Vegetation, floristic composition and structure of a tropical montane forest in Cameroon

Background: The Rumpi Hills Forest Reserve (RHFR) is a montane forest area in south-western Cameroon. Although RHFR is presumed to be rich in biodiversity and vegetation types, little information exists regarding its floristic composition and vegetation patterns.Objectives: Our goal was to characterise vegetation patterns in the reserve and to understand how elevation influences distributions and diversity of species. We aimed to provide a first detailed plant species inventory for this important forest area, as well as basic information on forest structure.Method: We characterised floristic composition and vegetation patterns of the reserve in 25 1-ha plots along an elevational gradient from 50 m to 1778 m. In each plot, trees and lianas of diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥ 10 cm were measured; shrubs 10 cm were measured in nested plots of 0.01 ha.Results: In all, 16 761 trees, shrubs and lianas with dbh ≥ 1 cm were censused, representing 71 families, 279 genera and 617 morphospecies. Floristic composition ranged from 94 to 132 species, with a mean of 117.5 species per hectare in lowland forest (50 m – 200 m) and 36–41 species, with a mean of 38.5 species per hectare in montane cloud forest (1600 m – 1778 m) near the summit of Mount Rata. Two-way indicator species analysis classified the 25 plots into six vegetation types corresponding to lowland evergreen rainforest, lowland evergreen rainforest on basalt rocks, middle-elevation evergreen forest, submontane forest, transitional submontane forest and montane cloud forest. In all, 0.006% of the reserve was included in our sample plots. Detrended correspondence analysis highlighted the importance of elevation in shaping vegetation patterns.Conclusion: The RHFR is composed of different vegetation types, which show impressive variation in terms of structure, species composition and diversity. The detailed, fine-scale inventory data obtained in this study could be useful in planning efficient management of this and other montane tropical forests.

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Soil Changes During Secondary Succession in a Tropical Montane Cloud Forest Area

Soil Science Society of America Journal ◽

10.2136/sssaj2004.0130 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 69 (3) ◽

pp. 906-914 ◽

Cited By ~ 64

Author(s):

Angélica Bautista-Cruz ◽

Rafael F. del Castillo

Keyword(s):

Secondary Succession ◽

Cloud Forest ◽

Forest Area ◽

Tropical Montane Cloud Forest ◽

Montane Cloud Forest ◽

Soil Changes

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Floristic composition and structure of an upper montane cloud forest in the Serra da Mantiqueira Mountain Range of Brazil

Acta Botanica Brasilica ◽

10.1590/0102-33062014abb3239 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 456-464 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Patrícia Vieira Pompeu ◽

Marco Aurélio Leite Fontes ◽

Rubens Manoel dos Santos ◽

Paulo Oswaldo Garcia ◽

Talita Alves Batista ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cloud Forest ◽

Floristic Composition ◽

Mountain Range ◽

Montane Cloud Forest ◽

Composition And Structure

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Kupeantha yabassi (Coffeeae- Rubiaceae), a new Critically Endangered shrub species of the Ebo Forest area, Littoral Region, Cameroon

10.1101/2021.03.21.436301 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Maria G. Alvarez-Aguirre ◽

Martin Cheek ◽

Bonaventure Sonké

Keyword(s):

Threatened Species ◽

Forest Area ◽

Critically Endangered ◽

Evergreen Forest ◽

Similar Species ◽

Anthropogenic Pressure ◽

Lowland Forest ◽

Littoral Region ◽

Centre Of Diversity ◽

A New Species

SummaryA new species to science of evergreen forest shrub, Kupeantha yabassi (Coffeeae - Rubiaceae), is described, illustrated, mapped, and compared morphologically with the closely similar species K. pentamera. Restricted so far to a single site in evergreen lowland forest near the Ebo Forest, Yabassi, Littoral Region, Cameroon, this species is Critically Endangered using the IUCN 2012 standard due to habitat clearance driven mainly by agriculture, adding to the growing list of threatened species resulting from anthropogenic pressure on Cameroon forests. A revised key to the six species of Kupeantha is presented. Two distinct geographical and ecological species groupings within the genus are identified and discussed. Notes are given on other narrowly endemic and threatened species in the Ebo forest area, a threatened centre of diversity important for conservation in Littoral Region.

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Floristic composition and species diversity of urban vegetation in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa

Bothalia ◽

10.4102/abc.v47i1.2244 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 47 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mamokete N.V. Dingaan ◽

Pieter J. Du Preez

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Species Diversity ◽

Correspondence Analysis ◽

Detrended Correspondence Analysis ◽

Floristic Composition ◽

Urban Vegetation ◽

Vegetation Types ◽

Twinspan Classification ◽

Plant Families ◽

Threatened Habitats

Background: Urban vegetation studies have, until recently, been relatively uncommon in South Africa. Yet, natural urban vegetation is constantly competing with and greatly impacted by urbanisation. This vegetation requires proper management and needs to be conserved because it is an important ecological infrastructure.Objectives: The objectives of the study were to identify the main vegetation types within the urban open spaces in the Bloemfontein metropolitan area, and to determine the floristic composition and species diversity of the area.Methods: A total of 248 relevés were classified using the TWINSPAN classification algorithm, and relationships between the communities and the environment were determined with the Detrended Correspondence Analysis and Canonical Correspondence Analysis computer programs. Species diversity was partitioned into α-, β- and γ-diversities.Results: Within the study area, 77 plant families and 248 genera, with a total of 376 plant species, were identified. The largest families are Poaceae, Asteraceae and Fabaceae, whereas the largest genera are Eragrostis, Aristida, Cyperus, Asparagus and Senecio. The study area has high species richness and the most species-rich sites are found adjacent to rivers and streams, and also on the slopes of hills and ridges. The vegetation is classified under five major vegetation types and four sub-units, which show a distinct association with topography and soil texture.Conclusion: The urban vegetation of Bloemfontein is species-rich and should be properly managed and conserved. In particular, the wetlands and rocky outcrops on hills and ridges, which are the most threatened habitats in the study area, need special management.

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TREE SPECIES DIVERSITY, STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS AND CARBON STOCK IN A ONE-HECTARE PLOT OF THE PROTECTION FOREST AREA IN WEST LAMPUNG REGENCY, INDONESIA

REINWARDTIA ◽

10.14203/reinwardtia.v18i1.3574 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Nur Muhammad Heriyanto ◽

Ismayadi Samsoedin ◽

Kuswata Kartawinata

Keyword(s):

Species Diversity ◽

Tree Species ◽

Carbon Stock ◽

Dominant Species ◽

Structural Characteristics ◽

Floristic Composition ◽

Montane Forest ◽

Forest Area ◽

Tree Species Diversity ◽

Protection Forest

HERIYANTO, N. M., SAMSOEDIN, I. & KARTAWINATA, K. 2018. Tree species diversity, structural characteristics and carbon stock in a one-hectare plot of the protection forest area in West Lampung Regency, Indonesia. Reinwardtia 18(1): 1‒18. — A study of species composition, structure and carbon stock in the lower montane forest in the Register 45B of the protection forest area in the Tri Budi Syukur District, Kebun Tebu Village, West Lampung Regency, Lampung Province was conducted in September 2016. The objective of the study was to undertake quantified measurements of floristic composition and structure of and carbon storage in the lower montane forest at 965 m asl in the protection forest area. A one hectare plot (100 m × 100 m) was established randomly. The plot was further divided into 25 subplots of 20 m × 20 m each to record trees. Quadrats of 5 m × 5 m for saplings and subquadrats of 2 m × 2 m for seedlings were nested in the tree subplots. We recorded 247 trees with diameter at breast height ≥ 10 cm representing 25 species and 19 families, with a total basal area of 59.14 m2. Overall including seedlings and saplings we recorded 31 species. The species richness was very low due to disturbances, and was the lowest compared to that of other forests in Sumatra, Kalimantan and Java. The dominant species in terms of importance values (IV) were Litsea cf. fulva (IV=77.02), Lithocarpus reinwardtii (IV=45.21) and Altingia excelsa (IV=26.95). Dominant species in seedling and sapling stages were Polyalthia lateriflora (IV=27.54) and Memecylon multiflorum (IV=41.58). Biomass and carbon stock of trees with DBH ≥ 10 cm was 50.87 ton/ha and 25.43 ton C/ha, respectively. Regeneration was poor. Structurally and floristically the forest was a developing disturbed forest and the composition will remain unchanged in many years to come. The successions leading to terminal communities similar to the original conditions would be very slow and should be assisted and enhanced by applying ecological restoration through planting tree species native to the site.

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Epiphyte assemblages respond to host life-form independently of variation in microclimate in lower montane cloud forest in Panama

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467414000492 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 30 (6) ◽

pp. 625-628 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jennifer C. Sanger ◽

James B. Kirkpatrick

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Life Form ◽

Cloud Forest ◽

Light Level ◽

Montane Forest ◽

Vascular Epiphytes ◽

Montane Cloud Forest ◽

Tree Ferns ◽

Host Life ◽

Light Profiles

Abstract:We investigated the effects of host tree on epiphyte diversity, controlling for microclimate. We measured the light profiles of the lower trunks of 20 individuals, each from three host groups (tree ferns, dicots, palms) occupying the understorey in a tropical montane forest in Panama. The per cent cover and species richness of vascular and non-vascular epiphytes were surveyed on the lower trunks of each understorey host. Light varied considerably between trees (5–21% total transmitted light) but mean light level did not vary between types of host. Light was not significant as a covariate with host in any model. Tree ferns had higher covers than dicots and palms of filmy ferns (15%, 0.02% and 0.2%), other ferns (7%, 0% and 0.5%) and other vascular epiphytes (16%, 3% and 3.4%), and greater species richness of vascular epiphytes (filmy ferns: 3, 0.4 and 0.5; other ferns: 2, 0.2 and 0; other vascular: 7, 2 and 2). Dicots had a higher cover of liverworts (53%) than palms (18%) and tree ferns (27%). Palms and tree ferns were the compositional extremes. We conclude that the differences in species composition and cover between the three host groups relate better to physical differences between hosts than differences in light climate.

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A comprehensive calibration and validation of SWAT-T using local datasets, evapotranspiration and streamflow in a tropical montane cloud forest area with permeable substrate in central Veracruz, Mexico

Journal of Hydrology ◽

10.1016/j.jhydrol.2021.126781 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 603 ◽

pp. 126781

Author(s):

Sergio Miguel López-Ramírez ◽

Alex Mayer ◽

Leonardo Sáenz ◽

Lyssette Elena Muñoz-Villers ◽

Friso Holwerda ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cloud Forest ◽

Forest Area ◽

Tropical Montane Cloud Forest ◽

Calibration And Validation ◽

Montane Cloud Forest

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Kupeantha yabassi (Coffeeae-Rubiaceae), a new Critically Endangered shrub species of the Ebo Forest area, Littoral Region, Cameroon

Kew Bulletin ◽

10.1007/s12225-021-09982-z ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Maria G. Alvarez-Aguirre ◽

Martin Cheek ◽

Bonaventure Sonké

Keyword(s):

Threatened Species ◽

Forest Area ◽

Critically Endangered ◽

Evergreen Forest ◽

Similar Species ◽

Anthropogenic Pressure ◽

Lowland Forest ◽

Littoral Region ◽

Centre Of Diversity ◽

A New Species

SummaryA new species to science of evergreen forest shrub, Kupeantha yabassi M.G.Alvarez & Cheek (Coffeeae - Rubiaceae), is described, illustrated and compared morphologically with the closely similar species K. pentamera. Restricted so far to a single site in evergreen lowland forest near the Ebo Forest, Yabassi, Littoral Region, Cameroon, this species is Critically Endangered using the IUCN 2012 standard due to habitat clearance driven mainly by agriculture, adding to the growing list of threatened species resulting from anthropogenic pressure on Cameroon forests. A revised key to the six species of Kupeantha is presented. Two distinct geographical and ecological species groupings within the genus are identified and discussed. Notes are given on other narrowly endemic and threatened species in the Ebo Forest area, a threatened centre of diversity important for conservation in the Littoral Region.

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