Plant Community Studies and Ecological in Vesttgation on the Afro Alpine Vegetation of Sanities Plateau of the mountains ,Ethiopia
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Date
1994-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The vegetation of the afroalpine and subafroalpine regions of Bale Mountains at Sanettie
were studied to describe major plant groups and relationships between vegetation and
edaphic, climatic and topographic factors. Vegetation composition was studied along an
altitudinal gradient extending from 3400 m up to 4300 m above sea level. Vegetation was
sampled from 20 m by 20 m quadrats. Frequency and cover of 65 species from a total of
77 quadrats were recorded, human interference was scaled 0 - 5, where 0 stands for
insignificant or no interference and 5 for high interference. Soil samples were collected
from each quadrat and analyzed for texture, pH, conductivity, organic matter, available
phosphorus, total nitrogen, soil moisture content and exchangeable bases (K+ and Na +).
Association analysis was performed on the vegetation data using NCLAS: Agglomerative
clustering by distance optimization. Seven major plant groups, namely Kniphojia -
Euphorbia - Alchemilla scrub, Erica - Philippi belt, Helichrysum citrispinum - Alchemilla
abyssinica, Alchemilla hallmanii meadow, Festuca - Carex monostachya swamps,
Helichrysllm splendidunl - Lobelia - Festllca - Ellryops and Lobelia - Festuca - Helichrysum
gojens plant groups are described.
The relative mean annual precipitation and daily fluctuations in temperature were found
to be the most important factors determining plant group structure. The gradual changes
in altitude associated with changes in atmospheric pressure, moisture, and temperature
influenced the distribution of vegetation. Vegetation cover and species diversity decreased
with an increase in altitude. Plant cover and diversity decreased with an increase in an
estimated degree of human interference. Implications of the findings are discussed and
recommendations are given towards the conservation of the biodiversity and the rational
utilization of afroalpine ecosystems.
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Biology