Floristic Composition, Species Diversity and Vegetation Structure of Gera Moist Montane Forest, Jimma Zone of Oromia National Regional State, Southwest Ethiopia
Abstract
Floristic composition, species diversity and vegetation structure of Gera Moist Montane Forest was conducted in Jimma Zone of Oromia National Regional State, southwest Ethiopia. A total of 132 plant species in 112 genera and 59 families were identified from this forest. Fabaceae was the most dominant family with ten species and nine genera. According to Ensermu Kelbessa and Teshome Soromessa (2008), the dominance of Fabaceae and Asteraceae could be attributed to their efficient and successful dispersal mechanisms and adaptation to a wide range of ecological conditions. Plots of 30 m x 30 m were arranged at a distance of 200 m from each other for sampling woody species. To sample herbaceous plants, five sub-plots each with 1 m x 1 m were laid in the main plot. Shannon-Wiener diversity index was used to compute species richness and evenness between the plant communities. DBH, basal area, and height were computed to describe the structure of the forest. The regeneration status of some woody species of the forest was evaluated based on the number of seedlings and saplings per hectare. Vegetation classification was performed using R-2.11.1 software packages. Plant communities were named after two of the dominant woody species occurring in each group using the relative magnitude of the highest mean cover abundance within the cluster. Future research directions and recommendations are suggested for the sustainable utilization of the vegetation.
Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
References
Abate Ayalew, Tamrat Bekele and Sebsebe Demissew (2006). The undifferentiated afromontane Forest of Denkoro in the central highland of Ethiopia: A floristic structural analysis. Sinet: Ethiop. J. Sci. 29(1): 45–56.
Anteneh Belayneh, Tamrat Bekele and Sebsebe Demissew (2011). The natural vegetation of Babile Elephant Sanctuary, Eastern Ethiopia: Implications for biodiversity conservation. Ethiop. J. Biol. Sci. 10(2): 137–152.
Coetzee, J.A. (1978). Phytogeographical aspects of the montane forests of the chain of mountains on the eastern side of Africa. Erdwiss. Forsch. 11: 482–494.
Dereje Denu (2006). Floristic Composition and Ecological Study of Bibita Forest (Gura Ferda), Southwest Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa.
Ensermu Kelbessa and Teshome Soromessa (2008). Interfaces of regeneration, structure, diversity and use of some plant species in Bonga Forest: A reservoir for wild coffee gene pool. SINET: Ethiop. J. Sci. 31(2): 121–134.
Ensermu Kelbessa, Sebsebe Demissew, Zerihun Woldu and Edwards, S. (1992). Some threatened endemic plants of Ethiopia. In: The Status of Some Plant Resources in Parts of Tropical Africa, pp. 35–55 (Edwards, S. and Zemede Asfaw, eds.). Botany 2000: East and Central Africa. NAPRECA Monograph, Series No. 2.
Ermias Lulekal, Ensermu Kelbessa, Tamrat Bekele and Haile Yinger (2008). Plant species composition and structure of the Mana Angetu moist montane forest, Southeastern Ethiopia. J. East Afr. Nat. Hist. 97(2): 165–185.
Fekadu Gurmessa (2010). Floristic Composition and Structural Analysis of Komta Afromontane Rainforest, East Wollega Zone of Oromia Region, West Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa.
Feyera Senbeta and Demel Teketay (2003). Diversity, community types and population structure of woody plants in Kimphee Forest, a virgin Nature Reserve in Southern Ethiopia. Ethiop. J. Biol. Sci. 2(2): 169–187.
Feyera Senbeta, Tadesse Woldemariam, Sebsebe Demissew and Denich, M. (2007). Floristic diversity and composition of Sheko Forest, Southwest Ethiopia. Ethiop. J. Biol. Sci. 6(1): 11–32.
Friis, I., Edwards, S., Ensermu Kelbessa and Sebsebe Demissew (2001). Diversity and endemism in the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea - what do the published Flora volumes tell us? Biol. Skr. Dan. Vid. Sel. 54: 173–193.
Getachew Tena, Tamrat Bekele and Sebsebe Demissew (2008). Dryland woody vegetation along an altitudinal gradient on eastern escarpment of Welo, Ethiopia. SINET: Ethiop. J. Sci. 31: 43–54.
GDARDO (Gera District Agriculture and Rural Development Office) (2012). Socioeconomic profile of Gera District, Chira.
Kent, M. and Coker, P. (1992). Vegetation Description and Analysis. A practical approach. John Wiley and Sons, New York.
Kitessa Hundera, Tamrat Bekele and Ensermu Kelbessa (2007). Floristic and phytogeographic synopsis of a Dry Afromontane coniferous forest in the Bale Mountain (Ethiopia): Implication to biodiversity conservation. SINET: Ethiop. J. Sci. 30: 1–12.
Kitessa Hundera and Tsegaye Gadissa (2008). Vegetation composition and structure of Belete Forest, Jimma Zone, South western Ethiopia. Ethiop. J. Biol. Sci. 7(1): 1–15.
Kruckeberg, A.R. and Rabinowitz, D. (1985). Biological aspects of endemism in higher plants. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 16: 447–479.
Kumar, H.D. (1981). Modern Concepts of Ecology. 2nd ed. Vikas Publishing House Pvt LTD, India.
Kumlachew Yeshitela and Tamrat Bekele (2002). Plant community analysis and ecology of Afromontane and transitional rainforest vegetation of southwestern Ethiopia. SINET: Ethiop. J. Sci. 25(2): 155–175.
Kumlachew Yeshitela and Taye Bekele (2003). The woody species composition and structure of Masha Andaracha Forest, Southwestern Ethiopia. Ethiop. J. Biol. Sci. 2(1): 31–48.
Mckinney, M.L. (1997). Extinction vulnerability and selectivity: Combining ecological and paleontological views. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 28: 495–516.
Mueller-Dombois, D. and Ellenberg, H. (1974). Aims and Methods of Vegetation Ecology. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York.
Negusse Tadesse (2006). Ecology and Plant Use Diversity in Sof Umar Area of Bale, Southeastern Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa.
Nichols, G. (2005). Growing Rare Plants: A Practical Handbook on Propagating the Threatened Plants of Southern Africa. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 36. Sabonet, Pretoria.
NMSA (2013). Climadiagram of Chira town showing rainfall distribution and temperature variation from 2000 to 2010.
Shiferaw Belachew (2010). Floristic Composition, Structure and Regeneration Status of Woody Plant Species of Sese Forest, Oromia National Regional State, Southwest Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa.
Tamrat Bekele (1993). Studies on remnant Afromontane forests on the central plateau of Shewa, Ethiopia. Acta Phytogeogr. Suec. 79: 1–58.
Taye Bekele, Getachew Berhanu, Elias Taye, Matheos Ersado, and Kumlachew Yeshitela (2001). Regeneration status of Moist Montane forests of Ethiopia: Consideration for conservation. Walia 22: 45–62.
Vivero, J.L., Ensermu Kelbessa and Sebsebe Demissew (2005). Progress on the red list of plants of Ethiopia and Eritrea: Conservation and biogeography of endemic flowering taxa. In: Biodiversity, Ecology, Taxonomy and Phytogeography of African Plants (Ghazanfar, S.A. and Beentje, H.J., eds.). Proceedings of the 17th AETFAT Congress. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London and National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.
Venables, W.N., Smith, D.M. and the R Development Core Team (2010). An introduction to R: Notes on R: A programming environment for data analysis and graphics version 2.11.1 (2010 05-31). R Development Core Team.
White, F. (1978). The Afromontane region. In: Biogeography and Ecology of Africa, pp. 463–513 (Weger, M.J.A., ed.). Junk, The Hague.
Woldeyohannes Enkossa (2008). Floristic Analysis of Alata-Bolale Forest in Gudaya Billa Woreda, East Wollega, Oromia Regional State, West Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa.
Anteneh Belayneh, Tamrat Bekele and Sebsebe Demissew (2011). The natural vegetation of Babile Elephant Sanctuary, Eastern Ethiopia: Implications for biodiversity conservation. Ethiop. J. Biol. Sci. 10(2): 137–152.
Coetzee, J.A. (1978). Phytogeographical aspects of the montane forests of the chain of mountains on the eastern side of Africa. Erdwiss. Forsch. 11: 482–494.
Dereje Denu (2006). Floristic Composition and Ecological Study of Bibita Forest (Gura Ferda), Southwest Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa.
Ensermu Kelbessa and Teshome Soromessa (2008). Interfaces of regeneration, structure, diversity and use of some plant species in Bonga Forest: A reservoir for wild coffee gene pool. SINET: Ethiop. J. Sci. 31(2): 121–134.
Ensermu Kelbessa, Sebsebe Demissew, Zerihun Woldu and Edwards, S. (1992). Some threatened endemic plants of Ethiopia. In: The Status of Some Plant Resources in Parts of Tropical Africa, pp. 35–55 (Edwards, S. and Zemede Asfaw, eds.). Botany 2000: East and Central Africa. NAPRECA Monograph, Series No. 2.
Ermias Lulekal, Ensermu Kelbessa, Tamrat Bekele and Haile Yinger (2008). Plant species composition and structure of the Mana Angetu moist montane forest, Southeastern Ethiopia. J. East Afr. Nat. Hist. 97(2): 165–185.
Fekadu Gurmessa (2010). Floristic Composition and Structural Analysis of Komta Afromontane Rainforest, East Wollega Zone of Oromia Region, West Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa.
Feyera Senbeta and Demel Teketay (2003). Diversity, community types and population structure of woody plants in Kimphee Forest, a virgin Nature Reserve in Southern Ethiopia. Ethiop. J. Biol. Sci. 2(2): 169–187.
Feyera Senbeta, Tadesse Woldemariam, Sebsebe Demissew and Denich, M. (2007). Floristic diversity and composition of Sheko Forest, Southwest Ethiopia. Ethiop. J. Biol. Sci. 6(1): 11–32.
Friis, I., Edwards, S., Ensermu Kelbessa and Sebsebe Demissew (2001). Diversity and endemism in the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea - what do the published Flora volumes tell us? Biol. Skr. Dan. Vid. Sel. 54: 173–193.
Getachew Tena, Tamrat Bekele and Sebsebe Demissew (2008). Dryland woody vegetation along an altitudinal gradient on eastern escarpment of Welo, Ethiopia. SINET: Ethiop. J. Sci. 31: 43–54.
GDARDO (Gera District Agriculture and Rural Development Office) (2012). Socioeconomic profile of Gera District, Chira.
Kent, M. and Coker, P. (1992). Vegetation Description and Analysis. A practical approach. John Wiley and Sons, New York.
Kitessa Hundera, Tamrat Bekele and Ensermu Kelbessa (2007). Floristic and phytogeographic synopsis of a Dry Afromontane coniferous forest in the Bale Mountain (Ethiopia): Implication to biodiversity conservation. SINET: Ethiop. J. Sci. 30: 1–12.
Kitessa Hundera and Tsegaye Gadissa (2008). Vegetation composition and structure of Belete Forest, Jimma Zone, South western Ethiopia. Ethiop. J. Biol. Sci. 7(1): 1–15.
Kruckeberg, A.R. and Rabinowitz, D. (1985). Biological aspects of endemism in higher plants. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 16: 447–479.
Kumar, H.D. (1981). Modern Concepts of Ecology. 2nd ed. Vikas Publishing House Pvt LTD, India.
Kumlachew Yeshitela and Tamrat Bekele (2002). Plant community analysis and ecology of Afromontane and transitional rainforest vegetation of southwestern Ethiopia. SINET: Ethiop. J. Sci. 25(2): 155–175.
Kumlachew Yeshitela and Taye Bekele (2003). The woody species composition and structure of Masha Andaracha Forest, Southwestern Ethiopia. Ethiop. J. Biol. Sci. 2(1): 31–48.
Mckinney, M.L. (1997). Extinction vulnerability and selectivity: Combining ecological and paleontological views. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 28: 495–516.
Mueller-Dombois, D. and Ellenberg, H. (1974). Aims and Methods of Vegetation Ecology. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York.
Negusse Tadesse (2006). Ecology and Plant Use Diversity in Sof Umar Area of Bale, Southeastern Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa.
Nichols, G. (2005). Growing Rare Plants: A Practical Handbook on Propagating the Threatened Plants of Southern Africa. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 36. Sabonet, Pretoria.
NMSA (2013). Climadiagram of Chira town showing rainfall distribution and temperature variation from 2000 to 2010.
Shiferaw Belachew (2010). Floristic Composition, Structure and Regeneration Status of Woody Plant Species of Sese Forest, Oromia National Regional State, Southwest Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa.
Tamrat Bekele (1993). Studies on remnant Afromontane forests on the central plateau of Shewa, Ethiopia. Acta Phytogeogr. Suec. 79: 1–58.
Taye Bekele, Getachew Berhanu, Elias Taye, Matheos Ersado, and Kumlachew Yeshitela (2001). Regeneration status of Moist Montane forests of Ethiopia: Consideration for conservation. Walia 22: 45–62.
Vivero, J.L., Ensermu Kelbessa and Sebsebe Demissew (2005). Progress on the red list of plants of Ethiopia and Eritrea: Conservation and biogeography of endemic flowering taxa. In: Biodiversity, Ecology, Taxonomy and Phytogeography of African Plants (Ghazanfar, S.A. and Beentje, H.J., eds.). Proceedings of the 17th AETFAT Congress. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London and National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.
Venables, W.N., Smith, D.M. and the R Development Core Team (2010). An introduction to R: Notes on R: A programming environment for data analysis and graphics version 2.11.1 (2010 05-31). R Development Core Team.
White, F. (1978). The Afromontane region. In: Biogeography and Ecology of Africa, pp. 463–513 (Weger, M.J.A., ed.). Junk, The Hague.
Woldeyohannes Enkossa (2008). Floristic Analysis of Alata-Bolale Forest in Gudaya Billa Woreda, East Wollega, Oromia Regional State, West Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa.
Published
2015-05-19
Section
Articles