Réjou-Méchain M., Pélissier Raphaël, Gourlet Fleury S., Couteron Pierre, Nasi R., Thompson J. D. (2008). Regional variation in tropical forest tree species composition in the Central African Republic : an assessment based on inventories by forest companies. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 24, p. 663-674. ISSN 0266-4674.
Titre du document
Regional variation in tropical forest tree species composition in the Central African Republic : an assessment based on inventories by forest companies
Réjou-Méchain M., Pélissier Raphaël, Gourlet Fleury S., Couteron Pierre, Nasi R., Thompson J. D.
Source
Journal of Tropical Ecology, 2008,
24, p. 663-674 ISSN 0266-4674
Understanding how species assemblages are structured fit relation to environmental variation is a central issue in community ecology. However. factors that create regional variation in relative species abundances have been little studied due to the rarity of large-scale datasets. Here, we investigated it large dataset (30 180 0.5-ha plots spread over 1 600 000 ha) gathered from forest planning inventories in the semi-deciduous forest of the South western Central African Republic. We used Correspondence Analysis and Non-Symmetric Correspondence Analysis on Instrumental Variables to analyse variation in the abundance of 73 common tree species in relation to soil type, rainfall and proximity to villages. Together, environmental variables explained 10.3% of multi-species floristic variation among plots. and the regional spatial structure almost disappeared when the effects of these variables were removed. A Trend Surface Analysis using a third order polynomial function of the geographical coordinates of the plots explained 14.5% of the floristic variation and more than 75% of this variation was explained by environmental variables. Sandy soil was the Most influential Factor affecting floristic composition. Residual spatial variation not explained by the environmental variables probably reflects the natural and anthropogenic history of the vegetation.
Plan de classement
Etudes, transformation, conservation du milieu naturel [082]
