Blog Post 7

Hypothesis: As elevation increases, the abundance of coffee plants will decrease, correlating with a decline in temperature and a change in soil moisture retention capacity.

To strengthen the theoretical basis of my research, I draw insights from a study conducted in southwest Ethiopia by Getachew et al. (2022), titled “Shade tree canopy cover affects coffee plant traits across elevations in coffee farms in southwest Ethiopia,” published in the Nordic Journal of Botany. My research is based on the ecological concepts of niche differentiation and species-environment relationships, which are explored in depth in the Ethiopian study. Getachew et al. (2022) investigate the impact of shade tree canopy cover on coffee plant traits across Ethiopian elevation gradients. They investigate how the presence of shade trees affects coffee plants by acting as a proxy for microclimate and environmental conditions. Similarly, in the Blue Mountains, I’m investigating how elevation affects coffee plant distribution, taking into account microclimate, temperature, and soil conditions.

Both research projects, despite being in different geographical locations, share an interest in ecological processes:

• In Ethiopia, the presence of shade trees alters the microenvironment and influences coffee plant traits. Elevation gradients create diverse niches in the Blue Mountains, influencing coffee plant distribution.
• Getachew et al. (2022) discuss how coffee plants adapt to different shade conditions. In my research, I’m looking into how coffee plants adjust to different elevations.

Keywords: Elevation Gradient, Coffee Plant Adaption, Niche Dynamics 

Getachew, M., Verheyen, K., Tolessa, K., Ayalew, B., Hylander, K., Tack, A., Garedew, W., Bauters, M., Boeckx, P., & De Frenne, P. (2022). Shade tree canopy cover affects coffee plant traits across elevations in coffee farms in southwest Ethiopia. Nordic Journal of Botany, 2022(2), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1111/njb.03383