DOI: 10.5061/dryad.3bk3j9kx7
title: Topography and logging structure liana community assemblages in an upland evergreen forest, Ghana

description: Aims: Lianas form an important component of tropical forests as they
 contribute to maintain biodiversity. Thus, understanding the factors that
 control them is essential for forest management and biodiversity
 conservation. However, how topography and logging, as well as their
 interaction, affect liana community structure is not well understood.
 Therefore, we sought to evaluate the effects of topography and logging on
 the structure of liana communities in a tropical upland evergreen forest
 in Ghana. Location: Tano Offin Forest Reserve, Ghana Methods: We assessed
 liana community structure by quantifying liana species diversity and
 composition, abundance, and basal area in nine 20 × 20 m plots each of
 three topographic habitats (valley, slope, hilltop) in two land-use types
 (non-logged and logged-over forests) of the Tano Offin Forest Reserve,
 Ghana. We measured elevation and slope angle, and quantified host tree
 abundance and basal area for each plot. Results: Topographic position
 influenced liana species diversity, abundance and basal area across the
 forest land-use types, with the valley habitat supporting a significantly
 greater values than the other habitats. In the same vein, topographic
 position was a significant predictor of liana species diversity, abundance
 and basal area in the logged-over forest, but not the non-logged forest.
 Selective logging also showed significant negative effects on liana
 species diversity, abundance, and basal area both across forest land-use
 types and within slope and hilltop habitats. Similarly, there were
 significant effects of topographic habitat and logging, and their
 interaction on liana species composition. Liana species composition was
 significantly driven by elevation, while liana abundance and basal area
 were predicted by elevation, slope angle, and tree abundance and basal
 area.
description: # Topography and logging structure liana community assemblages in an
 upland evergreen forest, Ghana
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.3bk3j9kx7](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.3bk3j9kx7) ## Description of the Data and File Structure This dataset contains information on the abundance of liana species found across three topographic habitats namely valley, slope and hilltop. Each habitat has two forest land-use types (non-logged and logged forests). The data were collected to evaluate the influence of forest disturbance (logging) and topographic heterogeneity on liana community structure in an upland evergreen forest in Ghana. The species data have been organized into one CSV files, with three sheets; Sheet1 contains liana species abundance data in nine plots each in the non-logged and logged-over forest within the valley habitat, Sheet2 contains liana species abundance data in nine plots each in the non-logged and logged-over forest within the slope habitat, and Sheet2 contains liana species abundance data in nine plots each in the non-logged and logged-over forest within the hilltop habitat. ### Sheet: Valley habitat Description: Liana species and their abundance in nine plots each within non-logged and logged-over forests located in valley habitats. Columns: Species: Scientific name of each liana species. Land-use type: Indicates whether the plot is in non-logged or logged-over forest. Plot 1-9: Unique identifier for each of the 9 plots per land-use type. Values: The number of individual lianas of the given species recorded in the corresponding plot. ### Sheet: Slope habitat Description: Liana species and their abundance in slope habitats, with data from nine plots each in non-logged and logged-over forests. Columns: Species: Scientific name of each liana species. Land-use type: Indicates whether the plot is in non-logged or logged-over forest. Plot 1-9: Unique identifier for each of the 9 plots per land-use type. Values: The number of individual lianas of the given species recorded in the corresponding plot. ### Sheet: Hilltop habitat Description: Liana species and their abundance in hilltop habitats, with data from nine plots each in non-logged and logged-over forests. Columns: Species: Scientific name of each liana species. Land-use type: Indicates whether the plot is in non-logged or logged-over forest. Plot 1-9: Unique identifier for each of the 9 plots per land-use type. Values: The number of individual lianas of the given species recorded in the corresponding plot. Variable Definitions Species: The scientific (Latin) name of each liana species identified in the study. Land-use type: Categorical variable indicating whether the plot is located in a non-logged or logged-over forest. Plot 1-9: Identifier assigned to each of the 18 sampling plots per habitat (9 non-logged, 9 logged). Values: Total number of individual stems recorded per species within each plot. Data Collection Notes Data are organised by habitat and forest-use type for comparative ecological analysis. Liana species identification was conducted using standard floras and field guides. Plot locations were classified into valley, slope, or hilltop habitats based on topographic surveys. Forest-use type classification (non-logged vs logged-over) was based on historical land-use data and field verification. ### Version Changes 14-May-2025 -Replaced summarized species data per habitat and land-use type with plot-level species abundance data. -New dataset includes liana species and their abundance in each of 9 plots per land-use type (logged and non-logged) across three topographic habitats (valley, slope, hilltop). Thus, contains liana species abundance in a total of 18 plots per each topographic habitats. -This change enables more detailed spatial and ecological analysis. ## Suggested Citation Patrick Addo-Fordjour, Enoch Kweku Boakye, Francis Emmanuel Awortwi and Abena Fosua Dankwah. (2025). *Topography and Logging Structure Influence Liana Community Assemblages in an Upland Evergreen Forest, Ghana* [Dataset]. Dryad. [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.3bk3j9kx7](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.3bk3j9kx7)