Vegetation structure and regeneration status of the moist, evergreen, afromontane Bore–Anferara–Wadera forest in southern Ethiopia

Abstract

In a survey of the Bore–Anferara–Wadera forest to study the vegetation structure and regeneration status of woody plant species, 112 quadrats were systematically sampled along altitudinal transects to collect vegetation data. Nested sample plots of 30 m × 30 m and 5 m × 5 m were laid for collecting data on abundance and some variables of tree and shrub size. The regeneration status of woody species was assessed by counting all seedlings within the main sample plot. Woody plant species taller than or equal to 3 m were counted and their height and DBH measured. Density, frequency, basal area and importance value (IV) of woody plant species were computed. A total of 136 vascular plant species belonging to 119 genera and 63 families were recorded. The overall Shannon—Wiener diversity value was 3.84 and evenness was 0.78. Total density of trees and shrubs with DBH > 2 cm was 1047 ha⁻¹. Size class distribution of woody species across different DBH and height classes indicated a relatively high proportion of individuals at lower classes, suggesting impacts of past anthropogenic disturbances. Analysis of population structure and regeneration status of the forest revealed various patterns of population dynamics where some species were represented by only a few mature plants, suggesting that they are on the verge of local extinction and that immediate conservation measures should be taken. The results highlight the need for joint management and conservation measures by the government, local people and other stakeholders to abate the rapid rate of deforestation and promote sustainable utilization of the forest resources in this forest in southern Ethiopia.

Keywords

Anferara / Afromontane forest / Conservation / Regeneration / Structural analysis

References

[1] Ayalew A, Bekele T, Demissew S. The undifferentiated afromontane forest of Denkoro in the central highland of Ethiopia: a floristic and structure analysis. SINET Ethiop J Sci, 2006, 29: 45-56.

[2] Aye YY, Pampasit S, Umponstira C, Thanacha K, Sasaki N. Floristic composition, diversity and stand structure of tropical forests in Popa Mountain Park. J Environ Prot, 2014, 5: 1588-1602.

[3] Barbour MG, Burk JH, Pitts WD. Terrestrial plant ecology. Method of sampling the plant community, 1987, Menlo Park: Benjamin Cummings Publishing Co.

[4] Bekele T. Vegetation ecology of remnant afromontane forests on the central plateau of Shewa, Ethiopia. Acta Phytogeogr Suecica, 1993, 79: 1-64.

[5] Bekele T. Phytosociology and ecology of a humid afromontane forest on the central plateau of Ethiopia. J Veg Sci, 1994, 5: 87-98.

[6] BLI. Ecosystem profile: eastern afromontane biodiversity hotspot, 2012, Cambridge: Bird Life International 280

[7] Bone L, Lawrence M, Magombo Z. The effect of Eucalyptus camaldulensis (Dehn) plantation on native woodland recovery on Ulumba Mountains, Southern Malawi. For Ecol Manag, 1997, 99: 83-99.

[8] Burju T, Hundera K, Kelbessa E. Floristic composition and structural analysis of Jibat Humid afromontane forest, West Shewa Zone, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia. Ethiop J Educ Sci, 2013, 8(2): 11-33.

[9] Cain SA, Castro GMO. Manual of vegetation analyses, 1959, New York: Harper and Brothers.

[10] Curtis JT, McIntosh RP. The interrelationship of certain analytic and synthetic phytosociological characters. Ecology, 1950, 31: 434-455.

[11] Denu D (2006) Floristic composition and ecological study of Bibita Forest (Gura Ferda), Southwest Ethiopia, M.Sc. Thesis. Addis Ababa University

[12] Dhar U, Rawal RS, Samant SS. Structural diversity and representativeness of forest vegetation in a protected area of Kumaun Himalaya, India: implications for conservation. Biodivers Conserv, 1997, 6: 1045-1062.

[13] Didita M, Nemomissa S, Woldemariam T. Floristic and structural analysis of the woodland vegetation around Dello Menna, Southeast Ethiopia. J For Res, 2010, 21(4): 395-408.

[14] EBI (2014) Ethiopia’s 5th national report to the convention on biological diversity. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

[15] Edwards S, Tadesse M, Hedberg I (eds) (1995) Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea volume 2, part 2, Canellaceae to Euphorbiaceae. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Uppsala, Sweden

[16] Edwards S, Demissew S, Hedberg I (eds) (1997) Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea volume 6, Hydrocharitaceae to Arecaceae. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Uppsala, Sweden

[17] Edwards S, Tadesse M, Demissew S, Hedberg I (eds) (2000) Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea volume 2, part 1, Magnoliaceae to Flacourtiaceae. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Uppsala, Sweden

[18] EFAP. The challenge for development, 1994, Addis Ababa: Ethiopian Forestry Action Program.

[19] EWNHS (2001) Important bird areas in Africa and associated islands priority sites for conservation. Bird Life Conservation Series, No. 11, Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural History Society

[20] FAO. Trees outside forests: Towards rural and urban integrated resources management, 2001, Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

[21] FAO. Global forest resources assessment, main report, 2010, Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

[22] Friis I. The forest vegetation of Ethiopia. Symb Botanicae Ups, 1986, 26(2): 31-47.

[23] Friis I (1992) Forests and forest trees of North East Tropical Africa. Kew Bull Add Ser XV

[24] Friis I, Demissew S. Vegetation maps of Ethiopia and Eritrea. A review of existing maps and the need for a new map for the flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea. Biologiske Skrifter, 2001, 54: 399-439.

[25] Friis I, Demissew S, Van Bruegel P. Atlas of the potential vegetation of Ethiopia, 2011, Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University Press and Shama Books.

[26] Gamachu D. Aspects of climate and water budget in Ethiopia. A technical monograph, 1977, Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University Press 70

[27] Gentry AH. Changes in plant community diversity and floristic composition on environmental and geographical gradients. Ann Mo Bot Gard, 1988, 75(1): 1-34.

[28] Grubb PJ, Lloyd JR, Pennington JD, Whitmore JC. A comparison of montane and lowland rainforest in Ecuador. I. The forest structure, physiognomy, and floristics. Ecology, 1963, 51: 567-601.

[29] Gurmessa F, Soromessa T, Kelbessa E. Structure and regeneration status of Komto afromontane moist forest, East Wollega Zone, west Ethiopia. J For Res, 2012, 23(2): 205-216.

[30] Hedberg I, Edwards S (eds) (1989) Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea volume 3, Pittosporaceae to Araliaceae. Addis Ababa and Asmara, Ethiopia and Uppsala, Sweden

[31] Hedberg I, Edwards S (eds) (1995) Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea volume 7, Poaceae (Gramineae). Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Uppsala, Sweden

[32] Hedberg I, Edwards S, Nemomissa S (eds) (2003) Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea volume 4, part 1, Apiaceae to Dipsacaceae. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Uppsala, Sweden

[33] Hedberg I, Friis I, Edwards S (eds) (2004) Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea volume 4, part 2, Asteraceae (Compositae). Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Uppsala, Sweden

[34] Hedberg I, Kelbessa E, Edwards S, Demissew S, Persson E (eds) (2006) Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea volume 5, Gentianaceae to Cyclocheilaceae. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Uppsala, Sweden

[35] Hedberg I, Friis I, Persson E (eds) (2009) Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea volume 8, general part and index to volumes 1–7. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Uppsala, Sweden

[36] Hundera K, Gadissa T. Vegetation composition and structure of the Belete forest, Jimma zone, southwestern Ethiopia. Ethiop J Biol Sci, 2008, 7(1): 1-15.

[37] Hundera K, Bekele T, Kelbessa E. Floristic and phytogeographic synopsis of a dry afromontane coniferous forest in the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia: implications to biodiversity conservation. SINET Ethiop J Sci, 2007, 30(1): 1-12.

[38] Kebede B, Soromessa T, Kelbessa E. Structure and regeneration status of gedo dry evergreen montane forest, West Shewa Zone of Oromia National Regional State, Central Ethiopia. Sci Technol Arts Res J, 2014, 3(2): 119-131.

[39] Kelbessa E, Soromessa T. Interfaces of regeneration, structure, diversity and uses of some plant species in Bonga forest: a reservoir for wild coffee gene pool. SINET Ethiop J Sci, 2008, 31(2): 121-134.

[40] Kelbessa E, Demissew S, Woldu Z, Edwards S. Some threatened endemic plants of Ethiopia. NAPRECA Monogr, 1992, 2: 35-55.

[41] Kent M, Coker P. Vegetation description and analysis: a practical approach, 1992, New York: Wiley 363

[42] Lamprecht H. Silviculture in tropics. Tropical forest ecosystems and their tree species—possibilities and methods for their long-term utilization, 1989, Rossdort: TZ-Verlagsgesellschaft GmbH.

[43] Lemenih M, Teketay D. Restoration of native forest flora in the degraded highlands of Ethiopia: constraints and opportunities. SINET Ethiop J Sci, 2004, 27: 75-90.

[44] Lulekal E (2014) Plant diversity and ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Ankober district, north shewa zone of Amhara region, Ethiopia. Ph.D. Thesis, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia

[45] Lulekal E, Kelbessa E, Bekele T, Yineger H. Plant species composition and structure of the Mana Angetu moist montane forest, Southeastern Ethiopia. J East Afr Nat Hist, 2008, 97(2): 165-185.

[46] Maestre FT. On the importance of patch attributes, environmental factors and past human impacts as determinants of perennial plant species richness and diversity in Mediterranean Semi-arid Steppes. Divers Distrib, 2004, 10: 21-29.

[47] Magurran AE. Ecological diversity and its measurement, 1988, London: Chapman and Hall

[48] Magurran AE. Measuring biological diversity, 2004, Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.

[49] Mohr P. The geology of Ethiopia, 1971, Addis Ababa: University College of Addis Ababa Press.

[50] Moreno CE, Halffter G. Spatial and temporal analysis of α, β and γ diversities of bats in a fragmented landscape. Biodivers Conserv, 2001, 10: 367-382.

[51] Muller-Dombois D, Ellenberg H. Aims and methods of vegetation ecology, 1974, New York: Wiley 546

[52] Myers W, Shelton R. Survey methods for ecosystem management, 1980, London: Wiley.

[53] NMSA. Climate data records for the study area obtained from the National Meteorological Services Agency, 2015, Addis Ababa: Ethiopia.

[54] NRGOBFED (2009) Physical and socio-economic profile of Oromia. The National Regional Government of Oromia Bureau of Finance and Economic Development, Finfinne, p 112

[55] NRSOBFED (2012) Basic facts and figures of Oromia Region. The National Regional State of Oromia Bureau of Finance and Economic Development, Finfinne, p 127

[56] Perlman DL, Adelson G. Biodiversity: exploring values and priorities in conservation, 1997, Malden: Blackwell Science

[57] Petraitis P, Latham R, Niesenbaum R. The maintenance of species diversity by disturbance. Q Rev Biol, 1989, 64: 393-418.

[58] Popma J, Bongers F, del Castillo JM. Patterns in the vertical structure of the lowland rainforest of Los Tuxtlas, Mexico. Vegetatio, 1988, 74: 81-91.

[59] Pyke CP, Condit R, Aguilar S, Hernández A. Floristic composition across a climatic gradient in a neotropical lowland forest. J Veg Sci, 2001, 12: 533-566.

[60] Rey PJ, Julio M, Alcantara M. Recruitment dynamics of a fleshy-fruited plant (Olea europaea): connecting patterns of seed dispersal to seedling establishment. J Ecol, 2000, 88(4): 622-633.

[61] Samant SS, Joshi HC, Arya SC, Pant S (2002) Studies on the structure, composition and changes of the vegetation in Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve of West Himalaya. Final Technical Report, New Delhi

[62] Sayer AJ, Harcourt SC, Collins MN. The conservation atlas of tropical forests of Africa, 1992, Cambridge: IUCN 288

[63] Schmitt CB, Denich M, Demissew S, Friis I, Boehmer HJ. Floristic diversity in fragmented afromontane rainforests: altitudinal variation and conservation importance. Appl Veg Sci, 2010, 13: 291-304.

[64] Senbeta F (2006) Biodiversity and ecology of afromontane rainforests with wild Coffea arabica L. populations in Ethiopia. Ph.D. Thesis, Center for development research, University of Bonn, Germany

[65] Senbeta F, Denich M. Effects of wild coffee management on species diversity in the montane rainforests of Ethiopia. For Ecol Manag, 2006, 232: 68-74.

[66] Senbeta F, Schmitt C, Denich M, Demissew S, Vlek PLG, Preisinger H, Woldemariam T, Teketay D. The diversity and distribution of lianas in the montane rainforests of Ethiopia. Divers Distrib, 2005, 11: 443-452.

[67] Senbeta S, Woldemariam T, Demissew S, Denich M. Floristic diversity and composition of Sheko forest, southwest Ethiopia. Ethiop J Biol Sci, 2007, 6(1): 11-42.

[68] Shibru S, Balcha G. Composition, structure and regeneration status of woody species in Dindin Natural Forest, Southeast Ethiopia: an implication for conservation. Ethiop J Biol Sci, 2004, 3(1): 15-35.

[69] Shmida A, Wilson MV. Biological determinants of species diversity. J Biogeogr, 1985, 12: 1-20.

[70] Silvertown JW, Doust JL. Introduction to plant population biology, 1993, Oxford, London: Blackwell.

[71] Stoutjesdijk PH, Barkman JJ. Microclimate, vegetation and fauna, 1992, Uppsala: OPULUS Press 216

[72] Tadesse D, Woldemariam T, Senbeta F. Ilya BS, Carl LA. Deforestation of afromontane rainforests in Ethiopia. Deforestation research progress, 2008, Hauppauge: Nova Science Publishers Inc 19 39

[73] Teketay D. Seedling populations and regeneration of woody species in dry afromontane forest of Ethiopia. For Ecol Manag, 1997, 98: 149-165.

[74] Terborgh J, Andresen E. The composition of Amazonian forests: patterns at local and regional scales. J Trop Ecol, 1998, 14: 645-664.

[75] Tesfaye G, Teketay D. The influence of logging on natural regeneration of woody species in Harenna montane forest, Ethiopia. Ethiop J Biol Sci, 2005, 4(1): 59-73.

[76] Tesfaye G, Teketay D, Fetene M. Regeneration of fourteen tree species in Harenna forest, southeast Ethiopia. Flora, 2002, 197(6): 461-474.

[77] Tesfaye G, Teketay D, Fetene M, Erwin B. Regeneration of seven indigenous tree species in a dry afromontane forest, southern Ethiopia. Flora, 2010, 205(2): 135-143.

[78] Valencia R, Balslev H, Paz H, Mino CG. High tree alpha-diversity in Amazonian Ecuador. Biodivers Conserv, 1994, 3: 21-28.

[79] White F. The vegetation of Africa, 1983, Paris: A Descriptive Memoir to Accompany the UNESCO/AETFAT/UNSO Vegetation Map of Africa. UNESCO.

[80] Whittaker RH. Evolution and measurement of species diversity. Taxon, 1972, 21(3): 213-251.

[81] Whittaker RJ, Willis KJ, Field R. Blackburn TM, Gaston KJ. Climatic–energetic explanations of diversity: a macroscopic perspective. Macroecology: concepts and consequences, 2003, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 107 129

[82] Woldemariam T, Denich M, Teketay D, Vlek PLG. Engels J, Ramanatha Rao V, Brown AHD, Jackson M. Human impacts on Coffea arabica gene pool in Ethiopia and the need for its in situ conservation. Managing plant genetic diversity, 2002, Oxon: CAB International 237 247

[83] Woldermariam T (2003) Vegetation of the Yayu forest in SW Ethiopia: impacts of human use and implications for in situ conservation of wild Coffea arabica L. populations. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Bonn, Germany

[84] Woldu Z (1999) Forests in the vegetation types of Ethiopia and their status in the geographical context. In: The proceedings of the national forest genetic resources conservation development workshop. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, pp 1–38

[85] Woldu Z, Feoli E, Nigatu L. Partitioning an elevation gradient of vegetation from southwestern by probabilistic methods. Vegetatio, 1989, 81: 189-198.

[86] Yalden DW. The extent of high ground in Ethiopia compared to the rest of Africa. SINET Ethiop J Sci, 1983, 6: 35-39.

[87] Yeshitila K, Bekele T. The woody species composition and structure of Masha-Anderacha forest, southwestern Ethiopia. Ethiop J Biol Sci, 2003, 2(1): 31-48.

[88] Yineger H, Kelbessa E, Bekele T, Lulekal E. Floristic composition and structure of the dry afromontane forest at Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia. SINET Ethiop J Sci, 2008, 31(2): 103-120.

[89] Zegeye H, Teketay D, Kelbessa E. Diversity and regeneration status of woody species in Tara Gedam and Abebaye Forests, north-western Ethiopia. J For Res, 2011, 22(3): 315-328.