TREE DIVERSITY ANALYSIS OF A SAVANNA TYPE IN REPUBLIC OF BENIN USING REMOTE SENSING AND PLANT DIVERSITY INDICES
*Vincent Joseph MAMA1 and Peter ADENIYI2
1National Institute for Agricultural Research of Benin (INRAB ) 06 BP 1105. Cotonou, BENIN. 2Federal University of Technology Akure, PMB ….. Nigeria.
Corresponding author. email: mamvincent@coraf.org
Accepted on February 12, 2005.
Abstract
A vegetation inventory was carried out in 50 plots to analyse the biodiversity of Save Region of the republic of Benin. The aim was to show how human interventions impact the tree stands. The method of allocating plot number proportionally to the area of each stratum was adopted. This method which stems from the use of satellite data analysis was implemented using diversity indices. The main strata identified are: Gallery and dense forest (GF), Open forest (OF), Woodland savanna (WS), Tree savanna (TS) and Tree shrub savanna (TSS). Tree species diversity was analysed using plant diversity indices. From the 50 plots surveyed, a total of 63 tree species and 2,978 individual trees with DBH more than 10 cm were recorded. The mean tree population per ha is 638. The species richness varies from 24 as recorded on open forest to 52 recorded on tree savanna stratum. Analysis of tree variable correlation indicates that the strongest correlation was recorded between mean volume and basal area. In general, these plant diversity indices reveal the high heterogeneity existing among plots of different strata and the human impact on these tree stands.