1. DNA polymorphism, allozyme diversity and biomass of Cyperus papyrus L. in Kenya’s wetlands By Taita Terer Promoter: Prof. Dr. Ludwig Triest Laboratory of General Botany & Management

2. INTRODUCTION  Wetland definition  The 1971 Ramsar convention defined wetlands as areas of marsh, fen, peat land or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salty including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tides does not exceed six meters.  Papyrus swamps are important tropical wetlands.

3. Cont…  Papyrus plant description  Morphologically it is plant with bluntly triangular stem, long sharp-keeled leaves and grows up to an average height of 4-5 m.  Taxonomically it is a monocot (Cyperaceae)  It is one of the highly productive plants with biomass in excess of 6000g/m 2 /year.  It reproduce both vegetatively (rhizomes) and sexually (seeds).

4. Papyrus plants

5. Cont…  Distribution  It is the largest sedge in the world and an indigenous aquatic macrophyte to African continent and Israel.  In Kenya it is a dominant feature of Lake Victoria, Rift Valley region and streams draining into Tana River in Central Kenya.  Generally it grows along the river banks (e.g. in Ruiru), shores of the lake (e.g. Naivasha), at the mouth of rivers (e.g. Nyando) and groundwater fed (e.g. Amboseli).

6. Cont…  Importance and uses  Ecological fucntions  Important support for biodiversity (water plants, waterfowls, breeding ground for native fish).  Controls soil erosion and trap sediments.  Reduces pollution (nutrient sink).  Socio-economic uses  Use for roofing houses  Source of energy  Household furniture

7. Sofa set

8. Cont…  Sources of disturbance  Trampling.  Cattle grazing.  Harvesting.  Cultivation.  Direct impact on wetland vegetation  Resilience (biomass regrowth.  Reproduction (clonal versus sexual).  Burning ( see photo below).

9. Cutting and burning

10. OBJECTIVES  The objectives of this study were:  To document from the existing data and primary information the biogeographical distribution of papyrus plants in Kenya.  To estimate the standing above-ground biomass in different wetland types.  To assess the genetic diversity and structure of papyrus under different geographical locations, wetland sizes and disturbances.

11. 1. R. Kibos 2. R. Nyando 3. R. Sondu 4. Loboi swamp 5. Ruiru River banks 6. L. Naivasha 7. Amboseli swamp Mombasa Nairobi L. Victoria KENYA 0° L. Turkana 1 3 2 4 5 6 7

12. MATERIALS AND METHODS  Biomass measurement design Height Culm circumference 40X Old MatureYoung 6 Wetlands 3 Quadrants Fresh & Dry weight Random

13. Cont…  Genetic diversity sampling design 7 Wetlands (ca. 350 clones) 40 – 60 clones (GPS) Disturbed areasUndisturbed areas 2 cm stems Fresh transport to VUB- 80°CExtraction

14. Cont…  Laboratory analysis  Biomass  Samples were dried first in the sun for 2-3 days and oven-dried to constant weight at 60-85 °C.  Dry weight measurements were carried out for >720 individual plants taken from all the sites.  Genetic diversity  Electrophoresis was run for allozyme and PCR for DNA polymorphism.

15. PRELIMINARY RESULTS  Laboratory analysis (still in progress)  Selection of Isonzymes  A total of 17 isonzymes were screened.  Polymorphic isonzymes are:GOT-AAT ADH,GDH, EST & SDH.

16. SDH reveals clonal diversity  10 samples from River Sondu.  10 samples from River Kibos.

17. WAY FORWARD  Further analysis  Enzyme polymorphism (02.2004). Of 360 samples collected for genetic diversity analysis, only 250 have been analysed. The results obtained will be used to determine:  Heterozygosity (genetic diversity).  Hierarchical F-statistics.  Genetic distance among the 7 populations.  Clonality using multilocus genotypes.  Spatial autocorrelation in each population.

18. WAY FORWARD  DNA fragment analysis (02-07.2004).  Regional diversity  Local clonality  Biomass (02-05.2004).  Relationship between culms girth circumference and biomass will be determined and regression graphs drawn for each study site.

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