Effects of forest disturbance and regeneration on tree species composition and traits in DR Congo

Despite their key role in biodiversity conservation, forests of the Congo Basin are increasingly threatened by human activities. Whereas deforestation is very conspicuous, it remains challenging to monitor the impact of forest degradation under a more or less intact canopy. Likewise, the outcomes of forest regeneration following agricultural abandonment remain poorly studied in the Congo Basin. Here, we surveyed 125 vegetation quadrats across 25 forest inventory plots in the Yangambi region, and based on historical land-use maps. We aimed to assess both the impact of anthropogenic disturbance and forest recovery on tree species diversity, tree functional traits, community composition, canopy cover, and forest structure, as compared to undisturbed old-growth forest. We found that undisturbed old-growth forest harboured more tree individuals, particularly individuals with a smaller diameter, as well as species with a higher wood density when compared to both disturbed old-growth and regrowth forest. Moreover, species diversity was highest in disturbed old-growth forest. Tree species composition was significantly different between undisturbed old-growth forest and the other two forest categories. Our findings indicate that anthropogenic disturbance results in a degraded forest structure and may reduce the forests ability to store carbon. Whereas species diversity recovered 60 years after agricultural abandonment, species composition remained different from undisturbed old-growth forest. Our study illustrates the need for more extensive vegetation surveys in the Congo Basin in order to quantify the effects of human disturbance under a closed canopy.