Year: 1997
Type: article
Abstract: To clarify secondary succession on the sites of abandoned cultivation, an ecological study was conducted on the regrowth vegetation of different age and natural high forests in the tropical rainforest zone of northern Congo in central Africa. Sample plots were taken in areas 0.5, 6.5, 11.5, 13.5 and 18.5 years after their first cultivation. From the phytosociological study, the Chromolaena odorata community (Herb and shrub stages) and the Musanga cecropioides-Celtis zenkeri community (Young secondary forest stage) were recognized in the regrowth plots and the Tessmannia anomala community and the Gilbertiodendron dewevrei community in natural high forests. An investigation on the course of succession revealed that the dominant species is Musanga cecropioides in the young secondary forest and that the Musanga forest will presumably develop into a primary semi-deciduous forest if there is no disturbance by man. Characteristic features of the soil profiles were investigated and compared in each stage of succession. During secondary succession the A0 and A horizons obviously became thicker in parallel with a change in vegetation type.
Source: Journal of African Studies
Author: Hiroyoshi Chujo
Institution: Chubu University
Language: English
Subfield: Nature and Landscape Conservation
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2322564306