Ecology of the Anthropogenic Savanna “<i>Andropogon</i> sp. Grassland” in East Cameroon, West Africa

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  • Chujo Hiroyoshi
    Laboratory of Ecological Research, College of International Studies, Chubu University

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Other Title
  • 西アフリカ・カメルーン東部における人為サバンナ「<i>Andropogon</i> sp. 草原」の生態
  • 西アフリカ・カメルーン東部における人為サバンナ「Andropogon sp.草原」の生態
  • ニシ アフリカ カメルーン トウブ ニ オケル ジンイ サバンナ Androp
  • Ecology of the Anthropogenic Savanna ^|^ldquo;Andropogon sp. Grassland^|^rdquo; in East Cameroon, West Africa

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The sites of the savanna grasslands in East Cameroon were, in most cases, originally covered with dense tropical semi-deciduous forests, which were completely destroyed by human activities such as shifting cultivation, repeated burning and grazing. And later, savanna grassland developed there.<br>To clarify the factors controlling the savanna and the mechanism of savannization, I conducted this ecological study of the Andropogon sp. grass savanna vegetation and its soils during the wet season. This study was carried out in the savanna-forest contact zone in Ngamboula (4°36′N, 13°50′E), East Cameroon. The soil under the savanna was assigned to the lateritic soil. The Andropogon sp. community was plantsociologically classified into five lower vegetation units. This community is generally subject to firing. Soil hardness, trampling by cattle, and overgrazing are of particular importance as the factors controlling the lower vegetation units. In this grassland, the roots of annual plants are distributed in the range of 5-10cm in depth, whereas those of perennial plants attain 10-20cm in depth. But root competition tends to be greatest among the plants which have ecologically similar rooting systems. The soil hardness of 25mm constituted the growth limit of rhizomes and roots of grassland plants. Five tree species were observed within the grassland concerned. However, the possibility of succession from the grassland to the forest is extremely remote.

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