Elevational changes in vascular plants richness, diversity, and distribution pattern in Abune Yosef mountain range, Northern Ethiopia

doi:10.1016/j.pld.2019.06.005

Abstract

Abstract: The aim of this research is to investigate the patterns of vascular plant species richness, diversity, and distribution along an elevation gradient in the Abune Yosef mountain range, Ethiopia. Preferential systematic sampling was employed to collect vegetation and environmental data along the elevation gradient. We found that plant species richness declines monotonically from low to high elevations. Specifically, vascular plant species richness and diversity were lower in the Afroalpine grassland (high elevation) than in the Dry evergreen Afromontane forest and Ericaceous forest (low elevations). In contrast, endemic vascular plant richness was significantly higher in the Afroalpine grassland than in the Dry evergreen Afromontane forest and Ericaceous forest. Elevation showed a significant impact on the richness, diversity, and endemism of vascular plants. According to Sørensen's coefficient, the similarity between Dry evergreen Afromontane forest and Ericaceous forest vegetation types is higher (32%) than the similarity between Ericaceous forest and Afroalpine grassland (18%). Only 5% similarity was recorded between the Dry evergreen Afromontane forest and Afroalpine grassland. Growth forms showed different elevational richness patterns. Trees and liana increased monotonically up to 3300 m. Shrub and herb richness patterns followed a hump-shaped and inverted hump-shaped pattern along the elevation gradient. The elevation patterns of vascular plant species richness, diversity, and growth form in the present study may be attributed to differences in management intensity, spatial heterogeneity, microclimatic variations, and anthropogenic disturbances.

Key words: Afroalpine, Church forest, Diversity, Elevation gradient, Plant community, Species richness

Kflay Gebrehiwot, Sebsebe Demissew, Zerihun Woldu, Mekbib Fekadu, Temesgen Desalegn, Ermias Teferi. Elevational changes in vascular plants richness, diversity, and distribution pattern in Abune Yosef mountain range, Northern Ethiopia[J]. Plant Diversity, 2019, 41(04): 220-228.

Figures/Tables 3

References 22

[1]	Bergelson J (1990). Life after death: Site pre-emption by the remains of Poa annua. Ecology, 71, 2157-2165.
[2]	Chauhan BS, Johnson DE (2011). Ecological studies on Echinochloa crus-galli and the implications for weed management in direct-seeded rice.Crop Protection, 30, 1385-1391.
[3]	Ekstam B, Johannesson R, Milberg P (1999). The effect of light and number of diurnal temperature fluctuations on germination of Phragmites australis.Seed Science Research, 9, 165-170.
[4]	Greenwood ME, MacFarlane GR (2006). Effects of salinity and temperature on the germination of Phragmites australis, Juncus kraussii, and Juncus acutus: Implications for estuarine restoration initiatives.Wetlands, 26, 854-861.
[5]	Grime JP, Mason G, Curtis AV, Rodman J, Band SR (1981). A comparative study of germination characteristics in a local flora.Journal of Ecology, 69, 1017-1059.
[6]	Haslam SM (1972). Biological flora of the British Isles. Phragmites communis Trin.Journal of Ecology, 60, 585-610.
[7]	Haslam SM (1973). Some aspects of the life history and autecology of Phragmites communis Trin. a review.Polskie Archiwum Hydrobiologii, 20, 79-100.
[8]	Hui SR, Li X, Zhang ZX, Ning Y (2009). Influences of soil salt contents on growth of Scirpus bicincavys. Journal of Liaoning Forestry Science ＆ Technology, (1), 25-28. (in Chinese with English abstract)[惠淑荣, 李响, 张志翔, 宁宇 (2009). 土壤含盐量对扁秆藨草生长的影响. 辽宁林业科技, (1), 25-28.]
[9]	Kotowski W, Dzierża P, Czerwiński M, Kozub Ł, Śnieg S (2013). Shrub removal facilitates recovery of wetland species in a rewetted fen.Journal for Nature Conservation, 21, 294-308.
[10]	Larkin DJ, Freyman MJ, Lishawa SC, Geddes P, Tuchman NC (2012). Mechanisms of dominance by the invasive hybrid cattail Typha × glauca.Biological Invasions, 14, 65-77.
[11]	Laubhan MK, Shaffer TL (2006). Seed germination of Cirsium arvense and Lepidium latifolium: Implications for management of montane wetlands.Wetlands, 26, 69-78.
[12]	Li HF, Zhang GX (2013). Influence of water depth and salinity coupling on growth of Scirpus planiculmis seedlings in Momoge national nature reserve.Wetland Science, 11, 173-177. (in Chinese with English abstract)[李惠芳, 章光新 (2013). 水盐交互作用对莫莫格国家级自然保护区扁秆藨草幼苗生长的影响. 湿地科学, 11, 173-177.]
[13]	Li YZ (2007). Studies on the Responses of Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Calamagrostis angustifolia, Phragmites Australis to Environmental Factors. Master degree dissertation, Hunan Agricultural University, Cha- ngsha. 10-15. (in Chinese).[李有志 (2007). 小叶章和芦苇种子萌发以及幼苗生长对环境因子的响应研究. 硕士学位论文, 湖南农业大学, 长沙. 10-15.]
[14]	Li YZ, Zhang CM, Xie YH, Liu F (2009). Germination of Deyeuxia angustifolia as affected by soil type, burial depth, water depth and oxygen level.Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 14, 537-545.
[15]	Nikolajevskij VG (1971). Research into the biology of the common reed (Phragmites communis Trin.) in the U.S.S.R.Folia Geobotanica et Phytotaxonomica, 6, 221-230.
[16]	Pan XL, Zhang DY, Quan L (2006). Interactive factors leading to dying-off Carex tato in Momoge wetland polluted by crude oil, Western Jilin, China.Chemosphere, 65, 1772-1777.
[17]	Perry LG, Galatowitsch SM (2003). A test of two annual cover crops for controlling Phalaris arundinacea invasion in restored sedge meadow wetlands.Restoration Ecology, 11, 297-307.
[18]	Thouvenot L, Haury J, Thiébaut G (2013). Seasonal plasticity of Ludwigia grandiflora under light and water depth gradients: An outdoor mesocosm experiment.Flora, 208, 430-437.
[19]	Wang XY, Feng J, Zhao JM (2010). Effects of crude oil residuals on soil chemical properties in oil sites, Momoge Wetland, China.Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 161, 271-280.
[20]	Wu JL, Zhou HC (2006). Seed bank of perennial weeds in paddy fields.Chinese Journal of Rice Science, 20, 89-96. (in Chinese with English abstract)[吴竞仑, 周恒昌 (2006). 稻田土壤多年生杂草种子库研究. 中国水稻科学, 20, 89-96.]
[21]	Yu JB, Wang XH, Ning K, Li YZ, Wu HF, Fu YQ, Zhou D, Guan B, Lin QX (2012). Effects of salinity and water depth on germination of Phragmites australis in coastal wetland of the Yellow River Delta.CLEAN-Soil, Air, Water, 40, 1154-1158.
[22]	Zedler JB, Kercher S (2004). Causes and consequences of invasive plants in wetlands: Opportunities, opportunists, and outcomes.Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, 23, 431-452.