Species Composition, Relative Abundance, Distribution and Threats of Vascular Plants in Wondo Genet Catchment, South Central Ethiopia

Abstract

The floristic compositions of Wondo Genet catchment between altitudes 1856 to 2165m a.s.l are described in this study. Sample plots of 20m x 5m were used for tree species, stump tree, livestock dung, and 2m x 5m for shrubs and 0.5m x 2m for herbaceous species, rock percent cover and percent bare soil. A total of 33 sample plots were analyzed. A total of 145 species of vascular plants representing 77 families were recorded. R-software procedure followed to classify the vegetation data, four clusters were recognized and designated as local plant community types. Each type was given names after one or two dominating species. Comparison of Wondo Genet catchment with similar Afromontane forests of Ethiopia indicates that the Wondo Genet catchment is similar to the montane forests of the Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resource (Mamo Kebede et al., 2013). There was significant negative relation between species richness (R2=0.02, p=0.001) and abundance (R2=0.05, p=0.019) with elevation. Whereas there was a significant negative relation between both species‟ richness (R2=0.01, p=0.001) and abundance (R2=0.06, p=0.03) with slope. Threats such as livestock grazing, rock percent cover, bare soil are adversely affecting the plant diversity.