Nativa, Sinop, v. 10, n. 2, p. 259-268, 2022.

Pesquisas Agrárias e Ambientais

DOI: https://doi.org/10.31413/nativa.v10i2.12638 ISSN: 2318-7670

Habitats characterization in the Taratibu,

Quirimbas National Park-PNQ, Ancuabe District, Mozambique

Golden Benedito JOAQUIM1*; Eduardo FERREIRA2; Marcelino I. CARAVELA1

1;2*Faculty of Natural Sciences, Lúrio University, Pemba, Mozambique.

2Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal.

*E-mail: goldendeagnes@gmail.com

ORCID: (0000-0002-3937-5825; 0000-0003-0497-6118; 0000-0002-3555-4981)

Recebido em 20/06/2021; Aceito em 06/06/2022; Publicado em 18/07/2022.

ABSTRACT: Taratibu was recently declared as a key biodiversity area (KBA) and knowledge on its habitats is

very important for the conservation of this area. The present study aimed to identify and describe the main

habitats from Taratibu, in PNQ, in order to improve knowledge on its characteristics. For this, techniques of

transect, point-square and point-quadrant were used for the vegetation survey and the abiotic parameters of

each habitat were determined. Five habitats were described: closed seasonal riparian habitat of Siphonochilus and

Rawsonia, with dominance of Rawsonia lucida, whose IVI was 14%, humid soil, maximum temperatures of 26º

C and with 89% canopy cover; semi-closed deciduous forest habitat of Bamboo and Milletia, with dominance

of the Milletia stuhlmannii species, whose IVI was 42%, humid soil, maximum temperatures of 28º C and with

73% canopy cover; open mountain habitat, vellozio-euphorbiaceae-Inselberg, with dominance of the Xerophyta

argentea species, whose IVI was 38%, reasonable and dry soil, maximum temperatures of 30ºC and with 0% of

tree canopy cover; semi-open Miombo deciduous forest habitat, with dominance of the Julbernadia globiflora

species, whose IVI was 18%, dry soil, maximum temperatures of 28ºC and with 36% canopy cover; and closed

Pouteria rain forest habitat, dominated by the Pouteria pseudoracemosa species, whose IVI was 30%, wet soil,

maximum temperatures of 28ºC and with 88% canopy cover.

Keywords: vegetation; parameters; temperature; soil; luminosity.

Caracterização de habitats na concessão de Taratibu,

Parque Nacional das Quirimbas-PNQ, Distrito de Ancuabe, Moçambique

RESUMO: Taratibu foi declarado recentemente com uma área chave de biodiversidade (KBA) e o

conhecimento dos seus habitats é de extrema importância para a sua conservação. O presente estudo teve como

objetivo descrever os principais habitats existente em Taratibu-PNQ, com vista a conhecer as suas caraterísticas.

Para tal foram utilizadas, técnicas de transeto, ponto-quadrante e quadrados pontuais para o levantamento da

vegetação e foram determinados os parâmetros abióticos de cada habitat. Foram descritos 5 habitats,

designadamente: habitat fechado ribeirinho sazonal de Siphonochilus e Rawsonia, com dominância da espécie

Rawsonia lucida, cujo IVI foi de 14%, solo húmido, temperaturas máximas de 26º C e com 89% de cobertura de

dossel; habitat semi-fechado de floresta caduca de Bambu e Milletia, com dominância da espécie Milletia

stuhlmannii, cujo IVI foi de 42%, solo húmido, temperaturas máximas de 28º C e com 73% de cobertura de

dossel; habitat aberto de montanha, vellozio-euphorbiaceae- Inselberg, com dominância da espécie Xerophyta

argentea, cujo IVI foi de 38%, solo razo e seco, temperaturas máximas de 30ºC e com 0% de cobertura de dossel

arboreo; habitat de floresta caduca semi-aberta de Miombo, com dominância da espécie Julbernadia globiflora,

cujo IVI foi de 18%, solos seco, temperaturas máximas de 28ºC e com 36% de cobertura de dossel e habitat

fechado de floresta Pluvial de Pouteria, dominado pela espécie Pouteria pseudoracemosa, cujo IVI foi de 30%, solo

húmido, temperaturas máximas de 28ºC e com 88% de cobertura de dossel.

Palavras-chave: vegetação; parâmetros; temperatura; solo; luminosidade.

1. INTRODUCTION

Mozambique is a country rich in biological diversity

(OLSON et al., 2001), comprising a wide diversity of

terrestrial, marine, coastal and aquatic ecosystems. These

ecosystems contain habitats that support a great species

diversity (MICOA, 2009). It is also one of the few countries

in the Southern African region that has a considerable area of

native forest, and it is estimated that approximately 40 million

hectares (ha) or 51% of the land area of Mozambique is

covered by native forests, mainly Miombo woodlands which

are the most predominant in Cabo Delgado Province

(MARZOLI, 2007).

According to AMABIS; MARTHOS (2004) define

habitats as being the environment occupied by a given species

or community (plants, animals, and other organisms),

characterized by their physical and biotic properties.

These play a very important role for the conservation of

biological and genetic diversity and for the preservation of

evolutionary processes, as well as space and shelter for animal

and plant species contributing to their maintenance (DE

GROOT et al., 2002). Habitat loss and fragmentation due the

human activities are the greatest threats to biological diversity

(PINEDA; HALFFTER, 2004; FISCHER et al., 2005).

These factors frequently interrupt dispersal between

Habitats characterization in the Taratibu, Quirimbas National Park-PNQ, Ancuabe District, Mozambique

Nativa, Sinop, v. 10, n. 2, p. 259-268, 2022.

260

favorable habitats, destabilizing the metapopulations

(PRIMACK; RODRIGUES, 2001).

The region of Taratibu was recently declared as a key

biodiversity area (WCS et al., 2021) and presents a variety of

habitats. These face major problems due to the growing trend

of alterations caused by recent human activities in the

perimeter of the conservation area, originating in the buffer

zone, such as fragmentation due to agriculture, the

occupation of land for housing and exploitation of

construction material and wood commercialization, which

puts at risk the biodiversity of the same area.

A second motivation for this study pertains to the lack of

information on habitats and vegetation available to

researchers in the areas of herpetofauna, entomofauna and

mastofauna in Cabo Delgado province, concerning the need

to characterize the habitats where these groups of animals

live.

The characterisation of the structure of a habitat allows

correct programming of silvicultural activities, better

technical and economic management of habitats, thus

facilitating rational and sustained use (HOSOKAWA, 1986).

Also, habitat surveys, are important tools for the knowledge

of biodiversity, as support to establish conservation priorities

and the preservation of natural environments, through the

evaluation of endemic, rare and endangered species, as well

as species of ecological importance. In this context, the

present study will allow future studies to be developed within

the perimeter of the habitats studied here, and that is why the

main aim of this study was to describe the main habitats

existing in Taratibu-PNQ.

2. MATERIAL AND METHODS

2.1. Study area

The study was carried out in the Taratibu region located

in the Quirimbas National Park, Ancuabe district, which is

situated to the South of Cabo Delgado Province, Northern

Mozambique, situated between the 12º50ˈS and 12º38ˈS

South latitudes, and 39º32ˈE and 39º58ˈE East longitudes.

The region is characterized by a dry semi-arid and sub-

humid climate, with an average annual rainfall between 800

and 1200mm, distributed from October to March. The

average annual temperature ranges from 20 to 25º C (MAE,

2014).

2.2. Sampling Procedure

Five areas consisting of different vegetation formations

were selected, according to the previous reconnaissance

carried out in the study area, for the identification of plant

species, characterization of vegetation and abiotic parameters

(temperature, soil moisture and light), in order to ensure a

representative sample for habitat classification.

2.3. Characterization of the vegetation occurring in each

habitat

The characterization of the vegetation, it was based on

the floristic and physiognomic survey in different vegetation

formation type. Flora was characterized identifying plant

species present in each vegetation type formation. The

frequency and abundance were estimated (Table 1) as well as

the physiognomic composition, based on the general external

appearance (structure and dominance) of the vegetation and

determined through the visual approach (RIZZINI, 1979)

and was characterized by the observation of its vertical

stratification (BARBOSA, 2006).

The characterization was based on transects established

within each vegetation formation type (GOLDSMITH et al.,

1986; RICHARDS, 1996).

Table 1. Phytosociological parameters used in the habitats of

Taratibu, PNQ.

Tabela 1. Parâmetros fitossociológicos utilizados nos habitats de

Taratibu, PNQ.

Parameter

Formule

Average area

∑



Absolute density



(



)



Relative density





100

(

)

Basal área

ABi



Dominance

DoA

ABmi

Relative dominance

DoR

∑





100

Absolute frequency





100

Relative frequency



∑



100

Importance value

DRi

FRi

DoRi

Notes: N- number of individuals of each species; AD- absolute density; RD-

relative density; AoD- absolute dominance; RR- relative dominance; AF-

absolute frequency; RF- relative frequency; IVI- importance value index;

ABi- basal area of the species; D- diameter in meters; π-3. 1416; ABmi-

average basal area per species; ni- number of trees per species; ABi- total

basal area of a given species; ABT- total basal area of all individuals of all

sampled species; pi- number of points that a given species i occurs; P- total

number of samples (points); FAi- absolute frequency of a given species;

∑FA- absolute frequency of all species.

For the quantification of tree and shrub species, the

techniques of Transect and Point-square (Figure 1) were

used. Four transects of 50 meters (m) length each, separated

from each other by 10 m distance, were sampled. In each

transect, six quadrants of 4 m2 were placed, 8 m apart from

each other. In each quadrant four sections were determined,

marking and identifying the individual (with diameter ≥ 5 cm)

closest to the central point that met the inclusion criteria and

then recording its distance to the central point of the

quadrant, as well as its diameter. Thus, in each sampling unit,

four trees or shrubs were sampled (MARTINS, 1993).

Figure 1. Technical sketch of the distribution of transects and

quadrants for tree and shrub species (JOAQUIM, 2019).

Figura 1. Esboço técnico da distribuição dos transectos e quadrantes

para as espécies arbóreas e arbustivas (JOAQUIM, 2019).

In the same transects, at 10 meters, the herbaceous

vegetation was sampled using the technique of point squares

(BARBOUR et al., 1987) (Figure 2). Every 20 cm along the

transect, the presence of the species touched by a 1-meter

stick placed vertically was recorded.

Joaquim et al.

Nativa, Sinop, v. 10, n. 2, p. 259-268, 2022.

261

Figure 2. Technical sketch for the herbaceous species. Source:

(JOÃO, 2019).

Figura 2. Esboço técnico para as espécies herbáceas. Fonte: (JOÃO,

2019).

2.4. Characterization of abiotic parameters, (luminosity,

soil moisture and temperature).

Luminosity

Along the transects established within the habitats, every

5m, at breast height, the luminosity was estimated using A4

paper and considering four percentage intervals, as follows:

(i) 25% when one quarter of the area of the paper was

illuminated, (ii) 50% if the illumination covered about one

half of the area of the paper, (iii) 75% equivalent to three

quarters of the illuminated area of the paper and, finally, (iv)

if the paper was fully illuminated, luminosity was 100%. The

arithmetic means of the percentages of the illuminated areas

of all the papers sampled per habitat was then taken to obtain

the mean of the overall luminosity for each habitat.

The sampling of the luminosity rates per habitat took

place at 8 am, 12 am and 3 pm during the wet season in order

to sample various angles of light radiation in each habitat.

This way, inference was made from the luminosity data, the

level of canopy cover using the following formula:

% = At – Ami (01)

where: %- percentage of cover; At- total area of the paper; Ami-

average illuminated area.

And it was considered the criteria of the table below to

determine more open or closed habitat.

Table 2. Canopy cover determination.

Tabela 2. Determinação da cobertura de dossel.

Percentage of coverage

Habitat canopy cover

25%

Open

50%

Semi

open

75%

Semi

closed

100%

Closed

Moisture

For the determination of the soil moisture gradient, a

classification was made according to direct observation in the

field on the presence or absence of water, along the soil

surface throughout the sampling period, thus defining three

types of gradients: dry, wet and waterlogged (STALMANS;

BEILFUSS, 2008).

Temperature

The temperature of each habitat was also determined,

during the morning, afternoon, and evening periods. Then,

an arithmetic means of the temperatures obtained in all

periods was made in order to obtain the average daily

temperatures. For this, the following formula was used:

𝑇

=∑



(02)

where: 𝑇

- average temperature; T- temperature

(maximum/minimum of all periods); n- number of sampling

periods. This was recorded using a Thermometer.

2.5. Mapping of the main habitats existing in the

Taratibu Concession

The mapping of habitats was conducted through the

capture of geographic points, using the Global Positioning

System (GPS). Then the points were imported into Google

Earth, where the polygons were delimeted according to the

differences in habitat coverage and the polygons were

downloaded in Kml format and imported into the geographic

information system QGIS 2.18.12, thus creating a digital map

(Figure 18).

2.6. Habitat classification of Taratibu.

Habitat classification was based on the abiotic

characteristics, such as: luminosity, soil moisture and

temperature, as well as biotic characteristics, floristic

composition and the physiognomy of the vegetation itself

based on the results obtained in points 2.3 and 2.4. After the

word habitat, the habitat names were associated with the

characteristics of the canopy, the configurative environment,

the effect of the seasons on vegetation and the dominant tree

and grass species.

2.7. Data Analysis

Data analysis was conducted using Microsoft Office

Excel 2016, for producing graphs and the calculating the

phytosociological parameters.

We estimated the absolute and relative values of density,

frequency, and dominance as well as the value of importance

(VI) of the species for the tree and shrub strata. Also, the

absolute and relative frequencies for the herbaceous strata

(MULLER-DOMBOIS; ELLEMBERG, 1974) were

calculated in a particular way by the equations described in

the methodology (Table 1).

3. RESULTS

A total of five (5) habitats were classified and described

for the different vegetation formations type present in the

Taratibu Concession, namely, Closed Seasonal Riverine

Habitat Siphonochilus and Rowsonia (HFRSR), Semi-enclosed

Bamboo and Milletia Deciduous Forest Habitat (HSFCBM),

Open Mountain Habitat, Vellozio-euphorbiaceae - Inselberg

(HAMVE), Semi-open Miombo deciduous forest habitat

(HSAFCM) E and Closed Rain Forest Pouteria Habitat

(HFFPP).

4.1. Closed Seasonal Riverine Habitat

Siphonochilus

and

Rowsonia

(HFRSR)

Location and characterization: located at coordinates S

12º 48'32'', E 39º 41'42'' with an elevation of 325 metres (m)

with a predominance of loose rocks and temporary or

periodic water courses during the wet season.

The habitat presents a forest physiognomy, with a

dominance of the tree and shrub strata and an almost absent

herbaceous stratum due to the greater coverage of the upper

stratum. The trees have non-succulent, leathery and

evergreen leaves (almost always green).

This habitat has a closed canopy with 89% coverage,

average daily temperatures vary from 26.8º C maximum and

25.7º C minimum and periodically flooded soil. It remains

with water throughout the rainy season and dries out

completely in the dry season (Figure 3).

As for the floristic component, the tree stratum is

dominated by the species Rawsonia lucida, Ancylobotrys petersiana