VEGETATION GROUPS FROM LIFE-HISTORY TRAITS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF A SAVANNAH—FOREST MOSAIC

This study defined ecological groups of tree species based on species life-history traits within the savannah—forest mosaic of the Lopé National Park, Gabon in order to understand the connection between different types of forest within this study area. Three life-history traits were the most efficie...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of tropical forest science Vol. 25; no. 4; pp. 454 - 466
Main Authors Palla, F, Gachet, S, Picard, N, Riera, B
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Forest Research Institute Malaysia 01.10.2013
Subjects
Biodiversity
Biodiversity and Ecology
Environmental Sciences
Life Sciences
Mosaic
National parks
Pioneer species
Savannas
Seed dispersal
Species
Trees
Tropical forests
Understory
Vegetation
guild
dispersal potential
multivariate analysis
Functional groups
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Summary:This study defined ecological groups of tree species based on species life-history traits within the savannah—forest mosaic of the Lopé National Park, Gabon in order to understand the connection between different types of forest within this study area. Three life-history traits were the most efficient at discriminating species groups within the floristic assemblage, namely, functional guild, dispersal type and phytogeographic type. The combination of dispersal potential and functional guild enabled us to rank the 169 studied species on gradient of forest types. A species classification into functional groups based on similar biological traits was proposed for the purpose of conservation management and development of new conservation areas. This first classification distinguished between canopy species and understorey species, thus suggesting the existence of two separate dynamics for tree species and three functional groups. These results are useful to set conservation priorities to achieve management plans. Kajian ini menentukan kumpulan ekologi spesies tumbuhan berdasarkan ciri-ciri sejarah hidup di dalam mozaik hutan savana di Taman Negara Lopé, Gabon. Tujuannya adalah untuk memahami hubungan antara jenis hutan yang berbeza di dalam kawasan kajian. Tiga ciri sejarah hidup dapati membezakan kumpulan spesies dengan tepat dalam himpunan flora iaitu kumpulan fungsi, jenis sebaran dan jenis fitogeografi. Gabungan potensi sebaran serta kumpulan fungsi membolehkan kami menilai 169 spesies yang dikaji berdasarkan gradien jenis hutan. Pengelasan spesies mengikut kumpulan fungsi disyorkan berdasarkan ciri-ciri biologi yang serupa bagi tujuan pengurusan pemuliharaan serta pembangunan kawasan pemuliharaan yang baharu. Kelasifikasi yang pertama membezakan antara spesies kanopi dengan spesies tingkat bawah. Ini mencadangkan wujudnya dua dinamik berbeza untuk spesies pokok dan tiga kumpulan fungsi. Keputusan ini bermanfaat untuk menetapkan keutamaan pemuliharaan agar rancangan pengurusan tercapai.
ISSN:0128-1283