Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gvvz8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T23:43:26.804Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Plant phenology in relation to water availability: herbaceous and woody species in the savannas of northern Cameroon

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

J. Seghieri ,
Ch. Floret  and
R. Pontanier
J. Seghieri
Affiliation:
ORSTOM, BP. 11416, Niamey, Niger
Ch. Floret
Affiliation:
CNRS-CEFE, BP. 5051, 34 033 Montpellier, France et ORSTOM, BP. 1386 Dakar, Senegal
R. Pontanier
Affiliation:
ORSTOM, 1004 El Menzah, BP. 434, Tunis, Tunisia
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Phenological patterns of herbaceous and woody plants well represented in the Sudano-Sahelian savannas of northern Cameroon were studied in relation to water availability in three contrasted soil types. Mean annual precipitation in this region is 800 mm, entirely restricted to the period May-June to September-October, but redistribution of rainwater by varying soil substrates leads to considerable heterogeneity in available water resources for plants. Results are discussed in terms of probable competition for water resources among co-occurring plants and the adaptations shown by observed patterns to prevailing environmental conditions. Water stress is seen to be a limiting factor to plant growth but does not constitute the sole trigger for the phenological phases observed, nor is it the principal factor responsible for the preponderance of annual species in the herbaceous stratum.

Keywords

adaptationnorthern Cameroonphenological strategiessavannawater resourceswater stress
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 11 , Issue 2 , May 1995 , pp. 237 - 254
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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

Aronson, J., Kigel, J., Shmida, A. & Klein, J. 1992. Adaptive phenology of desert and Mediterranean populations of annual plants grown with and without water stress. Oecologia 89:17–26.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Aronson, J., Ovalle, C., Aguilera, L. & Leon, P. 1994. Phenology of an immigrant savanna tree (Acacia caven, Leguminosae) in the Mediterranean climate zone of Chile. Journal of Arid Environments 27:55–70.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bille, J. C. 1975. Analyse mathématique des relevés de végétation en zone sahélienne. Pp. 333–334 in Actes du collogue de Bamako (Mali) sur l'‘Inventaire et cartographie des pâturages tropicaux africains’, 3–8 mars 1975, CIPEA, Addis-Abeba.Google Scholar
Brabant, P. & Gavaud, M. 1985. Les sols et les ressources en terre du Nord-Cameroun. Carte et notice explicative. No. 103, MESRES-IRA, Yaoundé (Cameroun), ORSTOM ed., Paris. 285 pp.Google Scholar
Breman, H. 1991. Les pâturages naturels. Pp. 15–22 in Breman H. & de Ridder N. Manuel sur les pâturages des pays sahéliens. ACCT-CTA-KARTHALA, Paris-Wageningen. 485 pp.Google Scholar
Burgess, T. L. & Shmida, A. 1989. Succulent growth forms in arid environments. Pp. 386–396 in Whitehead, E. E., Hutchinson, C. F., Timmermann, B. N. & Varady, R. G. (eds). Arid lands: today and tomorrow. Westview Press, Boulder.Google Scholar
Casenave, A. & Valentin, Ch. 1989. Les états de surface de la zone sahélienne. Influence sur l'infiltration. ORSTOM, Coll. Didactics, Paris. 229 pp.Google Scholar
Cisse, A. M. 1986. Dynamique de la strate herbacée des pâturages de la zone sud-sahélienne. Production des Pâturages Sahéliens, University of Wageningen. 211 pp.Google Scholar
Crawley, M. J. 1986. Plant ecology. Blackwell Scientific Publications. 496 pp.Google Scholar
Donfack, P. 1991. Etude de la dynamique de la végétation après abandon de la culture au Nord-Cameroun. Thesis of 3rd cycle, Faculté des Sciences, University of Yaoundé (Cameroon). 192 pp.Google Scholar
Duranton, J. F. 1978. Etude phénologique de groupements herbeux en zone tropicale semi-aride. I. Méthodologie. Adansonia, série 2, 18:183–197.Google Scholar
Evenari, M. 1985. Adaptations of plants and animals to the desert environment. Pp. 79–92 in Evenari, M., Noy-Meir, R. I. & Goodall, D. W. (eds). Hot deserts and arid shrublands. Ecosystems of the World 12 B. Elsevier, Amsterdam. 451 pp.Google Scholar
Evenari, M. & Gutterman, Y. 1976. Observations on the secondary succession of three plant communities in the Negev Desert, Israel. I. Artemisietum herbae albae. Pp. 57–86 in Jacques, R. (ed.). Etude de la biologie végétale. CNRS, Paris.Google Scholar
Floret, Ch. & Pontanier, R. 1984. Aridité climatique, aridité édaphique. Bulletin Sociélé Botanique Française 131, Actualité Botanique. 1984 (2/3/4):265–275.Google Scholar
Fournier, A. 1990. Phénologie, croissance et production végétale dans quelqucs rares savanes d'Afrique de l'ouest. Variation selon un gradient de sécheresse. ORSTOM. (ed.). Coll. Etudes et Theses, Paris. 477 pp.Google Scholar
Fox, G. A. 1990. Drought and evolution of flowering time in desert annuals. American Journal of Botany 77:1508–1518.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Frankie, G. W., Baker, H. G. & Opler, P. A. 1974. Tropical plant phenology: applications for studies in community ecology. Pp. 287–296 in Lieth H. Phenology and seasonality modeling. Ecological Studies 8. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. 444 pp.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Granier, P. & Cabanis, Y. 1975. Note sur la phénologie des Graminées de savane. Revue d'Elevage et de Medicine Vélérinaire en Pays Tropicaux. 28:79–82.Google Scholar
Grouzis, M. & Sicot, M. 1980. Une méthode d'étude phénologique de populations d'espèces ligneuses sahéliennes: Influence de quelques facteurs écologiques. Pp. 231–237 in Le Houerou, H. N. (ed.). Les fourrages ligneux en Afrique. Etat actuel des conhaissanccs. Colloque sur les fourrages ligneux en Afrique, Addis-Abeba. 481 pp.Google Scholar
Hillel, D. 1988. L'eau et le sol. Principes et processus physiques. Academia ed. Louvain. 294 pp.Google Scholar
Hutchinson, J. & Dalziel, J. M. 1954–1972. Flora of west tropical Africa. Crown Publisher, London.Google Scholar
Jackson, L. E. & Bliss, L. C. 1984. Phenology and water relations of three plant life forms in a dry tree-line meadow. Ecology 65:1302–1314.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jackson, L. E. & Roy, J. 1986. Growth patterns of Mediterranean annual and perennial grasses under simulated rainfall regimes of southern France and California. Acta Oecologia, Oecologia Plantarum 7:191–212.Google Scholar
Kemp, P. R. 1983. Phenological patterns of Chihuahuan desert plant in relation to the timing of water availability. Journal of Ecology 73:427–436.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Le Floc'h, E. 1969. Caractérisation morphologique des stades et phases phénologiqucs dans les communautés végétales. Thesis of 3rd cycle, Université des Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc, Montpellier II, CNRS-CEPE doc. no. 45. 132 pp.Google Scholar
Letouzey, R. 1985. Carte phytogéographique du Cameroun au 11500.000. 1) Domaine sahélien et soudanien. IRA (Herbier National), Yaoundé – Institut de la Carte International de la Végétation, Toulouse.Google Scholar
Lieth, H. 1974. Phenology and seasonality modeling. Ecological Studies 8. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. 444 pp.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Menaut, J. C. 1983. The vegetation of African savannas. Pp. 109–149 in Bourlière, F. (ed.). Tropical savannas. Ecosystems of the World 13. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam, Oxford, New York. 730 pp.Google Scholar
Menaut, J. C. & Cesar, J. 1979. Structure and primary productivity of Lamto savanna, Ivory Coast. Ecology 60:1197–1210.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Merlier, H. 1972. Synthèse des études phénologiques des espèces de jachère du Centre-Sénégal. Agronomie Tropicale 27:1229–1252.Google Scholar
Milner, C., & Hugues, R. E. 1968. Methods for measurement of the primary production of grassland. IBP Handbook No. 6, Blackwell Scientific Publications. 70 pp.Google Scholar
Monasterio, M. & Sarmiento, G. 1976. Phenological strategies of plant species in the tropical savanna and semi-deciduous forest of the Venezuelan Llanos, Journal of Biogeography 3:225–256.Google Scholar
Nouvellet, Y. 1987. Fiches techniques de diverses essences de la région de Maroua. MESRES-IRA-CRF, Maroua (Cameroun). 73 pp.Google Scholar
Noy-Meir, I. & Walker, B. H. 1986. Stability and resilience in rangelands. Pp. 21–25 in Proceedings of the second international rangelands congress. Australian Academy of Science, Canberra.Google Scholar
Ovalle, C. & Avendano, J. 1987. Interaction de la strate ligneuse avec la strate herbacée dans les formations d'Acacia caven (Mol.) Hook & Arn. au Chili. I. Influence de l'arbre sur la composition floristique, la production et la phénologie de la strate herbacée. Acta Oecologia, Oecologia Plantarum 8:385–404.Google Scholar
Piot, J., Nebout, J. P., Nanot, R. & Toutain, B. 1980. Utilisation des ligneux sahéliens par les herbivores domestiques. Etude quantitative dans la zone sud de la mare d'Oursi (Haute-Volta). Groupement d'études et de recherches pour le développement et l'agronomie tropicale – CFT-IEMVT, Nogent sur Marne, Maison Alfort. 213 pp.Google Scholar
Pontanier, R., Moukouri Kuoh, H., Sayol, R., Seiny-Boukar, L. & Thebe, B. 1984. Comportement hydrique et sensibilité à l'érosion de quelques sols du Nord-Cameroun. MESRES-IRA (CNRS)-IRGM (CRH), Maroua (Cameroun). 75 pp.Google Scholar
Poupon, H. 1979. Etude de la phénologie de la strate ligneuse à Fété-Olé (Sénégal septentrional) de 1971 à 1977. Bulletin IFAN, tome 41, série A, no. 1:44–85.Google Scholar
Prins, H. H. T. 1988. Plant phenology patterns in Lake Mangara National Park, Tanzania. Journal of Biogeography 15:465–480.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sarmiento, G. & Monasterio, M. 1983. Life forms and phenology. Pp. 79–108 in Bourlière, F. (ed.). Tropical savannas. Ecosystems of the World 13. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam, Oxford, New York. 730 pp.Google Scholar
Schaffer, W. M. & Gadgil, M. D. 1975. Selection for optimal life history in plants. Pp. 142–153 in Cody, M. L. & Diamond, J. M. (eds). Ecology and evolution of communities. Belkenap Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Seghieri, J. 1990. Dynamique saisonnière d'une savant soudano-sahélienne au Nord-Cameroun. Thesis of Doctorat, Université des Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc, Montpellier II. 200 pp.Google Scholar
Seiny-Boukar, L. 1990. Régime hydrique et érodibilité des sols au nord du Cameroun. Propositions d'aménagement. Thesis of 3rd cycle, Université Yaoundé (Cameroun). 230 pp.Google Scholar
Seiny-Boukar, L., Floret, Ch. & Pontanier, R. 1992. Plant soil water relationship in a Sahelo-Sudanian savanna: the case of vertisol in northern Cameroon. Canadian Journal of Soil Science. In press.Google Scholar
Thebe, B. 1987. Hydrodynamique de quelques sols du nord-Cameroun, bassin versant de Mouda. Contribution à l'étude des transfers d'échelle. Thesis of 3rd cycle, Université des Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc, Montpellier. II. 306 pp.Google Scholar
Walker, D. H. & Noy-Meir, I. 1982. Aspects of stability and resilience of savanna ecosystems. Pp. 556–589 in Huntley, B. J. & Walker, B. H. (eds). Ecology of tropical savannas. Ecological Studies 42. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York. 663 pp.CrossRefGoogle Scholar