Abstract
Stem density and size stratification of woody species are informative of vegetation conditions and its physiognomy in savannah whereas their variation influence woody population functioning. Current study endeavoured to evaluate the stand density and size variability of woody species related to aboveground biomass in a Sudanian savannah. Total height, stem diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥ 5 cm were measured in 30 plots of 50 m × 20 m laid in respect to vegetation type as bowal, shrubland and woodland. Species diversity, stem density, height and basal area were calculated and compared across sites and variation in stem dbh classes evaluated. Total aboveground biomass was estimated and thereafter linear relationships were established between stand density and aboveground biomass, and basal area. Results revealed three different sites with an overall 58 species identified through vegetation type including liana species (4 stems in bowal) with 18 genera and 42 families. Fabaceae Combretaceae, Anacardiaceae and Rubiaceae were dominant families. Small sized trees represented 72% of total stem density considered in structure with significant higher basal area, while large sized trees as 28% were scarcely distributed. More than 70% variation in biomass was due to stem density and basal area with a dominance of small trees. In conclusion increase size in tree community indicated increase in accumulated aboveground biomass as positive regeneration features. But, change in vegetation structure strongly influence negatively species ability to grow from lower to upper size class and later on, disrupt ecosystem functioning. Plant stem density and stratification could be considered as indicators of aboveground biomass fluctuating in regeneration monitoring.
Highlights
Woody plant regeneration and conservation as well as restoration and suitable management of ecosystems are permanently major challenges for ecologists, researchers, other plant scientists and for environmental decision makers seeking continuous provision of multiple ecosystem goods and services (Lorenz & Lal, 2010; Manaye et al, 2021)
Stem density and size stratification of woody species are informative of vegetation conditions and its physiognomy in savannah whereas their variation influence woody population functioning
Current study endeavoured to evaluate the stand density and size variability of woody species related to aboveground biomass in a Sudanian savannah
Summary
Woody plant regeneration and conservation as well as restoration and suitable management of ecosystems are permanently major challenges for ecologists, researchers, other plant scientists and for environmental decision makers seeking continuous provision of multiple ecosystem goods and services (Lorenz & Lal, 2010; Manaye et al, 2021). In arid and sub-arid regions protected areas are promoted as reserve forests or state forests (Higgins et al, 2007) through marking the boundaries of some natural wooded spaces, parklands on smallholdings and fallows or cultivated lands in many parts of the country as national strategy All these protected areas with or without management tools and, considered as favourable habitats endeavour to promote biodiversity conservation, threatened species regeneration and, degraded land rehabilitation (Sawadogo et al, 2005; Lorenz & Lal, 2010; Murphy et al, 2015). Variability in plant species diversity may result from the favoured establishment of some abundant individuals (complementarity actions or compensatory) or the impediment recruitment of others (antagonism) through the effects of vegetation types and land cover degree (Lorenz & Lal, 2010; Traoré et al, 2015)
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