Plant Biodiversity, Wetland Indicators, and Ecosystem Analysis of Human‐Made Wetlands in Central Ethiopia

Abstract

Despite vital in conserving biodiversity, most natural wetlands were degraded and declined in numbers due to anthropogenic factors, thereby human‐made wetlands have been established in Ethiopia. Thus, this study aimed to analyze plant diversity, wetland indicators, characteristic species, and ecosystem conditions of Ethiopian highland human‐made wetlands. A systematic sampling design was employed for laying 20 quadrats (2 m2 each) in each wetland at a 50‐m interval, where plant specimen sampling and cover estimation were made. A survey identified 74 plant species. These species belong to 26 families and 57 genera. Notably, 92% of the identified plants were herbs. Asteraceae and Poaceae were the most dominant families. The richness of Washa and Borale sites was 51 and 64, respectively, showed a significance difference at p < 0.05. The Shannon diversity and evenness of Washa and Borale sites were 2.32 and 0.93, and 2.53 and 0.96, respectively, also displayed significant differences at p < 0.05. Yet, 71% plant species similarity was observed between the two wetlands. In each wetland, > 52% and < 30% species were upland and wetland indicators with many annual species, respectively, indicating the ecosystem disturbance of the two wetlands and their being invaded by upland species. The ecological condition of Washa and Borale were also directly rated as mid‐and high‐impaired sites, respectively. Briefly, despite both Washa and Borale wetlands rich in plant diversity, they differed significantly in average richness, diversity, and evenness, besides in the richness of their upland and annual species, due to likely variations in their ecological and hydrological modifications. Hence, urgent in situ and ex situ community‐based participatory restoring strategies are required.