Floristic Composition, Vegetation Structure, and Regeneration Status of Woody Plant Species of Oda Forest of Humbo Carbon Project, Wolaita, Ethiopia

Abstract

Our current study was conducted in Oda forest to explore floristic composition, vegetation structure, and regeneration of woody species in a newly established Humbo Carbon Project. In the project, the above information for sufficient conservation and management of the forest is not well documented. Data were collected in October and December 2014. Thirty-two quadrats (20 m × 20 m) lying 100 m far apart were used for shrub and tree data. In each major plot, subplots (1 m 2 ) were established at the center and corner for seedlings and saplings data. Altitude, slope, and aspect were measured using GPS and clinometers. DBH, basal area, and IVI were used for vegetation structure. Among 62 species confined in 32 families and 54 genera, Dodonaea angustifolia and Combretum molle were the densest and the most dominant and frequent species with higher IVI. Altitude and slope had significant effect ( < 0.0001) on basal area and dominance. Bell and inverted J shaped patterns of selected woody species were identified. The seedling, sapling, and matured tree had 2.3%, 23.7%, and 74% density ha −1 of individuals, respectively. Generally, the study confirmed that very few species had dominance and abundance, influence of altitude and slope on species distribution, and fair regeneration of the forest.

Ecological assessment of plant diversity and associated edaphic and topographic variables in the Gra-Kahsu forests of Ethiopia

“…This indicates altitude significantly influence basal area of an area. This finding was also in line with other similar report (Markos and Simon, 2015). The mean basal area for lower altitude, middle altitude and upper altitude were 6.40 m 2 /ha, 6.48 m 2 /ha and 10.15 m 2 /ha, respectively.…”

“…Basal area was negatively correlated with grazing intensity and human disturbance (r = −0.3, p =0.01), and positively correlated with altitude (r = 0.44, p < 0.001) ( Table 9). Altitude and slope have an equally strong significant (p< 0.0001) effect on basal area of species (Markos and Simon, 2015). Although the linear trend explains a significant amount of the variability in basal area on the altitude gradient (Carpenter, 2005).…”

“…This might be due to the presence of relatively higher proportion of larger and aged trees in higher altitudinal classes, owing to little intervention by human activities like tree cutting, farming, grazing, etc. In addition, Markos and Simon (2015) suggest that altitude affects basal area due to its influence on light radiation, temperature, moisture, runoff and infiltration. Similarly, Kumelachew and Tamrat (2002) and Teshome et al, (2004) confirmed the results.…”

“…It is also similar to McDonald et al (2010) idea, which states that the sensitivity of plants to moisture availability renders the regeneration of the dry forests. The regeneration of the forest is affected not only by environmental factors but also by anthropogenic activities (Markos and Simon, 2015). Adane (2011) conclude that the main causes of regeneration of the forest are mainly due to the geographical location of the forests and/or altitudinal difference type of disturbance (grazing and cuttings) as well as the intensity of disturbance or combination these factors.…”

Assessment of natural regeneration status: the case of Durgapur hill forest, Netrokona, Bangladesh

“…Cluster analysis of the current study showed G. nervosa is the most dominant species in the study area whereas, different ecological studies also find similar trend of results among the floral groups (Chowdhury, Islam et al, 2018;Erenso, Vegetati Marya, & Wendawek, 2014;Flinn & Lechowicz, 2008;Sajib & Uddin, 2016). In addition, the regeneration of the forest is affected not only by environmental factors but also by anthropogenic activities (De Cauwer, 2016;Kuma & Shibru, 2015). In Durgpur hill forest (DHF), some of the anthropogenic activities seriously observed during data collection e.g., introduction of alien invasive species, intentional fire, fuel wood collection, extensive litter collection were the threats to regenerating flora in the study area.…”