International Journal of
Biodiversity and Conservation

  • Abbreviation: Int. J. Biodivers. Conserv.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-243X
  • DOI: 10.5897/IJBC
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 678

Full Length Research Paper

Woody plant species diversity in the last wild habitat of the Derby Eland (Taurotragus derbianus derbianus Gray, 1847) in Niokolo Koba National Park, Senegal, West Africa

Mariama Camara*
  • Mariama Camara*
  • Wascal GRP Climate Change and Biodiversity, University Félix Houphouët-Boigny, 31 BP 165 Abidjan 31, Côte d’Ivoire.,Institute of Environmental Science, Faculty of Science and Technic, University Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar, BP 5005 Dakar-Fann, Dakar, Senegal.
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Charlemagne D.S.J. Gbemavo
  • Charlemagne D.S.J. Gbemavo
  • Laboratory of Biomathematic and Forest Estimation, Faculty of Agronomic Science, University of Abomey-Calavi, 04 BP 1525, Cotonou, Benin.
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Valère K. Salako
  • Valère K. Salako
  • Laboratory of Biomathematic and Forest Estimation, Faculty of Agronomic Science, University of Abomey-Calavi, 04 BP 1525, Cotonou, Benin.
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François N. Kouame
  • François N. Kouame
  • Wascal GRP Climate Change and Biodiversity, University Félix Houphouët-Boigny, 31 BP 165 Abidjan 31, Côte d’Ivoire.
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Bienvenu Sambou
  • Bienvenu Sambou
  • Institute of Environmental Science, Faculty of Science and Technic, University Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar, BP 5005 Dakar-Fann, Dakar, Senegal.
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Romain L. Glèlè Kakaï
  • Romain L. Glèlè Kakaï
  • Laboratory of Biomathematic and Forest Estimation, Faculty of Agronomic Science, University of Abomey-Calavi, 04 BP 1525, Cotonou, Benin.
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  •  Received: 15 October 2015
  •  Accepted: 13 November 2015
  •  Published: 29 February 2016

Abstract

The Niokolo Koba National Park (NKNP) in Senegal is the last refuge of the critically endangered antelope of the subspecies Derby Eland (Taurotragus derbianus derbianus Gray, 1847). Woody plants, that provide shelters and forage for the Eland in NKNP, were assessed for their floristic diversity to characterize its confined habitat. Hence, 156 square plots of 20m x 20m were established randomly in the confined area of the Derby Eland. In each plot, list of plants species, their number of individuals, and the environmental factors (soil hardness and type, altitude, percentages of vegetation cover and fire occurrence) were noted. Fifty (50) trees species belonging to 40 genera and 29 families were recorded. The most represented families were Combretaceae (13.92%), Leguminosae-mimosoideae (12.66 %), Leguminosae-caesalpinioideae (11.39 %), Leguminosae-papilionoideae (7.59 %), Rubiaceae (7.59 %) and Tiliaceae (6.33 %). The most abundant species were Combretum glutinosum Perr. ex DC., (28.79%), Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir. (12.42%), Crossopteryx febrifuga (Afzel. ex G. Don) (7.30%), Strychnos spinosa Lam. (7.18%) and Hexalobus monopetalus (A. Rich.) Engl. & Diels (7.06 %). Altitude, fire occurrence and vegetation cover were the most important environmental factors influencing the distribution of plants species. Results suggest conservation defenders of Eland, for a sustainable management plan, to invest in in-situ fencing in order to increase possibilities of conservation of this critically endangered species in its native area. 
 
Key words: Plant inventory, specie composition, confined habitat, wild, sustainable management. 
 

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