Research/Project Results

African Savanna/Tropical Rainforest Biomes

Oyugis, Kenya, Africa, Page 6

1.  The plants growth is tied to the rainy season.  They tend to germinate  in, or after the rains and wither as the dry season approaches.

2.  Many plants are biennials, living for 2 seasons.  At the end of the last season they produce their fruit, then wither and die.

3.  Perennial plants maintain growth throughout the seasons.  They are sometimes harvested by humans.  Careful harvesting (cutting back but not removing) actually stimulates growth for the next season.

4.  Little effort is being made by people to plant new plants or replant those that die.  New plants come in from:

       a.  dormant seeds that stay in the soil for long periods of time

       b.  seeds that are dispersed by animals and birds in their droppings.

       c.  wind that may blow seeds into the area

They found that many of the plants in the plot were very useful to people, yet little was being done to insure that the plant community remained healthy.  Further, many of the plants were endangered of disappearing.  Their proposed plan of action is to:

     a.  Establish a garden to conserve and plant endangered species which are of value to man.

     b.  Propagate new plants from these specially grown plants, to increase the total numbers of useful plants.

      c.  Include teachers, students and the community in the planning and development of this new garden.

The students will be doing a follow up study this winter to elaborate on what they have already learned.