Plant community formation and species distribution pattern in relation to environmental variables in Endiras Natural Forest, northwest Ethiopia

The study was conducted in Endiras Forest, northwest Ethiopia, to evaluate the effects of environmental variables on the patterns of plant community formation. A systematic random sampling technique was used to collect vegetation data from 56 (20 m × 20 m) plots laid at 100 m intervals on ten transe...

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Main Authors: Getinet Masresha, Worku Misganaw, Endale Adamu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:All Life
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Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/26895293.2024.2362441
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author Getinet Masresha
Worku Misganaw
Endale Adamu
author_facet Getinet Masresha
Worku Misganaw
Endale Adamu
author_sort Getinet Masresha
collection DOAJ
description The study was conducted in Endiras Forest, northwest Ethiopia, to evaluate the effects of environmental variables on the patterns of plant community formation. A systematic random sampling technique was used to collect vegetation data from 56 (20 m × 20 m) plots laid at 100 m intervals on ten transects. In each plot, the species encountered and its percent cover abundance were recorded, which was later transformed into a modified Braun-Blanquet scale. The composite soil samples collected from 15 cm × 15 cm subplots were examined for 13 soil parameters. Communities were determined using cluster analysis. The Shannon-Wiener index was employed to quantify species diversity. The relationships between species and environmental variables were evaluated using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). Seventy-three woody plant species, distributed in 40 families, were documented. Fabaceae was found to be the most species-rich family (20.55%). Five communities were generated from the cluster analyses that vary in diversity. Nine environmental variables were found to be significant in determining patterns of community formation (P < 0.05). Organic matter, pH, and altitude, highly correlated with CCA axis 1, largely shaped the community formation patterns. Various patterns of community formation demonstrate the need to design different conservation measures.
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spelling doaj-art-2f31f15d1b434b2f936aa16a96e3e8e72025-01-20T14:38:00ZengTaylor & Francis GroupAll Life2689-53072024-12-01170110.1080/26895293.2024.23624412362441Plant community formation and species distribution pattern in relation to environmental variables in Endiras Natural Forest, northwest EthiopiaGetinet Masresha0Worku Misganaw1Endale Adamu2University of GondarDebark UniversityDebre Tabor UniversityThe study was conducted in Endiras Forest, northwest Ethiopia, to evaluate the effects of environmental variables on the patterns of plant community formation. A systematic random sampling technique was used to collect vegetation data from 56 (20 m × 20 m) plots laid at 100 m intervals on ten transects. In each plot, the species encountered and its percent cover abundance were recorded, which was later transformed into a modified Braun-Blanquet scale. The composite soil samples collected from 15 cm × 15 cm subplots were examined for 13 soil parameters. Communities were determined using cluster analysis. The Shannon-Wiener index was employed to quantify species diversity. The relationships between species and environmental variables were evaluated using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). Seventy-three woody plant species, distributed in 40 families, were documented. Fabaceae was found to be the most species-rich family (20.55%). Five communities were generated from the cluster analyses that vary in diversity. Nine environmental variables were found to be significant in determining patterns of community formation (P < 0.05). Organic matter, pH, and altitude, highly correlated with CCA axis 1, largely shaped the community formation patterns. Various patterns of community formation demonstrate the need to design different conservation measures.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/26895293.2024.2362441conservationendiras forestenvironmental gradientsindicator speciesspecies diversity
spellingShingle Getinet Masresha
Worku Misganaw
Endale Adamu
Plant community formation and species distribution pattern in relation to environmental variables in Endiras Natural Forest, northwest Ethiopia
All Life
conservation
endiras forest
environmental gradients
indicator species
species diversity
title Plant community formation and species distribution pattern in relation to environmental variables in Endiras Natural Forest, northwest Ethiopia
title_full Plant community formation and species distribution pattern in relation to environmental variables in Endiras Natural Forest, northwest Ethiopia
title_fullStr Plant community formation and species distribution pattern in relation to environmental variables in Endiras Natural Forest, northwest Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Plant community formation and species distribution pattern in relation to environmental variables in Endiras Natural Forest, northwest Ethiopia
title_short Plant community formation and species distribution pattern in relation to environmental variables in Endiras Natural Forest, northwest Ethiopia
title_sort plant community formation and species distribution pattern in relation to environmental variables in endiras natural forest northwest ethiopia
topic conservation
endiras forest
environmental gradients
indicator species
species diversity
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/26895293.2024.2362441
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