LIST OF PICTURES
Picture 1 Morphological characteristics of
Anogeissus leiocarpa Picture 2 Morphological
characteristics of Detarium microcarpum Picture 3
Morphological characteristics of Diospyros abyssinica
Picture 4 Morphological characteristics of
Isoberlinia doka Picture 5 Morphological
characteristics of Pterocarpus erinaceus Picture 6
Some of the analysed stem discs
Picture 7 The used electronic forest compass
Picture 8 The used polishing machine
Picture 9 The Lintab combined to microscope for
measurement
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1 The five tree species investigated in
two different study sites
Table 2 Some characteristics of investigated
species
Table 3 Age and MRI of the investigated
species
DEDICATION
This work was funded by the BIOTA Africa
programme (Biodiversity Monitoring Transect Analysis in Africa). It
was mainly realized with the technical support of Institute of Agronomy
in the Tropics (University of Göttingen) where I analysed my
data, the Laboratory of Applied Ecology (University of
Abomey-Calavi, Benin) and the Laboratory of Biosciences
(University of Rostock, Germany).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
«My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge...»
Hosea 4:6 (NIV).
The above biblical excerpt from the prophet Hosea moved me
into action to acknowledge the promoters of this work. My warmest thanks are
due in the first place to my professors who have shown the very greatest spirit
of co-operation and whose competence, understanding and helping have made my
first experience on dating of tropical trees species a successful issue.
In this respect, special mention is made of the invaluable
contribution of Professor Brice Sinsin, head of Laboratory of
Applied Ecology from the University of Abomey -Calavi (Benin) who played a key
role in the achievement of this thesis. I could not have achieved this alone
without his help. He accepted me into his lab as a postgraduate student and
showed me the way to take. His advices and recommendations enabled me to
overcome successfully. I must acknowledge him with deepest gratitude for the
excellent advice, encouragement and guidance.
I am also particularly indebted to Professor Stefan
Porembski and his assistant Dr. Bettina Orthmann from
the University of Rostock (Germany) who accepted me into their laboratory and
taught me the methods of tree dating. Dr Bettina was never far from me. First,
she facilitated the process of my trip. Secondly, she introduc ed me to the
specialist of tree-ring dating, helped me to improve my research proposal and
offered me a pleasant working time. Thirdly, she read the entire work and
helped me once more to improve it. I miss words to tell her my acknowledgements
as she deserves.
I should express my respectful thanks in special place to
PD Dr Martin Worbes for his simplicity, helpful and teaching
during the two months I worked with him. I got tree-ring dating in his lab.
I could never forget Dr Romain Kakaï
Glèlè, Dr Klaus Hennenberg, Miss Sofie Blanchart
and a very large number of my graduate colleagues (Promotion 31) for
the fruitful exchanges.
Finally, I have to render my sincere thankfulness to my family
and Miss Camen T. Adjadémè whose fondness and
love helped me to bring to a successful conclusion.
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