Screening Some Parameters of the C3 Species and C4 Species Influencing their Distribution along the Altitudinal Gradient in arid and Semi arid Ecosystems of Western Kenya

Abstract

Studiesof the parameters determining the mechanism of photosynthesis and theirimpacton the distribution of the plant species has been reported in literature \ in the Poaceae and Cyperaceae groups. Novel observations Oft the kranz leaf anatomycontinue to be reported as variable and that the mechanism can carry out biochemical and physiological functions without the initial recorded leaf anatomicalpartitioning. Climatic factors influencing the C3 system, CAM, and C4 systems partitioning along the elevation regimes are much reported in the monocots.However, research to fill the knowledge gaps in the C4 and C3 dicot groupsespecially in the arid and semi-arid and I or salin, e regions of the tropics is warranted. The data collected would be useful for comparison with existing knowledgeto predict the future abundance distribution and bioproductivity fixing mechanismdone in the varied conditions. Further, the studies relates well with .the migration of the terrestrial fauna and their impact on the evolution of and expansionof the flora species in the varied environmental regimes. The present study aims to partly fill the missing knowledge gaps to better understand the biologicalcontributions and complexity of the photosynthetic mechanism of the Centrospermeaedicot group of the angiosperms to the field of sciences. The speciesand families of the Centrospermeae are documented to thrive in the semi-arid,arid and lor saline ecosystems in the western regions of Kenya and thereforeprovide viable research population taxa for the present study. Dicots species of the Centrospermeae families were randomly collected at differentaltitudes in the semi-arid and arid ecosystem of Western Kenya region