Distribution and abundance of Milicia species in Ghana

1998

English

The distribution of Milicia species in Ghana was examined using data from the Forest Inventory Project of 1989. Milicia increases in frequency along a precipitation gradient from the wet evergreen to the dry semi-deciduous forest zones. The pattern of higher frequency in dry areas is consistent across all size classes of trees. Some possible explanations for this phenomenon are the requirements of Milicia seedlings to grow in open highlight environments, the negative effect of a long dry season on the gall-forming psyllid, phytolyma spp. and the increasing frequency of fire in drier zones.

Nichols, J. D.; Agurgo, F. B.; Agyeman, V. K.; Wagner, M. R.; Cobbinah, J. R.