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Stand structure and species co-occurrence in mixed and monodominant Central African tropical forests

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

Marie Noël K. Djuikouo ,
Kelvin S.-H. Peh ,
Charlemagne K. Nguembou ,
Jean-Louis Doucet ,
Simon L. Lewis  and
Bonaventure Sonké
Marie Noël K. Djuikouo*
Affiliation:
Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O Box 63, Buea, Cameroon
Kelvin S.-H. Peh
Affiliation:
Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
Charlemagne K. Nguembou
Affiliation:
African Forest Forum, c/o World Agroforestry Centre, P.O Box 30677–00100, Nairobi, Kenya
Jean-Louis Doucet
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Forest Regions, Unit of Forest and Nature Management, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Belgium
Simon L. Lewis
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, University College London, WC1E 3BT, UK School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
Bonaventure Sonké
Affiliation:
Plant Systematic and Ecology Laboratory, Higher Teacher's Training College, University of YaoundéI, P.O. Box 047, Yaoundé, Cameroon
*
1Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract:

We compare forests dominated by Gilbertiodendron dewevrei at the Dja Biosphere Reserve (Cameroon) with adjacent high-diversity mixed forests in terms of tree-species composition and stand structure, in order to understand the co-occurrence of mixed forest tree species in the monodominant forest. A total of 18 1-ha permanent plots were established in the two forest types. In each plot, all trees with dbh ≥10 cm were identified as were those <10 cm dbh within a subsample of 300 m2. Species richness was significantly different between the two forest types. Mixed forest had an average of 109 species ha−1 for trees ≥10 cm dbh and 137 species for trees <10 cm dbh. By contrast, G. dewevrei-dominated forest had an average of 47 species ha−1 (≥10 cm dbh) and 92 species (<10 cm dbh). There was no significant difference in terms of stem density of the trees with dbh <10 cm between the two forests (mixed: 3.7 stems m−2; monodominant: 3.1 stems m−2). As G. dewevrei is a shade-tolerant species that can regenerate under its own shade, its higher stem density and basal area can reduce species richness of an area.

Keywords

DiversityDja Biosphere Reservemixed forestmonodominant forestnatural regenerationstructure
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 30 , Issue 5 , September 2014 , pp. 447 - 455
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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References

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