Vegetation survey of the woodlands of Huíla Province

Abstract

Abstract: We conducted a vegetation survey in the woodlands of Huíla Province, Angola, with the aim of investigating woodland tree communities and species associations. Vegetation sampling was conducted using vegetation plots of 1 000 m2 where all tree species with or above 5 cm trunk diameter (DBH) were measured. A total of 456 vegetation plots were assessed and a total of 32 080 individual trees measured. Vegetation classifi cation using the ISOPAM algorithm resulted in 13 distinct tree communities. The most dominant family was Fabaceae, subfamily Caesalpinioideae, followed by Combreta- ceae and Euphorbiaceae. The classifi cation resulted in seven tree communities belonging to the miombo woodlands, two tree communities from Mopane, two from the Baikiaea-Baphia-Terminalia woodlands, and two other distinct tree communities. In general, the miombo communities were the most diverse. The study represents the fi rst plot-based vegetation survey for the region, and will provide the basis for the elaboration of the fi rst vegetation map of Huíla Province. Biodiversity Resumo: