Successional sequence of forest types in a disturbed dry forest reserve in southern Benin, West Africa

2001 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 525-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHRISTIAN NANSEN ◽  
ATTI TCHABI ◽  
WILLIAM G. MEIKLE

Human pressure on forest resources in southern Benin has led to a dramatic reduction and disturbance of natural forest patches. The largest remaining forest reserve in southern Benin is the Lama forest, which is known to be a reserve for many endangered species and situated in the boundary between dry forest and savanna. From cluster analysis and hierarchical classification of tree species composition, five forest types were identified in the Lama forest, and ordination techniques were used to determine to what extent these forest types were associated with physiognomic tree characteristics. The geographical position of vegetation plots was used to examine the spatial distribution of the identified forest types. The forest types were interpreted as levels in a successional sequence ranging from either disturbed forest or formerly cultivated farmland to dense forest. Based on the outlined succession sequence it was suggested that reforestation should focus on establishment of Anogeissus leiocarpus, Albizia zygia, Lannea nigritana, Ficus exasperata and Lonchocarpus sericeus as these tree species are associated with the initial forest types.

Author(s):  
Maame Esi Hammond ◽  
Radek Pokorný ◽  
Daniel Okae-Anti ◽  
Augustine Gyedu ◽  
Irene Otwuwa Obeng

AbstractThe positive ecological interaction between gap formation and natural regeneration has been examined but little research has been carried out on the effects of gaps on natural regeneration in forests under different intensities of disturbance. This study evaluates the composition, diversity, regeneration density and abundance of natural regeneration of tree species in gaps in undisturbed, intermittently disturbed, and disturbed forest sites. Bia Tano Forest Reserve in Ghana was the study area and three gaps each were selected in the three forest site categories. Ten circular subsampling areas of 1 m2 were delineated at 2 m spacing along north, south, east, and west transects within individual gaps. Data on natural regeneration < 350 cm height were gathered. The results show that the intensity of disturbance was disproportional to gap size. Species diversity differed significantly between undisturbed and disturbed sites and, also between intermittently disturbed and disturbed sites for Simpson’s (1-D), Equitability (J), and Berger–Parker (B–P) indices. However, there was no significant difference among forest sites for Shannon diversity (H) and Margalef richness (MI) indices. Tree species composition on the sites differed. Regeneration density on the disturbed site was significantly higher than on the two other sites. Greater abundance and density of shade-dependent species on all sites identified them as opportunistic replacements of gap-dependent pioneers. Pioneer species giving way to shade tolerant species is a natural process, thus make them worst variant in gap regeneration.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 360-369
Author(s):  
Devi A.G. PRASAD ◽  
Shwetha BHARATHI

Sacred groves are one of the finest examples of informal way of conserving the forest wealth. Baseline data collection of their diversity, distribution and regeneration capacity becomes necessary for the management and conservation of these undisturbed forest patches. In this context, the present investigation was carried out using random quadrat method in the sacred groves of Virajpet, Karnataka, India. A total of 132 tree species belonging to 113 genera and 45 families were identified within five sacred groves. Higher basal area (51.73-85.65 m2/ha) and tree density (453.33-515.9 individuals/ha) were observed as compared to other forests of Western Ghats region. The present investigation has revealed a healthy regeneration of tree species. Seedling and sapling composition differed to some extent from the mature tree species composition which could be used in predicting the future possibilities. Protection and conservation of such sacred groves should be of interest, for better regeneration of the rich diversity they harbour.


Author(s):  
Nuttaluck Khamyong ◽  
◽  
Prasit Wangpakapattanawong ◽  
Sutthathorn Chairuangsri ◽  
Angkhana Inta ◽  
...  

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob Godfrey Agea ◽  
Clement Akais Okia ◽  
Refaat Atalla Ahmed Abohassan ◽  
James Munga Kimondo ◽  
Susan B. Tumwebaze ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Do Thi Ngoc Le ◽  
Nguyen Van Thinh ◽  
Nguyen The Dung ◽  
Ralph Mitlöhner

The effects of disturbance regimes on the spatial patterns of the five most abundant species were investigated in three sites in a tropical forest at Xuan Nha Nature Reserve, Vietnam. Three permanent one-ha plots were established in undisturbed forest (UDF), lightly disturbed forest (LDF), and highly disturbed forest (HDF). All trees ≥5 cm DBH were measured in twenty-five 20 m × 20 m subplots. A total of 57 tree species belonging to 26 families were identified in the three forest types. The UDF had the highest basal area (30 m2 ha−1), followed by the LDF (17 m2 ha−1) and the HDF (13.0 m2 ha−1). The UDF also had the highest tree density (751 individuals ha−1) while the HDF held the lowest (478 individuals ha−1). Across all species, there were 417 “juveniles,” 267 “subadults,” and 67 “adults” in the UDF, while 274 “juveniles,” 230 “subadults,” and 36 “adults” were recorded in the LDF. 238 “juveniles,” 227 “subadults,” and 13 “adults” were obtained in the HDF. The univariate and bivariate data with pair- and mark-correlation functions of intra- and interspecific interactions of the five most abundant species changed in the three forest types. Most species indicated clumping or regular distributions at small scale, but a high ratio of negative interspecific small-scale associations was recorded in both the LDF and HDF sites. These were, however, rare in the UDF.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernard Eromosele Omomoh ◽  
Gbenga Festus Akomolafe ◽  
Leah Spencer Brown ◽  
VAJ Adekunle

Abstract Key message: The Enrichment Plantation of Akure Forest Reserve is one of the forests currently experiencing a 17-year-long post-disturbance following deforestation and fragmentation in Nigeria. Context: To better understand the contribution of enrichment planting on forest regeneration and restoration, when the Enrichment Plantation after 17 years of post-disturbance was examined. Aims: We studied the recruitment drive of aboveground and undergrowth stands of an Enrichment Plantation in the tropical forest reserve. We assess the trees diversity, species compositions, species richness, and growth forms of the vegetations. Methods: A total of 3(50m x50m) plots were sampled. A total of 47 aboveground tree species and 45 undergrowth stands from Enrichment Plantation were identified. A statistical analysis were used to quantified the data obtained from this resultsResults: The result shows an increase in the diversity and an even distribution of the species of the aboveground forest trees, compared to the undergrowth stands. Conversely, the aboveground forest trees have lower species richness as compared to the level of undergrowth stands. The sapling density was significantly higher than the aboveground tree of the. It was also observed that the aboveground forest trees and undergrowth stands are somewhat similar in species compositions, which implies that sapling recruitment is a key determinant of the tree species composition of the forest.Conclusion: It is then concluded that the method adopted for restoration encouraged species diversity in this successional forest among the aboveground trees species and undergrowth.


Our Nature ◽  
1970 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Nanda ◽  
H.M. Prakasha ◽  
Y.L. Krishna Murthy ◽  
H.S. Suresh

Varying with altitude and rainfall of two forest types of tropical forest were studied. Community wide pattern in both vegetative and reproductive phenophases among various tree species of Bhadra wildlife sanctuary, Karnataka is reported here. Leaf initiation peaks in the month of April in dry forest, after leaf less period of 1-2 months, in evergreen forest leaf initiation peaks in the month of January simultaneously with leaf senescence. Flower initiation begins from January till June with a peak in April in dry forest. Evergreen forest starts from November to march with a peak in January and February. Fruit maturation in dry forest starts from March to December with a peak in August and November, in evergreen forest from January to July with a peak in April.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/on.v9i1.5738


2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (11) ◽  
pp. 2199-2207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Kennard

The effects of three site-preparation treatments (high-intensity burn, low-intensity burn, and mechanical cleaning with machetes and chainsaws) on the regeneration of commercial tree species, composition and structure of competing vegetation, and soil chemical and structural properties were evaluated in a seasonally dry forest in southeast Bolivia. Six years after controlled burns, the high-intensity burn treatment had the both the highest density and the tallest individuals of shade-intolerant commercial tree species. Competing vegetation was also less dominant in the high-intensity burn treatment relative to other treatments. However, high-intensity burns were not beneficial for commercial tree species with shade-tolerant or intermediate regeneration. Soil analyses revealed that certain changes in soil texture and soil chemistry (e.g., Ca and Mg concentrations and cation exchange capacity) caused by high-intensity burns persisted 6 years after the fires. These findings confirm that this suite of shade-intolerant commercial species requires very intense disturbances for their regeneration. However, several ecological, economic, and social barriers currently preclude the management-scale application of prescribed fire in Bolivia. More research is needed on cost-effective treatments to improve regeneration.


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