Woody Species Composition, Diversity and Structural Analysis of Angada Forest in Merti Wereda, Arsi Zone of Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Alemu, Shambel

dc.contributor.advisor	Kelbessa, Ensermu(Professor)
dc.contributor.author	Alemu, Shambel
dc.date.accessioned	2018-07-06T07:25:37Z
dc.date.available	2018-07-06T07:25:37Z
dc.date.issued	2011-06
dc.identifier.uri	http://localhost:80/xmlui/handle/123456789/6862
dc.description.abstract	This study was conducted on Angada Forest in Merti Wereda, which is a dry evergreen afromontane type of forest. The objective of the study was to assess woody species composition, vegetation structure, diversity and to make a phytogeographical comparison of the forest under study with some similar forests in Ethiopia. Systematic sampling method was used to collect vegetation data from eighty 20 m x 20 m sample plots for woody species and five 2 m x 2 m subplots within each main plot for regeneration of woody plants. The sample plots were laid at every 200 m interval along transects at 400 m apart. The composition and population structure data for woody species (DBH > 2.5 cm and height > 2 m), saplings (DBH < 2.5 cm and 1 – 2 m height) and all seedlings (height < 1 m) and their regeneration count were recorded in each plot. The vegetation classification was performed using PC – ORD software package. The quantitative species diversity, richness and evenness were computed to describe plant diversity in each community type. Species abundance, cover, and environmental variables (altitude, aspect, UTM) were recorded in each sample plot. A total of 87 woody vascular plants belonging to 82 genera and 50 families were identified. Fabaceae family had the highest number of taxa followed by Asteraceae. Five plant community types were recognized. Jaccard’s similarity coefficients were below 0.5 for all communities, indicating low similarities among the communities. Thus, all the communities identified are important in terms of woody species diversity and sensitivity from conservation point of view. Woody species densities for mature individuals were 4,964 stem ha-1, 1,199 stems ha-1 for saplings and 3,929 stems ha-1 for seedlings. The total basal area of the forest was 79.8 m2ha-1. The population structure of woody plants and the regeneration status in the forest revealed that there is a need for conservation priority for those species with poor regeneration status. The presence of strong anthropogenic disturbance in the area necessitates the need for an immediate conservation action in order to ensure sustainable utilization and management of the Forest. Keywords: afromontane forest, conservation, diversity, plant community, population structure, regeneration, species composition	en_US
dc.language.iso	en	en_US
dc.publisher	Addis Ababa University	en_US
dc.subject	Afromontane Forest	en_US
dc.subject	Conservation	en_US
dc.subject	Diversity	en_US
dc.subject	Plant Community	en_US
dc.subject	Population Structure	en_US
dc.subject	Regeneration	en_US
dc.subject	Species Composition	en_US
dc.title	Woody Species Composition, Diversity and Structural Analysis of Angada Forest in Merti Wereda, Arsi Zone of Oromia Region, Ethiopia	en_US
dc.type	Thesis	en_US