The taxonomy and ecology of the trees of the Bobiri Forest Reserve, Ghana, West Africa. (Volumes I and II).
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Title
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The taxonomy and ecology of the trees of the Bobiri Forest Reserve, Ghana, West Africa. (Volumes I and II).
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Identifier
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AAI9405542
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identifier
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9405542
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Creator
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Kisseadoo, Samuel Victor A.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Scott A. Mori
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Date
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1993
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Biology, Botany | Biology, Ecology | Agriculture, Forestry and Wildlife
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Abstract
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The point-centered quarter method was used to sample 1000 trees in a portion of the Bobiri forest reserve in Ghana, West Africa that had not been disturbed for 60 years. Standard measures of tree diameter and height, bole, and bark characteristics were recorded for each of the 104 species of the sample. Supplementary data was gathered from additional species falling outside of the sample. Voucher specimens were gathered for all of the sampled trees and the leaves from these specimens were used to reconstruct computerized average leaf images of all of the species and families.;The primary goal of the study was to describe this African forest using ecological techniques heretofore not applied to the forests of the continent.;The secondary goal of the study was to furnish complete descriptions of the vegetative features of each of the species studied in order to facilitate their field identification.;Calculation of Importance Values indicates that Celtis zenkeri, Funtumia africana, and Sterculia rhinopetala are the most important species in this forest. Therefore it is suggested that what was named the Celtis-Triplochiton Association by Taylor (1960), based on casual observation of dominant species, should be renamed the Celtis-Funtumia-Sterculia Association. The most important families of this forest, based on a calculation of Family Importance Value (FIV) are the Sterculiaceae and Ulmaceae.;An analysis of tree height suggested possible stratification in this forest, and diameter is a good predictor of tree height. Bark features are useful for the identification of trees of the Bobiri forest. The 77% buttressing of trees exceeds those recorded for Neotropical forests.;Detailed leaf features, especially venation patterns, previously not fully utilized for the identification of Ghanaian (and other African) trees, have great utility in identification at all taxonomic levels. An average leaf of a tree in the Bobiri forest is simple, mesophyllic, and usually has Brochidodromous venation.;In comparison with Neotropical forests, diversity (104 species in the 1000 tree sample) of the Bobiri forest is low. However, density (735 trees/hectare) is high, and the trees often have very tall stature--for example, a tree of Triplochiton scleroxylon measured 70.9 meters.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
