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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*
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: kamdem_marienoel@yahoo.fr

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.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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References

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