Litterfall and productivity in a tropical rain forest, Southern Baakundu Forest Reserve, Cameroon

Abstract

Litterfall was measured monthly in ten 1 m²traps in each of two 0.25 ha plots in the rain forest of Southern Bakundu Forest Reserve, Cameroon for 18 months from 1 July 1982 to 31 December 1983. Particular emphasis was placed on measuring species contributions and in relating litterfall to climatic factors; the litterfall data were also used in estimating leaf production. Annual litterfall ranged between 12.9 and 14.1 t ha⁻¹and was partitioned to leaves (61–66%), branches (23–38%), fruits and flowers (8–12%) and ephiphytes (0.8%). Emergents and top canopy species likeDesbordesia glaucescens(evergreen) andCeiba pentandra(deciduous) contributed more litter than the numerically dominant lower storey species likeCola lepidotaandDiospyrosspp. Litter fell throughout the year but was greatest during the dry season (November to March); litterfall was thus strongly negatively correlated with environmental moisture variables and could be predicted from its linear regression on time of year, throughfall and relative humidity. By correcting the leaf fall data for leaf weight losses due to grazing and re-translocation, leaf production rates of 10.2 to 11.2 t ha⁻¹yr⁻¹were estimated for the forest.