Abstract
Dry evergreen montane forests in Ethiopia are severely threatened. The status of species composition and structure of forest vegetation are important indicators to understand the trends of threats on local plant communities. In the present study, we examined the floristic composition and structure of the Kibate Forest, Wonchi Highland, Ethiopia along environmental gradients. Sixty-six (30 m × 30 m) plots were established every 100 m interval along altitudinal gradients (2811‒3073 m a.s.l.) in five transect lines for vegetation and environmental data collection. In total, 125 vascular plant species belonging to 104 genera and 52 families were identified. Eighteen species (14%) were endemic to Ethiopia and Eritrea. The two most dominant families, Asteraceae (29 species) and Lamiaceae (eight species) accounted for 30% of the total number of species. The highest number of species (54%) was herbs. Four major community types (viz., Olinia rochetiana-Myrsine melanophloeos, Ilex mitis-Galiniera saxifraga, Erica arborea-Protea gaguedi, and Hagenia abyssinica-Juniperus procera) were identified. The highest species richness, evenness, diversity, and importance value index were in community types 2 and 4. About 82% of the species and all endemic taxa except five were recorded in these two community types. The most dominant woody species were O. rochetiana, E. arborea, Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata, Myrica salicifolia, I. mitis var. mitis, and H. abyssinica with different patterns of population structure. The results show that there was a weak correlation between species richness and altitude. Our findings confirm that environmental variables both with interactions (such as altitude) and without interactions (such as livestock grazing) significantly (p < 0.05) affect species richness. Anthropogenic activities and overgrazing by livestock appear to be the main threat in community types 2 and 3. Urgent management practices and conservation measures such as prohibiting forest clearing and overgrazing and planting indigenous trees through community participation should be considered in community types that are rich in endemic species but are highly threatened.
Highlights
IntroductionForests are a valuable natural resource that can provide several ecosystem services, including carbon storage, soil1 3 Vol.:(0123456789)preservation, nutrient cycling, and habitat to diverse species, and provide important socio-economic and cultural benefits (van Breugel et al 2011; Kent 2012; RBG Kew 2016)
Forests are a valuable natural resource that can provide several ecosystem services, including carbon storage, soil1 3 Vol.:(0123456789)preservation, nutrient cycling, and habitat to diverse species, and provide important socio-economic and cultural benefits
Balancing the two contrasting options is a subject for further research. This investigation of the vegetation ecology of Kibate Forest focused on taxonomic diversity, species richness, evenness, community types, and population structure
Summary
Forests are a valuable natural resource that can provide several ecosystem services, including carbon storage, soil1 3 Vol.:(0123456789)preservation, nutrient cycling, and habitat to diverse species, and provide important socio-economic and cultural benefits (van Breugel et al 2011; Kent 2012; RBG Kew 2016). The current status of species composition and structure of these forests are important indicators to understanding the trends of threats on local plant communities (Lykke 1998; Chiarucci et al 2011; Kent 2012; Longa et al 2020). Plant species richness and abundance distribution vary along wide altitudinal gradients, either in a monotonic or hump-shaped pattern (Stevens 1992; Rahbek 1995). Other studies conducted in the southwestern Ethiopian highlands showed that species richness did not show a strong response to wide altitudinal gradients (1000‒3000 m a.s.l.) (Desalegn and Beierkuhnlein 2010). These studies indicate a lack of consensus about the relationship between species richness and altitude
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