Plant inventory of W Biosphere reserve (North-Benin). Data mobilized in the framework of JRS Biodiversity Foundation project

Laurent G. Houessou1, Sunday Kakpo2, Jean Ganglo3

1 Laboratory of Applied Ecology, University of Abomey-Calavi, Parakou, Benin; 2 University of Abomey-Calavi. Faculty of Agricultural Sciences. Laboratoire des Sciences Forestières/Université d’Abomey-Calavi (LSF/UAC), BP 393 Cotonou, 229, Calavi, Benin; 3 

Corresponding author(s): Laurent G. Houessou (houessoulaurent@gmail.com), Sunday Kakpo (kakposunday@yahoo.fr)

Received {date}; Revised {date}; Accepted {date}; Published {date}

Citation: Combination of authors, year of data paper publication (in parentheses), Title, Journal Name, Volume, Issue number (in parentheses), and doi of the data paper.

Resource Citation

Houessou G. Laurent, 2016. Plant Inventory of W Biosphere reserve (North-Benin). Laboratoire d'Ecologie Appliquée (LEA), Université d’Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Bénin.

Abstract

Vegetation relevés were performed along a land use gradient (park – buffer zone – communal lands) at W Biosphere Reserve in Benin republic. Relevés were carried out using Braun-Blanquet Phytosociological approach from mi-September to mi-November of the year 2008 and 2009 corresponding to the period where the maximum plant species is in flower. Aster satellite images from 2007 were used to identify the main types of vegetation in which vegetation plots were installed. We set up a total of 121 stratified random plots. Trees and shrubs sampling was carried out in 30 m x 30 m plots while herbaceous layer composition were surveyed in subplots of 10 m x 10 m. These data were collected in the frame of our PhD study. From this study, a total of 5626 occurrences were recorded.

Keywords: Occurrence, W Biosphere Reserve, protected area, Founougou, Benin

Project details

Project title: Implementation of the National Biodiversity Information System (NBIS) of Benin
Funding: The funding of this project is generously provided by JRS Biodiversity Foundation (http://jrsbiodiversity.org/)
Study area descriptions/descriptor: The data digitized and published in the framework of this project are gathered throughout the whole country
Design description: The design is detailed according tp the objectives of the project
1.	Extend and consolidate partnerships with institutions working in the field of biodiversity in Benin. This objective will be achieved during the first 18 months of the project, including at least 70% of the major institutions, through sensitization on the importance of biodiversity data publication and training of targeted staff members. Where required, the project will provide financial assistance to support data mobilization. 

2.	Mobilize more plant and animal data. This objective will be achieved during the first 18 months of the project by digitizing and publishing at least 50,000 geo-referenced animal and plant collections (Magnoliophyta, Pteridophyta, vertebrates, key insect groups) of partner institutions. Data mobilization will occur in the framework of GBIF procedures and standards. As a consequence, the NBIS portal will become the ‘go-to’ source of biodiversity information for the country.

3.	Mobilize global data for Benin. This objective will be achieved during the first 21 months of the project, but largely within the framework of another project to be submitted. We are building a West African digitization consortium via a formal partnership with researchers and institutions in Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, and Cameroon. Within this consortium, we will develop broad cooperation and collaboration with European and North American museums and herbaria for effective capture, repatriation, cleaning, georeferencing, and sharing of at least 50% of data from ‘frozen’ European and American museum collections regarding Benin (and West Africa more generally).

4.	Advance Beninese capacity in biodiversity analyses. This objective will be achieved throughout the project and beyond. My institution has signed an MOU with Kansas University (KU) to enable high-level scientific and technical assistance from the team of Dr Perterson to several universities in Benin. This assistance will help incorporate biodiversity informatics into Masters degree programs in Benin. Beninese students to be trained in the Ph.D. program at KU will be recruited at universities of Benin to carry on biodiversity informatics training and develop detailed case studies relevant to decision-making in biodiversity conservation in Benin.

Data published through GBIF: http://ipt-benin.gbif.fr/resource?r=kakpo_n8

Spatial coverage

General spatial coverage: Vegetation relevés were performed along a land use gradient (park – buffer zone – communal lands) at W Biosphere Reserve in Benin republic. Relevés were carried out using Braun-Blanquet Phytosociological approach from mi-September to mi-November of the year 2008 and 2009 corresponding to the period where the maximum plant species is in flower. Aster satellite images from 2007 were used to identify the main types of vegetation in which vegetation plots were installed. We set up a total of 121 stratified random plots. Trees and shrubs sampling was carried out in 30 m x 30 m plots while herbaceous layer composition were surveyed in subplots of 10 m x 10 m. These data were collected in the frame of our PhD study. From this study, a total of 5626 occurrences were recorded.
Coordinates: 11°31'48''N and 11°43'12''N Latitude; 2°18'36''E and 2°43'12''E Longitude 

Temporal coverage: September 1, 2008 - October 31, 2009

Datasets

Dataset description
Object name: Darwin Core Archive Plant inventory of W Biosphere reserve (North-Benin). Data mobilized in the framework of JRS Biodiversity Foundation project
Character encoding: UTF-8
Format name: Darwin Core Archive format
Format version: 1.0
Distribution: http://ipt-benin.gbif.fr/archive.do?r=kakpo_n8
Publication date of data: 2016-12-27
Language: English
Licences of use: This work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode">Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License</a>.

Metadata language: English
Date of metadata creation: 2016-09-29
Hierarchy level: Dataset

References
_ Akoègninou A., Van der Burg W.J., Van der Maesen L.J.G., Flore Analytique du Bénin. Herbier National du Bénin. 1034 pages;  -Hutchinson J., Dalziel J.M., 1954. Flora of West Tropical Africa. Second édition, Vol. I. Part1; 295 pages;  -Hutchinson J., Dalziel J.M., 1958. Flora of West Tropical Africa. Second édition, Vol. I. Part 2; 532 pages;