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Woody species composition and structure of Kuandisha afromontane forest fragment in northwestern Ethiopia

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Abstract

To investigate the woody species composition, diversity and structure of Kuandisha Afromontane forest, vegetation and environmental data were collected from 53 plots of 10 m × 50 m for trees and shrubs and 265 subplots of 2 m × 4 m for seedlings were laid along eight transect lines. The local name, scientific name, abundance, DBH, height and percentage foliage cover of species were recorded. Environmental variables, namely altitude, latitude and longitude as well as disturbance levels were also recorded in each plot. Structure, basal area, importance value index (IVI) and species prioritization were analyzed using spreadsheet programs. Correlation coefficients, frequency, relative frequency, Shannon diversity index, Shannon evenness and vegetation classification were analyzed using an R package. Sixty-six species belonging to 40 families were recorded. Fabaceae was the most diverse family consisting of seven species, followed by Euphorbiaceae and Asteraceae. In terms of habit, 29 species were trees, 28 were shrubs, and 9 were lianas. The overall Shannon diversity index was 2.5. The frequency and relative frequency of woody species with DBH ≥2.5 cm ranged from 1.9 to 92.5 and 0.1 to 5, respectively. Seedling density varied among species ranging from five to 9938 individuals ha−1. The total basal area of woody species having DBH ≥2.5 cm is 15.3 m2 ha−1. The IVI of species ranged from 0.13 for Solanum giganteum Jacq. to 28.4 for Croton macrostachyus Del. The woody vegetation was classified into five community types. Species richness, diversity and evenness of communities were strongly positively correlated. On the other hand, the correlation between disturbance and seedling density, and species richness was strongly negative. Thus, among the recorded woody species, a significant portion was either lacking regeneration or selectively removed for various purposes. The lack of seedlings of those species is mainly attributed to anthropogenic disturbances particularly free grazing. As a result, 14 tree, seven shrub and one liana species were prioritized for conservation and management interventions.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Dangila Wereda Agricultural Bureau staff and Kuandisha District Administration. All field assistants (particularly Mr. Demissew Taye and Tewodros Misganaw) and local people are duly acknowledged. The anonymous reviewers are gratefully acknowledged for their corrections, constructive comments and suggestions. The research was fully funded by the Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute, Community Based Integrated Natural Resources Management (CBINRM) project grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Abiyot Berhanu, Sebsebe Demissew & Zerihun Woldu

  2. Forest and Rangeland Plants Biodiversity Directorate, Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute, P.O. Box 30726, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Motuma Didita

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  1. Abiyot Berhanu
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  2. Sebsebe Demissew
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  3. Zerihun Woldu
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Correspondence to Abiyot Berhanu.

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Berhanu, A., Demissew, S., Woldu, Z. et al. Woody species composition and structure of Kuandisha afromontane forest fragment in northwestern Ethiopia. J. For. Res. 28, 343–355 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-016-0329-8

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