Floristic, Ecological and Phytogeographic Study of the Wamba Valley Massif Forest in Kwango in DRC

Year 2022, Volume: 81 Issue: 1, 68 - 84, 30.06.2022

Théophane Ntalakwa , Mayanu Pemba Bibiche Kidikwadi Tango Eustache Azangidi Mapwama Jean-pierre Belesi Katula Honoré Lubini Ayingweu Constantin

Abstract

Objective: The Wamba valley is one of the rare forest areas of Kwango and Bagata. This research aims to understand the phytodiversity of this area in order to have a database necessary for the rational management of this area’s natural resources. It means also to characterize the floristic, ecological, and phytogeiographic parameters of the study area. Materials and Methods: The botanical samples collected in the study area represent the biological material that was used for identification species of the forest under study. To achieve the objectives pursued, we carried out floristic inventories, supported by the systematic sampling technique. The progress of this study is as follows: field visits and choice of study sites; collection of samples and identification of the material collected; ecological study and phytogeographic spectra of the identified species. Results: The floristic inventory noted the presence of 192 species grouped into 160 genera and 58 families. This flora is rich and diverse. The recognized species of this forest area belong more to the family of Fabaceae, and Rubiaceae. The morphological structure of the species reveals the abundance of phanerophyte species while the chorological aspect remains dominated by Guinean-Congolese elements. Conclusion: The study environment is part of the Guinean-Congolese-Zambézian transition zone. This area is characterized by the mixture of species from the Guineo-Congolese regional center of endemism and Zambezian species. This study contributed to the knowledge of the phytodiversity of the area.

Keywords

Flora, ecology, phytogeography, massif forest, Wamba valley

Supporting Institution

Kinshasa university

References

• 1. Sébastien LK and Kiyulu N’yanga-Nzo J. Integrating biodiversity into national forest planning programmes. Ed. Center for International Forestry Research Indonesia. 2001; 33.
• 2. FAO. Regional workshop on the management of secondary tropical forests in French-speaking Africa: realities and perspectives, Rome, 2004; p.280.
• 3. De Wasseige C, De Marcken P, Bayol N, Hiol Hiol F. et al., editors. Congo Basin forests. State of the Forests 2010, ISBN 978-92-79- 22717-2, Publication Office of the European Union; Ed. 2012.
• 4. Zenga KJ, Omasombo TJ, Guillaume L, M’pene NZ, Zana EM, Simons E. et al. Kwango, country of Lunda citizen, MRAC, Brussels: cri-edition, 2012.
• 5. Lubini A. Vegetation of the Luki Biosphere Reserve in Mayombe (Zaire) Meise;1997; p.155.
• 6. Lubini A. Messicole and post-cultural vegetation of the Kisangani and Tshopo sub-regions (Haut-Zaire). University of Kisangani Faculty of Science. Doctoral thesis, 1982.
• 7. Belesi KH. Floristic, phytogeographical and phytosociological study of the vegetation of Bas-Kasai in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa. Doctoral thesis. 2009.
• 8. Miabangana ES. Floristic, phytogeographical and phytosociological analysis of island and riparian vegetation of the Congo River in the Cataracts Plateau (Republic of Congo). Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa. Doctoral thesis. 2019.
• 9. Rondeux J. The measurement of trees and forest stands. The agricultural presses of Gembloux; Duculot, B-6060 Gilly: 1999; p.521.
• 10. Doucet JL. The delicate alliance of management and biodiversity in the forests of Gabon. University Faculty of Agronomic Sciences Gembloux. Doctoral thesis. 2003.
• 11. Dupuy B. Basis for silviculture in dense African humid tropical forest. 4th ed. France; CIRAD-Forêt; 1998.
• 12. Kidikwadi ET. Ecological and phytogeographical study of the natural populations of priora balsamifera (harms) breteler in lower Guinea-Congo. Faculty of Sciences University of Kinshasa. Doctoral thesis. 2018.
• 13. Mandango MA. Flora and vegetation of the islands of the Zaire River in the Tshopo Sub-Region (Upper Zaire), T. 1 and 2. Faculty of Sciences University of Kisangani. Doctoral thesis. 1982.
• 14. Germain R. Grassy alluvial biotopes and intercalated savannahs of the equatorial Congo. More planks. Overseas Academy of Sciences, Brussels, 1964.
• 15. INEAC. Flora of the Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi. Volumes 3-10. Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi Information and Public Relation Office Brussels; 1952, 1953, 1954.
• 16. Quentin M, Moumbogou C, Doucet JL, Ondimba AB. The useful trees of Gabon. 1st Ed. The agricultural presses of Gembloux, 2008.
• 17. Lubini A. Stratification and phytosociological classification of secondary forests in Central Africa. Int J Innov Appl Stud, 2013;14:549- 80.
• 18. Lubini A. Phytogeographical analysis of the forest flora of the Kasaï sector in Congo Kinshasa, in minutes of the XVth plenary meeting of AETFAT. Flight. 72 No. 2, Brussels, Bot G B Nat; 2003; p.859-72.
• 19. Habari M. Floristic, phytosociological and phytogeographical study of the vegetation of Kinshasa and its middle basins of the N’djili and N’sele rivers in the DRC. Faculties of Sciences University of Kinshasa. Doctoral thesis. 2009.
• 20. Ndiaye O. Soil characteristics of the flora and vegetation of Ferlo, Senegal. FST-UCAD Ecology and Agroforestry. Doctoral thesis. 2013.
• 21. Gillet JF, Ngaloua B, Missamba-Lola A. Analysis report-Forest dynamic component. CIB-FFEM project “Monitoring of the dynamic forest-agroforestry-wildlife inventory program”. 2008; p.99.
• 22. Ngok Banak L. Plant diversity of inselbergs and rock slabs in northern Gabon. ULB Doctoral thesis. 2005.
• 23. Ntalakwa MT, Lubini C, Kidikwadi E, Bamvingana C, Mayanu P, Kwambanda J. Floristic, ecological, and phytogeographical study of the forest islet of the Father Eyimard Eucharistic center in Mont-Ngafula/ Kinshasa. Int J Latest Res in Humanit Soc Sci, 2019; 2:7-16.
• 24. Raunkiaer C, Gilbert-Carter H, Fausboll A, Tansley AG. The life forms of plants and statistical plant geography. London: Oxford University Press; 1934.
• 25. Lebrun J. The vegetation of the alluvial plain south of Lake Edward. Expl. Park. Nat. Albert, Mission J. Lebrun (1937-1938), Fasc.1, Brussels, Inst. Belgian Congo National Parks. 1947; p.467.
• 26. Lebrun J and Gilbert G. Ecological classification of the forests of the Congo. INEAC 1954; p.89.
• 27. Mullenders W. The vegetation of Kaniama (between Lubishi-Lubilash, Belgian Congo). INEAC, editors. France, 1954; p.499.
• 28. Koechlin J. Savannah vegetation in the south of the Republic of Congo Brazzaville. Montpellier editors. Paris, France, 1961; p.310.
• 29. Leonard A. The grassy savannahs of Kivu, INEAC editors. S2R. SCI. 1962, 95:1-87.
• 30. Dansereau P, Lems K. The grading of dispersal types in plant communities and their significance. Contribution Inst Bot Montreal 1957: N°71, p.52.
• 31. Germain R. Grassy alluvial biotopes and intercalated savannahs of the equatorial Congo, More planks. Overseas Academy of Sciences, Brussels 1964; p.399.
• 32. Schmitz A. The vegetation of the plain of Lubumbashi (Haut-Katanga). INEAC, editors. Brussels, 1971; p.113.
• 33. Schnell R. Flora and vegetation of tropical Africa; Volume 1. C. BORDAS, Paris. 1976; p.468. 34. Trochain JL. Plant ecology of the non-desert intertropical zone Univ. Paul Sabatier Toulouse, France, 1980; p.468.
• 35. Troupin G. Phycoenological study of the Akagera National Park and eastern Rwanda: Search for an analysis method appropriate to the vegetation of intertropical Africa. Butare-Rep. Rwandan. Brussels, 1966.
• 36. Masens DMY. Phytosociological study of the Kikwit region (Bandundu, DRC). ULB-Belgium. Doctoral thesis. 1997.
• 37. Evrard C. Ecological research on the forest population of hydromorphic soils in the central Congolese basin. INEAC editors. Brussels, 1968; p. 295.
• 38. Mollinier R and Muller P. The dissemination of plant species, Passim; RGBL, 1938; 53-67.
• 39. White F. The vegetation of Africa: A descriptive memoir to accompany the Unesco/AETFAT/UNSO Vegetation map of Africa. Nat Resour Res (UNESCO). 1983; 20:1-356.
• 40. White F. The Guineo-Congolian Region and its relationships to other phytochoria. Bull Jard Bot Belg 1979; 49: 11-55.
• 41. White F. The vegetation of Africa: memorandum accompanying the map of the vegetation of Africa (new edition). ORSTOM-UNESCO editors. Paris; 1986; p.384.
• 42. Lubini A. The resources of secondary forests in French-speaking central and western Africa. French-speaking Africa, realities and prospects; Douala. Proceedings of the regional workshop on the management of secondary tropical forests in, Cameroon. 2003; 17-21.
• 43. Menga MP. Ecology of natural stands of Millettia laurentii in region of Lake Maï-Ndombe in DRC: Implications for the sustainable management of an exploited species. University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa/ DRC, Doctoral thesis. 2012.
• 44. Ernst M. Populations, Species and Evolution. Paris.1974, p.495.
• 45. Lubini A. The flora of the Luki Forest Reserve (Bas-Zaire) In Minutes of the XIIth Plenary Meeting of AETFAT, Mitt Allg Bot Hamburg, 1990; p.135–54.
• 46. Devred R. Soil and vegetation maps of the Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi, n°10, Kwango A and B, Vegetation notice. INEAC, Brussels, Ser. Sc, 1958; p.44.
• 47. Kayabas A and Yildirim E. Chemical Profiling and Wetting Behaviors of Endemic Salvia absconditiflora Greuter & Burdet (Lamiaceae) Collected from Gypsum Areas. Eur J Biol 2022; 81(1): 1-10.|