The Woody Vegetation of Eastern Senegal

Abstract

The woody component of the vegetation of eastern Senegal was sampled using the point-centered quarter method. Data were evaluated using cluster, principal component, and multiple discriminant analysis (MDA) techniques. Sites were grouped into 8 ecologically significant groups. Six of these groups were considered woodland lateritic sites, and 2 drainage sediment sites. Species of the genus Combretum dominated all sites. The effect of livestock grazing on the botanical composition was inferred through the use of 4 environmental variables as discriminant factors in MDA. A floristic record of species composition and guidelines for management are embodied in the results of the analyses.