Abstract
Tropical Afromontane forests are among the most species-rich ecosystems on earth and comprise exceptional species richness and high concentrations of endemic species. The natural forest of Agama, an Afromontane forest, was studied with the objectives of determining its species composition, diversity and community types. Systematic sampling design was used to collect vegetation data. Soil samples were taken from each releve at a depth of 0 to 30 cm and soil pH, sand, clay and silt were analyzed. The plant communities’ classification was performed using the hierarchical cluster analysis. We evaluated species richness, eveness (Pielou J’ index) and diversity (Shanon-Wiener index). Sorensens’s similarity ratio was used to compare Agama forest with other similar forest in Ethiopia. A total of 162 plant species, 130 genera and 70 families were recorded from which Acanthaceae and Rubiaceae were the richest families. Furthermore nine endemic plant species were identified. In this study, four plant community types were identified and described. Post-hoc comparison of means among the community types showed that altitude was differed significantly between community types, indicating altitude is the most important factor in determining community type. Phytogeographical comparison of Agama Forest with other vegetation using Sorensens’s similarity ratio revealed the highest similarity with Masha and Godre forest. In conclusion Agama forest presents high richness, diversity and endemism, with different plant communities according to altitude. Thus conservation of plant biodiversity is highly recommended. Key words: Diversity, altitude, phytogeography, richness, endemism.
Highlights
Afromontane vegetation is an archipelago-like centre of endemism and confined in mountains of Africa
The study of variation of modern pollen rain (Bonnefille et al, 1993) along the ecological gradients containing range of vegetation types in southwest Ethiopia. This indicated that the vegetation types vary with altitude and altitudinal variation is an important environmental factor contributing for diversity of vegetation communities
Though the forest has been under protection since its demarcation, still it has been continuously exploited for agricultural land expansion, timber harvesting, firewood collection and charcoal production due to lack of awareness on principles of Participatory forest management (PFM)
Summary
Afromontane vegetation is an archipelago-like centre of endemism and confined in mountains of Africa. The flora of Ethiopia is estimated to contain between 6,500-7,000 species of higher plants, out of which about 12% are endemic (Tewolde, 1991) These floral resources found in different vegetation types comprising in forests, woodlands and bush lands and others. The study of variation of modern pollen rain (Bonnefille et al, 1993) along the ecological gradients containing range of vegetation types in southwest Ethiopia This indicated that the vegetation types vary with altitude and altitudinal variation is an important environmental factor contributing for diversity of vegetation communities. Though the forest has been under protection since its demarcation, still it has been continuously exploited for agricultural land expansion, timber harvesting, firewood collection and charcoal production due to lack of awareness on principles of PFM Botanical assessment such as inventory of floristic composition, providing information on species diversity and community structure is necessary for the forest management and sustainable resource utilization by the community members. The current study aimed to assess the floristic composition and diversity of an Afromontane forests (Agama forest), to analyze community types of the forest and to evaluate the ecological relationships between plant communities and environmental parameters and to analyze phytogeographical relationship of Agama forests with other similar Afromontane forests types in Ethiopia and to recommend conservation action for protecting the forest biodiversity of the region
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
