The diversity and distribution of lianas in the Afromontane rain forests of Ethiopia

Abstract

443 Diversity and Distributions, (Diversity Distrib.) (2005) 11 , 443-452 BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH ABSTRACT The diversity and distribution of lianas were studied in five Afromontane rain forests of Ethiopia. Quadrats of 20 × 20 m were laid down along transects in the Bonga, Berhane-Kontir, Harenna, Yayu and Maji forests. In all forests, 30,917 liana individuals belonging to 123 species in 87 genera and 40 plant families were recorded. The most species-rich families were Asclepiadaceae (14), Fabaceae (9), Annonaceae (7) and Cucurbitaceae (7). The top 10 dominant families represented 56% of the total number of species. Over 400 other plant species representing different life forms were recorded growing together with lianas. The lianas accounted for over 30% of the total woody plant diversity and over 20% of the total floral diversity in the study areas. The analysis of floristic composition of the forests indicates that the Berhane-Kontir Forest had the highest Fisher's diversity index α , and Yayu the lowest. Generally, there were low similarities between the forests in terms of species composition. Although lianas were abundant in almost all forests, there was a considerable variation among the forests in terms of density and spatial distribution. The major dispersal modes of lianas were anemochory (30%), mammaliochory (30%), ornithochory and autochory, and the four mechanisms of climbing of lianas were twining (54%), hooking (24%), rooting and use of tendrils. Altitude and human disturbance were found to be important factors affecting liana distribution. The need for sustainable management and use of lianas in the Afromontane rain forests is emphasized.

Factors Influencing Liana Species Richness and Structure following Anthropogenic Disturbance in a Tropical Forest, Ghana

“…In the Democratic Republic of Congo, liana densities of 54 and 239 individuals/ha were recorded in a monodominant and mixed stands, respectively, in Ituri Forest [30]. Nevertheless, liana density in this study did not compare favourably with the results from other tropical forests: 531 individuals/ha [31] and 3569 individuals/ha [32]. e effect of disturbance on liana species richness and abundance was apparent in the current study.…”

Seed rain in areas with and without bamboo dominance within an urban fragment of the Atlantic Forest

“…In the PEFI, the higher abundance of seeds sampled in the BD+ area (approximately six times greater than in the BD− area) was associated with the presence of liana species. The abundance and dominance of this group are associated with the level of disturbance and the age of the forest (Putz 1984;Senbeta et al 2005;Madeira et al 2009), which are higher in native forests with an intermediate stage of succession due to a structural and microclimatic conditions that favor an increase in density and biomass (Madeira et al 2009); such conditions were present in our study area. The presence of liana and bamboo species within the study area may modify the forest structure and composition, thus inhibiting the germination of tree seeds and seedling growth and modifying processes related to forest regeneration and succession (Campanello et al 2007).…”

Local Agroforestry Practices for Food and Nutrition Security of Smallholder Farm Households in Southwestern Ethiopia

“…For instance, during the last two decades, almost all studies conducted in Yayu mostly focused on the ecology, biodiversity, and conservation of traditional coffee systems [30][31][32][33][34][35][36], giving lesser attention to their potential for food and nutrient provision to local communities. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the potential of local AFPs of Yayu to contribute to the FNS of rural households.…”