Caesalpinioideae and the study of forest refuges in Gabon: Preliminary results

The present study shows that modern distribution data of Caesalpinioidous taxa can be used in the study on forest refuges. Preliminary results indicate that previously proposed locations of forest refuges in central Africa are not correctly situated and that a distinction should be made between lowland and montane forest refuges. The geographic position of postulated forest refuges in Gabon needs to be reviewed with regard to new distribution data. Further, more detailed research on the biogeographic history of these areas during the last glacial is necessary, preferably involving a combination of (paleo)biological and (paleo)climatological studies, to test the new suppositions.