Factors Influencing Liana Species Richness and Structure following Anthropogenic Disturbance in a Tropical Forest, Ghana

Abstract

e study was conducted to determine the factors that in�uenced liana species richness and structure in forests of different disturbance intensities (high, moderate, and low disturbance forests) in the Southern Scarp Forest Reserve, Ghana. Within each forest, lianas (dbh ≥ 2 cm) were enumerated in six 25 × 20 m 2 plots located along transects. Soil physicochemical properties and forest structure were determined within the plots. Liana species richness and abundance were signi�cantly lower in the high disturbance forest ( 0 00 ) whereas basal area was signi�cantly higher in the low disturbance forest ( 0 0 ). Tree abundance and dbh signi�cantly predicted liana species richness and structure in the study ( 0 05). On the basis of the importance value index, three main liana communities, each corresponding with a forest type, were identi�ed. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that exchangeable magnesium and calcium, and total exchangeable bases were the main soil variables that affected liana species richness. Liana structure was in�uenced by the above-mentioned soil variables as well as exchangeable potassium and sodium, and pH. e present study has demonstrated that changes in liana species richness and structure following human disturbance may be due to variations in soil properties and forest structure.

Effects of Understory Liana Trachelospermum jasminoides on Distributions of Litterfall and Soil Organic Carbon in an Oak Forest in Central China

“…Given the direct competitive relationships between lianas and trees, it has been reported that the increase in lianas could influence the composition and dynamics of forest communities [2,34]. Liana thus has the potential to alter forest C storage, by reducing tree growth and survival [18].…”

“…Lianas are woody climbers that not only germinate and root in soils, but also remain rooted in the soil during its entire life [1][2][3]. Lianas are a conspicuous and important component of most tropical forests [2,[4][5][6].…”

“…Lianas are a conspicuous and important component of most tropical forests [2,[4][5][6]. In tropical forests, there are approximately 9216 liana species, representing 97 families of vascular plants [7].…”

“…The increases in lianas abundance and expansion have potential influences on forest community structure and nutrient cycling [10,11]. For example, host trees of lianas were reported to have lower growth rate, smaller size in diameter, and higher mortality compared to non-hosts [8], as a result of the destruction of bark and buds of trees by lianas [2,11,12]. It has been well reported that the differences in lianas abundance could induce spatial variations in aboveground biomass, mainly due to strong influences on the growth of their structural hosts [8].…”

Mixed Species Allometric Models for Estimating above-Ground Liana Biomass in Tropical Primary and Secondary Forests, Ghana

“…Ghana has some of the most complex and biodiversityrich tropical forests in which lianas feature prominently [21,22]. Nevertheless, there is no allometric equation for lianas in Ghana and also in the whole of Africa.…”