Abstract

Tree size diversity is an indicator of biodiversity values of a forest. Microsite conditions of a forest determine the survival and growth of trees. However, the contribution of variable habitats to tree size hierarchy and segregation is poorly understood. Tree size variation in a population is caused by different competition mechanisms. Therefore, the size distribution and spatial pattern of trees can identify the process governing resource utilisation in the forest. The objective of the study was to investigate the tree stem structural diversity in the Elephant Camp natural forest in the Omo Forest Reserve. Three and four 0.09 ha sample plots were established in Riparian (RF) and Old-growth forests (OF) in the Elephant Camp natural forest, respectively. The tree stems (Dbh ≥ 5cm) were identified to the species level and enumerated within each plot, and the stem density was computed. The diameter at breast height (Dbh) was measured with diameter tape. Species diversity was assessed using Shannon–Weiner (H’) and Simpson indices (1-D’), while size inequality was assessed using the Gini coefficient (GC), coefficient of variation (CV), H’ and I-D’. The performance of single two- and three-parameter Weibull models was evaluated using Kolmogorov–Smirnov (K-S) chi-square (χ2), root-mean-square error (RMSE), bias and the coefficient of determination (R2). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. A total of 27 and 24 tree species were identified in RF and OF, respectively. The stem density of RF was significantly higher than that of OF. The values of species diversity (H’, 1-D’) and evenness (E’) were higher in OF than in RF, while richness (Margalef and number of species) was higher in RF than in OF. The Dbh was 38.30 ± 21.4 and 42.87 ± 19.2 cm in Riparian and Old-growth forests, respectively. Size-density distributions of both forests were positively skewed and expressed exponential pattern. The forest types of the Elephant Camp natural forest comprise the same size-density frequency shape but a different proportion of tree sizes and structural diversities.

Highlights

  • IntroductionThe diameter and height indicate the stem size

  • The Elephant Camp natural forest was divided into two parts based on its water regime

  • A total of 42 tree species were identified in the Riparian forest (27 tree species) and the Old-growth forest (24 tree species) in the Elephant Camp natural forest

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Summary

Introduction

The diameter and height indicate the stem size. Diameter and height distributions are effective tools to describe the forest structure. The diameter is easy to measure and closely related to the height [2] and other tree attributes [3] of forest trees. The structural diversity of a forest indicates the degree of variation in stem diameter and height and the spatial distribution [4]. Attributes of stem diameters provide detailed information about the stand [3,5]) and suggest underlying mechanisms controlling regeneration and mortality [6]. The tree species and size diversity of two adjacent forest areas with different water regimes were investigated. The objective of the study was to investigate tree stem structural diversity of Riparian and Old-growth forests in the Elephant Camp natural forest

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