Poster (Scientific congresses and symposiums)
Impacts of past Human disturbances on present day tree species assembly in the tropical forests of South-East Cameroon
Vleminckx, Jason; Doucet, Jean-Louis; Daïnou, Kasso et al.
2013ATBC - OTS 50th Anniversary Meeting
 

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Keywords :
Central Africa; Cameroon; disturbances; tropical forest; forest composition; human impact
Abstract :
[en] Non-random spatial distribution of trees is the result of both neutral and deterministic factors. Neutral models suggest that species within a community are equally competitive, with spatial structures mainly due to dispersal limitation. Deterministic (or non-neutral) models consider species assemblages as the result of what we name “induced spatial dependence”, where forcing (explanatory) variables shape diversity organization. However, deterministic models have often included habitat variables only, without considering human disturbance which we know enhances the competitive advantage of heliophytic (light-demanding) species and therefore the floristic composition of phytocenoses. Based on charcoal abundance in the soil (used as an indicator of anthropogenic perturbation), species abundance, and environmental data from a forest of south-east Cameroon, we applied modern variation partitioning methods to assess the relative impact of human disturbance on floristic patterns, controlling for purely spatial and habitat effects. Significant signals of human influence have been found so far, and a new collection of data should establish with a better precision the importance of the anthropogenic impact on tree species assemblages.
Disciplines :
Life sciences: Multidisciplinary, general & others
Phytobiology (plant sciences, forestry, mycology...)
Author, co-author :
Vleminckx, Jason;  Université Libre de Bruxelles - ULB
Doucet, Jean-Louis ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Forêts, Nature et Paysage > Laboratoire de Foresterie des régions trop. et subtropicales
Daïnou, Kasso  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Forêts, Nature et Paysage > Laboratoire de Foresterie des régions trop. et subtropicales
Gillet, Jean-François 
Morin-Rivat, Julie ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Forêts, Nature et Paysage > Laboratoire de Foresterie des régions trop. et subtropicales
Drouet, Thomas;  Université Libre de Bruxelles - ULB
Hardy, Olivier;  Université Libre de Bruxelles - ULB
Language :
English
Title :
Impacts of past Human disturbances on present day tree species assembly in the tropical forests of South-East Cameroon
Publication date :
25 June 2013
Number of pages :
A0
Event name :
ATBC - OTS 50th Anniversary Meeting
Event place :
San José, Costa Rica
Event date :
23-28 juin 2013
Audience :
International
Name of the research project :
Population dynamics of light-demanding trees and herbs in the dense forests of Central Africa in relationship with climatic and anthropogenic disturbances
Funders :
FRFC - Fonds de la Recherche Fondamentale Collective [BE]
Available on ORBi :
since 29 June 2013

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