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Species diversity, population structure and regeneration of woody species in fallows and mature stands of tropical woodlands of southeast Angola

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Abstract

This study in the dry tropical woodlands of SE Angola in Cuando-Cubango Province assessed the diversity and composition of woody species in fallows compared to those in mature woodlands. We assessed the population structure of the most harvested woody species by calculating size class distribution and evaluated their regeneration potential based on the density of saplings. The vegetation was surveyed in 20 plots of 20 × 50 m (1000 m2). In each plot, we measured the diameter at breast height (DBH) of all woody species with DBH ≥ 5 cm. The saplings were counted, identified and recorded; 718 individuals, corresponding to 34 species in 32 genera and 15 families were recorded. The size class distribution of target woody species showed three different patterns in fallows and mature woodlands. In general, most of the smaller diameter classes had more individuals than the larger ones did, showing that the regeneration may take place. However, in some diameter classes, the absence of larger stems indicated selective logging of larger trees. Few saplings were recorded in the fallows or mature woodlands; fire frequency and intensity is probably the main obstacle for seed germination and seedling survival rates in the studied area.

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(Reproduced with permission from www.future-okavango.org; Wehberg and Weinzierl 2013)

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Acknowledgements

The authors are extremely grateful to the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) for financial support of this study through the Future Okavango Project (Grant 01LL0912A). Special thanks to “Mwene” Mário Kangumbe, the traditional authority of the Mulemba village in the Caiundo study area. We also thank the Mulemba community in general for their hospitality, the local field guides Mr. Benelito Ndala and Mr. Francisco Bafana and the two anonymous reviewers of the manuscript, David J. Goyder kindly revised the English.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Herbarium of Lubango, ISCED Huíla, Sarmento Rodrigues Str., 230, Lubango, Angola

    Francisco M. P. Gonçalves & Manuel J. Cachissapa

  2. Biocentre Klein Flottbek, University of Hamburg, Ohnhorststr. 18, 22609, Hamburg, Germany

    Francisco M. P. Gonçalves, Rasmus Revermann & Amândio L. Gomes

  3. Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Agostinho Neto University, Av. 4 de Fevereiro 71, 4th Floor, Luanda, Angola

    Amândio L. Gomes

  4. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Institute of Botany, CP 3005, São Paulo, SP, CEP: 01061-970, Brazil

    Marcos P. M. Aidar

Authors
  1. Francisco M. P. Gonçalves
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  2. Rasmus Revermann
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  3. Manuel J. Cachissapa
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  4. Amândio L. Gomes
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  5. Marcos P. M. Aidar
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Francisco M. P. Gonçalves.

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Project funding: This study was supported by The Future Okavango Project (Grant Number (01LL0912A)).

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Corresponding editor: Zhu Hong.

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Gonçalves, F.M.P., Revermann, R., Cachissapa, M.J. et al. Species diversity, population structure and regeneration of woody species in fallows and mature stands of tropical woodlands of southeast Angola. J. For. Res. 29, 1569–1579 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-018-0593-x

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