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Angbonda DMA, Ilunga-Mulala CM, Bourland N, Beeckman H, Boyemba F, Hatakiwe H, Ngongo JP, Hardy OJ. Inbreeding depression affects the growth of seedlings of an African timber species with a mixed mating reproductive system, Pericopsis elata (Harms) Meeuwen. Heredity (Edinb) 2024:10.1038/s41437-024-00709-x. [PMID: 39090317 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-024-00709-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Selfing or mating between related individuals can lead to inbreeding depression (ID), which can influence the survival, growth and evolution of populations of tree species. As selective logging involves a decrease in the density of congeneric partners, it could lead to increasing biparental inbreeding or self-fertilization, exposing the population to higher ID. We assessed the influence of inbreeding on the growth of a commercial timber species, Pericopsis elata (Fabaceae), which produced about 54% of self-fertilized seedlings in a natural population of the Congo basin. We followed the survival and growth of 540 plants raised in a plantation along a gradient of plant density (0.07-15.9 plants per m2). Parentage analysis allowed us distinguishing selfed and outcrossed seedlings. The annual growth was higher for outcrossed than selfed plants, on average by 10.8% for diameter and 12.9% for height growth. Based on the difference in above ground biomass between selfed and outcrossed seedlings after 41 months, we estimated the level of ID at δ = 0.33, while a lifetime estimate of ID based on the proportions of selfed plants at seedling and adult stages led to δ = 0.7. The level of ID on growth rate did not change significantly with age but tended to vanish under high competition. Pericopsis elata is a particularly interesting model because inbreeding depression is partial, with about 26% of reproducing adults resulting from selfing, contrary to most tropical tree species where selfed individuals usually die before reaching adulthood. Hence, the risks of ID must be considered in the management and conservation of the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dieu -Merci Assumani Angbonda
- Faculté de Gestion des Ressources Naturelles Renouvelables, Université de Kisangani, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology Unit CP 160/12, Faculté des Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
- Laboratoire d'Ecologie et Aménagement Forestier (LECAFOR), Université de Kisangani, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Institut National Pour l'Etude et la Recherche Agronomiques de Yangambi (INERA - Yangambi), Yangambi, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
| | - Crispin M Ilunga-Mulala
- Forest Is Life, TERRA Teaching and Research Centre, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
- Faculté des Sciences, Université du Cinquantenaire de Lwiro, Lwiro, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Nils Bourland
- Service of Wood Biology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium
| | - Hans Beeckman
- Service of Wood Biology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium
| | - Faustin Boyemba
- Laboratoire d'Ecologie et Aménagement Forestier (LECAFOR), Université de Kisangani, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Faculté des Sciences, Université de Kisangani, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Hulda Hatakiwe
- Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Jean Pierre Ngongo
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology Unit CP 160/12, Faculté des Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
- Faculté des Sciences, Université de Kisangani, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Department of Natural and Renewable Resources Management, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Kindu, Kindu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Olivier J Hardy
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology Unit CP 160/12, Faculté des Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
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Luambua NK, Hubau W, Salako KV, Amani C, Bonyoma B, Musepena D, Rousseau M, Bourland N, Nshimba HS, Ewango C, Beeckman H, Hardy OJ. Spatial patterns of light-demanding tree species in the Yangambi rainforest (Democratic Republic of Congo). Ecol Evol 2021; 11:18691-18707. [PMID: 35003702 PMCID: PMC8717288 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Most Central African rainforests are characterized by a remarkable abundance of light-demanding canopy species: long-lived pioneers (LLP) and non-pioneer light demanders (NPLD). A popular explanation is that these forests are still recovering from intense slash-and-burn farming activities, which abruptly ended in the 19th century. This "human disturbance" hypothesis has never been tested against spatial distribution patterns of these light demanders. Here, we focus on the 28 most abundant LLP and NPLD from 250 one-ha plots distributed along eight parallel transects (~50 km) in the Yangambi forest. Four species of short-lived pioneers (SLP) and a single abundant shade-tolerant species (Gilbertiodendron dewevrei) were used as reference because they are known to be strongly aggregated in recently disturbed patches (SLP) or along watercourses (G. dewevrei). Results show that SLP species are strongly aggregated with clear spatial autocorrelation of their diameter. This confirms that they colonized the patch following a one-time disturbance event. In contrast, LLP and NPLD species have random or weakly aggregated distribution, mostly without spatial autocorrelation of their diameter. This does not unambiguously confirm the "human disturbance" hypothesis. Alternatively, their abundance might be explained by their deciduousness, which gave them a competitive advantage during long-term drying of the late Holocene. Additionally, a canonical correspondence analysis showed that the observed LLP and NPLD distributions are not explained by environmental variables, strongly contrasting with the results for the reference species G. dewevrei, which is clearly aggregated along watercourses. We conclude that the abundance of LLP and NPLD species in Yangambi cannot be unambiguously attributed to past human disturbances or environmental variables. An alternative explanation is that present-day forest composition is a result of adaptation to late-Holocene drying. However, results are inconclusive and additional data are needed to confirm this alternative hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nestor K. Luambua
- Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources ManagementUniversity of KisanganiKisanganiDemocratic Republic of Congo
- Service of Wood BiologyRoyal Museum for Central AfricaTervurenBelgium
- Faculté des sciences AgronomiquesUniversité Officielle de MbujimayiMbujimayiDemocratic Republic of Congo
| | - Wannes Hubau
- Service of Wood BiologyRoyal Museum for Central AfricaTervurenBelgium
- Department of EnvironmentLaboratory of Wood TechnologyFaculty of Bioscience EngineeringGhent UniversityGhentBelgium
- School of GeographyUniversity of LeedsLeedsUK
| | - Kolawolé Valère Salako
- Laboratoire de Biomathématiques et d’Estimations ForestièresFaculty of Agronomic SciencesUniversity of Abomey‐CalaviCotonouBenin
- Service d'Évolution Biologique et ÉcologieUniversité Libre de BruxellesBrusselsBelgium
| | - Christian Amani
- Faculty of Sciences and Applied SciencesUniversité Officielle de Bukavu Departement de la BiologieBukavuDemocratic Republic of Congo
- Center for International Forestry ResearchBogor (Barat)Indonesia
| | - Bernard Bonyoma
- Section de la ForesterieInstitut National pour l'Etude et la Recherche AgronomiqueYangambiDemocratic Republic of Congo
| | - Donatien Musepena
- Section de la ForesterieInstitut National pour l'Etude et la Recherche AgronomiqueYangambiDemocratic Republic of Congo
| | - Mélissa Rousseau
- Service of Wood BiologyRoyal Museum for Central AfricaTervurenBelgium
| | - Nils Bourland
- Service of Wood BiologyRoyal Museum for Central AfricaTervurenBelgium
- Center for International Forestry ResearchBogor (Barat)Indonesia
- Resources & Synergies Development Pte LtdSingaporeSingapore
| | - Hippolyte S.M. Nshimba
- Department of Ecology and Flora Resources ManagementFaculty of SciencesUniversity of KisanganiKisanganiDemocratic Republic of Congo
| | - Corneille Ewango
- Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources ManagementUniversity of KisanganiKisanganiDemocratic Republic of Congo
| | - Hans Beeckman
- Service of Wood BiologyRoyal Museum for Central AfricaTervurenBelgium
| | - Olivier J. Hardy
- Service d'Évolution Biologique et ÉcologieUniversité Libre de BruxellesBrusselsBelgium
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Ouédraogo DY, Doucet JL, Daïnou K, Baya F, Biwolé AB, Bourland N, Fétéké F, Gillet JF, Kouadio YL, Fayolle A. The size at reproduction of canopy tree species in central Africa. Biotropica 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dakis-Yaoba Ouédraogo
- TERRA Teaching and Research Centre; Central African Forests; Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech; University of Liège; Passage des Déportés 2 5030 Gembloux Belgium
| | - Jean-Louis Doucet
- TERRA Teaching and Research Centre; Central African Forests; Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech; University of Liège; Passage des Déportés 2 5030 Gembloux Belgium
| | - Kasso Daïnou
- Nature+ asbl s/c BIOSE; Management of Forest Resources; Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech; University of Liège; Passage des Déportés 2 5030 Gembloux Belgium
| | - Fidèle Baya
- MEFCP/ICRA; BP 830 Bangui Central African Republic
| | - Achille Bernard Biwolé
- TERRA Teaching and Research Centre; Central African Forests; Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech; University of Liège; Passage des Déportés 2 5030 Gembloux Belgium
- Higher School of Teaching Techniques; University of Douala; BP 1872 Douala Cameroon
| | - Nils Bourland
- TERRA Teaching and Research Centre; Central African Forests; Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech; University of Liège; Passage des Déportés 2 5030 Gembloux Belgium
- Royal Museum for Central Africa; Leuvensesteenweg 13 - 3080 Tervuren Belgium
- Center for International Forestry Research Situ Gede; Sindang Barang Bogor (Barat) 16115 Indonesia
- Resources & Synergies Development Pte Ltd; Raffles Quay 16, #33-03, Hong Leong Building Singapore 048581 Singapore
| | - Fousséni Fétéké
- BIOSE; Management of Forest Resources; Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech; University of Liège; Passage des Déportés 2 5030 Gembloux Belgium
- Cora Wood Gabon; BP 521 Port-Gentil Gabon
| | - Jean-François Gillet
- Nature+ asbl s/c BIOSE; Management of Forest Resources; Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech; University of Liège; Passage des Déportés 2 5030 Gembloux Belgium
- Nature Forest Environment; Rue du Moulin, 7c 6929 Porcheresse Belgium
| | - Yao Lambert Kouadio
- TERRA Teaching and Research Centre; Central African Forests; Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech; University of Liège; Passage des Déportés 2 5030 Gembloux Belgium
- Natural Sciences Teaching and Research Unit; Nangui Abrogoua University; 01 BP 4403 Abidjan Ivory Coast
| | - Adeline Fayolle
- TERRA Teaching and Research Centre; Central African Forests; Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech; University of Liège; Passage des Déportés 2 5030 Gembloux Belgium
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Doucet JL, Daïnou K, Ligot G, Ouédraogo DY, Bourland N, Ward SE, Tekam P, Lagoute P, Fayolle A. Enrichment of Central African logged forests with high-value tree species: testing a new approach to regenerating degraded forests. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIODIVERSITY SCIENCE, ECOSYSTEM SERVICES & MANAGEMENT 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/21513732.2016.1168868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Louis Doucet
- Gestion des Ressources forestières, Département BIOSE, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Université de Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Kasso Daïnou
- Nature + asbl, Foresterie tropicale, Département BIOSE, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Université de Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Gauthier Ligot
- Gestion des Ressources forestières, Département BIOSE, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Université de Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Dakis-Yaoba Ouédraogo
- Gestion des Ressources forestières, Département BIOSE, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Université de Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Nils Bourland
- Gestion des Ressources forestières, Département BIOSE, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Université de Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
- Service of Wood Biology - Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium
| | | | | | | | - Adeline Fayolle
- Gestion des Ressources forestières, Département BIOSE, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Université de Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
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Vlam M, van der Sleen P, Groenendijk P, Zuidema PA. Tree Age Distributions Reveal Large-Scale Disturbance-Recovery Cycles in Three Tropical Forests. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2016; 7:1984. [PMID: 28105034 PMCID: PMC5214098 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.01984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2016] [Accepted: 12/14/2016] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Over the past few decades there has been a growing realization that a large share of apparently 'virgin' or 'old-growth' tropical forests carries a legacy of past natural or anthropogenic disturbances that have a substantial effect on present-day forest composition, structure and dynamics. Yet, direct evidence of such disturbances is scarce and comparisons of disturbance dynamics across regions even more so. Here we present a tree-ring based reconstruction of disturbance histories from three tropical forest sites in Bolivia, Cameroon, and Thailand. We studied temporal patterns in tree regeneration of shade-intolerant tree species, because establishment of these trees is indicative for canopy disturbance. In three large areas (140-300 ha), stem disks and increment cores were collected for a total of 1154 trees (>5 cm diameter) from 12 tree species to estimate the age of every tree. Using these age estimates we produced population age distributions, which were analyzed for evidence of past disturbance. Our approach allowed us to reconstruct patterns of tree establishment over a period of around 250 years. In Bolivia, we found continuous regeneration rates of three species and a peaked age distribution of a long-lived pioneer species. In both Cameroon and Thailand we found irregular age distributions, indicating strongly reduced regeneration rates over a period of 10-60 years. Past fires, windthrow events or anthropogenic disturbances all provide plausible explanations for the reported variation in tree age across the three sites. Our results support the recent idea that the long-term dynamics of tropical forests are impacted by large-scale disturbance-recovery cycles, similar to those driving temperate forest dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mart Vlam
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University and ResearchWageningen, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Mart Vlam,
| | - Peter van der Sleen
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University and ResearchWageningen, Netherlands
- Marine Science Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Port AransasTX, USA
- Instituto Boliviano de Investigación ForestalSanta Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
| | - Peter Groenendijk
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University and ResearchWageningen, Netherlands
- Departamento de Botánica, Escola Politécnica Superior, Universidade de Santiago de CompostelaLugo, Spain
| | - Pieter A. Zuidema
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University and ResearchWageningen, Netherlands
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