Floristic Composition and Structural Analysis of Gedo Dry Evergreen Montane Forest, West Shewa Zone of Oromia National Regional State, Central Ethiopia

Birhanu, Kebede Kuris (2010) Floristic Composition and Structural Analysis of Gedo Dry Evergreen Montane Forest, West Shewa Zone of Oromia National Regional State, Central Ethiopia. Masters thesis, Addis Ababa University.

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Abstract

This study was conducted on Gedo Dry Evergreen Montane Forest in West Shewa Zone of Oromia National Regional State, 182-196 km west of Addis Ababa (Finfinne). The objective of the study was to determine floristic composition and structural analysis of Gedo Forest. Systematic sampling method was used to collect vegetation data from 72 (20 m x 20 m) and subplots of 1 m x 1 m at the four corners and the center of the large quadrat for herbaceous plants. Vegetation classification was performed using PC-ORD software package. Sorensen’s similarity coefficient was used to detect similarities and dissimilarities among communities. Shannon - Wiener diversity index was applied to quantify species diversity and richness. All trees and shrubs with Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) ≥ 2 cm were measured for height and diameter. A total of two hundred thirty five specimens of plants (herbs, shrubs, lianas and trees) were recorded. One hundred and fourty of the species collected from sample plots were used for floristic and structural analysis. The rest, 95, were collected out of sample plots but from the forest and used to describe the complete floristic list. Asteraceae is the most dominant family with 36 species in 24 genera followed by Fabaceae with 16 species in 14 genera and Lamiaceae with 16 species and 13 genera. Out of the plants identified in this study, 25 were endemic species which have been included in the preliminary list assessed for IUCN Red Data List, of which 1 species is Critically Endangered, 18 species in Least Concern, 4 species Nearly Threatened, and 2 species vulnerable. The density of tree species in Gedo Forest decreases with increasing height and DBH classes. The forest is characterized by high density of trees in the lower class than in the higher. Three layers (lower, middle and upper) of tree were identified from the study of vertical stratification of Gedo Forest following the International Union for Forestry Research Organization (IUFRO) classification scheme. The regeneration status of selected woody species was assessed as well as the forest was compared with five dry evergreen forests of Ethiopia. Based on the result of the study, research on the soil seed bank, population dynamics, biology and ecology of endemic species and Ethnobotanical studies to explore the indigenous knowledge on the diverse uses of plants and its conservation, and Participatory management of the forest were recommended

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Dry evergreen montane forest, Endemic species, Gedo Forest, IUCN Red Data List, Phytogeographical comparison, vegetation structure
Subjects:	Q Science > Q Science (General) Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology Q Science > QK Botany S Agriculture > SD Forestry
Divisions:	Africana
Depositing User:	Selom Ghislain
Date Deposited:	20 Sep 2018 14:24
Last Modified:	20 Sep 2018 14:24
URI:	http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/5456

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