Species topological roles in the networks
In the Asenanyo Forest Reserve, liana species in edge site were mainly peripherals, with the exception of four species (C .cucullata , M . chrhysophylla , M .guineensis , Morinda morindoides ) which acted as connectors (Figure 4a). Millettia lutens and Tiliacora dielsiana were the only module hub species of lianas in edge site. Network hubs did not occur among lianas in edge site. The connector and module hub species constituted 15.4 % of liana species in this site. The majority of the tree species also performed specialist role in edge site, but seven of the species (C . mildbraedii ,Hymenostegia afzelii , Trilepisium sp., Baphia nitida , Entandrophragma utile , Triplochiton scleroxylon ,N . papaverifera ) were connectors (Figure 5a). These generalist species formed 25 % of the tree species. In interior site, we had no liana connectors and network hubs, but two module hubs existed in this site (M . guineensis , S . elegans ), making up 5.6 % of liana species in interior site (Figure 4b). The rest of the liana species served as peripherals in interior site. Trees in interior site were mostly peripherals, with only one connector (Albizia zygia ) and one module hub (Bec) species (Figure 5b), but no network hub trees. These generalists were 5.7 % of the total tree species in this site. Within deep-interior site, we recorded two liana connectors (G . simplicifolia and S .preussii) and one liana module hub (S . elegans ) (Figure 4c), which together made up 10.3 % of the liana species in the site. The rest of the liana species in deep-interior site were peripherals. There were three connectors (C . mildbraedii ,Amphimas pterocarpoides , Turraeanthus africanus ) and one module hub of tree species (Homalium dewevrei ) in deep-interior site, but there was no network hub species (Figure 5c). These tree species composed of 8.6 % of the total number of species in deep-interior site.
We recorded G . simplicifolia , C . tarquense ,A . kamerunensis and Combretum paniculatum as connector liana species within edge site of the Suhuma Forest Reserve, while the majority of the liana species were peripherals (Figure 6a).C . africanus was a network hub in the edge site. The above mentioned generalists constituted 11.4 % of the total liana species. Five tree species acted as connectors in edge site (C .mildbraedii , Celtis philippensis , Entandrophragma angolense , N . papaverifera , Trichilia prieuriana ), while one tree species was identified as a module hub (Calpocalyxbrevibracteatus ) (Figure 7a). Network hubs of tree species were not recorded in edge site. Together, the connector and module hub species formed 9.5 % of the total number of tree species in edge site. In interior site of Suhuma Forest Reserve, most of the liana species were peripherals. Generalist liana species were module hubs (A .pentagona , C . africanus , N .acuminata , M . fulvum ) and network hub (M .chrysophylla ), but with no connector species (Figure 6b). The above mentioned generalist species formed 12.2 % of liana species in interior site. The majority of the tree species in interior site of Suhuma Forest Reserve acted as peripherals. We did not identify connector tree species in this site, but a few module hub species occurred there (Albizia adianthifolia , C .mildbraedii , Sterculia oblonga ) (Figure 7b). These generalist species formed 6.5 % % of the tree species. In deep-interior site, lianas were mainly peripherals, except for G .simplicifolia , C . africanus , Neuropeltis prevosteoides and Alafia sp., that acted as connectors (Figure 6c). The above-mentioned generalists formed about 9.8 % of the total liana species. Tree species in deep-interior site were generally peripherals, except C . mildbraedii and Ricinodendron heudelotii (connectors), and Amp and Gut (module hubs) which formed 8.7 % of the tree species (Figure 7c).