Annual cycles are the most common reproductive strategy in African tropical tree communities

We present the first cross continental comparison of the flowering and fruiting phenology of tropical forests across Africa. Flowering events of 5,446 trees from 196 species across 12 sites, and fruiting events of 4,595 trees from 191 species, across 11 sites were monitored over periods of 6 to 29 years, and analysed to describe phenology at the continental level. To study phenology we used Fourier analysis to identify the dominant cycles of flowering and fruiting for each individual tree and we identified the time of year African trees bloom and bear fruit and their relationship to local seasonality. Reproductive strategies were diverse and no single regular cycle was found in >50% of individuals across all 12 sites. Additionally, we found annual flowering and fruiting cycles to be the most common. Sub-annual cycles were the next most common for flowering whereas supra-annual patterns were the next most common for fruiting. We also identify variation in different subsets of species, with species exhibiting mainly annual cycles most common in West and West-Central African tropical forests, while more species at sites in East-Central and Eastern African forests showed cycles ranging from sub-annual to supra-annual. Despite many trees showing strong seasonality, at most sites some flowering and fruiting occurred all year round. Environmental factors with annual cycles are likely to be important drivers of seasonal periodicity in trees across Africa, but proximate triggers are unlikely to be constant across the continen

Hemi-epiphytic Ficus (Moraceae) in a Congolese forest

Background and aims – Ficus species exhibit a variety of morphological habits (tree, hemi-epiphyte, shrub, climber, creeping shrub and rheophytic shrub) but their description, and especially the difference between tree and hemi-epiphyte, has led to confusion in previous works. In this paper the terms tree, free-standing strangler, hemi-epiphyte, trunk and pseudo-trunk are defined, discussed and illustrated. The aim in this study was to build on these definitions and document how many tree and hemi-epiphytic Ficus species occur at one site in northern Congo; investigate how many hemi-epiphytic species reach the free-standing strangler habit at that site and provide data on host tree species for the hemi-epiphytic Ficus . Results – In the Goualougo Triangle in the southern part of the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park (Republic of Congo), 285 Ficus individuals belonging to 19 species were studied, one of which was a tree while the remaining 18 were hemi-epiphytes of which only six reached the free-standing strangler habit. The host species on which the Ficus grew were also recorded; 244 individuals of 69 species were found, one of which, Petersianthus macrocarpus, was the most common support for hemi-epiphytic Ficus species. Two Ficus species, F. elasticoides and F. burretiana, were also found as hosts for other species of Ficus species. A field method for determining whether an adult specimen was a free standing hemi-epiphyte or a tree was tested and proved reliable; this is to knock the trunk to see if it sounds hollow or not. Conclusion – The differences observed between Ficus species in tree and free-standing stranglers, the stages they can reach in the hemi-epiphytic habit and the different host species, indicate that the Ficus species play very different roles in the ecosystem. It is likely that the species will vary in response to climate or land-use changes that are happening in tropical forests

Les champignons sauvages comestibles et connaissances endogènes des peuples autochtones Mbènzèlè et Ngombe de la République du Congo

Objectifs: Cette étude vise à sauvegarder les connaissances endogènes sur l’utilisation des champignons de forêts en République du Congo et à documenter scientifiquement ces ressources naturelles encore très peu connues.Méthodologie et Résultats: Les collectes opportunistes et les enquêtes ethnomycologiques au sein des peuples autochtones Mbènzèlè et Ngombe ont permis de recueillir des informations sur les différents types d’usage des champignons, leurs noms vernaculaires et leur signification. Au total, 25 genres et 51 espèces de champignons comestibles ont été enregistrés dans le milieu d’étude dont 32 ont été citées lors des enquêtes. Les genres les plus représentées sont Cantharellus, Marasmius, Russula et Termitomyces. Trois espèces sont utilisées dans la pharmacopée traditionnelle et sept ont fait l’objet de vente ou d’échange sous forme de Troc.Les connaissances sur les espèces de champignons sont détenues par un petit groupe au sein des enquêtés de chaque groupe ethnique. Les résultats de cette étude ne représentant qu’environ 50% de la connaissance endogène de ces deux groupes ethniques étudiés, poussent à intensifier des missions de terrain auprès de ces populations afin de conserver ces connaissances traditionnelles sur les Champignons Sauvages Comestibles (CSC).Conclusions et application des résultats. L’issue des tels travaux futurs sera la réalisation d’un guide sur les CSC en République du Congo. Un tel ouvrage contribuerait à la meilleure connaissance de la mycoflore africaine.Mots clés: Bomassa, connaissances traditionnelles, Produits Forestiers Non Ligneux, macromycètes, Makao, Forêts du Nord Congo, TrocEnglish Title: Wild Edible Fungi and indigenous knowledge of Mbènzèlè and Ngombe populations in the Republic of CongoEnglish AbstractObjectives: This study aims at safeguarding indigenous knowledge on the use of forest fungi and scientifically documenting those natural resources yet not very well known in the Republic of Congo.Methodology and Results: Opportunistic collecting and ethnomycological interviews in Mbènzèlè and Ngombe populations enabled to obtain information on the uses of fungi, their local names and meaning. In total, 25 genera and 51 species of edible fungi were recorded in the study area of which 32 were cited during interview. The most represented genera are Cantharellus, Marasmius, Russula et Termitomyces. Three species are used in traditional medicine and seven were sold or exchanged as in the form of barter. Knowledge on fungal species is hold by a small group of people within each ethnical group. Results of this study only representing about 50% of the indigenous knowledge of the ethnical groups studied lead to intensify fieldworks with those populations in order to conserve traditional knowledge on the Wild Edible Fungi (WEF) in the future.Conclusions et application of findings: The outcome of such works will be to produce a guide of WEF in the Republic of Congo. Such a document will contribute to a better understanding of the african mycoflora.Keywords: Bomassa, traditional knowledge, Non Woody Forest Products, macrofungi, Makao, Forests of Northern Congo, Barte

The ECAT dataset: expert-validated distribution data of endemic and sub-endemic trees of Central Africa (Dem. Rep. Congo, Rwanda, Burundi)

International audienceIn this data paper, we present a specimen-based occurrence dataset compiled in the framework of the Conservation of Endemic Central African Trees (ECAT) project with the aim of producing global conservation assessments for the IUCN Red List. The project targets all tree species endemic or sub-endemic to the Central African region comprising the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), Rwanda, and Burundi. The dataset contains 6361 plant collection records with occurrences of 8910 specimens from 337 taxa belonging to 153 genera in 52 families. Many of these tree taxa have restricted geographic ranges and are only known from a small number of herbarium specimens. As assessments for such taxa can be compromised by inadequate data, we transcribed and geo-referenced specimen label information to obtain a more accurate and complete locality dataset. All specimen data were manually cleaned and verified by botanical experts, resulting in improved data quality and consistency