Question

Identify the correct sequence of vegetation belts at different altitudes in the equatorial mountains of East Africa in descending order (top of bottom).
1. Lowland Forest, Bamboo Zone, Ericaceous Belt, Afro-Alpine Belt
2. Afro-Alpine belt, Ericaceous Belt, Bamboo Zone, Lowland Forest
3. Afro-Alpine Belt, Ericaceous Belt, Lowland Forest, Bamboo Zone
4. Bamboo Zone, Lowland Forest, Ericaceous Belt, Afro-Alpine Belt

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 2 : Afro-Alpine belt, Ericaceous Belt, Bamboo Zone, Lowland Forest

Afro-Alpine belt

• The highest mountains in equatorial East Africa host a unique vegetation having growth forms that display convergent evolution with plants in South America’s páramo.
• These peaks include the volcanic Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain on the African continent at 19,340 ft asl; Mt. Kenya (17,058 ft asl); Mt. Elgon (14,177 ft); and Mt. Meru (14,977), all on the eastern rift of the East African Rift zone in Kenya and Tanzania, as well as the massive Virunga volcanoes of the western or Albertine rift. 

Ericaceous Belt

• Fire is the most frequent disturbance in the Ericaceous Belt (ca 3000–4300 m.a.s.l.), one of the most important plant communities of tropical African mountains.
• They are also found on the crests and summits of smaller mountains (especially those that are situated close to the ocean or a large lake) or locally on shallow soils within the Afromontane forest belt. Where the ground is not very rocky and has been protected for several years, such as on wetter mountains as the Ruwenzori Mts., almost impenetrable thickets of 3 to 13 m are formed.

Bamboo Zone

• Bamboo zone found above the lowland forest or montane forest.

Lowland Forest

• Lowland forest are dense evergreen forests, extending from about 2200 to 3500 metres.