Zonation of forest vegetation and soils of Mount Cameroon,West Africa |
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Authors: | John Proctor Ian D Edwards Robert W Payton Laszlo Nagy |
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Institution: | (1) School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, Scotland, UK;(2) Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 20 A Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, EH3 5LR, Scotland, UK;(3) School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Newcastle, NE1 7RU, UK;(4) EcoScience Scotland, 2/1 27 Glencairn Drive, Glasgow, G41 4QP, Scotland, UK |
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Abstract: | Mount Cameroon is an active volcano in a wet part of West Africa. The forest vegetation and associated soils on its southern
slopes were studied in 1989, 1991 and 1995 in coupled 0.25 ha plots at altitudes of 180, 600, 1,100, 1,800 and 2,180 m. All
lianas and trees >10 cm dbh were enumerated and their structural features quantified. The forests were of large stature throughout.
The strangling Schefflera species made a substantial contribution to the very high basal areas at 1,800 m. The associated soils were dominated by andisols
derived from volcanic ash that showed a distinct increase with altitude in soil organic matter and total N attributed to lower
temperatures. Soil pH, exchangeable K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, effective cation-exchange capacity and percentage base saturation showed very marked increases explained by the influence
of recent volcanic ashfalls. Available N and P showed less distinct trends with altitude. Although there is a large decrease
in tree species richness with altitude, forest stand growth (as compared on a basal area basis) does not appear to be limited
by soil fertility or temperature. The forest line (altitude treeline and extensive gaps below it) appear to be controlled
by periodic volcanic activity, ashfalls and lava flows, which can destroy existing forest through soil burial and fire effects
and inhibit regrowth on bare lava flows and deep deposits of volcanic ash. |
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Keywords: | Altitudinal zonation Montane rainforest Mount Cameroon Tropical soils |
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