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Online ISSN : 2349-8080 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorinchiefijcrbp@gmail.com |
2Doctor, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde
3Plant Laboratory, Higher Teachers Training College, University of Yaounde I, P. O. Box, 47, Yaounde
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the floristic affinities and the phytogeographical spread of the woody vegetation on the Kala summit in the Kala massif and to establish their qualitative and quantitative differences by comparing with other forested areas of the tropical regions of the world. Different analysis were based on a comparison of lists of tree species with dbh ≥10cm, inventoried in 1.5-ha rectangular plots established in the submontane forest at altitudes >1000m. Woody plants of diameter lower than 10cm were maintained to be used later for comparison. The floristic list for Kala summit used for this analysis contained 4411 individuals dbh ≥1cm belonging to 210 species and regrouped into 46 families. Among this 1843 trees dbh ≥10cm belonging to 194 species and 44 families. The parameters of floristic diversity were calculated using the standard methodology.The total basal area was 78.45m2/ha. Most of the trees (1116) (dbh ≥10cm) had diameters between 10cm and 20cm and a few had class of dbh ≥ 90cm. The 7 most important families in terms of density, diversity and dominance were Leguminosae, Clusiaceae, Myristicaceae, Burseraceae, Sterculiaceae, Annonaceae and Rubiaceae. They reach 151.32 of the Family Importance Value (FIV). The specific composition reveals that a small number of common species dominate the forest: 38 (or 18%) species reach 150.31 of the Index Value Importance (IVI). The most important are Allanblackia gabonensis, Tabernaemontana crassa, Santiria trimera, Ceolocaryon preussii, Pycnanthus angolensis, Cola attiensis var. bodardii, Aulacocalyx jasmiflora. A small fraction of the species(14 either (6.66%) is represented by 1 individual. In conclusion, the diversity, the density and dominance of the woody vegetation of the Kala summit submontane forest are higher than those obtained in most forests of tropical regions of the world. The Leguminosae have the highest FIV in the Nkol Nlong submontane forest. The Rubiaceae that displaced the family Leguminosae in the high altitude come in second position in terms of the FIV. Thus the forest shows really the submontane parameters.
