Abstract:
Mangrove forests occur across a diversity of coastal landforms that influence their structural
development and productivity. Preliminary studies in Kenya indicate that mangroves growing in the
region north and south of Tana River delta have different structural attributes. We hypothesise a close
relationship between mangrove distribution, climate and landform types. Floristic composition of
mangroves along the coast of Kenya was characterised and differences illustrated using non-metric
multidimensional scaling (nMDS). Other structural properties of mangroves such as tree height,
basal area, stand density and standing biomass were also assessed and their differences tested using
analysis of variance (ANOVA). A hierarchical cluster analysis was used to compare mangrove species
based on structural properties. Additionally, a regression fit model was used to investigate the
relationship between mangrove standing biomass and possible drivers of variability. The study
revealed significant differences in mangrove tree diameter, tree height, basal area, stand density and
standing biomass across the sampled sites. High values of structural complexity were observed in
estuarine and deltaic settings with high influence of freshwater input whereas low levels of structural
complexity were observed for peri-urban with direct human influence. Our findings suggest that
structural variability of mangroves in Kenya is highly influenced by geomorphological and climatic
variability along the coast as well as the past and present management regimes of the forest.
