Woody species diversity and ecological characteristics of the Mawouon forest, in the Western Highlands of Cameroon

Abstract

This study was conducted to characterize the floristic, structural and ecological diversity of the Mawouon Forest in the Noun division (Western Highlands Cameroon). In total, 14 plots of 30 m x 100 m (3000 m²) were laid out. Within each, all individuals with a diameter ≥ 10 cm at 1.30 m in height were measured. A total of 2324 individuals belonging to 102 species, 78 genera and 35 families have been identified. The richest family was the Fabaceae (15 species) followed by Euphorbiaceae (12 species) and Moraceae (10 species). The most abundant family was the Rubiaceae (26.97%) followed by Euphorbiaceae (17.16%) and Cecropiaceae (12.65%). The Shannon diversity index was 4.51 bits and the Pielou evenness index was 0.67. Alchornea laxiflora with 89.21% of Important Value index was most importance species followed by Myrianthus arboreus (89.03%) and Polyscias fulva (79.12%). The diameter structure shows a predominance of young individuals. The abundance of megaphanerophytes and mesophanerophytes reflects the adaptive plant strategies that correspond to the competitive strategy. The relative abundance of Guinean-Congolese domain species translates a great maturity of this forest that seems little or not disturbed by human activity.