scholarly journals Stand Structure, Diversity and Regeneration Status of Woody Species in Open and Exclosed Dry Woodland Sites around <i>Molapo</i> Farming Areas of the Okavango Delta, Northeastern Botswana

2015 ◽  
Vol 05 (04) ◽  
pp. 313-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Neelo ◽  
Demel Teketay ◽  
Keotshephile Kashe ◽  
Wellington Masamba
Koedoe ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle J. Tedder ◽  
Kevin P. Kirkman ◽  
Craig D. Morris ◽  
Winston S.W. Trollope ◽  
Mpaphi C. Bonyongo

The dry woodland and savanna regions of the Okavango Delta form a transition zone between the Okavango Swamps and the Kalahari Desert and have been largely overlooked in terms of vegetation classification and mapping. This study focused on the species composition and height structure of this vegetation, with the aim of identifying vegetation classes and providing a vegetation map accompanied by quantitative data. Two hundred and fifty-six plots (50 m × 50 m) were sampled and species cover abundance, total cover and structural composition were recorded. The plots were classified using agglomerative, hierarchical cluster analysis using group means and Bray-Curtis similarity and groups described using indicator species analysis. In total, 23 woody species and 28 grass species were recorded. Acacia erioloba and Colophospermum mopane were the most common woody species, whilst Urochloa mossambicensis, Panicum maximum, Dactyloctenium gigantiumand Eragrostis lehmanniana were the most widespread grasses. Eleven vegetation types were identified, with the most widespread being Short mixed mopane woodland, Tall mopane woodland and Tall mixed mopane woodland, covering 288.73 km2 (28%), 209.14 km2 (20%) and 173.30 km2 (17%) of the area, respectively. Despite their extensive area, these three vegetation types were the least species-rich, whilst Palm thornveld, Short mixed broadleaf woodland and Open mixed Acacia woodland were the most taxonomically variable. By contrast, Closed mixed Acacia woodland and Closed Acacia–Combretum woodland had the most limited distribution, accounting for less than 1% of the mapped area each.Conservation implications: The dry woodland and savanna vegetation of the Okavango Delta comprises a much wider suite of plant communities than the Acacia-dominated and Mopane-dominated classifications often used. This classification provided a more detailed understanding of this vegetation and essential background information for monitoring, management and research.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco M. P. Gonçalves ◽  
Rasmus Revermann ◽  
Amândio L. Gomes ◽  
Marcos P. M. Aidar ◽  
Manfred Finckh ◽  
...  

The study was carried out in the Cusseque area of the Municipality of Chitembo in south-central Angola. Our objectives were to assess the floristic diversity, the species composition, and stand structure of Miombo woodlands during regeneration after shifting cultivation. A total of 40 plots of 1000 m2were surveyed and analyzed, corresponding to mature forests/woodlands and three fallow types of different age. The analyses were based on plot inventories of all trees with DBH ≥ 5 cm. A total of 51 woody species, 38 genera, and 19 families were recorded. The dominant family was Fabaceae, with subfamily Caesalpinioideae being very abundant. Shannon Diversity and Evenness were highest in mature forests and young fallows, while the mature forest stands showed the highest species richness. A Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA) showed many species shared between the intermediate fallow types, but only few species were shared with young fallows. Mature forests formed a clearly distinct group. This study shows potential pathways of forest recovery in terms of faster regeneration after agricultural abandonment and, thus, the results presented here can be used in future conservation and management plans in order to reduce the pressure on mature forests.


Afrika Focus ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rabiou Habou ◽  
Moussa Massaoudou ◽  
Tougiani Abasse ◽  
Mahamane Ali ◽  
Mahamane Larwanou ◽  
...  

Les espèces ligneuses jouent un rôle important dans la vie des populations locales. Parmi les espèces couramment utilisées au Niger figurent Balanites aegyptiaca et Ziziphus mauritiana. Ces deux espèces sont exploitées comme sources alimentaires et pour divers produits médicinaux, avec comme conséquence une réduction de leurs peuplements. La présente étude vise à analyser la structure des peuplements et les modes de régénération des deux espèces dans deux secteurs agro-écologiques contrastées de la région de Maradi au centre sud du Niger. Au total, 60 relevés ont été délimités, d’une part dans des formations naturelles dominées par ces espèces, et d’autre part dans les systèmes agrosylvopastoraux des secteurs sahélien et sahélo-soudanien. Dans chaque placette et sur chaque arbre, le diamètre à 1,30 m au rasdu sol , la hauteur totale et deux diamètres perpendiculaires de houppier ont été mesurés. L’inventaire de la régénération a été effectué dans 5 placeaux. La nature de la régénération (drageon, marcotte, semis naturel), la hauteur totale et le nombre de tiges de chaque plantule ont été notés. La densité de B. aegyptiaca ne varie significativement entre sites et entre secteurs. Par contre, la densité de Z. mauritiana varie significativement entre sites et entre secteurs. En effet, le site de Birni Lallé, situé dans le secteur sahélien strict, et le site de Kegil dans le secteur sahélo-soudanien ont les densités les plus élevées de Z. mauritiana avec respectivement 66,4 ± 52,5 et 77,5 ± 61,4 arbres/ha. L’analyse de la distribution des tiges par classe de diamètre montre que pour les deux espèces, les individus jeunes sont bien représentés. Cela suggère une bonne régénération de ces espèces. L’analyse de la densité et nature de régénération montre que les deux espèces se régénèrent essentiellement par drageonnage. En réponse au ramassage des fruits pour diverses utilisations, les espèces B. aegyptiaca et Z. mauritiana ont développé des stratégies alternatives de propagation en zone sahélienne. Cette aptitude à la propagation végétative permet aux deux espèces de s’adapter en zones arides caractérisées par la sécheresse et les hautes températures. MOTS CLÉS : DISTRIBUTION DES ESPÈCES LIGNEUSES, B. AEGYPTIACA, Z. MAURITIANA, MARADI, NIGER, SAHÉLO-SOUDANIEN [83] afrika focus — Volume 33, Nr. 1, 2020 — pp. 83-104 RABIOU HABOU, MOUSSA MASSAOUDOU, TOUGIANI ABASSE, MAHAMANE ALI, MAHAMANE LARWANOU & PATRICK VAN DAMME Wood species play an important role in the life of local communities. Among the species commonly used in Niger, are Balanites aegyptiaca and Ziziphus mauritiana. This species are exploited as food sources and as various medicinal products, with a consequent reduction in their populations. The present study aims to analyze the stand structure and the regeneration modes of the two species in two contrasting agro-ecological sectors of the Maradi region in south central Niger. A total of 60 surveys were delineated in natural formations dominated by these species and in agrosilvopastoral system in the Sahelian and Sahelo-Sudanian zones. On each tree, the diameter at 1.30 m from the ground, the total height and two perpendicular tree crown diameters were measured. The inventory of natural regeneration was carried out in 5 plots delineated in each plot. The mode of reproduction of the regeneration (suckers, marcots, natural seedlings) was recorded as well as the total height and the number of stems of each juvenile were. The density of B. aegyptiaca does not vary significantly between sites and between sectors. The Birni Lallé site, located in the strict Sahelian zone, and the Kegil site in the Sahelo-Sudanese sector stand out in terms of Z. mauritiana density with respectively 66.4 ± 52.5 and 77.5 ± 61.4 trees. /Ha. The analysis of the diameter class structure shows that for both species, young individuals are well represented. This suggests strong regeneration among these species. The analysis of the density and nature of regeneration shows that the two species regenerate mainly by suckering. In response to the collection of fruits for various uses by local populations, B. aegyptiaca and Z. mauritiana have developed alternative propagation strategies in the Sahelian zone. This ability to propagate vegetatively allows these two species to adapt to arid areas characterized by drought and high temperatures. KEY WORDS: DISTRIBUTION OF WOODY SPECIES, B. AEGYPTIACA, Z. MAURITIANA, MARADI, NIGER, SAHELO-SUDANESE


Author(s):  
Samson Shimelse Jemaneh

This study was conducted with the objectives of study investigates, compare, and try to describe the floristic composition and structure of the vegetation of exclosures and open grazing lands. A stratified preferential sampling design technique with flexible systematic model was used for data collection. Data on vegetation and environmental parameters were gathered from 120 quadrants (90 from restorations or exclosures of different ages and 30 from adjacent open grazing lands), of 20 m x 20 m (400 m2) size. Species richness and the presence or absence of herbaceous plants were recorded like soil samples in a 2 m x 2 m (4 m2) subplot inside each main quadrant from five points, one at each corner and one at the center.  A total of 142 plant species belonging to 118 genera and 52 families were identified. All exclosures displayed higher plant species richness, diversity, and aboveground standing biomass compared to the adjacent open grazing lands. Consideration of edaphic (e.g. soil total nitrogen, available phosphorus, CEC, exchangeable bases, soil pH and soil texture) and site (e.g. Stoniness, Grazing) variables will help to optimize the selection of areas for the establishment of future exclosures. Moreover, our study suggests that with time exclosures may increasingly obtain an important role as refugees and species pool similar to church forests and should be protected and managed in a sustainable manner. However, economic and social impacts of exclosures should be included in feasibility studies before establishing exclosures in the future.  Altitude, Grazing and some soil parameters like Mg were the major environmental factors in the division of the vegetation into plant community types. The result of the frequency distribution of woody species showed a high proportion of small-sized individuals in the lower diameter classes indicating good recruitment potential of the forest patches and the rare occurrence of large individuals. Such trend was probably caused by past disturbance of the original vegetation resulting in a succession of secondary vegetation. In addition, the analysis of species population structure indicated that some tree species had abnormal population structure with no or few individuals at lower size classes. Moreover, assessment of regeneration status on the basis of age classes indicated that significant proportion of woody species were represented by few or no seedlings, entailing that they were under threat. Substantial numbers of forest species were found to have irregular population structure and are in reduced regeneration status. To prevent local extinction of these species, present efforts of nursery establishment and plantation of indigenous species in the exclosures should be strengthened and extended.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Demel Teketay ◽  
Keotshephile Kashe ◽  
Joseph Madome ◽  
Monica Kabelo ◽  
John Neelo ◽  
...  

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