Phytoecological characteristics of plant groups in natural formations with Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del. in the Center-East of Niger

Abstract

 Knowledge of the spatial organization and floristic composition of forest ecosystems is important for planning and conservation policies. This work aims to characterize the natural formations of Balanites aegyptiaca. The data were collected by means of phytosociological surveys installed randomly in agrosystems and natural formations. A total of 27 woody species have been identified. Four plant groups were discriminated among which the grouping with Balanites aegyptiaca and Acacia tortilis, the grouping with Balanites aegyptiaca and Cordia sinensis, the grouping with Balanites aegyptiaca and Piliostigma reticulatum and the grouping with Balanites aegyptiaca and Acacia senegal. These groupings are dependent on certain environmental variables such as types of occupation and soil texture. The number of species per group ranges from 8 to 21 and the Shannon index ranges from 1.29 to 2.61 bits. These values indicate that the groups are weakly diversified. The abundance of Microphanerophytes and species of the Fabaceae family reflects the fact that these sites belong to an arid climate. The abundance of widely distributed species on phytogeographic types confirms climatic aridity and environmental disturbance.