Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dsjbd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T07:37:35.373Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Litterfall and productivity in a tropical rain forest, Southern Baakundu Forest Reserve, Cameroon

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

Nicholas C. Songwe ,
F. E. Fasehun  and
D. U. U. Okali
Nicholas C. Songwe
Affiliation:
Department of Forest Resources Management, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
F. E. Fasehun
Affiliation:
Department of Forest Resources Management, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
D. U. U. Okali
Affiliation:
Department of Forest Resources Management, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Litterfall was measured monthly in ten 1 m2 traps in each of two 0.25 ha plots in the rain forest of Southern Bakundu Forest Reserve, Cameroon for 18 months from 1 July 1982 to 31 December 1983. Particular emphasis was placed on measuring species contributions and in relating litterfall to climatic factors; the litterfall data were also used in estimating leaf production. Annual litterfall ranged between 12.9 and 14.1 t ha−1 and was partitioned to leaves (61–66%), branches (23–38%), fruits and flowers (8–12%) and ephiphytes (0.8%). Emergents and top canopy species like Desbordesia glaucescens (evergreen) and Ceiba pentandra (deciduous) contributed more litter than the numerically dominant lower storey species like Cola lepidota and Diospyros spp. Litter fell throughout the year but was greatest during the dry season (November to March); litterfall was thus strongly negatively correlated with environmental moisture variables and could be predicted from its linear regression on time of year, throughfall and relative humidity. By correcting the leaf fall data for leaf weight losses due to grazing and re-translocation, leaf production rates of 10.2 to 11.2 t ha−1 yr−1 were estimated for the forest.

Keywords

Cameroonlitterfallproductivityrain forest
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 4 , Issue 1 , February 1988 , pp. 25 - 37
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1988

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

LITERATURE CITED

Bernhard-Reversat, F., Huttel, C. & Lemée, G. 1978. The structure and functioning of evergreen rainforest ecosystems of the Ivory Coast. Pp. 557–574 in Tropical forest ecosystems. Natural Res. Research XIV, UNESCO/UNEP/FAO, Paris.Google Scholar
Bray, J. R. & Gorham, E. 1964. Litter production in forests of the world. Pp. 100–158 in Cragg, J. B. (ed.) Advances in ecological research. Vol. 2. Academic Press, New York.Google Scholar
Geze, B. 1943. Géographie, physique et géologie du Cameroun occidental, II. Géologic. Mémoires du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris. Nouvelle Serie 18:84–219.Google Scholar
Hawkins, P. & Brunt, M. 1965. Soils and ecology of West Cameroon. A report to the Government of West Cameroon. Project Cam/TE/LA FAO, Rome.Google Scholar
Hopkins, B. 1966. Vegetation of Olokemeji Forest Reserve, Nigeria. IV. The litter and soil with special reference to the seasonal changes. Journal of Ecology 54:687–703.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hutchinson, J. & Dalziel, J. M. 1954–1972. Flora of West tropical Africa (2nd edn). Keay, R. W. J. & Hepper, F. N. (eds). Crown Agents, London, England.Google Scholar
John, D. M. 1973. Accumulation and decay of litter and net production of forest in tropical West Africa OIKOS 24:430–435.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kunkel-Westphal, I. & Kunkel, P. 1979. Litter in a Guatemalan primary forest, with details of leaf-shedding by some common tree species. Journal of Ecology 67:665–686.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lam, P. K. S. & Dudgeon, D. 1985. Seasonal effects on litterfall in a Hong Kong mixed forest. Journal of Tropical Ecology 1:55–64.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lamb, M. K. 1960. Working plan for Southern Bakundu Forest Reserve. Forestry Department, Kumba, Victoria Charge (Unpublished).Google Scholar
Laudelout, H. & Meyer, J. 1954. Les cycles d'éléments minéraux et de matière organique en foret équatorial. Pp. 267–272 in Transactions of the 5th International Congress on Soil Science.Google Scholar
Madge, D. S. 1965. Leaf fall and litter disappearance in a tropical forest. Pedobiologia 5:273–288.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Proctor, J., Anderson, J. M., Fogden, S. C. L. & Vallack, H. W. 1983. Ecological studies in four contrasting lowland rain forests in Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak. II. Litterfall, litter standing crop and preliminary observations on herbivory. Journal of Ecology 71:261–283.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Richards, P. W. 1963. Ecological notes on West African vegetation II. Lowland forest of the Southern Bakundu Forest Reserve. Journal of Ecology 51(1):123–149.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Songwe, N. C. 1984. Litter production and decomposition in a tropical rainforest, Southern Bakundu Forest Reserve, Cameroun, Ph.D. Thesis, Dept. of Forest Resources Management, University of Ibadan.Google Scholar
Taylor, C. J. 1960. Synecology and silvicultrue of Ghana. Thomas Nelson & Sons Ltd, New York. p. 380.Google Scholar
UNESCO 1973. International classification and mapping of vegetation. UNESCO, Paris.Google Scholar
UNESCO 1978. Tropical forest ecosystems. Natural Resources Research XIV pp. 233–248. A state of knowledge report prepared by UNESCO/UNEP/FAO.Google Scholar