Geographical Patterns of Woody Plants' Functional Traits in Burkina Faso

Schmidt, Marco; Traoré, Salifou; Ouédraogo, Amadé; Mbayngone, Elisée; Ouédraogo, Oumarou; Zizka, Alexander; Kirchmair, Ivana; Kaboré, Elice; Tindano, Elisé; Thiombiano, Adjima; Hahn, Karen; Zizka, Georg

doi:10.15553/c2012v682a3

Cited by 20 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…By focusing on spiny plants, our analyses do not provide information how LES and defence traits covary in non-spiny plants. However, in nature, spiny and non-spiny plants co-occur across biomes and experience similar growth constraints (Grubb 1992, Schmidt et al 2013, Tindall et al 2016).…”

Section: Study Limitations and Recommendations For Further Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural defence is coupled with the leaf economic spectrum across saplings of spiny species

Armani

Goodale

Charles‐Dominique

et al. 2020

Oikos

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Given that the rate of resource capture constrains plant growth and defence, understanding the linkage between the leaf economic spectrum (LES) and defence and how it contributes to growth is central to predicting species performance. In spite of the prevalence of spiny plants in many plant communities, little is known about how the LES relates to defence and growth rate across these species. We grew 42 spiny species, from diverse environments, under common garden conditions for 15 weeks and measured LES (leaf N, SLA and assimilation rate), defence and growth traits. We assessed general relationships between LES and growth rate and tested whether structural defences (spines, leaf fibre and lignin content) and quantitative chemical defences (condensed tannins) are linked to the LES and growth and if different spine types (i.e. leaf spines, stipular spines, prickles and thorns), with distinct anatomical origins, partition out across the LES. We observed two independent trait axes that together explained ~68% of trait variation across species. The first axis showed that structural defences (spines, leaf fibre and lignin content) trade off with leaf productivity along the LES. Axis 2 revealed that condensed tannins is orthogonal and less integrated with the LES‐structural defence axis. Bivariate trait analyses disclosed positive covariations between LES traits and sapling growth rate. All structural defence traits were negatively related to sapling growth. Across spine types, species with leaf spines were associated with the conservative end of the LES, characterized by high structural defences and lower leaf productivity relative to other spine types. Synthesis: Our study shows that the LES and structural defences are coupled in spiny species such that constitutive growth – defence strategies range from fast‐growing species with low allocation to defences to slow‐growing species that invest heavily in structural defences (dominated by leaf spiny species).

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Section: Study Limitations and Recommendations For Further Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural defence is coupled with the leaf economic spectrum across saplings of spiny species

Armani

Goodale

Charles‐Dominique

et al. 2020

Oikos

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“…A random sampling design was adopted for this study following Gibbs et al [20]. The vegetation at both sites is classified as Southern Sudanian savanna [21]. The vegetation was further segregated into different types, according to their physiognomy; (i) woodland savanna, (ii) tree savanna, (iii) shrub savanna, and (iv) gallery forest [22].…”

Section: Sampling Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vegetation Structure and Carbon Stocks of Two Protected Areas Within the South-Sudanian Savannas of Burkina Faso, West Africa

Qasim

Porembski

Sattler³

et al. 2016

Preprint

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Savannas and adjacent vegetation types like gallery forests are highly valuable ecosystems contributing to several ecosystem services including carbon budgeting. Financial mechanisms such as REDD+ have provided an opportunity for developing countries to alleviate poverty through conservation of its forestry resources. For availing this opportunity carbon stock assessments are essential. Therefore, a research study at two protected areas i.e. Nazinga Game Ranch and Bontioli Nature Reserve, in Burkina Faso was conducted with the objective of assessing carbon Mg C ha-1 in aboveground biomass (AGB)dry of trees in different formations of the south-sudanian savanna in Burkina Faso, West Africa. Similarly analysis of various vegetation parameters was also conducted to understand the overall vegetation structure of these two protected areas. For estimating AGBdry, existing allometric equation for dry tropical woody vegetation types was used. The Importance Value Index (IVI) and Family Importance Value (FIV) were estimated through standard procedures. Various linear and non-linear regression analyses were conducted to test the relationships between carbon and other parameters such as DBH, height and basal area (BA). The results showed that both sites collectively contain mean carbon of 3.41 ± 4.98 Mg C ha-1. Amongst different vegetation types, gallery forests recorded the highest mean carbon of 9.38 ± 6.90 Mg C ha-1. The highest IVI of 115.56 at Nazinga Game Ranch was recorded for Anogeissus leiocarpa. Similarly, highest IVI of 98.59 was recorded for Mitragyna inermis at Bontioli Nature Reserve. The highest FIV was recorded for Combretaceae for both of the sites. To our knowledge, this was the first study conducted to assess the carbon stocks at the two protected areas in southern Burkina Faso. The study therefore was an attempt for addressing the knowledge gap particularly on carbon stocks of protected savannas. It could serve as a baseline for carbon stocks for future initiatives such as payment for environmental services and REDD+ at these areas.

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“…This degradation is further leading to challenges such as food shortages, water scarcities, income losses, resource conflicts, and environmental deterioration [5]. Poverty and increasing need for food have resulted in agricultural expansions [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vegetation Structure and Carbon Stocks of Two Protected Areas within the South-Sudanian Savannas of Burkina Faso

Qasim

Porembski

Sattler³

et al. 2016

Environments

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Savannas and adjacent vegetation types like gallery forests are highly valuable ecosystems contributing to several ecosystem services including carbon budgeting. Financial mechanisms such as REDD+ (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) can provide an opportunity for developing countries to alleviate poverty through conservation of its forestry resources. However, for availing such opportunities carbon stock assessments are essential. Therefore, a research study for this purpose was conducted at two protected areas (Nazinga Game Ranch and Bontioli Nature Reserve) in Burkina Faso. Similarly, analysis of various vegetation parameters was also conducted to understand the overall vegetation structure of these two protected areas. For estimating above ground biomass, existing allometric equations for dry tropical woody vegetation types were used. Compositional structure was described by applying tree species and family importance indices. The results show that both sites collectively contain a mean carbon stock of 3.41 ± 4.98 Mg·C·ha −1 . Among different savanna vegetation types, gallery forests recorded the highest mean carbon stock of 9.38 ± 6.90 Mg·C·ha −1 . This study was an attempt at addressing the knowledge gap particularly on carbon stocks of protected savannas-it can serve as a baseline for carbon stocks for future initiatives such as REDD+ within these areas.

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Geographical Patterns of Woody Plants' Functional Traits in Burkina Faso

Cited by 20 publications

References 23 publications

Structural defence is coupled with the leaf economic spectrum across saplings of spiny species

Structural defence is coupled with the leaf economic spectrum across saplings of spiny species

Vegetation Structure and Carbon Stocks of Two Protected Areas Within the South-Sudanian Savannas of Burkina Faso, West Africa

Vegetation Structure and Carbon Stocks of Two Protected Areas within the South-Sudanian Savannas of Burkina Faso

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