[ Dynamique de la végétation d’une savane mise en défens contre le feu à Ibi-village en République Démocratique du Congo ]
Volume 44, Issue 3, January 2025, Pages 707–724
Henri Paul Eloma Ikoleki1, Ruffin Nsielolo Kitoko2, and Jean LEJOLY3
1 Université Pédagogique Nationale, Faculté des Sciences, Département de Biologie, RD Congo
2 Université du Kwango, BP. 41 Kinshasa I, Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques et de Gestion Durable des Ressources Naturelles, Laboratoire de Systématique végétale, Biodiversité et Gestion de Ressources Naturelles (LSVB&GRN), RD Congo
3 Herbier de l'Université Libre de Bruxelles C.P. 169, Avenue F. Roosevelt, 50. 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium
Original language: French
Copyright © 2025 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
This study was carried out at Ibi on the Batéké Plateau in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the aim of investigating the vegetation dynamics of a savannah subjected to anthropogenic action and burnt every year (protected savannah), in contrast to a savannah put out to pasture, both separated by a transition zone (ecotone or edge) which has not been regularly burnt like the first. To study vegetation dynamics, 30 floristic inventory plots were set up, with 10 plots per savanna type. The sampling plan for our data collection was designed in two periods, in April 2022 during the rainy season and in July of the same year during the dry season. A total of 144 plant species, divided into 23 genera and 40 families, were inventoried. Of the three experimental zones, the edge had the highest biodiversity, with 73 species (50.3%). The protected savannah totaled 36 species, representing 24.8%, compared with 35 species (24.1%) in the protected savannah. It should be noted that the control savannah is dominated by herbaceous plants (Poaceae), since it burns every year. On the other hand, the protected savannah and the fringe, separated from the control savannah by the fact that they have been protected from bush fires, have evolved differently. In both areas, shrub and tree strata dominate, with the presence of gallery forest species such as Alchornea cordifolia, Allophylus africanus, Anthocleista schweinfurthii, Chaetocarpus africanus, Millettia laurentii and others. These strata increase biomass storage capacity through the diameter, height and density of shrub stems.
Author Keywords: evolution, floristic diversity, Ibi-village, DRC.
Volume 44, Issue 3, January 2025, Pages 707–724
Henri Paul Eloma Ikoleki1, Ruffin Nsielolo Kitoko2, and Jean LEJOLY3
1 Université Pédagogique Nationale, Faculté des Sciences, Département de Biologie, RD Congo
2 Université du Kwango, BP. 41 Kinshasa I, Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques et de Gestion Durable des Ressources Naturelles, Laboratoire de Systématique végétale, Biodiversité et Gestion de Ressources Naturelles (LSVB&GRN), RD Congo
3 Herbier de l'Université Libre de Bruxelles C.P. 169, Avenue F. Roosevelt, 50. 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium
Original language: French
Copyright © 2025 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
This study was carried out at Ibi on the Batéké Plateau in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the aim of investigating the vegetation dynamics of a savannah subjected to anthropogenic action and burnt every year (protected savannah), in contrast to a savannah put out to pasture, both separated by a transition zone (ecotone or edge) which has not been regularly burnt like the first. To study vegetation dynamics, 30 floristic inventory plots were set up, with 10 plots per savanna type. The sampling plan for our data collection was designed in two periods, in April 2022 during the rainy season and in July of the same year during the dry season. A total of 144 plant species, divided into 23 genera and 40 families, were inventoried. Of the three experimental zones, the edge had the highest biodiversity, with 73 species (50.3%). The protected savannah totaled 36 species, representing 24.8%, compared with 35 species (24.1%) in the protected savannah. It should be noted that the control savannah is dominated by herbaceous plants (Poaceae), since it burns every year. On the other hand, the protected savannah and the fringe, separated from the control savannah by the fact that they have been protected from bush fires, have evolved differently. In both areas, shrub and tree strata dominate, with the presence of gallery forest species such as Alchornea cordifolia, Allophylus africanus, Anthocleista schweinfurthii, Chaetocarpus africanus, Millettia laurentii and others. These strata increase biomass storage capacity through the diameter, height and density of shrub stems.
Author Keywords: evolution, floristic diversity, Ibi-village, DRC.
Abstract: (french)
Cette étude a été menée à Ibi sur le plateau des Batéké en République Démocratique du Congo dans le but d’étudier la dynamique de la végétation d’une savane soumise à des actions anthropiques et brûle chaque année (savane-témoin), à l’opposé de celle mise en défens, séparées toutes deux par une zone de transition (écotone ou lisière) qui n’a pas régulièrement brûlée comme la première. Pour étudier la dynamique de la végétation, 30 placettes d’inventaire floristique ont été mises en place en raison de 10 placettes par type de savane. Le plan d’échantillonnage de collecte de nos données a été conçu en deux périodes, en avril 2022 pendant la saison pluvieuse et en juillet de la même année pendant la saison sèche. Au total 144 espèces végétales reparties en 23 genres et 40 familles ont été inventoriées. Parmi les trois zones d’expérimentation, c’est la lisière qui a la plus forte biodiversité puisque regorgeant à elle seule 72 espèces soit 50,3%. La savane-témoin a totalisé 36 espèces qui représentent 24,8% contre la savane mise en défens qui en a 35 espèces soit 24,1%. Il convient de signaler que la savane-témoin par le fait qu’elle brûle chaque année est dominée par les herbacées (Poaceae). En revanche, la savane mise en défens et la lisière, séparées de la savane-témoin, par le fait qu’elles ont été protégées contre les feux de brousse, ont évolué différemment. Dans ces deux aires, les strates arbuste et arborée dominent avec la présence des espèces de galeries forestières comme Alchornea cordifolia, Allophylus africanus, Anthocleista schweinfurthii, Chaetocarpus africanus, Millettia laurentii, etc. Ces strates augmentent la capacité de stockage de la biomasse par le diamètre, la hauteur et la densité des tiges des arbustes.
Author Keywords: évolution, diversité floristique, Ibi-village, RDC.
How to Cite this Article
Henri Paul Eloma Ikoleki, Ruffin Nsielolo Kitoko, and Jean LEJOLY, “Dynamics of the vegetation of a savannah protected against fire in Ibi-village in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” International Journal of Innovation and Applied Studies, vol. 44, no. 3, pp. 707–724, January 2025.
