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Life strategy traits of the liana Sericostachys scandens spreading in the montane forests in the Kahuzi-Biega national park (DR Congo)

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Abstract

Sericostachys scandens is a monocarpic and heliophilous liana, native in tropical African forests. In the montane forests of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park (KBNP) (East of DR Congo), it has been expanding very strongly for a decade, and is currently considered as having negative impacts on biodiversity conservation. In this paper, we test if S. scandens differs from three co-occurring, native, non spreading lianas (Gouania longispicata, Tacazzea apiculata and Adenia bequaertii) for functional traits which might influence plant expansion. For leaf traits (SLA, dry matter content, nitrogen concentration), S. scandens did not show extreme values compared to those of the three other lianas. In contrast, S. scandens had much higher biomass allocation to sexual reproduction. It also differs from the three other lianas for its reproductive strategy that combines both vegetative propagation and sexual reproduction, and propagule dispersal by wind. Moreover, S. scandens has larger leaves and a greater number of lateral branches per unit stem length. It is argued that the particular combination of functional traits exhibited by S. scandens may in part explain its propensity to behave as an opportunistic weed in the disturbed areas in the montane forests of Kahuzi-Biega.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Université Officielle de Bukavu, PoBox 570, Bukavu, DR Congo

    Masumbuko Ndabaga Céphas

  2. Laboratoire d’Ecologie Végétale et Biogéochimie, CP 244, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Av FD Roosevelt 50, B-1050, Bruxelles, Belgium

    Masumbuko Ndabaga Céphas, Herpigny Basile & Meerts Pierre

  3. Botany and Computational Plant Architecture, IRD — Marie Curie., 34398, Montpellier cedex 5, France

    Barbier Nicolas

  4. Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, Rue Vautier 29, 1000, Bruxelles, Belgium

    Habiyaremye Muhashy François

  5. Herbarium de l’Université Libre de Bruxelles, 50 Avenue F. Roosevelt — CP 169, B-1050, Bruxelles, Belgium

    Lejoly Jean

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  1. Masumbuko Ndabaga Céphas
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Correspondence to Habiyaremye Muhashy François.

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Céphas, M.N., Basile, H., Nicolas, B. et al. Life strategy traits of the liana Sericostachys scandens spreading in the montane forests in the Kahuzi-Biega national park (DR Congo). J. Mt. Sci. 9, 665–675 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-012-2382-x

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