Abstract
The Azagny National Park represents one of the most important blocks of forest in Côte d’Ivoire, but its liana assemblage has never been characterized. Liana floristics, diversity, species composition and structure were evaluated. Fourteen plots of 1 ha (20 × 25 m) were established in different biotopes of the forest. All individual lianas of dbh ≥ 1 cm were identified, measured and marked. For each 1 ha plot, old growth forest from secondary forest was distinguished. In total, 5,436 lianas, representing 63 species, 47 genera, and 28 families were identified. The average number of species was 18.35, mean basal area was 0.21 m2 and mean Fisher’s alpha, Shannon index and Simpson diversity index values were 19, 2.81 and 0.72, respectively. Ten dominant plant families accounting for 83% of total species richness, 71% of liana abundance and 71% of basal area were also identified. Twiners, zoochorous, light-demanding and microphanerophyte species dominated. There were more large lianas in old growth forests than in secondary forests. The liana assemblage and species floristic composition is generally similar to that in other tropical African forests. Key words: Lianas, old growth forest, secondary forest, species diversity, Azagny National Park, Côte d’Ivoire
Highlights
Lianas are notoriously abundant in the tropics, contributing up to 25% of the woody stem density (Gentry, 1991; Schnitzer and Bongers, 2002), and up to 12 to 40% of the overall species diversity of such forests (Gentry, 1991)
Adenia lobata (Passifloraceae) had the highest Importance Value Index (19.2%): it accounted for 6.9% of all liana stems and 5.4% of the total basal area, and was distributed in 6.9% of the quadrats
Our results are lower than those of Schnitzer et al (2012), who identified 98.5% of all individuals in a 50 ha plot in Panama, and Kuzee and Bongers (2005), who identified 94% of their lianas in Côte d’Ivoire, but are generally well above the results reported in most other studies
Summary
Lianas (woody climbers) are notoriously abundant in the tropics, contributing up to 25% of the woody stem density (Gentry, 1991; Schnitzer and Bongers, 2002), and up to 12 to 40% of the overall species diversity of such forests (Gentry, 1991). Apart from their direct contribution to biodiversity, lianas help maintaining diversity through their effects on forest structure and dynamics (Putz, 1984; Schnitzer et al, 2012), and on species composition of both plants and animals. Lianas create structural stress on their hosts, compete for light, water and soil nutrients, generally reducing tree growth (Dalling et al, 2012), and reproduction; while increasing rates of tree fall and limb breakage (Putz, 1984)
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