Research Paper

Liana abundance and colonization in a tropical moist secondary lowland rainforest in Nigeria

Nelson Obinna Uwalaka, Tolulope Victor Borisade, Abdulfatai Babatunde Rufai

Published on: 16 April 2021

Page: 174 - 183

DOI: 10.6165/tai.2021.66.174

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2021 vol.66 no.2
pp.174-183

Abstract

Studies on the influence of host tree successional status on liana infestation are few or lacking in regenerating forests in Africa. This study examined some likely predictors of the abundance of dominant lianas in a regenerating lowland rainforest in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Six sample plots (0.25 ha each) were sampled in the secondary forest in the Biological Gardens of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. All trees and shrubs (≥ 2 m in height) and lianas attached to the trees and shrubs, were enumerated and their girth sizes were measured. The successional status of the host and lianas was determined. A chi-square analysis was carried out to determine the preferential liana infestation on host species in the forest while logistic binary regression analysis was used to determine the probability of infestation of the host species by each liana species. Liana colonization was species-specific with Chasmanthera dependens, Combretum sp. and Motandra guineensis being the only lianas that preferentially infested specific host species. Senegalia ataxacantha and Combretum sp. were the only lianas that preferred both late- and early-successional host species while Motandra guineensis was the only liana species that preferred both small and large host species. Since late-successional host species are gradually replacing the early-successional hosts in the forest, this makes it more necessary to monitor the tree regeneration process in the forest closely especially because most of the dominant lianas are early-successional species that would impede the regeneration of the trees and shrubs in the forest.

Keyword: binary regression, biological garden, colonization probability, host-specific, successional status

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