Epiphytic Dynamics of the Adaptations to the Changes of Habitats in Taï National Park

Abstract

Anthropogenic pressures in the eastern zone of the Taï National Park have led to the fragmentation of plant formations. The forests in the eastern part of the park have suffered significant degradation of plant cover and a significant loss of biodiversity. Therefore, this study makes it possible to contribute to monitoring the dynamics of reconstitution of the plant cover based on the ecological characteristics and the distribution of epiphytes present in the Djapadji management sector. Floristic inventories were carried out. In the plots, all trees with a DBH ≥ 5 cm were counted and recorded for the study of the structure of plant formations, all species carrying an epiphyte were recorded and the epiphyte was identified. The analysis of the data presents a flora composed of 26 epiphytes distributed in 18 genera and 9 families, mainly present in mountain forests. The diversity of epiphytic plants is highest in mountain forests, followed by hydromorphic, secondary and gallery forests. Strict epiphytes and Hemiepiphytes are more present in the most preserved habitats, while accidental epiphytes are observed in reconstitution biotopes. The distribution of epiphytic plants allows us to affirm that the formerly anthropized forests of the Djapadji sector present a good dynamic of reconstitution.