seedling Establishment in a Bornean Rain Forest Canopy." Ecology 76.8 (1995): 2617-626. Print.

Chancellor, Rebecca, Aaron Rundus, and Sylvain Nyandwi. “The Influence of Seasonal Variation on Chimpanzee (Pan Troglodytes Schweinfurthii) Fallback Food Consumption, Nest Group Size, and Habitat use in Gishwati, a Montane Rain Forest Fragment in Rwanda.” International Journal of Primatology 33 (2012): 115-33. Print.

Danielle Hefferan, Breanna Hess, Michael Renner, Keith Summerville, Benjamin Beck, Drake University Environmental Science & Policy Program, College of Arts & Sciences

Left bar= dead individuals

Can Ficus sp. Forests be Restored Through Vegetative Propagation?

Methods

Vision 2012 planted the clippings in an area of Gishwati forest that is newly under restoration called Kinyekanda.

Research Site

We would like to thank the Forest of Hope Association including, Sylvain Nyandwi, Jean Paul Ntungane, and Madeleine Nyiratuza for hosting and helping every day. And Rebecca Chancellor and Aaron Rundus for providing information. A thank you to Vision 2012 for assisting in locating the Ficus sp. As well as the Rwandan Government for allowing our research. And also Drake University for sponsoring research abroad.