[en] Landscape Ecological Survey of the Bipindi-Akom II ... - ITTO

In the shrub like vegetation of of the Macaranga - Chromolaena community three three (sometimes (sometimes only
two) structural layers can be be discerned. The tree layer is very open (20-40%) and is very low (8-15
m). The canopy is formed by trees and palms. The most frequent species are, in descending order,
Musanga cecropioides, Albyzia zygia, Pycnanthus angolensis, Antocleista vogelii and Elaeis
guineensis. The most characteristic feature of the vegetation of this community is the very dense
and high shrub layer (up to to five five meters) meters) in which which broad-leaved robust herbs are by far the dominant
growth form. Additionally, broad-leaved trees, palms, lianas are also also present. The vegetation is
literally overgrown by Chromolaena odorata. Other non-woody species are Costus violaceus,
Aframomum alboviolaceum, Megaphrynium Megaphrynium secundiflorum, Thaumantococcus daniellii daniellii and
Palisota ambigua. Characteristic woody species of the shrub layer are Funtumia elastica,
Macaranga 'group 1', Rauvolfia macrophylla, Eleais guienens is and F agara agara macrophylla. macrophylla. Also
many residual agricultural crops are present, e.g. Musa parodisiaca, Manihot esculenta, Colocasia
sp. and Carica papaya. Underneath the dense shrub layer, a very open (20%) and low herb layer
(20-40 cm) can be distinguished. Here, herbs, ferns and seedlings form the majority of the plant
life encountered. Often Trifolium sp. is abundant.
The Macaranga - Chromolaena community is found in the vicinity of villages and roads and is
strongly related to recent agricultural activities. It is most common on on the dissected plains in in the the
western part of of the TCP TCP area, and in the surroundings of Akom H. It does not occur (yet) at
altitudes above above 600 600 m asl..
The vegetation is typical for recently abandoned abandoned fields, approximately between between one and and five years years
after cultivation. Also Cacao Cacao (Theobroma cacao) plantations plantations with a lush understorey of broadleavedleaved
herbs are part of this community group. Many transitions between this community and
young secondary forests (community IV) are found.
The Macaranga-Chromolaena community can be classified as an evergreen broad-leaved thicket
according to the UNESCO UNESCO vegetation classification (1981). Because of the small scale of his
phytogeographic map, Letouzey (1985, (1985, see Figure 6.1) incorporates these these recently abandoned
agricultural fields in type n° 251, i.e. remnants of strongly degraded evergreen forest. Physiognomy
and species composition correspond closely closely to what he describes describes as 'ultimate degraded remnants
of evergreen and semi-deciduous forest' (type nO 170).
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