2.1.3.2. Data sampling within the plot
All the individuals of any species with a circumference equal
to or greater than 10 cm were identified by their scientific and/or local
names, by measuring with a tape measure the circumference at breast height. In
case of doubt species identification was cross-referenced by using different
published references such as TROUPIN (1979, 1983, 1985), HAMILTON (1971) as
well as different volumes of the Flora Congo Belgium and Rwanda Urundi, Robyns
flora of central Africa (1951,1958).
For unknown species, a sample of the plant was taken and put in a
herbarium for further identification at the Lwiro Research Centre herbarium.
We sampled data according to the order of quadrat from the first
towards the fifth and then according to the way indicated by the arrows in
figure 1 up to the twenty fith.
The following information was recorded: the name of the site,
the date, the number of persons at work, the team leader, GPS points, number of
the quadrat, the topography of the quadrat, type of vegetation, the
configuration of the canopy in a given quadrat, name of the tree or shrub
species identified, the n° of the herbarium for the collected sample, the
vernacular name, the family of the plant, the circumference as well as the
approximative height of the idenntified individual. On the same data sheet is
indicated information about whether or not, the registered species is consumed
by mountain gorilla, as well as the part consumed. These pieces of information
were provided to us by park rangers and trackers who were members of the
working team. The phenology of the plant has also been indicated after
observation of the vegetative state of the individual recorded. For the
phenology, we recorded whether the presence or absence of flowers, fruits
(distinguishing ripe and unripe ones), new leaves or no leaves present at all.
Besides, we have, for every identified individual plant, assigned a reference
n° using plastic tags with numbers stapled on the trunk of each of the
individuals measured; this, to assure long term monitoring of the evolution of
the DBH and the phenology of every identified plant over time.
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