Composition, Structure and Regeneration Status of Woody Plants and Types of Disturbances In Merawi Muslim Grave Forest, North Gojjam Zone, Ethiopia

AYSHET, YALEW

dc.contributor.author	AYSHET, YALEW
dc.date.accessioned	2024-09-20T08:42:58Z
dc.date.available	2024-09-20T08:42:58Z
dc.date.issued	2024-05
dc.identifier.uri	http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/15946
dc.description.abstract	Muslim grave forests can be used for conservation and potential reservoir of biodiversity. This study was conducted in Merawi town Administration Muslim grave forest at north Gojjam zone, Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to investigate the woody plant species composition, diversity and conservational status including the types of disturbances in Merawi Muslim grave forest. The data were collected by using species counting, collection, the height and DBH measurement and the types with their intensity of disturbances per plots. Four transect lines oriented to north–south directions with the interval of 200m were used for vegetation data collection. A total of 24 quadrats with 20m x 20m (400m2) laid dawn at every 100m interval between each quadrats were established. These quadrats were used to record the diversity and population structure of woody individuals. The woody plants with a diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥2.5cm and height > 2m were measured as mature, DBH ≤ 2.5cm height <1 were counted as seedlings and between 1m and 2m were saplings. To collect seedlings and saplings data 3 subplots of 5m x 5m (25m2) two at the corners and one at the center of the main quadrats were used to record their regeneration status. The species diversity data were analyzed by using Shannon Wiener Diversity Index. A total of 53 woody plant species belonging to 37 families and 48 genera were identified in Merawi Muslim grave forest. Out of the total number of species 46(86.79%) are native woody plant species. The family Fabaceae with 8 species had the highest number of species, followed by Rosaceae and Euphorbiaceae with 3 species for each. The overall Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index (H’) and evenness values for the entire forest was 2.90 and 0.73 respectively. Density of seedlings, saplings and matured woody species was 2412.3ha-1, 2318.6 ha-1 and 2241.7ha-1 respectively. The total basal area of woody plant species in the forest was 24.84m2ha-1, this value is low but still in the range of the above tropical forest basal area scale. The highest IVI was contributed by Carissa spinarum 26.11(8.70%), Juniperus procera 21.11(7.03%) and Calpurnia aurea 17.27(5.75%). The diameter at the breast height (DBH) and height class distribution showed an inverted “J” shaped pattern, which implies that the lower classes were dominated by small sized woody specie. More ecological studies with respect to species composition, plant community structure and regeneration status of the forest in relation to soil sampling, seed physiology and more quantitative data clearly identify for feeling the gaps of this work. Key phrases: Basal area, density, Diversity, Importance Value Index, Muslim grave forest	en_US
dc.language.iso	en	en_US
dc.subject	Biology	en_US
dc.title	Composition, Structure and Regeneration Status of Woody Plants and Types of Disturbances In Merawi Muslim Grave Forest, North Gojjam Zone, Ethiopia	en_US
dc.type	Thesis	en_US