“Effects of anthropogenic disturbance on tree population structure and diversity of a rain forest biosphere reserve in Ghana, West Africa.”
Date
2017
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
John Wiley and Sons
Abstract
We evaluated the impacts of anthropogenic disturbance
on community structure and diversity along three
management zones of the Bia biosphere reserve in
Ghana. Sixty sample plots were distributed among the
core, buffer and transition zones. We estimated the
degree of disturbances from discernible indicators on the
field and satellite images. All tree species ≥10 cm dbh
(diameter at breast height) were identified and enumerated.
Inventory data were compared across the zones
and related to intensity of disturbances. A total of 1176
individual trees from 108 species and 33 families were
encountered. Number of species varied from 27 in the
highly disturbed (HD) to 61 in the least disturbed (LD)
zone. Mean basal area (BA) varied from 11.71 in the HD
to 28.26 in the LD. Both Margalef’s species richness and
Shannon-Weiner’s a-diversity were highest in the moderately
disturbed (MD) than either the least and most
disturbed zones. Our study revealed significant differences
in tree abundance, stem density, BA and species
diversity, attributable to differences in degree of anthropogenic
disturbances among zones. Given the different
levels of anthropogenic disturbance and corresponding
impacts across the reserve, we recommend an integrated
management strategy for the conservation of biodiversity
in the Bia biosphere reserve.
Description
Keywords
anthropogenic disturbances, Ghana, Bia biosphere reserve, intermediate disturbance hypothesis, tree structure, tropical forests