Subproject W02

PD Dieter Anhuf, Institut für Physische Geographie und Länderkunde, Universität Mannheim, L 9, 1-2, 68131 Mannheim

Biophysical and Hydrometeorological Parameters within the framework of Terrestrial Biodiversity Research

Introduction
Since many ecological aspects of plants and animals are strongly related to local abiotic conditions, measurements of meteorological and geophysical data provide comprehensive basic information within the discussion of biodiversity stearing mechanisms.

Objectives
The scientific contribution intends to link spatial and temporal variations of abiotic components within dry island forests and savannas in Comoé National Park (Ivory Coast) to recent questions of biodiversity research. Therefore, two representative experimental sites have been established in order to determine relevant data concerning the energy- and water-budget, as well as vertical profiles of micrometeorological parameters. Furthermore, the analysis of digital hemispherical photographs enables to describe the structure of vegetation within the observed formations.
In addition, comparative studies will be conducted in the primary tropical forest in southwestern Taï National Park. Comprising an area of 457.000 ha this location represents one of the last large humid forest habitats in West Africa. Known as a centre of high biodiversity the Taï Park was declared as a World Heritage Region by the UNESCO in 1982.
In the further course of the project the bioclimatological investigations will be carried out simultaneously within dry forests/savannas in Comoé Park and evergreen forests of Taï Park in order to analyse the largescale interannual precipitation variability and its impact on the different vegetation formations.

The research team:

Priv. Doz. Dr. Dieter Anhuf : project leader
Dr. Jörg Szarzynski (Post-Doc): coordinator and deputy project leader
Dipl. Geogr. Thomas Motzer: scientific employee