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 charact...
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South African National Biodiversity Institut
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doaj-d9a8791c7d044b44b3c326c1008927ee2020-11-25T02:02:38ZengSouth African National Biodiversity InstitutBothalia: African Biodiversity & Conservation0006-82412311-92842019-01-01491e1e1210.4102/abc.v49i1.22701955Vegetation, floristic composition and structure of a tropical montane forest in CameroonMoses N. Sainge0Ngoh M. Lyonga1Gildas P.T. Mbatchou2David Kenfack3Felix Nchu4Andrew T. Peterson5Tropical Plant Exploration Group, Mundemba, Cameroon; and, Department of Environmental and Occupational Studies, Cape Peninsula University of TechnologyTropical Plant Exploration Group, MundembaProgramme for the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources, South-West RegionCenter for Tropical Forest Science, Smithsonian InstitutionDepartment of Horticultural Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of TechnologyBiodiversity Institute, University of KansasBackground: 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.https://journals.abcjournal.aosis.co.za/index.php/abc/article/view/2270floristic compositionvegetation patternsmontane forestrumpi hillscameroon |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Moses N. Sainge Ngoh M. Lyonga Gildas P.T. Mbatchou David Kenfack Felix Nchu Andrew T. Peterson |
spellingShingle |
Moses N. Sainge Ngoh M. Lyonga Gildas P.T. Mbatchou David Kenfack Felix Nchu Andrew T. Peterson Vegetation, floristic composition and structure of a tropical montane forest in Cameroon Bothalia: African Biodiversity & Conservation floristic composition vegetation patterns montane forest rumpi hills cameroon |
author_facet |
Moses N. Sainge Ngoh M. Lyonga Gildas P.T. Mbatchou David Kenfack Felix Nchu Andrew T. Peterson |
author_sort |
Moses N. Sainge |
title |
Vegetation, floristic composition and structure of a tropical montane forest in Cameroon |
title_short |
Vegetation, floristic composition and structure of a tropical montane forest in Cameroon |
title_full |
Vegetation, floristic composition and structure of a tropical montane forest in Cameroon |
title_fullStr |
Vegetation, floristic composition and structure of a tropical montane forest in Cameroon |
title_full_unstemmed |
Vegetation, floristic composition and structure of a tropical montane forest in Cameroon |
title_sort |
vegetation, floristic composition and structure of a tropical montane forest in cameroon |
publisher |
South African National Biodiversity Institut |
series |
Bothalia: African Biodiversity & Conservation |
issn |
0006-8241 2311-9284 |
publishDate |
2019-01-01 |
description |
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. |
topic |
floristic composition vegetation patterns montane forest rumpi hills cameroon |
url |
https://journals.abcjournal.aosis.co.za/index.php/abc/article/view/2270 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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