Local rarity of vascular plants in a human-dominated landscape of Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

Understanding species rarity is crucial in developing conservation priorities by reasonably allocating limited funds effectively. The local rarity of vascular plants in the Abune Yosef mountain range in Ethiopia was assessed using Rabinowitz’s seven forms of rarity. Of the 199 vascular species analyzed for rarity, 171 species (86%) were rare. On the contrary, only 28 species (14%) were found to be common in the study area. The rarity index (rr) ranged from 0.46 to 1. On the other hand, species range (gri), total density of mature individuals (psi), and Habitat specificity (hsi) ranges were 0.99–1, 0–1, and 0.04–1, respectively. Land transformation was identified as likely the main driver for rarity in the study area. The characterization of the plant species of the Abune Yosef mountain range provided here can be used in the management of this threatened landscape and provide a basis for broader national-level conservation efforts of plants within the biodiverse landscapes of Ethiopia.