Pattern of Plant Community Distribution along the Elevational Gradient and Anthropogenic Disturbance in Gole Forest, Ethiopia
Domaine:
environment and energygeospatialCréateur:
MesTam
Éditeur:
Hôte:
Vegetation-environment relationships are usually studied along elevational gradient. The patterns of plant community distribution in Gole forest, Ethiopia, were studied along elevational gradient and disturbances. Disturbances were recorded following the elevational gradient. For vegetation data collection, 62 sample plots of size 20 × 20 m were established along an elevational gradient (2728–3480 m.a.s.l). Data on species composition and environmental variables were measured and recorded in each plot. The elevation of each sample plot was measured using Garmin GPS. Anthropogenic disturbances in each plot were estimated using the following scales: 0 = no disturbance, 1 = slightly disturbed, 2 = moderately disturbed, and 3 = highly disturbed. R statistical package was used for cluster and ordination analysis. Boxplots and analysis of variance were used to assess the relationships between plant communities and environmental variables. Sorensen’s similarity coefficient was used to detect similarities and dissimilarities among communities. A total of 114 plant species belonging to 57 families and 94 genera were identified. Five plant community types were identified using agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis. Every plant community had differences in composition and environmental variables. The variation in plant community distributions was significantly related to elevation and disturbance. Plant community distribution was negatively correlated with elevation (
P
<
0.05
) and also with disturbance (
P
<
0.05
). Sorensen’s similarity index showed that there was a difference in the distribution of plant species composition among the communities. The difference in plant community distribution of Gole forest was significantly related to elevation. Disturbances also have a considerable influence on the plant communities and mitigation of disturbance should be the main measure that needs to be taken into account in conservation planning in the study area.
Similaires
Patterns and mechanisms of bird community assembly along an Afrotropical elevational gradient in KenyaForest structure determines spatial changes in avian communities along an elevational gradient in tropical AfricaBee diversity and floral resources along a disturbance gradient in Kaya Muhaka Forest and surrounding farmlands of coastal KenyaAbove- and belowground plant pathogens along elevational gradients: patterns and potential mechanismsPlant Community Analysis along Environmental Gradients in Moist Afromontane Forest of Gerba Dima, South-western EthiopiaFactors determining species richness patterns of breeding birds along an elevational gradient in the Horn of Africa region