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Diversity and aboveground biomass in three tropical forest types in the Dja Biosphere Reserve, Cameroon
Author(s) -
Djuikouo Marie Noël K.,
Doucet JeanLouis,
Nguembou Charlemagne K.,
Lewis Simon L.,
Sonké Bonaventure
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
african journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.499
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1365-2028
pISSN - 0141-6707
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2028.2010.01212.x
Subject(s) - basal area , biomass (ecology) , context (archaeology) , forestry , deforestation (computer science) , abundance (ecology) , diversity index , species diversity , ecology , geography , biology , species richness , archaeology , computer science , programming language
We present tree community diversity, species composition, basal area and aboveground biomass of three forest types in the Dja Biosphere Reserve, in South‐East Cameroon, part of the contiguous tropical forest of the Congo Basin. A total of fourteen, 1 ha, plots were established in heterogeneous terra firme forests (TFF), Gilbertiodendron dewevrei forests (GDF) and periodically flooded forests (PFF). A total of 281 tree species with diameter ≥10 cm were recorded. The Shannon diversity index was significantly higher in TFF (5.7 ± 0.28) and PFF (5.6 ± 0.23) than in GDF (2.29 ± 0.48) (ANOVA, F 2,11 = 139.75, P < 0.001). While tree density did not differ between forest types (F 2,11 = 3.50, P = 0.06), basal area differed significantly (F 2,11 = 7.38, P = 0.009), as did aboveground biomass (F 2,11 = 17.95, P < 0.001). Mean AGB values were respectively, 596.1 ± 62.24, 401.67 ± 58.06 and 383.14 ± 61.91 Mg ha −1 in GDF, TFF and PFF. Variation in the abundance of trees with large diameter was the main reason for these differences. Few dominant species made the greatest contribution to the AGB. G. dewevrei , accounted for 83% of AGB in GDF, Penthaclethra macrophylla for 9.9% in TFF and Uapaca heudolotii for 10.6% in PFF. The importance of preserving G. dewevrei forest in the context of ‘Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation’ (REDD) policies is discussed.