Woody Species Diversity, Vegetation Structure, and Regeneration Status of the Moist Afromontane Forest of Agama in Southwestern Ethiopia

This study was conducted in Agama Forest in Kafa Zone, Southwestern Ethiopia, to assess species diversity, vegetation structure, and regeneration status of woody species. A systematic sampling technique was employed to collect vegetation data. Sixty (60) sample plots of 25 m × 25 m were laid at 300 m intervals all along ten grids interspaced 800 m apart. Sample plots of 25 m × 25 m were used to record DBH and H of all woody plant species reaching a DBH >2.5 cm and height >2 m. For the inventory of seedling and sapling, two subplots of 2 m × 5 m were used at the beginning and the end of the baseline on opposite sides of the main quadrat. Vegetation data such as DBH, height, seedling, and sapling density of woody species were recorded in each plot. Altogether, 72 woody plant species of 65 genera and 35 families were identified. Analysis of selected tree species showed diverse population structures. This study showed that small trees and shrubs dominated the Agama Forest, which revealed its status under a secondary regeneration stage. Study on the structure and regeneration of some woody species indicated that there are species that require urgent conservation measures. Sound management and monitoring, as well as maintenance of biodiversity and cultural and economic values of the forest, require conservation activities that encourage sustainable uses of the forest and its products.

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Woody Species Composition, Vegetation Structure, and Regeneration Status of Majang Forest Biosphere Reserves in Southwestern Ethiopia

International Journal of Forestry Research ◽

10.1155/2021/5534930 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-22

Author(s):

Semegnew Tadese ◽

Teshome Soromessa ◽

Tesefaye Bekele ◽

Getaneh Gebeyehu

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Vegetation Structure ◽

Natural Regeneration ◽

Woody Plant ◽

Basal Area ◽

Woody Species ◽

Site Factors ◽

Biosphere Reserves ◽

Regeneration Status ◽

Study Sites

The aim of this study was to analyse the species composition, structures, and regeneration of woody plant species and the impacts of site factors on the natural regeneration of tree species in four study sites of MFBR. The vegetation data were collected systematically in 140 plots with the size of 400 m2 for trees; 25 m2 for seedlings, saplings, shrubs, and lianas; and 1 m2 for herbs. Individual tree and shrub DBH ≥ 5 cm were measured and counted. The diameter at breast height (DBH), frequency, basal area, importance value index (IVI), and density were used for vegetation structure description and regeneration. A total of 158 plant species belonging to 115 genera, 56 families, and 80 species (51%) trees, 26 (16%) shrubs, 19 (12%) herbs, and 33 (21%) lianas were identified and recorded. The most dominant families were Euphorbiaceae, Rubiaceae, and Moraceae, each represented by 13 species (7.4%), 12 species (6.8%), and 10 species (5.7%), respectively. The tree densities varied from 1232 to 1478 stem ha−1, sapling density 176.8 to 708.7 stem ha−1, and seedling density 534.7 to 1657.5 stem ha−1, with an average basal area of 63.6 m2 in the study sites. Dracaena afromontana was the most frequent woody species in the MFBR occurring in 90% followed by Celtis zenkeri (65%) and Pouteria altissima (62.5%). The regeneration status of all the woody plant species was categorised as “not regenerate” (9.6%), “poor” (30.7%), “fair” (59.5%), and “good” (10.8%) in all sites. The correlation result between natural regeneration and site factors revealed both positive and negative relationships. However, the main threat to the biosphere reserve is illegal logging for different purposes. Therefore, awareness creation on sustainable forest management, utilisation, conservation of priority species, and livelihood diversification to the local community and encouraging community and private woodlot plantation in the transitional zone of biosphere reserves are recommended.

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Vegetative structure, floristic composition and natural regeneration of a species in Ylat Forest, Meket Woreda, Northeastern Ethiopia

Asian Journal of Forestry ◽

10.13057/asianjfor/r010106 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 40-53

Author(s):

SISAY TEGEGNE ◽

BIKILA WORKINEH

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Natural Regeneration ◽

Woody Plant ◽

Vascular Plant ◽

Floristic Composition ◽

Woody Species ◽

Systematic Sampling ◽

Importance Value Index ◽

Woody Plant Species ◽

Vegetative Structure

Tegegne S, Workineh B. 2017. Vegetative structure, floristic composition and natural regeneration of a species in Ylat Forest in Meket Woreda, Northeastern Ethiopia. Asian J For 1: 40-53. The natural forest of Ylat in Meket Woreda, Northeastern Ethiopia was examined to decide the vegetative structure, floristic formation and natural regeneration of woodland species and to supply data on sustainable administration of the woody plants in specific and the woodland founts in common. Systematic sampling design was used in this study to gather vegetation information. For each of the sampling sites, five transect lines having fiftyfour primary plots with 400 m2 (20m × 20m) each were laid out to gather the information on woody species along 200m line transects. A total of 60 vascular plant species having a place to 41 families and 56 genera were identified of which 13 (21.67%) were trees, 31 (51.67%) bushes, 6 (10%) climbers and 10 species (16.66) of herbs. Of all the families, Lamiaceae (8.33%) and Fabaceae, Rosaceae, Solanaceae and Euphorbiaceae 3 species (5%) were the most overwhelming woody plant species and followed by Sapindaceae, Aloaceae, Ranunclaceae, Poaceae, Oleaceae, Polygonaceae and Cucurbitaceae contains 2 species each (3.33%). A total of 2652 woody plant species individuals (1227.77 individual/ha) were found of which 405 individuals were Myrsine africana and 19 individuals were Millettia ferruginea and 20 individuals were Dombeya torrida. This data showed the highest and the lowest number of woody plant species. The thickness of woody species with DBH ≥ 2.5cm was 1227.77 individual/ha, basal zone was 1 m2 /ha, frequency of woody species was 258. The overall Shannon diversity and evenness of woody species was 2.94 and 0.84 respectively, demonstrating that the diversity and evenness of woody species within the timberland is moderately high. The woody plant species having the highest importance value index (IVI) were Erica arborea (36.31) followed by Allophylus abyssinicus (28.65) whereas Hagenia abyssinica, Myrica salicifolia, Euphorbia tirucalli, Calpurnia aurea were the lowest IVI and should be given conservation priority. Finally, this study showed that the population structure of the most woody plant species in Ylat Timberland was in a great state of regeneration recruitment level.

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Woody Vegetation Composition, Structure, and Community Types of Doshke Forest in Chencha, Gamo Gofa Zone, Ethiopia

International Journal of Biodiversity ◽

10.1155/2018/4614790 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ayalew Sebsibe Tegene ◽

Feleke Woldeyes Gamo ◽

Simon Shibru Cheche

Keyword(s):

Species Diversity ◽

Plant Species ◽

Tree Species ◽

Woody Plant ◽

Woody Species ◽

Woody Vegetation ◽

Vegetation Composition ◽

Woody Plant Species ◽

Community Types ◽

Gamo Gofa

This study was conducted on Doshke forest in Chencha wereda, Gamo Gofa zone, South Ethiopia, with the objective of determining woody vegetation composition, structuren, and community types of woody plant species. Systematic sampling method was used to collect vegetation data. A total of 42 quadrats each with 400 m2 (20 m X 20 m) were established along four lines transects for woody species and regenerations. All the collected woody plant species were identified in National Herbarium of Ethiopia. Data used to describe vegetation structure were recorded from the quadrats. Sorensens’s similarity coefficient and Shannon-Wiener diversity index were also used to detect similarities and to compute species diversity and evenness respectively. A total of 44 woody species belonging to 40 genera and 28 families were recorded in the forest. The family Myrsinaceae and Rubiaceae were found to exhibit the highest number of species each with 4 species. The hierarchical cluster analysis using PC-ORD version 5.0 computer programs revealed four community types, of which Maesa lanceolata-Allophylus abyssinicus community type (C2) exhibited the highest species diversity and evenness. The structural analysis of Doshke forest revealed that the density of tree species in Doshke forest decreases with increasing height and DBH classes. The forest is characterized by high density of woody species in the lower class than in the higher. The most dominant tree species recorded were Syzygium guineense, Ilex mitis, and Galiniera saxiferaga. Three layers of woody species were identified from the study of vertical stratification. Studies on the regeneration of the forest indicated that there are species that require urgent conservation measures. Generally, Doshke forest possesses many economically and ecologically important plant species. It can be considered as the biodiversity conservation center in general and the forest genetic resources conservation in particular.

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Woody plant species diversity as a predictor of ecosystem services in a social–ecological system of southwestern Ethiopia

Landscape Ecology ◽

10.1007/s10980-020-01170-x ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Girma Shumi ◽

Patrícia Rodrigues ◽

Jan Hanspach ◽

Werner Härdtle ◽

Kristoffer Hylander ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Species Diversity ◽

Plant Species ◽

Woody Plants ◽

Woody Plant ◽

Land Uses ◽

Woody Plant Species ◽

Southwestern Ethiopia ◽

Social Ecological ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Context Human-dominated landscapes in the tropics need to be managed for biodiversity and the maintenance of ecosystem services (ES). Nevertheless, integrating both biodiversity conservation and ES management remains a challenge. Objectives This study aimed to quantify woody plant species diversity and associated ES in farmland and forests, and investigate the relationship between species and ES diversity. Methods The study was conducted in southwestern Ethiopia. We surveyed woody plants in 181 20 m by 20 m plots in farmland, forest with, and forest without coffee management. We also interviewed 180 randomly selected households about woody plant benefits. We then (a) quantified species and ES diversity; and (b) investigated the relationship between species and ES diversity. Results We recorded 128 woody plant species in total. Most ES were available in all land uses, although they differed in their mean availability. ES composition was significantly different among land uses. ES diversity was positively related with species diversity in all land uses. Conclusions Our findings suggest that all examined land-use types were multifunctional in terms of key ES provided by woody plants and that maintaining high species diversity also benefits ES diversity. Given these findings, we suggest to: (1) strengthen landscape multifunctionality by drawing on the positive relationship between biodiversity and ES diversity; (2) devise conservation policies that encompass entire landscape mosaics and enhance co-benefits of conservation and ES provision across land uses; and (3) conduct further social–ecological studies that use mixed data to elicit socially relevant relationships between biodiversity and ES diversity.

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On the relationship between bird and woody plant species diversity in the Uttara Kannada district of south India.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.89.12.5311 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 89 (12) ◽

pp. 5311-5315 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

R. J. Daniels ◽

N. V. Joshi ◽

M. Gadgil

Keyword(s):

Species Diversity ◽

Plant Species ◽

South India ◽

Woody Plant ◽

Plant Species Diversity ◽

Woody Plant Species ◽

The Relationship

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Quantitative analysis, distributional pattern and species diversity of woody plant species of Lamberi Forest Range, Rajouri, J&K, India

Journal of Applied and Natural Science ◽

10.31018/jans.v10i1.1661 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 522-527

Author(s):

Jyoti Sharma ◽

Anil K. Raina

Keyword(s):

Quantitative Analysis ◽

Species Diversity ◽

Plant Species ◽

Woody Plant ◽

Diversity Indices ◽

Distributional Pattern ◽

Importance Value Index ◽

Importance Value ◽

Pinus Roxburghii ◽

Woody Plant Species

Quantitative analysis, distributional pattern and species diversity of woody plant species of Lamberi Range of Rajouri Forest division, J&K, has been carried out by laying 50 quadrats (10m X 10m size) for trees and 100 quadrats (5m X 5m size) for shrubs. Various phytosociological parameters like frequency, density, abundance, importance value index IVI and diversity indices for trees and shrubs has been used to reveal the plant community structure of the area. The abundance to frequency ratio (A/F) for different species was determined to assess the distribution pattern of the species (regular <0.025, random 0.025-0.05 and contagious >0.05) which indicated the contagious distribution for all the species. Survey of the area revealed presence of 63 woody plant species from the study area comprising of 43 trees and 20 shrubs. Pinus roxburghii (IVI 49.7, Abundance 81.1) and Carissa opaca (IVI 81.12 abundance 7.05) have been recorded as the dominant tree and shrub, respectively, of the area. The computation of diversity indices showed that species richness and evenness i.e Shannon- Weiner’s, Margalef’s and Menhinick’s remained high for trees and low for shrubs. Simpson’s index of dominance was also high for trees. Species which needs priorities for conservation and protection and also required to be monitored have also been highlighted.

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Effects of Exotic Plantation Expansion and Management Intervention on Woody Plant Species Diversity, Regeneration and Soil Seed Bank in Tarmaber District, Ethiopia

10.21203/rs.3.rs-143013/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Melese Bekele Nigussie ◽

Dessie Assefa Assefa ◽

Yohannis Gebremariam Gebremariam

Keyword(s):

Species Diversity ◽

Plant Species ◽

Seed Bank ◽

Woody Plant ◽

Soil Seed Bank ◽

Natural Forest ◽

Forest Types ◽

Plantation Forest ◽

Woody Plant Species ◽

Management Intervention

Abstract This study was carried out in Tarmaber district north shewa zone Ethiopia to determine the effect of plantation forest with management intervention on woody plant species diversity, regeneration and soil seed bank species composition in five different forest types, which are adjacent natural forest, managed Cupressus lusitanica, unmanaged C. lusitanica, managed Eucalyptus globules and not managed E. globules plantation forests. A total of 75 circular sample plots of 314 m2 were established along a transect lines. Soil seed bank analysis was done from soil samples collected in each of the plots (225 samples) to examine the similarity between the soil seed bank and aboveground flora. Different diversity index and ANOVA was used in SPSS software for analysis. The result showed that a total of 51 woody plant species was recorded in adjacent natural forest (41), managed C. lusitanica (27), not managed C. lusitanica (9), managed E. globules (22) and not managed E. globules (13) species. Regeneration of seedlings were 3538, 5567, 707, 1462 and 2524 mean stems ha− 1 for natural forest, managed C. lusitanica, not managed C. lusitanica, managed E. globules and not managed E. globules respectively. Unmanaged C. lusitanica plantations had significantly lower densities of mature tree stems ha− 1 as compared to managed C. lusitanica, managed E. globules and adjacent natural forest (F = 14.03, p < 0.05).Similarly in terms of sapling density ha− 1 unmanaged C. lusitanica was significantly lower from other forest types (F = 7.37, p < 0.05). However managed C. lusitanica had significantly higher seedling regeneration (stem density ha− 1) than other plantation and adjacent natural forests (F = 16.11, p < 0.05). Generally mean stem densities including tree, sapling and seedling of woody species among different forest types managed C. lusitanica was significantly higher among different forest types (F = 13.01, p < 0.05). From the soil seed bank a total of 22 plant species (20 native and 2 exotic) species were recovered. In different forest types the number of species recorded was in adjacent natural forest (19), managed C. lusitanica (11), unmanaged C. lusitanica (4), managed E. globules (7) and unmanaged E. globules (5). The similarity of the oil seed bank was more or less similar to the above ground flora with maximum Sorenson’s similarity values of 0.633. Generally with appropriate management intervention undergrowth vegetation and soil seed bank status in plantation forest had good species composition and diversity.

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