Floristic Study of the Mangroves of the Sassandra-dabégo Complex

Floristic Study of the Mangroves of the Sassandra-dabégo Complex | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Floristic Study of the Mangroves of the Sassandra-dabégo Complex KONAN Djézou, Ménéké KOUGBO, KOUADIO Kouassi Richard, Lekadou Tackra Thiéry, and 2 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9519400/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 8 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Mangroves are tropical coastal ecosystems of great ecological, climatic and socio-economic importance. They protect the coastline against erosion, provide the local populations with natural resources and maintain important biodiversity. In Côte d'Ivoire, the Sassandra-Dabégo complex, classified as a Ramsar site in 2005, represents one of the most important mangrove complexes in the country. However, it is under anthropogenic pressure from logging, agriculture, artisanal fishing and urbanization. This study aims to assess the conservation status of the mangroves of five sites (Groudou, Batélébré 2, Gaoulou, ÎIsland and Dabégo) of this complex through the analysis of the floristic richness, similarity, overlap and distribution of species. The inventories of these five sites using the itinerant method and the Braun-Blanquet phytosociological approach made it possible to identify a total of 40 plant species. Of these species, 37 have been inventoried in Batélébré 2, and only 17 in Gaoulou. The mangroves of Groudou, Island, Batélébré 2 and Dabégo still contain mangrove species such as Rhizophora racemosa G.Mey., Avicennia africana P.Beauv. and Acrostichum aureum L., indicating a relatively good state of preservation. In addition, Gaoulou has a total absence of these mangrove species and a strong dominance of Chromolaena odorata , reflecting an advanced degradation. The results reveal a conservation gradient within the complex, ranging from relatively stable sites, Groudou and the Island, to highly degraded areas, Gaoulou. This raises the urgency of strengthening sustainable management measures, in particular the reforestation of mangrove species and the regulation of human activities, in order to preserve these ecosystems in the southwest of Côte d'Ivoire. Mangroves Sassandra-Dabégo complex floristic richness state of conservation Côte d'Ivoire Ramsar site Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 INTRODUCTION Mangrove ecosystems occupy a fundamental place in tropical areas because of their ecological, socio-economic and climatic importance. On a global scale, mangroves provide the functions of protecting coastlines against erosion, sequestration and storage of blue carbon, as well as maintaining a particularly rich biodiversity (IPCC, 2022). They provide riparian communities with essential ecosystem goods and services, including fisheries resources, wood energy and various non-timber forest products. All of this contributes to food security and poverty reduction (UNEP, 2021). Despite their strategic importance, mangroves remain among the most threatened ecosystems in the world. According to FAO (2020), their overall area is estimated at about 14.8 million hectares, with a general trend of regression under the combined effect of anthropogenic pressures and climate change. In West Africa, these formations develop on hydromorphic, muddy soils rich in organic matter, subject to tides and variable salinity gradients. The vegetation is dominated by mangroves of the genera Rhizophora and Avicennia , as well as the species Conocarpus erectus L. (Combretaceae), forming favourable habitats for many species of fish, crustaceans, molluscs and waterbirds. In Côte d'Ivoire, mangroves are located along the coast and in lagoon complexes in the south and west of the country. To encourage the protection and sustainable use of wetlands of international importance, the Ivorian State has acceded to the Ramsar Convention adopted in 1971. However, between the 1980s and 2000s, the surface area of these areas decreased sharply due to population growth, intensive use of wood energy and coastal development (Ajonina et al ., 2008). The Sassandra-Dabego mangrove complex, classified as a Ramsar site on 18 September 2005, is no exception to this reality. Indeed, over the past decade, this site has been subject to an intensification of anthropogenic pressures, such as logging, agricultural expansion, artisanal fishing and urbanization. Yet, it is one of the most representative and ecologically important wetlands in the country. It is characterized by the coexistence of several major species of mangroves, including R. racemosa , A. africana and C. erectus , giving the site a significant ecological interest (N'Douba et al ., 2005). However, despite its status as a Ramsar site and the threats to which it is subject, up-to-date knowledge on the floristic composition, the structure of the stands and the dynamics of natural regeneration of the Sassandra-Dabégo complex remains limited. In this context, the present study aims to assess the state of degradation of the mangroves of the Sassandra-Dabego complex, by characterizing the floristic composition and the structure of the stands, then by analyzing the spatial distribution of the species and their regeneration dynamics, in order to guide sustainable management and ecological restoration strategies. MATERIALS AND METHODS 1. Study area The Sassandra–Dabégo complex is located in the southwest of Côte d'Ivoire, straddling the departments of Sassandra and Dabégo, between 4°56'40'' and 5°1'40'' north latitude and 5°58'20'' and 6°8'20'' west longitude. (Fig. 1 ). It covers an area of 10,551.1 ha and is a wetland of international importance (N'Douba et al ., 2005). This complex rests on a Precambrian basement composed of migmatites, gneiss, amphibolites, pyroxenites and granites (Kouamélan et al ., 2015). The relief is not very rugged, except for the coastal approaches where there are hills with relatively steep slopes. There are four seasons: two dry seasons, one of which is from December to April and the small one from August to September, and two rainy seasons with a large one from May to July and the small one from October to November. The average annual rainfall is 1,600 mm and the average annual temperature is about 26°C (Soro et al ., 2021). The complex is watered by the Sassandra river, its tributary the Davo and by the Dabego lagoon. Secondary rivers, in particular Blézo and Gnoudolo-zalo, converge in the north before feeding the lagoon with fresh water. The mouth of the river is home to estuarine mangroves, about 60% of which are preserved, subject to hydro-sedimentary dynamics controlled by the interaction between marine and inland waters. This mixed influence modulates the physicochemical parameters (salinity, turbidity, nutrients), determining the distribution of aquatic organisms. The study was carried out in the mangroves of Groudou, Batélébré 2, Gaoulou, Island and Dabégo. 2. Data collection Floristic data were collected by combining the itinerant inventory and the phytosociological method of de Braun-Blanquet (1928), two complementary approaches widely used in tropical plant ecology and vegetation analysis. The itinerant inventory consists of systematically travelling through the study environment in different directions in order to identify all the plant species encountered. This method makes it possible to obtain an exhaustive floristic list of heterogeneous environments. The Braun-Blanquet method, based on the visual estimation of the abundance-dominance of species within plots, makes it possible to assess the abundance and recovery of species using a scale that assigns species an index of abundance dominance, ranging from 1 to 5 according to their average recoveries (Table 1 ). The abundance-dominance index includes the number of individuals of a species (abundance), its spatial cover, area and volume (dominance). The percentage of specific overlap is then estimated from the median of each abundance-dominance class, in accordance with methodological recommendations in quantitative phytosociology (Dengler et al ., 2021). This conversion results in an average overlap value that can be used for statistical and comparative analyses of plant communities. Table 1 Recoveries evaluation table adopted for this study Dominance abundance index Cover class Recovery percentage (%) 5 ]75 ; 100] 87,5 4 ]50 ; 75] 62,5 3 ]25 ; 50] 37,5 2 ]5 ; 25] 15 1 ]1 ; 5] 3 r ]0 ; 1] 0,5 4. Data processing and analysis 4.1. Determination of the floristic richness of the mangroves of the Sassandra–Dabégo complex Floristic richness is the number of species recorded within the boundaries of a given territory, regardless of their frequency, abundance or any other quantitative measure. In the framework of this study, the analysis of the floristic richness will make it possible to quantify and compare the number of taxa present in the different mangroves of the Sassandra-Dabégo complex, which will provide a solid basis for discussing the conservation status of these ecosystems. The mangroves of this complex are divided into five sites, namely: Batélébré 2, Dabégo, Groudou, Gaoulou and the Island. 4.2. Analysis of the floristic similarity between the mangroves of the Sassandra-Dabégo complex In order to evaluate the floristic similarity between the different mangroves of the Sassandra-Dabégo complex studied, the similarity coefficient of Sørensen (1948) was used. This coefficient makes it possible to assess the degree of proximity between two environments taken two by two. This coefficient only takes into account the presence or absence of species (Chao et al ., 2005; Legendre & Legendre, 2012). Among various valid formulas, Sørensen's (1948) remains one of the most robust and most widely used in studies of mangroves and recent tropical forest ecosystems (Bohoussou &, Dibi, 2025). The mathematical formula is defined as follows: $$\:\varvec{C}\varvec{s}=\left(\frac{2\varvec{C}}{\varvec{A}+\varvec{B}}\right)\times\:100$$ Cs: Sorensen coefficient of similarity in percentage; A: number of species present in list I; B: number of species present in List II; C: number of species common to both lists. A high coefficient of similarity (≥ 50%) indicates a strong proximity of floristic compositions between the two environments compared (Magurran, 2013; Legendre & Legendre, 2012). 4.3. Determination of species cover in the mangroves of the Sassandra-Dabégo complex The study of the cover of the species of the different mangroves was carried out on the basis of the overlap coefficient (CR), derived from the phytosociological method developed by Braun-Blanquet (1928). The overlap coefficient consists of distinguishing between dominant or abundant species and those whose individuals are scattered or rare in an environment. This coefficient was used to highlight the most abundant species in the mangroves investigated. It is worded as follows: $$\:\varvec{C}\varvec{R}=\left(\frac{{\varvec{\varSigma\:}}_{\varvec{R}\varvec{m}}\times\:100}{\varvec{N}}\right)$$ CR: recovery coefficient; Rm: average cover of a species; N: Total number of readings. 4.4. Analysis of the spatial distribution of species in the mangroves of the Sassandra-Dabégo complex To characterize the distribution of species according to the different sites, principal component analysis (PCA) was chosen. Principal component analysis (PCA) is one of the multivariate analyses generally used to highlight correlations between species and ecological variables or relationships between plants and environments taken into account simultaneously. The PCA has highlighted the preponderance of species within each mangrove. It was carried out using the XLSTAT 16.0 software. RESULTS 1. Floristic richness of the mangroves of the Sassandra–Dabégo complex (dup: abstract ?) A total of 40 plant species have been recorded in all five (05) mangroves of the Sassandra-Dabégo complex (Table 2 ). These species are distributed as follows: 37 (35 genera and 24 families) inventoried in the Batélébré 2 mangrove, 23 species (22 genera and 17 families) in the Dabégo mangrove, 21 species (20 genera and 17 families) in the Groudou mangrove, 17 species (17 genera and 12 families) in the Gaoulou mangrove, 17 species (17 genera and 14 families) in the island's mangrove. The floristic richness of the five (05) mangroves of the Sassandra-Dabégo complex is made up of two groups of species. These are typical mangrove species and companion species (Table 2 ). Among the five (05) sites inventoried, no characteristic species of mangrove was observed in Gaoulou. On the other hand, in the mangroves of the Island, Groudou, Batélébré2 and Dabégo, three (3) plant species of mangroves have been identified. These are R. racemosa, A. africana and A. aureum (Table 2 ). Concerning companion species, Dalbergia ecastaphyllum (L.) Taub (Fabaceae), a species characteristic of degraded tropical coastal environments, as well as Ormocarpum verrucosum P.Beauv. (Fabaceae), typical of degraded dry tropical zones, have only been inventoried in the Gaoulou mangrove. These results indicate that the Batélébré 2 mangrove of the Sassandra-Dabégo complex remains relatively rich in floristics. On the other hand, the mangroves of Gaoulou and the Island appear to be floristically poor. Table 2 List of species recorded in the mangroves of the Sassandra-Dabégo complex Types of species Mangroves of the Sassandra-Dabégo complex Species Gaoulou Dabégo Batélébré 2 Island Groudou Mangrove species Acrostichum aureum - 1 1 1 1 Avicennia africana - 1 1 1 1 Rhizophora racemosa - 1 1 1 1 Total number of mangrove species per site 0 3 3 3 3 Companion species Acridocarpus alternifilus 1 1 1 - - Agelaea pentagyna - - 1 1 1 Alchornea cordifolia 1 1 1 1 1 Baphia nitida - - 1 1 1 Berlinia occidentalis 1 1 1 - - Bussea occidentalis 1 1 1 - - Chassalia kolly 1 - 1 - - Chromoleana odorata 1 1 1 - - Chrysobalanus ellipticus - 1 1 - - Commelina erectus 1 - 1 - - Dalbergia escatapyilum 1 - - - - Dialum aubrevillei - - 1 1 1 Drepanocarpus lanatus - - 1 1 1 Drypetes aframensis - 1 1 - 1 Drypetes laciniata - 1 1 - - Eugenia coronata 1 - 1 - - Ficus trichopoda ; - - 1 1 1 Flagellaria guineensis 1 - 1 - - Hexalobus salicifolus - 1 1 - - Hibiscus comoensis - 1 1 - 1 Hibiscus tiliaceus - - 1 1 1 Ipomoea pes-caprae - 1 1 - 1 Ixora laxiflora - - 1 1 1 Lonchocarpus deniceus 1 1 1 - - Millettia zechiana 1 - 1 - - Musanga cecropiodes - - 1 1 1 Napoleonacaea vogelii 1 1 1 1 1 Ormocarpum verrucosum 1 - - - - Philanthus reticulatus - 1 1 1 1 Phoenix reclinata - 1 1 1 1 Pterocarpus santalinoides - 1 1 - - Rauvolfia vomitoria 1 1 1 - - Rhaphiostylis beninensis 1 1 1 - - Rhinchospora corymbosa - - - 1 1 Securinega vrosa 1 1 1 - - Tabernaemontana crassa - 1 1 - 1 Uapaca heudelotii - - 1 1 1 Total number of companion species per site 17 20 34 14 18 Number of species by site 17 23 37 17 21 Total number of species in the complex 40 Gender Membership 17 22 35 17 20 Botanical family numbers 12 17 24 14 17 1 : presence of the species; - : absence of the species 2. Floristic similarity between the mangroves of the Sassandra-Dabégo complex (dup: abstract ?) The analysis of the floristic similarity carried out between the five mangroves of the complex indicates varying degrees of floristic similarity depending on the site (Table 3 ). A maximum similarity of 100% was observed between the mangroves of Groudou and the Island, reflecting an almost identical floristic composition. High similarities were also recorded between Gaoulou and Batélébré 2 (66.67%), between Groudou and Dabégo (59.26%), as well as between Batélébré 2 and Dabégo (55.56%). On the other hand, between the mangroves of Groudou and the Island and then of the other mangroves, the coefficient of similarity varies from 22.22 to 48.15%, indicating a weak floristic resemblance. Table 3 Coefficient of floristic similarity between mangroves (%) Gaoulou Gaoulou Batélébré 2 Dabégo Island Groudou 100 Batélébré 2 66,67 100 Dabégo 59,26 55,56 100 Island 22,22 33,33 48,15 100 Groudou 22,22 33,33 48,15 100 100 3. Species recovery in the mangroves of the Sassandra-Dabégo complex (dup: abstract ?) The study of the species cover in the mangroves of the Sassandra-Dabégo complex showed that the overlap coefficient of Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M.King & H.Rob. (Asteraceae) reached 62.5% in the Gaoulou and Batélébré 2 mangroves (Table 4 ). Similarly, A. africana has a recovery rate of 62.5% in the mangroves of Batélébré 2, Dabégo, Groudou and Île. For R. racemosa , the overlap coefficient is 52.5% in Batélébré 2 and 54.2% in the mangroves of Groudou and the Island (Fig. 2 ). Finally, A. aureum shows an overlap of 62.5% in the mangroves of Groudou and Island. These results indicate that R. racemosa , A. aureum and A. africana remain particularly abundant species in the Groudou and Island mangroves, reflecting their ecological importance. The high rate of C. odorata recovery in the Gaoulou mangrove indicates a disturbance of its vegetation (Fig. 3 ). Table 4 Species coverage coefficient for each location in the complex (%) Species Localities Gaoulou Batéléblé 2 Dabégo Island Groudou Acridocarpus alternifilus 37,5 37,5 37,5 - - Acrostichum aureum - - - 62,5 62,5 Agelaea pentagyna - 15 - 15 15 Alchornea cordifolia 20,6 15 15 15 15 Avicennia africana - 62,5 62,5 62,5 62,5 Calamus deerratus 37,5 - - 37,5 37,5 Chassalia kolly 37,5 37,5 - - - Chromoleana odorata 62,5 62,5 - - - Commelina erecta - 15 - - - Dalbergia escatapyilum 15 - - - - Drepanocarpus lanatus - 37,5 - 37,5 37,5 Eugenia coronata 15 15 - - - Flagellaria guineensis 37,5 37,5 - - - Hibiscus tiliaceus 31,9 - 33 - - Ipomoea pes-caprae 15 12,0 15 - - Lonchocarpus deniceus 37,5 37,5 - - - Millettia zechiana 37,5 37,5 - - - Napoleonacaea vogelii 37,5 37,5 37,5 37,5 37,5 Ormocarpum verrucosum 7,5 - - - - Phoenix reclinata - 37,5 - - - Phyllanthus reticulatus 37,5 37,5 37,5 - - Rauvolfia vomitoria 37,5 37,5 37,5 - - Rhapiostylis beninensis 37,5 37,5 37,5 - - Rhinchospora corymbosa - - - 37,5 37,5 Rhizophora racemosa - 52,5 3,8 54,2 54,2 Securinega vrosa 37,5 37,5 37,5 - - Tabernaemontana crassa 11,3 12 6 - - 4. Spatial distribution of species in the mangroves of the Sassandra-Dabégo complex (dup: abstract ?) The study of the spatial distribution of plant species between the mangroves of the Sassandra-Dabégo complex has identified four distinct groups (G) according to their relative abundance in the different sites investigated (Fig. 4). The G1 group is composed of the most abundant species in the mangroves of Groudou and the Island. These are R. racemosa, Drepanocarpus lanatus (L.f.) G.Mey. (Fabaceae), Agelaea pentagyna (Lam.) Baill. (Connaraceae), Rhinchospora corymbosa (L.) Britton (Cyperaceae), Calamus deerratus and A. aureum . Group G2 contains the species abundant in the mangroves of Gaoulou and Batéléblé 2. It includes C. odorata, Millettia zechiana Harms (Fabaceae), O. verrucosum, Eugenia coronata Vahl ex DC. (Myrtaceae), Tabernaemontana crassa Benth. (Apocynaceae), Dalbergia escatapyilum (L.) Taubert (Fabaceae), Chassalia kolly , Flagellaria guineensis , Phoenix reclinata Jacq. (Arecaceae), Lonchocarpus sericeus (Poir.) DC. (Fabaceae), and Commelina erecta L. (Commelinaceae). Group G3 is made up of the most abundant species in the Dabego mangrove, namely Hibiscus tiliaceus L. (Malvaceae), Ipomoea pes-caprae (L.) R.Br. (Convolvulaceae), Ipomoea pes-caprae , Acridocarpus alternifilus , Rauvolfia vomitoria Afzel. (Apocynaceae), Phyllanthus reticulatus Poir. (Phyllantaceae), Rhaphiostylis beninensis (Hook.f. ex Planch.) Planch. ex Benth (Metteniusaceae), Securinega vrosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) Baill. (Euphorbiaceae) and A. aureum . The G4 group contains the species present in almost all the mangroves of the Sassandra-Dabego complex. These are Alchornea cordifolia (Schumach. & Thonn.) Müll.Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) and Napoleonaea vogelii Hook. & Planch. (Lecythidaceae). As for the species Avicennia. africana , it is present in all mangroves except that of Gaoulou. DISCUSSION 1. Floristic richness of the mangroves of the Sassandra–Dabégo complex The inventory of the floristic composition showed that the sites of Dabégo, Groudou and Batélébré 2, retain a relatively high species diversity. This floristic richness observed in these mangroves can be explained by the monitoring carried out by the forestry services and the difficulty of access to certain sites, thus constituting factors limiting the exploitation of wood and the conversion to agricultural land. The work of Friess et al . (2019) also showed that the least disturbed mangrove ecosystems in West Africa can maintain notable diversity. Concerning the degradation of the floristic composition of the Gaoulou mangrove, it may be due to its accessibility to the surrounding populations. Indeed, Branoff (2017) and Goldberg et al . (2020) showed that the proximity of habitats and the intensity of exploitation of wood resources strongly contribute to the destruction of mangrove flora. The total absence of mangrove species in Gaoulou, in particular R. racemosa , A. africana and A. aureum , reflects an advanced stage of degradation. The high presence of C. odorata , a pantropical invasive species that preferentially colonizes open and disturbed environments, confirms this degradation (Uyi et al ., 2020). The high floristic richness at Batélébré 2 could reflect an intermediate stage of disturbance, where typical mangrove species coexist with secondary species, artificially increasing the total species richness. This type of situation has been described in mangroves subject to moderate exploitation (Goldberg et al ., 2020). 2. Floristic similarity between the mangroves of the Sassandra-Dabégo complex The floristic similarity analysis highlights two distinct ecological ensembles. These are Groudou and the Island with a 100% similarity, and Gaoulou, Batélébré 2 and Dabégo with similarities ranging from 55.56% to 66.67%. The similarity between Groudou and the island can be explained by their geographical location on either side of the Sassandra river, near the mouth. This location favours a comparable hydrological regime, marked by the alternation of fresh and marine waters. Soil salinity is a determining factor in the distribution of mangrove species (Reef et al ., 2010; Krauss et al ., 2014). Salinity gradients influence the zonation and relative dominance of species, especially those of the genera Rhizophora and Avicennia . The differences observed with the other sites could result from a relative distance from the mouth, modifying the physicochemical characteristics (salinity, soil texture and hydromorphy). The work of Kouamé et al . (2009) in Côte d'Ivoire showed that the floristic composition of wetlands is strongly correlated with these physicochemical characteristics. 3. Species recovery in the mangroves of the Sassandra-Dabégo complex The high recovery rates of A. africana and R. racemosa in the mangroves of Groudou and the Island indicate relative ecological stability. Both species play a role in sediment fixation, shoreline stabilization, and maintenance of primary productivity (Alongi 2021). The predominance of A. africana in Dabégo reflects a selective exploitation of R. racemosa . This method of selective sampling modifies the structure of the mangrove stand (Krauss et al ., 2014). In Gaoulou, the high rate of C. odorata cover indicates an advanced state of degradation of its mangrove. The reduction of tree cover creates gaps favourable to the establishment of heliophilous and competitive species, accelerating the transition to secondary formations (Uyi et al. , 2020). 4. Spatial distribution of species in the mangroves of the Sassandra-Dabégo complex The analysis of the distribution of plant species in the mangroves of the Sassandra–Dabégo complex reveals a structuring into four floristic groups, according to an ecological gradient ranging from relatively conserved mangroves (G1) to highly disturbed mangroves (G2 and G3), with a core of generalized species (G4) shared by the entire complex. The G1 group, corresponding to the Groudou and Island mangroves, is distinguished by a strong dominance of Rhizophora racemosa , a species characteristic of west african mangroves. This marked presence of this species can be explained by its high tolerance to salinity conditions and its ability to colonize unstable muddy substrates quickly (Alongi 2021). The presence of associated species such as Acrostichum aureum and Calamus deerratus reinforces the hypothesis of a relatively good conservation status of the mangroves at these two sites. On the other hand, the G2 group, represented by the mangroves of Gaoulou and Batéléblé 2, is dominated by species typical of open and degraded environments, such as Millettia zechiana , Chromolaena odorata and Phoenix reclinata . This floristic composition reflects an advanced ecological imbalance, associated with intense anthropogenic disturbances (Gnanazan et al ., 2023). The marked presence of the invasive Chromolaena odorata is a particularly important indicator of degradation, due to its ability to rapidly colonize open and disturbed habitats (Uyi et al ., 2021). The G3 group, specific to the Dabego mangrove, has a distinct floristic composition dominated by species such as Ipomoea pes-caprae and Hibiscus tiliaceus , characteristic of sandy and open littoral zones (Spalding et al ., 2010). In addition, the presence of Rauvolfia vomitoria and Phyllanthus reticulatus indicates an evolution of this mangrove towards a secondary plant formation, reflecting previous disturbances (Friess et al ., 2019). Finally, the G4 group includes generalist species such as Alchornea cordifolia and Napoleonaea vogelii , present in almost all the sites of the complex. These species adapt to a variety of environmental conditions. These species play an important role in the processes of ecological resilience and natural restoration of mangroves (Ellison et al., 2020; Bhowmik et al ., 2022). Moreover, the almost general distribution of Avicennia africana , except in Gaoulou, is particularly interesting. Species of the genus Avicennia are known for their ability to colonize more compact substrates thanks to their pneumatophores. Their absence in the mangrove at the Gaoulou site could be linked to particularly high anthropogenic pressures, limiting their settlement and development (Bunting et al ., 2022). According to Alongi (2021), species of the genus Avicennia play a fundamental role in soil stabilization and mangrove resilience to climate change. CONCLUSION The present study has made it possible to characterize the floristic composition and the level of conservation of the mangroves of the Sassandra–Dabégo complex through the analysis of the species richness, floristic similarity, cover rate and spatial distribution of species. The study showed that the mangroves of Groudou, Island, Batélébré 2 and Dabégo still contain mangrove species such as R. racemosa , A. africana and A. aureum , indicating a relatively satisfactory conservation status of these three sites. These species have a good presence in Groudou and on the island, thus reflecting the stability of the banks and primary productivity. The Gaoulou mangrove is at an advanced stage of degradation with a total absence of characteristic mangrove species and a strong colonization of C. odorata , an invasive species indicative of disturbed environments. The mangroves of the Sassandra–Dabégo complex present a real conservation gradient, ranging from relatively stable sites (Groudou, Island) to highly degraded areas (Gaoulou), including intermediate situations (Batélébré 2, Dabégo). These results underline the urgent need to strengthen sustainable mangrove management measures in this complex, particularly in Gaoulou, through ecological restoration actions based on the reforestation of indigenous mangrove species and the regulation of withdrawals. Strengthening monitoring systems and increasing awareness among local populations appear essential to preserve the ecological resilience of mangroves in southwestern Côte d'Ivoire and to guarantee the sustainability of the ecosystem services they provide. Declarations Author Contribution K.D rédigeait le texte principale et les coauteurs K.D, K.R, K.B, L.T.T et B.C portaient leur critiques et suggestions REFERENCES Ajonina G., Diamé A. & Kairo, J. (2008). Current status and conservation of mangroves in Africa: An overview. World Rainforest Movement , Working Paper Series, 134, 1–20. Alongi D.M. (2021). Carbon cycling and storage in mangrove forests. Annual Review of Marine Science , 13, 195–219 Bhowmik A.K., Padmanaban R., Cabral P. & Romeiras M.M. (2022). Global Mangrove Deforestation and Its Interacting Social-Ecological Drivers: A Systematic Review and Synthesis. Sustainability 14, 4433. Bohoussou C.N. & Dibi N.H. (2025). Comparative Evaluation of Three Mangrove Restoration Methods in Côte d’Ivoire: A Multi-Site Experimental Approach. Annual Research & Review in Biology , 40(6), 104–118. Branoff B.L. (2017). Quantifying the influence of urban land use on mangrove biology and ecology. Urban Ecosystems , 20, 1139–1151. Braun-Blanquet J. (1928). Pflanzensoziologie. Grundzüge der Vegetationskunde . Berlin : Springer. Bunting P., Rosenqvist A., Tadono T., Hilarides L., Worthington T. A., Lucas R.M., Thomas N., Spalding M., Murray N.J. & Rebelo L.M. (2022). Global mangrove extent change 1996–2020: Global mangrove watch version 3.0. Remote Sensing , 14 , 36–57. Chao A., Chazdon R.L., Colwell R.K. & Shen, T.-J. (2005). A new statistical approach for assessing similarity of species composition with incidence and abundance data . Ecology Letters, 8 (2), 148–159. Dengler J., Chytrý M. & Ewald J. (2021). Phytosociology. In Goldstein, M. I., & DellaSala, D. A. (Eds.), Encyclopedia of the World’s Biomes (pp. 56–69). Elsevier. Ellison A.M, Felson A.J and Friess D.A. (2020). Mangrove Rehabilitation and Restoration as Experimental Adaptive Management. Front . Mar. Sci . 7:327. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). (2020). Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020 – Main Report. FAO Forestry Paper No. 184. FAO, Rome, Italy, 164 p. Friess D.A., Rogers K., Lovelock C.E., Krauss K.W., Hamilton S.E, Lee S.Y., Lucas R., Primavera J., Rajkaran A. & Shi S. (2019). The state of the world’s mangrove forests: past, present, and future. Annual Review of Environment and Resources , 44, 89–115. Gnanazan Z.R.G., Akaffou S.E.V., Djan A.P. & Tiébré, M.S. (2023). Flora and vegetation of the ruderal areas of the Azagny National Park and identification of invasive alien species. International Journal of Innovation and Scientific Research . 67 (2): 345–360. Goldberg L., Lagomasino D., Thomas N. & Fatoyinbo T. (2020). Global declines in human-driven mangrove loss. Global Change Biology , 26, 5844–5855. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2022). Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK & New York, USA, 3056 p. Kouamé M.L.O., Egnankou M.W. & Traoré D. (2009). Ordination and Classification of Vegetation in the Wetlands of Southeastern Côte d’Ivoire. Agronomie Africaine, 21, 1–13. Kouamélan A.N., Djro S.C. & Peucat J.J. (2015). Geology and evolution of the West African craton in Côte d'Ivoire. Journal of African Earth Sciences , 112, 1–14. Krauss K.W., Lovelock C.E. & McKee K.L. (2014). Environmental drivers in mangrove establishment and early development. Aquatic Botany , 115, 40–50. Legendre P. & Legendre L. (2012). Numerical Ecology (3rd ed.). Elsevier. Magurran A.E. (2013). Measuring Biological Diversity. Wiley-Blackwell. N’Douba V., Sankaré Y. & Koné T. (2005). Ecological characteristics of the mangroves of the Sassandra-Dagbégo complex (Côte d'Ivoire). Science & Nature , 2 (1), 45–56. Reef R., Feller I.C. & Lovelock, C.E. (2010). Nutrition of mangroves. Tree Physiology , 30, 1148–1160. Sørensen T. (1948). A method of establishing groups of equal amplitude in plant sociology based on similarity of species content and its application to analyses of the vegetation on Danish commons . Biologiske Skrifter, 5(4) , 1–34. Soro G. E., Kouamé K. F., Soro N. & Biémi J. (2021). Climatic variability and hydrological dynamics in the Ivorian coastal zone. European Scientific Journal , 17(3), 185–201. Spalding M., Kainuma M. & Collins L. (2019). World Atlas of Mangroves . 336 p. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). (2021). Out of the Blue: The Value of Seagrasses to the Environment and to People. UNEP, Nairobi, Kenya, 80 p. Uyi O.O., Igbinosa I.B. & Olowu K. (2020). Invasive plant species in West Africa: ecology and impacts. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment , 192, 1–15. Uyi O.O., Igbinosa I. B. & Eze E. (2021). The spread and impact of Chromolaena odorata in Africa. Biological Invasions , 23, 327–346. Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviews received at journal 12 May, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 03 May, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 01 May, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 01 May, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 01 May, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 28 Apr, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 25 Apr, 2026 First submitted to journal 24 Apr, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9519400","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":633759996,"identity":"510b2f29-9078-4b78-8e97-e8ddbfb74ed6","order_by":0,"name":"KONAN Djézou","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA5ElEQVRIiWNgGAWjYDCCAwfgTMYHQIKHjxQtzAYgLWyEtSCYbBJgkpAOvoOHD3/42MYgby59+Fnl1xw7GTYG5oePbuDRInngWILhzDYGw519aWa3ZbclAx3GZmycg0eLwYEzBsm8bQwJBmcYzG5LbmMGauFhk8av5fyHwxAt7N+KJbfVE6PlDGMzRAuPGePHbYcJawH6xZhxxjkJww1neIqlGbcd52FjJuAXvhuHH3/4UGYjD3TYxo8/t1Xb87M3P3yMTwuDxAEwCWYz84BJfMpBgL8BwWb8QUj1KBgFo2AUjEgAAGQGR+9mJr0zAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"Centre National de Recherche Agronomique (CNRA)","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"KONAN","middleName":"","lastName":"Djézou","suffix":""},{"id":633759997,"identity":"282f300b-88a8-4aa5-ab97-16f6ec093819","order_by":1,"name":"Ménéké KOUGBO","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Centre National de Recherche Agronomique (CNRA)","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ménéké","middleName":"","lastName":"KOUGBO","suffix":""},{"id":633759998,"identity":"5802d550-3744-4a14-9ee9-dc238efd1f52","order_by":2,"name":"KOUADIO Kouassi Richard","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Centre National de Recherche Agronomique (CNRA)","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"KOUADIO","middleName":"Kouassi","lastName":"Richard","suffix":""},{"id":633759999,"identity":"953e14ff-30b2-4ac4-a5db-5bca029dd792","order_by":3,"name":"Lekadou Tackra Thiéry","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Centre National de Recherche Agronomique (CNRA)","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Lekadou","middleName":"Tackra","lastName":"Thiéry","suffix":""},{"id":633760000,"identity":"15b36d8d-200c-45fc-9d37-9dfdb63b0189","order_by":4,"name":"Yao KOUASSI","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Centre National de Recherche Agronomique (CNRA)","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yao","middleName":"","lastName":"KOUASSI","suffix":""},{"id":633760001,"identity":"4bf0fd51-da55-4e5b-8f02-46363852ee87","order_by":5,"name":"COULIBALY Brahima","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Centre National de Recherche Agronomique (CNRA)","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"COULIBALY","middleName":"","lastName":"Brahima","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-04-24 16:38:53","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9519400/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9519400/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":109038826,"identity":"4f86d8a9-ee64-45e7-b15b-7f0bc922c4a9","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-05-12 03:15:45","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":2696293,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eLocation of the Sassandra-Dabégo complex\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9519400/v1/5919b8d613189a027b4336c2.png"},{"id":109067872,"identity":"b875e0ca-bef4-4e2b-a9b5-7a9bf53cf649","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-05-12 10:02:11","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":1931611,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eVegetation of \u003cem\u003eRhizophora racemosa\u003c/em\u003e in the mangroves of Groudou (\u003cstrong\u003eA\u003c/strong\u003e) and block\u003cstrong\u003e B\u003c/strong\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9519400/v1/31cb7f08aa271bdee1948db9.png"},{"id":109038828,"identity":"5f07ecab-6a82-40b3-91fc-f6d1bbc1c68b","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-05-12 03:15:45","extension":"png","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":2275872,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eAnthropogenic disturbance of the Gaoulou mangrove (A \u0026amp; B)\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"3.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9519400/v1/dba704657da65e185177b214.png"},{"id":109068276,"identity":"3acf3a08-19e1-4b74-a7af-f4b9ebf22b8f","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-05-12 10:05:12","extension":"png","order_by":4,"title":"Figure 4","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":158122,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFigure 5\u003c/strong\u003e. Distribution of species according to the locations of the complex\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcr_al \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e Acridocarpus alternifilus \u003c/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcr_au \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e:\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eAcrostichum aureum \u003c/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAge_pe \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e:\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eAgelaea pentagyna \u003c/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlc_co \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e: \u003c/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003eAlchornea cordifolia \u003c/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvi_af \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e: \u003c/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003eAvicennia africana \u003c/em\u003e;\u003cem\u003e \u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCal_de \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e:\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eCalamus deerratus \u003c/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCha_ko \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e:\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eChassalia kolly \u003c/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChr_od \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e:\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eChromoleana odorata \u003c/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCom_er \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e:\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eCommelina erecta \u003c/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDal_es \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e:\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eDalbergia escatapyilum \u003c/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDre_la \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e:\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eDrepanocarpus lanatus \u003c/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEug_co \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e:\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eEugenia coronata \u003c/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFla_gu \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e:\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eFlagellaria guineensis \u003c/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHib_ti \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e:\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eHibiscus tiliaceus \u003c/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIpo_pe \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e:\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eIpomoea pes-caprae \u003c/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLon_de \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e:\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eLonchocarpus sericeus \u003c/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMil_ze \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e:\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eMillettia zechiana ; \u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNap_vo \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e:\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eNapoleonacaea vogelii \u003c/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrm_ve \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e:\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eOrmocarpum verrucosum \u003c/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePho_re \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e:\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003ePhoenix reclinata \u003c/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePhy_re \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e:\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003ePhyllanthus reticulatus \u003c/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRau_vo \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e: \u003c/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003eRauvolfia vomitoria \u003c/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRha_be \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e: \u003c/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003eRhapiostylis beninensis \u003c/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRhi_co \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e: \u003c/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003eRhinchospora corymbosa \u003c/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRhi_ra \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e:\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eRhizophora racemosa \u003c/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSec_vr \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e:\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eSecurinega vrosa \u003c/em\u003e;\u003cem\u003e \u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTab_cr \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e:\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eTabernaemontana crassa\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"5.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9519400/v1/c026086677d062c015d6fbbe.png"},{"id":109069382,"identity":"9479284b-91a0-4172-8803-d8352382a248","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-05-12 10:23:04","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":9862204,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9519400/v1/cf814584-f644-41ab-b3e6-6ccdde38eeca.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003eFloristic Study of the Mangroves of the Sassandra-dabégo Complex\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[{"header":"INTRODUCTION","content":"\u003cp\u003eMangrove ecosystems occupy a fundamental place in tropical areas because of their ecological, socio-economic and climatic importance. On a global scale, mangroves provide the functions of protecting coastlines against erosion, sequestration and storage of blue carbon, as well as maintaining a particularly rich biodiversity (IPCC, 2022). They provide riparian communities with essential ecosystem goods and services, including fisheries resources, wood energy and various non-timber forest products. All of this contributes to food security and poverty reduction (UNEP, 2021).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDespite their strategic importance, mangroves remain among the most threatened ecosystems in the world. According to FAO (2020), their overall area is estimated at about 14.8\u0026nbsp;million hectares, with a general trend of regression under the combined effect of anthropogenic pressures and climate change. In West Africa, these formations develop on hydromorphic, muddy soils rich in organic matter, subject to tides and variable salinity gradients. The vegetation is dominated by mangroves of the genera \u003cem\u003eRhizophora\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eAvicennia\u003c/em\u003e, as well as the species \u003cem\u003eConocarpus erectus\u003c/em\u003e L. (Combretaceae), forming favourable habitats for many species of fish, crustaceans, molluscs and waterbirds.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn C\u0026ocirc;te d'Ivoire, mangroves are located along the coast and in lagoon complexes in the south and west of the country. To encourage the protection and sustainable use of wetlands of international importance, the Ivorian State has acceded to the Ramsar Convention adopted in 1971. However, between the 1980s and 2000s, the surface area of these areas decreased sharply due to population growth, intensive use of wood energy and coastal development (Ajonina \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e., 2008). The Sassandra-Dabego mangrove complex, classified as a Ramsar site on 18 September 2005, is no exception to this reality. Indeed, over the past decade, this site has been subject to an intensification of anthropogenic pressures, such as logging, agricultural expansion, artisanal fishing and urbanization. Yet, it is one of the most representative and ecologically important wetlands in the country. It is characterized by the coexistence of several major species of mangroves, including \u003cem\u003eR. racemosa\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eA. africana\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eC. erectus\u003c/em\u003e, giving the site a significant ecological interest (N'Douba \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e., 2005). However, despite its status as a Ramsar site and the threats to which it is subject, up-to-date knowledge on the floristic composition, the structure of the stands and the dynamics of natural regeneration of the Sassandra-Dab\u0026eacute;go complex remains limited. In this context, the present study aims to assess the state of degradation of the mangroves of the Sassandra-Dabego complex, by characterizing the floristic composition and the structure of the stands, then by analyzing the spatial distribution of the species and their regeneration dynamics, in order to guide sustainable management and ecological restoration strategies.\u003c/p\u003e "},{"header":"MATERIALS AND METHODS","content":"\u003ch3\u003e1. Study area\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Sassandra\u0026ndash;Dab\u0026eacute;go complex is located in the southwest of C\u0026ocirc;te d'Ivoire, straddling the departments of Sassandra and Dab\u0026eacute;go, between 4\u0026deg;56'40'' and 5\u0026deg;1'40'' north latitude and 5\u0026deg;58'20'' and 6\u0026deg;8'20'' west longitude. (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). It covers an area of 10,551.1 ha and is a wetland of international importance (N'Douba \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e., 2005). This complex rests on a Precambrian basement composed of migmatites, gneiss, amphibolites, pyroxenites and granites (Kouam\u0026eacute;lan \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e., 2015).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe relief is not very rugged, except for the coastal approaches where there are hills with relatively steep slopes. There are four seasons: two dry seasons, one of which is from December to April and the small one from August to September, and two rainy seasons with a large one from May to July and the small one from October to November. The average annual rainfall is 1,600 mm and the average annual temperature is about 26\u0026deg;C (Soro \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e., 2021).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe complex is watered by the Sassandra river, its tributary the Davo and by the Dabego lagoon. Secondary rivers, in particular Bl\u0026eacute;zo and Gnoudolo-zalo, converge in the north before feeding the lagoon with fresh water. The mouth of the river is home to estuarine mangroves, about 60% of which are preserved, subject to hydro-sedimentary dynamics controlled by the interaction between marine and inland waters. This mixed influence modulates the physicochemical parameters (salinity, turbidity, nutrients), determining the distribution of aquatic organisms.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study was carried out in the mangroves of Groudou, Bat\u0026eacute;l\u0026eacute;br\u0026eacute; 2, Gaoulou, Island and Dab\u0026eacute;go.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e2. Data collection\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFloristic data were collected by combining the itinerant inventory and the phytosociological method of de Braun-Blanquet (1928), two complementary approaches widely used in tropical plant ecology and vegetation analysis. The itinerant inventory consists of systematically travelling through the study environment in different directions in order to identify all the plant species encountered. This method makes it possible to obtain an exhaustive floristic list of heterogeneous environments. The Braun-Blanquet method, based on the visual estimation of the abundance-dominance of species within plots, makes it possible to assess the abundance and recovery of species using a scale that assigns species an index of abundance dominance, ranging from 1 to 5 according to their average recoveries (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). The abundance-dominance index includes the number of individuals of a species (abundance), its spatial cover, area and volume (dominance). The percentage of specific overlap is then estimated from the median of each abundance-dominance class, in accordance with methodological recommendations in quantitative phytosociology (Dengler \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e., 2021). This conversion results in an average overlap value that can be used for statistical and comparative analyses of plant communities.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRecoveries evaluation table adopted for this study\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"3\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDominance abundance index\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCover class\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRecovery percentage (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e]75\u0026nbsp;; 100]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e87,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e]50\u0026nbsp;; 75]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e62,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e]25\u0026nbsp;; 50]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e]5\u0026nbsp;; 25]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e]1\u0026nbsp;; 5]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003er\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e]0\u0026nbsp;; 1]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e4. Data processing and analysis\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"Sec5\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e4.1. Determination of the floristic richness of the mangroves of the Sassandra\u0026ndash;Dab\u0026eacute;go complex\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eFloristic richness is the number of species recorded within the boundaries of a given territory, regardless of their frequency, abundance or any other quantitative measure. In the framework of this study, the analysis of the floristic richness will make it possible to quantify and compare the number of taxa present in the different mangroves of the Sassandra-Dab\u0026eacute;go complex, which will provide a solid basis for discussing the conservation status of these ecosystems. The mangroves of this complex are divided into five sites, namely: Bat\u0026eacute;l\u0026eacute;br\u0026eacute; 2, Dab\u0026eacute;go, Groudou, Gaoulou and the Island.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec6\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e4.2. Analysis of the floristic similarity between the mangroves of the Sassandra-Dab\u0026eacute;go complex\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn order to evaluate the floristic similarity between the different mangroves of the Sassandra-Dab\u0026eacute;go complex studied, the similarity coefficient of S\u0026oslash;rensen (1948) was used. This coefficient makes it possible to assess the degree of proximity between two environments taken two by two. This coefficient only takes into account the presence or absence of species (Chao \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e., 2005; Legendre \u0026amp; Legendre, 2012). Among various valid formulas, S\u0026oslash;rensen's (1948) remains one of the most robust and most widely used in studies of mangroves and recent tropical forest ecosystems (Bohoussou \u0026amp;, Dibi, 2025). The mathematical formula is defined as follows:\u003cdiv id=\"Equa\" class=\"Equation\"\u003e\u003cdiv format=\"TEX\" class=\"mathdisplay\" id=\"FileID_Equa\" name=\"EquationSource\"\u003e\n$$\\:\\varvec{C}\\varvec{s}=\\left(\\frac{2\\varvec{C}}{\\varvec{A}+\\varvec{B}}\\right)\\times\\:100$$\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCs: Sorensen coefficient of similarity in percentage; A: number of species present in list I; B: number of species present in List II; C: number of species common to both lists.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA high coefficient of similarity (\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;50%) indicates a strong proximity of floristic compositions between the two environments compared (Magurran, 2013; Legendre \u0026amp; Legendre, 2012).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec7\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e4.3. Determination of species cover in the mangroves of the Sassandra-Dab\u0026eacute;go complex\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study of the cover of the species of the different mangroves was carried out on the basis of the overlap coefficient (CR), derived from the phytosociological method developed by Braun-Blanquet (1928). The overlap coefficient consists of distinguishing between dominant or abundant species and those whose individuals are scattered or rare in an environment. This coefficient was used to highlight the most abundant species in the mangroves investigated. It is worded as follows:\u003cdiv id=\"Equb\" class=\"Equation\"\u003e\u003cdiv format=\"TEX\" class=\"mathdisplay\" id=\"FileID_Equb\" name=\"EquationSource\"\u003e\n$$\\:\\varvec{C}\\varvec{R}=\\left(\\frac{{\\varvec{\\varSigma\\:}}_{\\varvec{R}\\varvec{m}}\\times\\:100}{\\varvec{N}}\\right)$$\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCR: recovery coefficient; Rm: average cover of a species; N: Total number of readings.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e4.4. Analysis of the spatial distribution of species in the mangroves of the Sassandra-Dab\u0026eacute;go complex\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo characterize the distribution of species according to the different sites, principal component analysis (PCA) was chosen. Principal component analysis (PCA) is one of the multivariate analyses generally used to highlight correlations between species and ecological variables or relationships between plants and environments taken into account simultaneously. The PCA has highlighted the preponderance of species within each mangrove. It was carried out using the XLSTAT 16.0 software.\u003c/p\u003e "},{"header":"RESULTS","content":"\u003ch3\u003e1. Floristic richness of the mangroves of the Sassandra–Dabégo complex (dup: abstract ?)\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA total of 40 plant species have been recorded in all five (05) mangroves of the Sassandra-Dab\u0026eacute;go complex (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). These species are distributed as follows: 37 (35 genera and 24 families) inventoried in the Bat\u0026eacute;l\u0026eacute;br\u0026eacute; 2 mangrove, 23 species (22 genera and 17 families) in the Dab\u0026eacute;go mangrove, 21 species (20 genera and 17 families) in the Groudou mangrove, 17 species (17 genera and 12 families) in the Gaoulou mangrove, 17 species (17 genera and 14 families) in the island's mangrove.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe floristic richness of the five (05) mangroves of the Sassandra-Dab\u0026eacute;go complex is made up of two groups of species. These are typical mangrove species and companion species (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). Among the five (05) sites inventoried, no characteristic species of mangrove was observed in Gaoulou. On the other hand, in the mangroves of the Island, Groudou, Bat\u0026eacute;l\u0026eacute;br\u0026eacute;2 and Dab\u0026eacute;go, three (3) plant species of mangroves have been identified. These are \u003cem\u003eR. racemosa, A. africana\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eA. aureum\u003c/em\u003e (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). Concerning companion species, \u003cem\u003eDalbergia ecastaphyllum\u003c/em\u003e (L.) Taub (Fabaceae), a species characteristic of degraded tropical coastal environments, as well as \u003cem\u003eOrmocarpum verrucosum\u003c/em\u003e P.Beauv. (Fabaceae), typical of degraded dry tropical zones, have only been inventoried in the Gaoulou mangrove. These results indicate that the Bat\u0026eacute;l\u0026eacute;br\u0026eacute; 2 mangrove of the Sassandra-Dab\u0026eacute;go complex remains relatively rich in floristics. On the other hand, the mangroves of Gaoulou and the Island appear to be floristically poor.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eList of species recorded in the mangroves of the Sassandra-Dab\u0026eacute;go complex\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"11\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c10\" colnum=\"10\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c11\" colnum=\"11\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTypes of species\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"9\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMangroves of the Sassandra-Dab\u0026eacute;go complex\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSpecies\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGaoulou\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDab\u0026eacute;go\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBat\u0026eacute;l\u0026eacute;br\u0026eacute; 2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIsland\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGroudou\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMangrove species\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAcrostichum aureum\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAvicennia africana\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRhizophora racemosa\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTotal number of mangrove species per site\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e3\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e3\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e3\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e3\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"11\" rowspan=\"12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCompanion species\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAcridocarpus alternifilus\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAgelaea pentagyna\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAlchornea cordifolia\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBaphia nitida\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBerlinia occidentalis\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBussea occidentalis\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eChassalia kolly\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eChromoleana odorata\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eChrysobalanus ellipticus\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCommelina erectus\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDalbergia escatapyilum\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDialum aubrevillei\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDrepanocarpus lanatus\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDrypetes aframensis\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDrypetes laciniata\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eEugenia coronata\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eFicus trichopoda\u0026nbsp;;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eFlagellaria guineensis\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHexalobus salicifolus\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHibiscus comoensis\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHibiscus tiliaceus\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIpomoea pes-caprae\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIxora laxiflora\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLonchocarpus deniceus\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMillettia zechiana\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMusanga cecropiodes\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNapoleonacaea vogelii\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eOrmocarpum verrucosum\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePhilanthus reticulatus\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePhoenix reclinata\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePterocarpus santalinoides\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRauvolfia vomitoria\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRhaphiostylis beninensis\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRhinchospora corymbosa\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSecurinega vrosa\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTabernaemontana crassa\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eUapaca heudelotii\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTotal number of companion species per site\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e17\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e20\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e34\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e14\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e18\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNumber of species by site\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e17\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e23\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e37\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e17\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e21\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTotal number of species in the complex\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"9\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e40\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGender Membership\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e17\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e22\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e35\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c10\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e17\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e20\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBotanical family numbers\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e12\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e17\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e24\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c10\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e14\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e17\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003ctfoot\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"11\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e1\u003c/b\u003e: presence of the species; \u003cb\u003e-\u003c/b\u003e : absence of the species\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tfoot\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e2. Floristic similarity between the mangroves of the Sassandra-Dabégo complex (dup: abstract ?)\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe analysis of the floristic similarity carried out between the five mangroves of the complex indicates varying degrees of floristic similarity depending on the site (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e). A maximum similarity of 100% was observed between the mangroves of Groudou and the Island, reflecting an almost identical floristic composition. High similarities were also recorded between Gaoulou and Bat\u0026eacute;l\u0026eacute;br\u0026eacute; 2 (66.67%), between Groudou and Dab\u0026eacute;go (59.26%), as well as between Bat\u0026eacute;l\u0026eacute;br\u0026eacute; 2 and Dab\u0026eacute;go (55.56%). On the other hand, between the mangroves of Groudou and the Island and then of the other mangroves, the coefficient of similarity varies from 22.22 to 48.15%, indicating a weak floristic resemblance.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCoefficient of floristic similarity between mangroves (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGaoulou\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGaoulou\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBat\u0026eacute;l\u0026eacute;br\u0026eacute; 2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDab\u0026eacute;go\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIsland\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGroudou\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e100\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBat\u0026eacute;l\u0026eacute;br\u0026eacute; 2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e66,67\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e100\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDab\u0026eacute;go\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e59,26\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e55,56\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e100\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIsland\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22,22\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e33,33\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e48,15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e100\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGroudou\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22,22\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e33,33\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e48,15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e100\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e100\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e3. Species recovery in the mangroves of the Sassandra-Dabégo complex (dup: abstract ?)\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe study of the species cover in the mangroves of the Sassandra-Dab\u0026eacute;go complex showed that the overlap coefficient of \u003cem\u003eChromolaena odorata\u003c/em\u003e (L.) R.M.King \u0026amp; H.Rob. (Asteraceae) reached 62.5% in the Gaoulou and Bat\u0026eacute;l\u0026eacute;br\u0026eacute; 2 mangroves (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e). Similarly, \u003cem\u003eA. africana\u003c/em\u003e has a recovery rate of 62.5% in the mangroves of Bat\u0026eacute;l\u0026eacute;br\u0026eacute; 2, Dab\u0026eacute;go, Groudou and \u0026Icirc;le. For \u003cem\u003eR. racemosa\u003c/em\u003e, the overlap coefficient is 52.5% in Bat\u0026eacute;l\u0026eacute;br\u0026eacute; 2 and 54.2% in the mangroves of Groudou and the Island (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). Finally, \u003cem\u003eA. aureum\u003c/em\u003e shows an overlap of 62.5% in the mangroves of Groudou and Island.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThese results indicate that \u003cem\u003eR. racemosa\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eA. aureum\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eA. africana\u003c/em\u003e remain particularly abundant species in the Groudou and Island mangroves, reflecting their ecological importance. The high rate of \u003cem\u003eC. odorata\u003c/em\u003e recovery in the Gaoulou mangrove indicates a disturbance of its vegetation (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSpecies coverage coefficient for each location in the complex (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSpecies\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"5\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLocalities\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGaoulou\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBat\u0026eacute;l\u0026eacute;bl\u0026eacute; 2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDab\u0026eacute;go\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIsland\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGroudou\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAcridocarpus alternifilus\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAcrostichum aureum\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e62,5\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e62,5\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAgelaea pentagyna\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAlchornea cordifolia\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20,6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAvicennia africana\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e62,5\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e62,5\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e62,5\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e62,5\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCalamus deerratus\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eChassalia kolly\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eChromoleana odorata\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e62,5\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e62,5\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCommelina erecta\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDalbergia escatapyilum\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDrepanocarpus lanatus\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eEugenia coronata\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eFlagellaria guineensis\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHibiscus tiliaceus\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e31,9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e33\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIpomoea pes-caprae\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12,0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLonchocarpus deniceus\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMillettia zechiana\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNapoleonacaea vogelii\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eOrmocarpum verrucosum\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePhoenix reclinata\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePhyllanthus reticulatus\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRauvolfia vomitoria\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRhapiostylis beninensis\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRhinchospora corymbosa\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRhizophora racemosa\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e52,5\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3,8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e54,2\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e54,2\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSecurinega vrosa\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37,5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTabernaemontana crassa\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11,3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"Heading\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e4. Spatial distribution of species in the mangroves of the Sassandra-Dabégo complex (dup: abstract ?)\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e The study of the spatial distribution of plant species between the mangroves of the Sassandra-Dab\u0026eacute;go complex has identified four distinct groups (G) according to their relative abundance in the different sites investigated (Fig.\u0026nbsp;4).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe G1 group is composed of the most abundant species in the mangroves of Groudou and the Island. These are \u003cem\u003eR. racemosa, Drepanocarpus lanatus\u003c/em\u003e (L.f.) G.Mey. (Fabaceae), \u003cem\u003eAgelaea pentagyna\u003c/em\u003e (Lam.) Baill. (Connaraceae), \u003cem\u003eRhinchospora corymbosa\u003c/em\u003e (L.) Britton (Cyperaceae), \u003cem\u003eCalamus deerratus\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eA. aureum\u003c/em\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGroup G2 contains the species abundant in the mangroves of Gaoulou and Bat\u0026eacute;l\u0026eacute;bl\u0026eacute; 2. It includes \u003cem\u003eC. odorata, Millettia zechiana\u003c/em\u003e Harms (Fabaceae), \u003cem\u003eO. verrucosum, Eugenia coronata\u003c/em\u003e Vahl ex DC. (Myrtaceae), \u003cem\u003eTabernaemontana crassa\u003c/em\u003e Benth. (Apocynaceae), \u003cem\u003eDalbergia escatapyilum\u003c/em\u003e (L.) Taubert (Fabaceae), \u003cem\u003eChassalia kolly\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eFlagellaria guineensis\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003ePhoenix reclinata\u003c/em\u003e Jacq. (Arecaceae), \u003cem\u003eLonchocarpus sericeus\u003c/em\u003e (Poir.) DC. (Fabaceae), and \u003cem\u003eCommelina erecta\u003c/em\u003e L. (Commelinaceae).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGroup G3 is made up of the most abundant species in the Dabego mangrove, namely \u003cem\u003eHibiscus tiliaceus\u003c/em\u003e L. (Malvaceae), \u003cem\u003eIpomoea pes-caprae\u003c/em\u003e (L.) R.Br. (Convolvulaceae), \u003cem\u003eIpomoea pes-caprae\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eAcridocarpus alternifilus\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eRauvolfia vomitoria\u003c/em\u003e Afzel. (Apocynaceae), \u003cem\u003ePhyllanthus reticulatus\u003c/em\u003e Poir. (Phyllantaceae), \u003cem\u003eRhaphiostylis beninensis\u003c/em\u003e (Hook.f. ex Planch.) Planch. ex Benth (Metteniusaceae), \u003cem\u003eSecurinega vrosa\u003c/em\u003e (Roxb. ex Willd.) Baill. (Euphorbiaceae) and \u003cem\u003eA. aureum\u003c/em\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe G4 group contains the species present in almost all the mangroves of the Sassandra-Dabego complex. These are \u003cem\u003eAlchornea cordifolia\u003c/em\u003e (Schumach. \u0026amp; Thonn.) M\u0026uuml;ll.Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) and \u003cem\u003eNapoleonaea vogelii\u003c/em\u003e Hook. \u0026amp; Planch. (Lecythidaceae). As for the species \u003cem\u003eAvicennia. africana\u003c/em\u003e, it is present in all mangroves except that of Gaoulou.\u003c/p\u003e "},{"header":"DISCUSSION","content":"\u003ch3\u003e1. Floristic richness of the mangroves of the Sassandra\u0026ndash;Dab\u0026eacute;go complex\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe inventory of the floristic composition showed that the sites of Dab\u0026eacute;go, Groudou and Bat\u0026eacute;l\u0026eacute;br\u0026eacute; 2, retain a relatively high species diversity. This floristic richness observed in these mangroves can be explained by the monitoring carried out by the forestry services and the difficulty of access to certain sites, thus constituting factors limiting the exploitation of wood and the conversion to agricultural land. The work of Friess \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. (2019) also showed that the least disturbed mangrove ecosystems in West Africa can maintain notable diversity. Concerning the degradation of the floristic composition of the Gaoulou mangrove, it may be due to its accessibility to the surrounding populations. Indeed, Branoff (2017) and Goldberg \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. (2020) showed that the proximity of habitats and the intensity of exploitation of wood resources strongly contribute to the destruction of mangrove flora. The total absence of mangrove species in Gaoulou, in particular \u003cem\u003eR. racemosa\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eA. africana\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eA. aureum\u003c/em\u003e, reflects an advanced stage of degradation. The high presence of \u003cem\u003eC. odorata\u003c/em\u003e, a pantropical invasive species that preferentially colonizes open and disturbed environments, confirms this degradation (Uyi \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e., 2020). The high floristic richness at Bat\u0026eacute;l\u0026eacute;br\u0026eacute; 2 could reflect an intermediate stage of disturbance, where typical mangrove species coexist with secondary species, artificially increasing the total species richness. This type of situation has been described in mangroves subject to moderate exploitation (Goldberg \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e., 2020).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e2. Floristic similarity between the mangroves of the Sassandra-Dab\u0026eacute;go complex\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe floristic similarity analysis highlights two distinct ecological ensembles. These are Groudou and the Island with a 100% similarity, and Gaoulou, Bat\u0026eacute;l\u0026eacute;br\u0026eacute; 2 and Dab\u0026eacute;go with similarities ranging from 55.56% to 66.67%. The similarity between Groudou and the island can be explained by their geographical location on either side of the Sassandra river, near the mouth. This location favours a comparable hydrological regime, marked by the alternation of fresh and marine waters. Soil salinity is a determining factor in the distribution of mangrove species (Reef \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e., 2010; Krauss \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e., 2014). Salinity gradients influence the zonation and relative dominance of species, especially those of the genera \u003cem\u003eRhizophora\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eAvicennia\u003c/em\u003e. The differences observed with the other sites could result from a relative distance from the mouth, modifying the physicochemical characteristics (salinity, soil texture and hydromorphy). The work of Kouam\u0026eacute; \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. (2009) in C\u0026ocirc;te d'Ivoire showed that the floristic composition of wetlands is strongly correlated with these physicochemical characteristics.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e3. Species recovery in the mangroves of the Sassandra-Dab\u0026eacute;go complex\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe high recovery rates of \u003cem\u003eA. africana\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eR. racemosa\u003c/em\u003e in the mangroves of Groudou and the Island indicate relative ecological stability. Both species play a role in sediment fixation, shoreline stabilization, and maintenance of primary productivity (Alongi 2021).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe predominance of \u003cem\u003eA. africana\u003c/em\u003e in Dab\u0026eacute;go reflects a selective exploitation of \u003cem\u003eR. racemosa\u003c/em\u003e. This method of selective sampling modifies the structure of the mangrove stand (Krauss \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e., 2014). In Gaoulou, the high rate of \u003cem\u003eC. odorata\u003c/em\u003e cover indicates an advanced state of degradation of its mangrove. The reduction of tree cover creates gaps favourable to the establishment of heliophilous and competitive species, accelerating the transition to secondary formations (Uyi \u003cem\u003eet al.\u003c/em\u003e, 2020).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e4. Spatial distribution of species in the mangroves of the Sassandra-Dab\u0026eacute;go complex\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe analysis of the distribution of plant species in the mangroves of the Sassandra\u0026ndash;Dab\u0026eacute;go complex reveals a structuring into four floristic groups, according to an ecological gradient ranging from relatively conserved mangroves (G1) to highly disturbed mangroves (G2 and G3), with a core of generalized species (G4) shared by the entire complex.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe G1 group, corresponding to the Groudou and Island mangroves, is distinguished by a strong dominance of \u003cem\u003eRhizophora racemosa\u003c/em\u003e, a species characteristic of west african mangroves. This marked presence of this species can be explained by its high tolerance to salinity conditions and its ability to colonize unstable muddy substrates quickly (Alongi 2021). The presence of associated species such as \u003cem\u003eAcrostichum aureum\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eCalamus deerratus\u003c/em\u003e reinforces the hypothesis of a relatively good conservation status of the mangroves at these two sites.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the other hand, the G2 group, represented by the mangroves of Gaoulou and Bat\u0026eacute;l\u0026eacute;bl\u0026eacute; 2, is dominated by species typical of open and degraded environments, such as \u003cem\u003eMillettia zechiana\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eChromolaena odorata\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003ePhoenix reclinata\u003c/em\u003e. This floristic composition reflects an advanced ecological imbalance, associated with intense anthropogenic disturbances (Gnanazan \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e., 2023). The marked presence of \u003cem\u003ethe invasive Chromolaena odorata\u003c/em\u003e is a particularly important indicator of degradation, due to its ability to rapidly colonize open and disturbed habitats (Uyi \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e., 2021).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe G3 group, specific to the Dabego mangrove, has a distinct floristic composition dominated by species such as \u003cem\u003eIpomoea pes-caprae\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eHibiscus tiliaceus\u003c/em\u003e, characteristic of sandy and open littoral zones (Spalding \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e., 2010). In addition, the presence of \u003cem\u003eRauvolfia vomitoria\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003ePhyllanthus reticulatus\u003c/em\u003e indicates an evolution of this mangrove towards a secondary plant formation, reflecting previous disturbances (Friess \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e., 2019).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFinally, the G4 group includes generalist species such as \u003cem\u003eAlchornea cordifolia\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eNapoleonaea vogelii\u003c/em\u003e, present in almost all the sites of the complex. These species adapt to a variety of environmental conditions. These species play an important role in the processes of ecological resilience and natural restoration of mangroves (Ellison et al., 2020; Bhowmik \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e., 2022). Moreover, the almost general distribution of \u003cem\u003eAvicennia africana\u003c/em\u003e, except in Gaoulou, is particularly interesting. Species of the genus Avicennia are known for their ability to colonize more compact substrates thanks to their pneumatophores. Their absence in the mangrove at the Gaoulou site could be linked to particularly high anthropogenic pressures, limiting their settlement and development (Bunting \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e., 2022). According to Alongi (2021), species of the genus \u003cem\u003eAvicennia\u003c/em\u003e play a fundamental role in soil stabilization and mangrove resilience to climate change.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"CONCLUSION","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe present study has made it possible to characterize the floristic composition and the level of conservation of the mangroves of the Sassandra\u0026ndash;Dab\u0026eacute;go complex through the analysis of the species richness, floristic similarity, cover rate and spatial distribution of species. The study showed that the mangroves of Groudou, Island, Bat\u0026eacute;l\u0026eacute;br\u0026eacute; 2 and Dab\u0026eacute;go still contain mangrove species such as \u003cem\u003eR. racemosa\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eA. africana\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eA. aureum\u003c/em\u003e, indicating a relatively satisfactory conservation status of these three sites. These species have a good presence in Groudou and on the island, thus reflecting the stability of the banks and primary productivity. The Gaoulou mangrove is at an advanced stage of degradation with a total absence of characteristic mangrove species and a strong colonization of \u003cem\u003eC. odorata\u003c/em\u003e, an invasive species indicative of disturbed environments. The mangroves of the Sassandra\u0026ndash;Dab\u0026eacute;go complex present a real conservation gradient, ranging from relatively stable sites (Groudou, Island) to highly degraded areas (Gaoulou), including intermediate situations (Bat\u0026eacute;l\u0026eacute;br\u0026eacute; 2, Dab\u0026eacute;go).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThese results underline the urgent need to strengthen sustainable mangrove management measures in this complex, particularly in Gaoulou, through ecological restoration actions based on the reforestation of indigenous mangrove species and the regulation of withdrawals. Strengthening monitoring systems and increasing awareness among local populations appear essential to preserve the ecological resilience of mangroves in southwestern C\u0026ocirc;te d'Ivoire and to guarantee the sustainability of the ecosystem services they provide.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003ch2\u003eAuthor Contribution\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eK.D r\u0026eacute;digeait le texte principale et les coauteurs K.D, K.R, K.B, L.T.T et B.C portaient leur critiques et suggestions\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"REFERENCES","content":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eAjonina G., Diam\u0026eacute; A. \u0026amp; Kairo, J. (2008).\u003c/b\u003e Current status and conservation of mangroves in Africa: An overview. \u003cem\u003eWorld Rainforest Movement\u003c/em\u003e, Working Paper Series, 134, 1\u0026ndash;20.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eAlongi D.M. (2021).\u003c/b\u003e Carbon cycling and storage in mangrove forests. \u003cem\u003eAnnual Review of Marine Science\u003c/em\u003e, 13, 195\u0026ndash;219\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eBhowmik A.K., Padmanaban R., Cabral P. \u0026amp; Romeiras M.M. (2022).\u003c/b\u003e Global Mangrove Deforestation and Its Interacting Social-Ecological Drivers: A Systematic Review and Synthesis. \u003cem\u003eSustainability\u003c/em\u003e14, 4433.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eBohoussou C.N. \u0026amp; Dibi N.H. (2025).\u003c/b\u003e Comparative Evaluation of Three Mangrove Restoration Methods in C\u0026ocirc;te d\u0026rsquo;Ivoire: A Multi-Site Experimental Approach. \u003cem\u003eAnnual Research \u0026amp; Review in Biology\u003c/em\u003e, 40(6), 104\u0026ndash;118.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eBranoff B.L. (2017).\u003c/b\u003e Quantifying the influence of urban land use on mangrove biology and ecology. \u003cem\u003eUrban Ecosystems\u003c/em\u003e, 20, 1139\u0026ndash;1151.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eBraun-Blanquet J. (1928).\u003c/b\u003e \u003cem\u003ePflanzensoziologie. Grundz\u0026uuml;ge der Vegetationskunde\u003c/em\u003e. Berlin : Springer.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eBunting P., Rosenqvist A., Tadono T., Hilarides L., Worthington T. A., Lucas R.M., Thomas N., Spalding M., Murray N.J. \u0026amp; Rebelo L.M. (2022).\u003c/b\u003e Global mangrove extent change 1996\u0026ndash;2020: Global mangrove watch version 3.0. \u003cem\u003eRemote Sensing\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cb\u003e14\u003c/b\u003e, 36\u0026ndash;57.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eChao A., Chazdon R.L., Colwell R.K. \u0026amp; Shen, T.-J. (2005).\u003c/b\u003e \u003cem\u003eA new statistical approach for assessing similarity of species composition with incidence and abundance data\u003c/em\u003e. Ecology Letters, \u003cb\u003e8\u003c/b\u003e(2), 148\u0026ndash;159.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eDengler J., Chytr\u0026yacute; M. \u0026amp; Ewald J. (2021).\u003c/b\u003e Phytosociology. In Goldstein, M. I., \u0026amp; DellaSala, D. A. (Eds.), \u003cem\u003eEncyclopedia of the World\u0026rsquo;s Biomes\u003c/em\u003e (pp. 56\u0026ndash;69). Elsevier.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eEllison A.M, Felson A.J and Friess D.A. (2020).\u003c/b\u003e Mangrove Rehabilitation and Restoration as Experimental Adaptive Management. \u003cem\u003eFront\u003c/em\u003e. \u003cem\u003eMar. Sci\u003c/em\u003e. 7:327.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). (2020).\u003c/b\u003e \u003cem\u003eGlobal Forest Resources Assessment 2020 \u0026ndash; Main Report.\u003c/em\u003e FAO Forestry Paper No. 184. FAO, Rome, Italy, 164 p.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eFriess D.A., Rogers K., Lovelock C.E., Krauss K.W., Hamilton S.E, Lee S.Y., Lucas R., Primavera J., Rajkaran A. \u0026amp; Shi S. (2019).\u003c/b\u003e The state of the world\u0026rsquo;s mangrove forests: past, present, and future. \u003cem\u003eAnnual Review of Environment and Resources\u003c/em\u003e, 44, 89\u0026ndash;115.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eGnanazan Z.R.G., Akaffou S.E.V., Djan A.P. \u0026amp; Ti\u0026eacute;br\u0026eacute;, M.S. (2023).\u003c/b\u003e Flora and vegetation of the ruderal areas of the Azagny National Park and identification of invasive alien species. \u003cem\u003eInternational Journal of Innovation and Scientific Research\u003c/em\u003e. 67 (2): 345\u0026ndash;360.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eGoldberg L., Lagomasino D., Thomas N. \u0026amp; Fatoyinbo T. (2020).\u003c/b\u003e Global declines in human-driven mangrove loss. \u003cem\u003eGlobal Change Biology\u003c/em\u003e, 26, 5844\u0026ndash;5855.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2022).\u003c/b\u003e \u003cem\u003eClimate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability.\u003c/em\u003e Contribution of Working Group II to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK \u0026amp; New York, USA, 3056 p.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eKouam\u0026eacute; M.L.O., Egnankou M.W. \u0026amp; Traor\u0026eacute; D. (2009).\u003c/b\u003e Ordination and Classification of Vegetation in the Wetlands of Southeastern C\u0026ocirc;te d\u0026rsquo;Ivoire. Agronomie Africaine, 21, 1\u0026ndash;13.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eKouam\u0026eacute;lan A.N., Djro S.C. \u0026amp; Peucat J.J. (2015).\u003c/b\u003e Geology and evolution of the West African craton in C\u0026ocirc;te d'Ivoire. \u003cem\u003eJournal of African Earth Sciences\u003c/em\u003e, 112, 1\u0026ndash;14.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eKrauss K.W., Lovelock C.E. \u0026amp; McKee K.L. (2014).\u003c/b\u003e Environmental drivers in mangrove establishment and early development. \u003cem\u003eAquatic Botany\u003c/em\u003e, 115, 40\u0026ndash;50.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eLegendre P. \u0026amp; Legendre L. (2012).\u003c/b\u003e \u003cem\u003eNumerical Ecology\u003c/em\u003e (3rd ed.). Elsevier.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eMagurran A.E. (2013).\u003c/b\u003e Measuring Biological Diversity. Wiley-Blackwell.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eN\u0026rsquo;Douba V., Sankar\u0026eacute; Y. \u0026amp; Kon\u0026eacute; T. (2005).\u003c/b\u003e Ecological characteristics of the mangroves of the Sassandra-Dagb\u0026eacute;go complex (C\u0026ocirc;te d'Ivoire). \u003cem\u003eScience \u0026amp; Nature\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cb\u003e2\u003c/b\u003e(1), 45\u0026ndash;56.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eReef R., Feller I.C. \u0026amp; Lovelock, C.E. (2010).\u003c/b\u003e Nutrition of mangroves. \u003cem\u003eTree Physiology\u003c/em\u003e, 30, 1148\u0026ndash;1160.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eS\u0026oslash;rensen T. (1948).\u003c/b\u003e \u003cem\u003eA method of establishing groups of equal amplitude in plant sociology based on similarity of species content and its application to analyses of the vegetation on Danish commons\u003c/em\u003e. Biologiske Skrifter, \u003cb\u003e5(4)\u003c/b\u003e, 1\u0026ndash;34.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eSoro G. E., Kouam\u0026eacute; K. F., Soro N. \u0026amp; Bi\u0026eacute;mi J. (2021).\u003c/b\u003e Climatic variability and hydrological dynamics in the Ivorian coastal zone. \u003cem\u003eEuropean Scientific Journal\u003c/em\u003e, 17(3), 185\u0026ndash;201.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eSpalding M., Kainuma M. \u0026amp; Collins L. (2019).\u003c/b\u003e \u003cem\u003eWorld Atlas of Mangroves\u003c/em\u003e. 336 p.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eUnited Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). (2021).\u003c/b\u003e Out of the Blue: The Value of Seagrasses to the Environment and to People. UNEP, Nairobi, Kenya, 80 p.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eUyi O.O., Igbinosa I.B. \u0026amp; Olowu K. (2020).\u003c/b\u003e Invasive plant species in West Africa: ecology and impacts. \u003cem\u003eEnvironmental Monitoring and Assessment\u003c/em\u003e, 192, 1\u0026ndash;15.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eUyi O.O., Igbinosa I. B. \u0026amp; Eze E. (2021).\u003c/b\u003e The spread and impact of \u003cem\u003eChromolaena odorata\u003c/em\u003e in Africa. \u003cem\u003eBiological Invasions\u003c/em\u003e, 23, 327\u0026ndash;346.\u003c/p\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"wetlands-ecology-and-management","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"wetl","sideBox":"Learn more about [Wetlands Ecology and Management](https://www.springer.com/journal/11273)","snPcode":"11273","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/11273/3","title":"Wetlands Ecology and Management","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Mangroves, Sassandra-Dabégo complex, floristic richness, state of conservation; Côte d'Ivoire; Ramsar site","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9519400/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9519400/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eMangroves are tropical coastal ecosystems of great ecological, climatic and socio-economic importance. They protect the coastline against erosion, provide the local populations with natural resources and maintain important biodiversity. In C\u0026ocirc;te d'Ivoire, the Sassandra-Dab\u0026eacute;go complex, classified as a Ramsar site in 2005, represents one of the most important mangrove complexes in the country. However, it is under anthropogenic pressure from logging, agriculture, artisanal fishing and urbanization. This study aims to assess the conservation status of the mangroves of five sites (Groudou, Bat\u0026eacute;l\u0026eacute;br\u0026eacute; 2, Gaoulou, \u0026Icirc;Island and Dab\u0026eacute;go) of this complex through the analysis of the floristic richness, similarity, overlap and distribution of species. The inventories of these five sites using the itinerant method and the Braun-Blanquet phytosociological approach made it possible to identify a total of 40 plant species. Of these species, 37 have been inventoried in Bat\u0026eacute;l\u0026eacute;br\u0026eacute; 2, and only 17 in Gaoulou. The mangroves of Groudou, Island, Bat\u0026eacute;l\u0026eacute;br\u0026eacute; 2 and Dab\u0026eacute;go still contain mangrove species such as \u003cem\u003eRhizophora racemosa\u003c/em\u003e G.Mey., \u003cem\u003eAvicennia africana\u003c/em\u003e P.Beauv. and \u003cem\u003eAcrostichum aureum\u003c/em\u003e L., indicating a relatively good state of preservation. In addition, Gaoulou has a total absence of these mangrove species and a strong dominance of \u003cem\u003eChromolaena odorata\u003c/em\u003e, reflecting an advanced degradation. The results reveal a conservation gradient within the complex, ranging from relatively stable sites, Groudou and the Island, to highly degraded areas, Gaoulou. This raises the urgency of strengthening sustainable management measures, in particular the reforestation of mangrove species and the regulation of human activities, in order to preserve these ecosystems in the southwest of C\u0026ocirc;te d'Ivoire.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Floristic Study of the Mangroves of the Sassandra-dabégo Complex","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-05-12 03:15:41","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9519400/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-05-12T05:42:10+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"85062364435803763190597612348068887727","date":"2026-05-04T00:22:19+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"229257225361934264821386059750063522919","date":"2026-05-01T18:30:28+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"150649050665426989484648086577876323345","date":"2026-05-01T18:29:53+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-05-01T18:25:09+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-04-28T21:21:31+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2026-04-25T04:40:18+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Wetlands Ecology and Management","date":"2026-04-24T16:21:00+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"wetlands-ecology-and-management","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"wetl","sideBox":"Learn more about [Wetlands Ecology and Management](https://www.springer.com/journal/11273)","snPcode":"11273","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/11273/3","title":"Wetlands Ecology and Management","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"1dbc44d1-0adf-46fe-94ca-b0dcc0936da9","owner":[],"postedDate":"May 12th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-05-12T05:42:10+00:00","index":20,"fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"85062364435803763190597612348068887727","date":"2026-05-04T00:22:19+00:00","index":19,"fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"229257225361934264821386059750063522919","date":"2026-05-01T18:30:28+00:00","index":16,"fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"150649050665426989484648086577876323345","date":"2026-05-01T18:29:53+00:00","index":15,"fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"11","date":"2026-05-01T18:25:09+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-05-12T03:15:41+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-05-12 03:15:41","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-9519400","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-9519400","identity":"rs-9519400","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}