Author(s)

Moustapha Bassimbe Sagna^1,2*, Aïssatou Ndong Thiam¹, Khoudia Niang³, Oumar Sarr¹, Aly Diallo⁴, Sekouna Diatta^1,2, Daouda Ngom¹, Aliou Guissé^1,2

¹Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal.
²IRL 3189 “Environment, Health, Society”, Tessekere Human Environment Observatory (Senegal), Dakar, Senegal.
³Department of Agronomy and Plant Production, El Hadji Ibrahima Niasse University, Kaolack, Senegal.
⁴Department of Agroforestry, Assane Seck University, Ziguinchor, Senegal.

This study describes the floristic composition and structure of a woody stand in the Senegalese Sahel, paying particular attention to the edaphic factors of its floristic composition. A stratified inventory considering the different relief units was adopted. Woody vegetation was surveyed using a dendrometric approach. The results obtained show that the flora is dominated by a few species adapted to drought, such as Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del., Calotropis procera Ait. and Boscia senegalensis (Pers.). The distribution of this flora and the structure of the ligneous plants are linked to the topography. In the lowlands, the flora is more diversified and the ligneous plants reach their optimum level of development compared with the higher relief areas. In the lowlands, there are a few woody species which, in the past, were indicative of better climatic conditions. These are Anogeissus leiocarpus (DC.), Commiphora africana (A. Rich.), Feretia apodanthera Del., Loeseneriella africana (A. Smith), Mitragyna inermis (Willd.) and Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich). It is important that their reintroduction into reforestation projects takes account of their edaphic preference.

Woody Plants, Distribution, Topography, Ferlo, Senegal

Sagna, M. , Thiam, A. , Niang, K. , Sarr, O. , Diallo, A. , Diatta, S. , Ngom, D. and Guissé, A. (2024) Influence of Topography on the Distribution and Structure of Woody Plants in the Senegalese Sahel (Sandy Ferlo). American Journal of Plant Sciences, 15, 14-28. doi: 10.4236/ajps.2024.151002.