Journal of
Ecology and The Natural Environment

  • Abbreviation: J. Ecol. Nat. Environ.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2006-9847
  • DOI: 10.5897/JENE
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 406

Full Length Research Paper

Diversity and composition of the epiphytic flora in an urban agglomeration: The case of city of Douala, Cameroon

NGOTTA Biyon Jacques Bruno
  • NGOTTA Biyon Jacques Bruno
  • Laboratory of Biology and Physiology of Plant Organisms, Department of Plant Biology, P. O. Box 24157 University of Douala, Cameroon.
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BELL Danielle Magloire
  • BELL Danielle Magloire
  • Laboratory of Biology and Physiology of Plant Organisms, Department of Plant Biology, P. O. Box 24157 University of Douala, Cameroon.
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MVOGO Ottou Patrice Brice
  • MVOGO Ottou Patrice Brice
  • Laboratory of Biology and Physiology of Plant Organisms, Department of Plant Biology, P. O. Box 24157 University of Douala, Cameroon.
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NGUIMFACK Dongmo Jasmine
  • NGUIMFACK Dongmo Jasmine
  • Laboratory of Biology and Physiology of Plant Organisms, Department of Plant Biology, P. O. Box 24157 University of Douala, Cameroon.
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DOUMBE Makembe Lea Clemence
  • DOUMBE Makembe Lea Clemence
  • Laboratory of Biology and Physiology of Plant Organisms, Department of Plant Biology, P. O. Box 24157 University of Douala, Cameroon.
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WAFO Tchoue Yves Donald
  • WAFO Tchoue Yves Donald
  • Laboratory of Biology and Physiology of Plant Organisms, Department of Plant Biology, P. O. Box 24157 University of Douala, Cameroon.
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BETTI Jean Lagarde
  • BETTI Jean Lagarde
  • National Herbarium of Cameroun, P. O. Box. 1601 Yaounde, Cameroon.
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PRISO Richard Jules
  • PRISO Richard Jules
  • Laboratory of Biology and Physiology of Plant Organisms, Department of Plant Biology, P. O. Box 24157 University of Douala, Cameroon.
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  •  Received: 16 June 2022
  •  Accepted: 29 August 2022
  •  Published: 31 July 2023

Abstract

Epiphytes constitute an element of climate regulation in the tropical zone. In Cameroon, the decline in forest area of about 220,000 ha, partly due to urbanization, has been observed. The research aim was to characterize the epiphytic flora of the urban ecosystem of Douala. Four zones represented by nine neighbourhoods were chosen for the surveys. Four transects of a maximum distance of 500 m were scanned on each neighbourhood. Epiphytes were checked by direct visual observation on the host trees. Epiphytes’s life forms were determined, and the fixation zone was established using the Johanson method. A total of 72 species of epiphytes were identified, dominated by Polypodiaceae. Casual epiphytes were the most abundant life-form, and true epiphytes were the least, divided into Polypodiaceae, Dryopteridaceae, and Orchidaceae within the genus Calyptrochillium. Twenty-two species of host trees were inventoried in the study area. Rutaceae was the most represented family with six species. True epiphytes were abundant in seaside and peripheral areas, while Casual and Hemiepiphytes were in the central sectors. The domestication of epiphytes must be initiated in order to preserve their diversity in urban ecosystem.

 

Key words: Biodiversity, coastal zone, epiphyte, floristic statement, urbanization.

Copyright © 2023 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.

This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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