Understory vegetation in fast-growing tree plantations on savanna soils in Congo Loumeto J.J. auteur aut IRD Huttel Charles auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf reformatted digital access The hypothesis that tree plantations may catalyze the regeneration of natural forest biodiversity was tested through studies of floristic diversity and structure in fast-growing tree plantations in the Congo. Study sites included experimental and industrial plantations on poor sandy coastal soils near Pointe-Noire, and experimental plantations on clay soils near Loudima. The effects of plantations species, plantation age (in 6- to 20-year-old eucalypt stands), disturbance due to herbicide use and fire, proximity to natural forest, and soils on understory plant diversity were studied. These plantations were compared to the native savanna ecosystem and to adjacent natural secondary forest stands. Vegetation diversity was assessed through analyses of floristic composition, species richness and frequency. Forest species were dominant in the understory of most plantations, especially in the older stands. However, the forest species established in plantation understories were quite different from those from adjacent natural forest stands. Preman lucens, Psorospermum tenuifolium and Psychotria cf. peduncularis were the most important forest species found in most eucalypt plantations and in Pinus caribae and Acacia auriculiformis plantations. Alchornea cordifolia, Anthocleista nobilis, Barteria nigritiana and Bertiera cf. batesii were also important. The savanna species Eriosema erici-rosenii, Annona arenaria and Loudetia arundinacea were encountered in many plots. Herbaceous species were dominant in the younger and disturbed plantation stands. (Résumé d'auteur) specialized FORESTERIE PLANTATION EXPERIMENTALE PLANTATION INDUSTRIELLE SAVANE FLORE REGENERATION BIODIVERSITE CONGO 082VEGET03 Forest Ecology and Management 99 65-81 1997 0378-1127 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010012746 10.1016/S0378-1127(97)00195-3 0378-1127 [F B010012746] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010012746 https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/pleins_textes_6/b_fdi_47-48/010012746.pdf IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 1998-02-16 2017-08-07 fdi:010012746 fre