Author(s)

Miraji Hossein^1*, Emanuel Jacob²

¹Department of Chemistry, School of Physical Sciences, College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania.
²Physics Department, School of Physical Sciences, College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania.

Physical and mechanical disturbances which interfere with shrubs survival are very common in semi-arid regions. Biomechanical adoptive features of these shrubs therefore account for their competitive and survival possibilities. Current study investigated physico-ecological properties of five stem cuttings of selected dominating shrubs from Dodoma Municipal that explain their physical resilience. Experimental findings revealed that Acacia nilotica (AN) had the best mechanical adaptations by having the highest values of Young’s modulus of elasticity (E) 332.61 kPa, percentage critical height (PCH) 6.00, whole stem flexibility (WSF) 0.1, flexural stiffness (FS) 7.46 Nm2 as well as angle of deflection (AD). Ziziphus mucronata (ZM) was next to AN, followed by Grewia bicolor (GB) then Acacia tortilis (AT). Boscia grandiflora (BG) had the least mechanical adaptations with the lowest E of 20.94 kPa, PCH of 4.00, WSF of 0.09 as well as FS of 2.90 Nm2. This implied Acacia nilotica having the best ecological adaptations in the semi-arid region while Boscia grandiflora had the least adaptive feature compared to the rest.

Plant Ecology, Biomechanical, Shrubs, Stem Flexibility, Flexural Stiffness, UDOM

Hossein, M. and Jacob, E. (2015) Bio-Mechanical Investigation on the Physical Resilience of Selected Dominating Shrubs in Semi-Arid Region of Dodoma. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 3, 136-142. doi: 10.4236/jbm.2015.311018.