Woody Species Composition Analysis of Shawo Sacred Forest, Ethiopia

In sacred forests of indigenous communities, landscapes are deemed sacred and are protected through social norms and spiritual values. The main objective of this study was to analyze the woody species composition of Shawo forest and explore the traditional governing systems that safeguard the sacred forest up to the present. Systematic sampling method was used to collect data. Accordingly, 42 quadrats each with 400 m2 (20 m X 20 m) was laid along the 14 transect lines. All woody plant species were collected and identified in each of these quadrats. Vegetation parameters such as DBH an Height of each quadrat were recorded. Interview and group discussion were held with local community to gather socio-cultural information. From the result, 16 plant species were found. The average plant density was 499 individual ha-1 with DBH and H value of 9.21 cm and 10.43 m respecitively.. The maximum mean plant height was 39.43 m (Syzygium guineense).The total basal area of all plant species was found to be 56.1 m2.ha-1. From the total plant species of Shawo forest Syzygium guineense has the largest basal area 35.77 m2.ha-1 (63.77%) occurring in all 42 plots. The most important plant species of Shawo forest was Syzygium guineense with important value index (IVI) of 151.7 contributing to 50.57% of total IVI. For future sustainability of Shawo forest, community traditional conservation practices should be appreciated and supported.

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

International Journal of Ecology ◽

10.1155/2020/1629624 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Abyot Dibaba ◽

Teshome Soromessa ◽

Alemayehu Kefalew ◽

Admassu Addi

Keyword(s):

Species Diversity ◽

Plant Species ◽

Vegetation Structure ◽

Woody Plant ◽

Woody Species ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Systematic Sampling ◽

Woody Plant Species ◽

Regeneration Status ◽

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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Clearcutting Not Enough for Early Establishment of Desirable Species in Santee River Swamp

Southern Journal of Applied Forestry ◽

10.1093/sjaf/9.1.52 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 52-54 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Charles A. Gresham

Keyword(s):

Species Composition ◽

Prescribed Fire ◽

Basal Area ◽

Woody Species ◽

Liquidambar Styraciflua ◽

Growing Seasons ◽

Postharvest Treatment ◽

Celtis Laevigata ◽

Water Oak ◽

Early Establishment

Abstract Woody species in a Santee River Swamp area were sampled before and three growing seasons after a summer clearcut. Basal area before harvest was 140 ft², 72% of which was sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), sugarberry (Celtis laevigata), ash (Fraxinus spp.), laurel oak (Quercus laurifolia), and water oak (Q. nigra). Sugarberry dominated the regeneration 3 years after harvest in all but the larger size classes. Reproduction less than 3-feet tall occurred on 39% of the sampled area while 69% of the sampled area contained one or more stems 3 feet or taller. Regeneration species composition and spatial distribution was not considered acceptable and was attributed to the lack of postharvest treatment. Shearing or prescribed fire is recommended to dispose of residual stems and logging slash. Subsequent planting seed or seedlings of cherrybark oak (Q. falcata var. pagodifolia), water oak, or sweetgum should ensure an acceptable species composition.

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Woody Plants Species Composition and Diversity in West Bank Forest of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Journal of Experimental Agriculture International ◽

10.9734/jeai/2020/v42i230470 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 63-78

Author(s):

Ariyo, Oluyinka Christopher

Keyword(s):

Species Composition ◽

Plant Species ◽

Woody Plants ◽

Woody Plant ◽

West Bank ◽

Basal Area ◽

Management Plan ◽

International Institute ◽

Tropical Agriculture ◽

Woody Plant Species

Woody plants species composition, richness, dominance and diversity in west bank forest of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) was undertaken to understand the status of the forest. The analysis of tree species composition, richness and diversity in the forest was carried out with the aim of developing efficient management plan that will ensure biodiversity conservation. Vegetation survey using transects and plot sampling techniques were used to collect data for the study. Three transects of 500 m long each {A (270°W), B (90°E) and C (180°S)} were constructed with the aid of prismatic compass in the forest. 10 sampling plots of 10 m by 10 m each were demarcated along each transect making a total number of 30 sampling plots. In each plot, all woody plant species (trees and shrubs) with girth at breast height (gbh) greater than or equal to 10 cm (gbh ≥ 10 cm) were identified, enumerated and measured. The results showed that 581 woody plants belonging to 65 species and 28 families were encountered in the forest. The most abundant family in the forest was Fabaceae sub families of Caesalpinioidea, Mimosoideae and Palpilinoideae. The forest had Simpson diversity index (D), Shannon-Wiener (H) and Evenness index of 0.012, 0.354 and 0.195 respectively. The total density and basal area of woody plants species in the forest was 1,936.67 individuals’ ha-1 and 98.23 m2 ha−1. Newbouldia laevis had the highest density of 190 ha-1 and relative frequency of 9.811% while Milicia excelsa had the highest basal area of 40.34 m2 ha−1, relative dominance of 41.07% and Importance value index of 14.04%. The study concludes that the forest has a reasonably good tree and shrub species composition and richness, dominated by trees and a repository of many indigenous tropical woody plant species. The study recommends in-depth forest inventory, preparation of management plan and promotion of good governance in management of the forest. Also, further studies on regeneration, structure, soil seed bank, seed physiology and herbaceous plant should be carried out in the forest.

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The European bison as seed dispersers: the effect on the species composition of a disturbed pine forest community

Botany ◽

10.1139/b08-012 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 86 (5) ◽

pp. 475-484 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Bogdan Jaroszewicz ◽

Ewa Pirożnikow ◽

Ruth Sagehorn

Keyword(s):

Species Composition ◽

Plant Species ◽

Vascular Plant ◽

Forest Community ◽

European Bison ◽

Jaccard Coefficient ◽

Long Distance ◽

Process Of Change ◽

Morphological Adaptations ◽

Undisturbed Forest

We studied the process of change in plant species composition in a pine–spruce forest influenced by endozoochorous seed dispersal by the European bison Bison bonasus L. The intensity of endozoochory was 3.4 times higher in the open tree stand than in the surrounding undisturbed forest (t = –3.0836, df = 50, P = 0.003). Over 1578 individuals/ramets belonging to 23 vascular plant taxa developed on 114 bison dung piles. The process of colonization included two plant species that have never before been recorded in the studied forest community. Seven out of 14 species transferred by bison were small-seeded herbaceous plants without morphological adaptations for long-distance dispersal. The majority of plant species recorded on the bison dung (55.9%) occur in deciduous forests. In contrast, over 50% of the plants surrounding bison faeces represented species of coniferous forests. The PCA analysis revealed the existence of two distinct groups of plant species: within bison faeces and on random systematic samples. The Jaccard coefficient of species composition similarity between them was 0.28. Our results demonstrate that the European bison is an effective vector of plant propagules between plant communities. This fact could have great importance for the restoration of degraded habitats, and could also introduce the risk of invasion by alien species.

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Woody Species Diversity and Structure of Protected Woodlands Adjacent to Free Grazing Land Woodland at Dugda Woreda, Oromia, Ethiopia

International Journal of Forestry Research ◽

10.1155/2021/8834892 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Tsegu Ereso Denbel

Keyword(s):

Basal Area ◽

Floristic Composition ◽

Woody Species ◽

Systematic Sampling ◽

Importance Value Index ◽

Importance Value ◽

Mature Trees ◽

Grazing Land ◽

Individual Tree ◽

Breast Height

The study was conducted in protected woodland and free graze woodland located in Dugda Woreda, Oromia state, Ethiopia. The objective of the study was to explore the floristic composition, structure, and regeneration of woody species. In the park, the vegetation ecology has not been studied up to date, which is necessary for conservation. The systematic sampling technique was used to collect vegetation and human disturbance (presence and absence) data from August to December 2017. The vegetation data were collected from 30 plots from each woodland with a size of 900 m2 (30 m × 300 m) for tree/shrub, while subplots of size 400 m2 (20 m × 20 m) for sapling, respectively, were established in the main plots. Individual tree and shrub diameters at breast height (DBH) ≥2.5 cm and height ≥ 2 m were measured using a tape meter and clinometer, respectively. Diameter at breast height (DBH), frequency, density, basal area, and importance value index (IVI) were used for vegetation structure description, while the densities of mature trees, sapling, and seedling were used for regeneration. A total of 446 individual stems from free grazed woodland and 641 individual stems from protected woodland with a DBH of ≥2.5 cm were encountered from 30 studied sample plots that are protected and free grazed woodlands. Of these, from the total woody species, 68.42% were trees and 31.57% shrubs found in protected woodland; 76.92% were trees and 23.07% shrubs found in free grazed woodland. The total basal area of the woody plant was 3.1 ± 1 m2/ha in free grazed woodland and 4.2 ± 2 m2/ha in protected woodland, calculated for 19 woody species. Fabaceae, Balanitaceae, Capparidaceae, Verbenaceae, and Boraginaceae families were the most abundant families in both woodlands. However, there is a good initiation for the conservation of the park; still, the vegetation of the park was threatened by human-induced fire following intensive farming, gold mining, and overgrazing.

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Variation in structure and composition of two pine forests in Kailash Sacred Landscape, Nepal

Banko Janakari ◽

10.3126/banko.v28i1.21453 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 26-36

Author(s):

C. K. Subedi ◽

J. Gurung ◽

S. K. Ghimire ◽

N. Chettri ◽

B. Pasakhala ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Composition ◽

Plant Species ◽

Common Species ◽

Pine Forests ◽

Forest Community ◽

Community Characteristics ◽

Pinus Roxburghii ◽

Sacred Landscape ◽

Kailash Sacred Landscape ◽

The Relationship

Chir pine (Pinus roxburghii Sarg.) and blue pine (Pinus wallichiana A.B. Jacks.) are two common species found in mid-hill forests of Nepal where households largely depend on forest resources for their livelihoods and subsistence. The management of such forests is supported by our understanding of the dynamics in forest structure and species composition and the relationship between different forest community characteristics. This study was designed to determine the variation in species composition and the relationship between various forest community characteristics in two pine forests of Kailash Sacred Landscape, Nepal. Quadrat sampling was applied to collect information on forest species, forest community structure, and disturbance factors.Data was statistically analyzed using IBM SPSS. There were a total of 31 plant species under 28 genera and 20 families in the P. roxburghii forest, and 38 plant species under 37 genera and 19 families in the P. wallichiana forest. Mean DBH, height and canopy diameter of P. roxburghii was 23.98 cm, 12.77 m and 1.97 m, respectively, and that of P. wallichiana was 31.5 cm, 11.48 m and 2.79 m, respectively. The relationship between DBH and both height and crown diameter showed strong relationships in the two forest types. In both forests, DBH and height class distribution showed a hump-shaped (unimodal type) distribution with a greater proportion of medium-sized individuals that indicated disruptive forest regeneration. Fire and tree cut were significant disturbance factors in P. roxburghii forest, while grazing and trampling were significant in P. wallichiana forest. The extent of these disturbance factors as determinants of regeneration and species recruitment is important to assess for effective forest management. Banko JanakariA Journal of Forestry Information for NepalVol. 28, No. 1, 2018, page: 26-36

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Vegetation dynamics and mesophication in response to conifer encroachment within an ultramafic system

Australian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1071/bt14241 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 63 (4) ◽

pp. 292 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

J. Burgess ◽

K. Szlavecz ◽

N. Rajakaruna ◽

S. Lev ◽

C. Swan

Keyword(s):

Species Composition ◽

Spatial Data ◽

Vegetation Dynamics ◽

Basal Area ◽

Woody Species ◽

Environmental Drivers ◽

Evolutionary Significance ◽

Stem Density ◽

Endemic Plant ◽

Α Diversity

The biological, ecological, and evolutionary significance of serpentine habitats has long been recognised. We used an integrated physiochemical dataset combining plot spatial data with temporal data from tree cores to evaluate changes in soils and vegetation. Data suggest that this unique habitat is undergoing a transition, endangering local biodiversity and endemic plant species. The objective of this work was to analyse the vegetation dynamics of a xeric serpentine savanna located in the Mid-Atlantic, USA. We employed vegetation surveys of 32 10 × 15 m quadrats to obtain woody species composition, density, basal area, and developed a spatial physiochemical dataset of substrate geochemistry to independently summarise the data using regression and ordination techniques. This information was interpreted alongside historical, dendrochronologic and soil stable carbon isotopic data to evaluate successional dynamics. Comparisons among geologic, pedologic and vegetation environmental drivers indicated broad correlations across an environmental gradient, corresponding to a grassland to forest transition. The woodland communities appear to be part of a complex soil moisture and chemistry gradient that affects the extent, density, basal area and species composition of these communities. Over the gradient, there is an increase in α diversity, a decrease in the density of xeric and invasive species, and an increase in stem density of more mesic species. Dendrochronology suggests poor recruitment of xeric species and concomitant increase in more mesic species. The data indicated that former C4-dominated grasslands were initially invaded by conifers and are now experiencing mesophication, with growing dominance by Acer, Nyssa and more mesic Quercus and Fagus species.

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Leaf litter effect on plant species composition of deciduous forest treefall pits

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x88-080 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 18 (5) ◽

pp. 553-559 ◽

Cited By ~ 64

Author(s):

Susan W. Beatty ◽

Owen D. V. Sholes

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Species Richness ◽

Species Composition ◽

Leaf Litter ◽

Plant Species ◽

Deciduous Forest ◽

Plant Species Richness ◽

Forest Community ◽

Litter Accumulation ◽

Litter Removal

In deciduous forests of central New York, treefall pits have rich soil, but low plant species richness. To test whether leaf litter limited species distributions, we removed litter in 10 randomly chosen pits in 1983 and compared them with controls over 3 years. Wire cages prevented litter accumulation in experimental plots. By year 1 (1984) litterless pits were significantly warmer and less moist than controls. From years 1 to 3 the average Coefficient of Community (CC) index between experimental mounds and pits increased 10-fold. No changes occurred in controls. Species composition of experimental pits became different from the controls. Species richness increased in litterless pits, with no change in other plots. Experimental and control mounds were similar in species composition all years, indicating no effect of the cage. Species responses to litter removal included: (i) enhanced germination, (ii) establishment, and (or) (iii) no change. All herbs showing increased germination or establishment were species previously restricted to mounds. The species that did not change were those already inhabiting pits. No species declined after litter removal. Litter removal in pits allowed several species to expand their distributions from mounds into litterless pits, without affecting existing pit species. The spatial heterogeneity accentuated by leaf litter accumulation does not facilitate coexistence of species in the forest community, but only limits species population sizes and spatial distributions.

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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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