TITLE:
Co-Occurring Plant Species of the West African Critically Endangered Aubregrinia taïensis Heine, in Côte d’Ivoire
AUTHORS:
Doudjo Noufou Ouattara, Hermann Hippolyte Tro, Dofoungo Koné, Akoua Emilia Afanvi, Doh Amed Coulibaly, Adama Bakayoko
KEYWORDS:
Co-Occurring Species, Aubregrinia taïensis, Forest, Threatened Species, Côte d’Ivoire
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.14 No.8,
August
23,
2023
ABSTRACT: The Upper Guinea Forest is subject to heavy deforestation. In this context,
many endemic and/or rare plant species are threatened with extinction. This is the
case of Aubregrinia taïensis (Aubrév. & Pellegr.) Heine, a critically
endangered Sapotaceae species, endemic to Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. After
3 years of investigation in and around the Tai National Park (TNP) in the West of
Côte d’Ivoire, only one individual of this species was located and no sexual
reproductive organs (fruits, seeds) were observed. Woody plant species around this individual were inventoried in order to know the
species that can co-occur with Aubregrinia taïensis. For
that a plot of 30 m of diameter was established around the individual and all of
the woody species of this circle were inventoried. Then, the taxonomic diversity,
the chorology of the species, the conservation
status and their life-form were recorded. A total of 130 woody plant species
belonging to 51 families were collected in the site. The most represented families
are Euphorbiaceae (12 spp.), Rubiaceae (10 spp.), Annonaceae (7 spp.), Fabaceae,
Moraceae, Malvaceae (6 spp. each) while the most represented genera are Diospyros L. (4 spp.), Cola Schott & Endl. and Vitex L. (3 spp.). Species from the Guineo-Congolese Region (GC) are
the most abundant (72%). They are followed by West African endemic species (GCW, 19%). Microphanerophytes (mp) are the most abundant
and represent more than 40% of the species. Three vulnerable species were
found in this plot: Campylospermum amplectens, Placodiscus boya and Trichoscypha cavalliensis. Thus, the preservation of this forest is more
than necessary.