Diversity, disturbances and endemism of plants in Dens Natural Forest of Ankober District, Ethiopia

The population pressure on the vegetation of Ethiopia is not only declining the diversity, but also decreasing the endemism and forest resources by degrading land and causing the invasion of alien species. The current study was carried out to assess the diversity, endemism, and threats of Dens natur...

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Main Authors: Markos Kuma, Tegene Bogale
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolaita Sodo Univeristy 2022-11-01
Series:Journal of Science and Inclusive Development
Subjects:
Online Access:https://jsid.edu.et/index.php/jsid/article/view/372
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author Markos Kuma
Tegene Bogale
author_facet Markos Kuma
Tegene Bogale
author_sort Markos Kuma
collection DOAJ
description The population pressure on the vegetation of Ethiopia is not only declining the diversity, but also decreasing the endemism and forest resources by degrading land and causing the invasion of alien species. The current study was carried out to assess the diversity, endemism, and threats of Dens natural forest, which covers a total of 107 hectares. A total of 65 (20m x 20m) quadrats were laid in seven-line transects thrown from the edge of the forest using the systematic sampling method for trees and shrubs, and 325 sub-plots (1m x 1m) for herbaceous species were established at the four corners and at the center of the main quadrat. Among the five communities identified, community type 3 (Croton macrostachyus - Maytenus arbutifolia) had the highest species richness (89 species), diversity (H’=3.85) and species evenness (J=0.856). Community type 5 (Bersama abyssinica - Allophylus abyssinicus) had the least species richness (75 species), but its species diversity (H’ = 3.58) was higher than community type 2 (Podocarpus falcatus - Croton macrostachyus) (H’ = 3.54) because of higher equitability. Among the 129 plant species of Dens Forest, 10 plant species (7.8%) were identified as endemic to Ethiopia. Firewood collection (22.5%), collection of woods for house construction (21.8%) and farm instrument preparation (21.1%) were severe anthropogenic activities in the forest. Even though the endemism in Dens natural forest is lower, the diversity of Dens forest is the highest when compared with other forests.
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spelling doaj.art-eb27d92def184aa098f7b7ed8c2f88a92023-09-08T07:52:25ZengWolaita Sodo UniveristyJournal of Science and Inclusive Development2708-37562022-11-01617210.20372/jsid/2022-167372Diversity, disturbances and endemism of plants in Dens Natural Forest of Ankober District, EthiopiaMarkos Kuma0Tegene Bogale1Wolaita Sodo University, College of Natural and Computational Science, Department of BiologyWolaita Sodo University, College of Natural and Computational Science, Department of BiologyThe population pressure on the vegetation of Ethiopia is not only declining the diversity, but also decreasing the endemism and forest resources by degrading land and causing the invasion of alien species. The current study was carried out to assess the diversity, endemism, and threats of Dens natural forest, which covers a total of 107 hectares. A total of 65 (20m x 20m) quadrats were laid in seven-line transects thrown from the edge of the forest using the systematic sampling method for trees and shrubs, and 325 sub-plots (1m x 1m) for herbaceous species were established at the four corners and at the center of the main quadrat. Among the five communities identified, community type 3 (Croton macrostachyus - Maytenus arbutifolia) had the highest species richness (89 species), diversity (H’=3.85) and species evenness (J=0.856). Community type 5 (Bersama abyssinica - Allophylus abyssinicus) had the least species richness (75 species), but its species diversity (H’ = 3.58) was higher than community type 2 (Podocarpus falcatus - Croton macrostachyus) (H’ = 3.54) because of higher equitability. Among the 129 plant species of Dens Forest, 10 plant species (7.8%) were identified as endemic to Ethiopia. Firewood collection (22.5%), collection of woods for house construction (21.8%) and farm instrument preparation (21.1%) were severe anthropogenic activities in the forest. Even though the endemism in Dens natural forest is lower, the diversity of Dens forest is the highest when compared with other forests.https://jsid.edu.et/index.php/jsid/article/view/372dens forest, diversity, endemism, threats
spellingShingle Markos Kuma
Tegene Bogale
Diversity, disturbances and endemism of plants in Dens Natural Forest of Ankober District, Ethiopia
Journal of Science and Inclusive Development
dens forest, diversity, endemism, threats
title Diversity, disturbances and endemism of plants in Dens Natural Forest of Ankober District, Ethiopia
title_full Diversity, disturbances and endemism of plants in Dens Natural Forest of Ankober District, Ethiopia
title_fullStr Diversity, disturbances and endemism of plants in Dens Natural Forest of Ankober District, Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Diversity, disturbances and endemism of plants in Dens Natural Forest of Ankober District, Ethiopia
title_short Diversity, disturbances and endemism of plants in Dens Natural Forest of Ankober District, Ethiopia
title_sort diversity disturbances and endemism of plants in dens natural forest of ankober district ethiopia
topic dens forest, diversity, endemism, threats
url https://jsid.edu.et/index.php/jsid/article/view/372
work_keys_str_mv AT markoskuma diversitydisturbancesandendemismofplantsindensnaturalforestofankoberdistrictethiopia
AT tegenebogale diversitydisturbancesandendemismofplantsindensnaturalforestofankoberdistrictethiopia