GULF OF GUINEA ISLANDS' BIODIVERSITY
NETWORK
VEGETACIÓN DE LA ISLA DE ANNOBÓN (REPÚBLICA DE GUINEA ECUATORIAL)
PATXI HERAS1, MARTA INFANTE1, CRISANTOS OBAMA ONDO2 AND ANGUS GASCOIGNE3
1. Museo de Ciencias Naturales de Alava - Comisión Científica de la la Asociación Africanista "Manuel Iradier". Fra de las Siervas de Jesús 24, 01001 Vitoria, Spain. Email: bazzania@arrakis.es
2. Herbario Nacional. Proyecto CUREF, Ministerio de Bosques, Pesca y Medio Ambiente, Bata, Equatorial Guinea. Email: crisantosobama@hotmail.com
3. CP289, São Tomé, São Tomé e Príncipe. Email: agascoigne@eits.st
ABSTRACT
In the small volcanic island of Annobón four vegetation formations conditioned by its vigorous relief can be recognized. Meadows and dry communities occur in the lowest zones of the northern and southern tips of the island. A tropical dry forest, which grows over it, is gradually substituted by a tropical wet forest in higher altitudes. A mist forest very rich in epiphytes occurs in the highest island summits. The distribution of these vegetation formations in the island is not symmetric due to the SW trade winds. The plant cover has been deeply transformed by the human presence. The high biological and ecological value of the mist forest, which plays an important hydrological role in the isle, is noteworthy.