Biodiversity and spatial distribution of vascular epiphytes in two biotopes of the Cameroonian semi-deciduous rain forest |
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Authors: | Louis Zapfack Stefan Engwald |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaounde I, PO Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon;(2) Schillerstr. 4, 53332 Bornheim, Germany |
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Abstract: | The diversity and spatial distribution of vascular epiphytes were surveyed in two biotopes (dryland forest and swamp-inundated
forest) of the semi-deciduous rain forest area in Cameroon. Eight sites in each biotope were selected, which included 530
individuals of phorophytes in dryland forest and 460 in swamp-inundated forest. A total of 148 epiphyte species were recorded,
which showed that semi-deciduous rain forests represent a major source of African-epiphyte diversity. Dryland forest hosted
110 epiphyte species, while the swamp-inundated forest harboured 108. A total of 56 species were found only in the dryland
forest and 60 were restricted to the swamp-inundated forest. At family level, Orchidaceae exhibited the highest-species richness
within both biotopes. Pteridophytes were more abundant in the swamp-inundated forest. A TWINSPAN analysis of the floristic
similarities separated the two investigated forest types very clearly. No significant difference existed between the two biotopes
regarding vertical distribution of epiphytes within single trees. The swamp-inundated forests may serve as a refuge for many
epiphytes that occur in the outer canopy of the dryland forests, both because they are inherently less vulnerable to timber
extraction, and enjoy better protection by legislation. |
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Keywords: | Cameroon Biodiversity Conservation Epiphytes Semi-deciduous rain forest Spatial patterns |
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