Woody Species Composition in Relation to Spatial and Environmental Gradients in Acacia-Commiphora Vegetation Ecosystem of Ethiopia

Debissa Lemessa; Fisseha Asmelash; Yayehrad Teka; Sisay Alemu; Motuma Didita; Seid Melesse

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170203.12

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Woody Species Composition in Relation to Spatial and Environmental Gradients in Acacia-Commiphora Vegetation Ecosystem of Ethiopia

Debissa Lemessa, Fisseha Asmelash, Yayehrad Teka, Sisay Alemu, Motuma Didita, Seid Melesse

Published in International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management (Volume 2, Issue 3)

Received: 16 March 2017 Accepted: 28 March 2017 Published: 13 April 2017

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Abstract

Woody species composition at local scale has been studied well in the tropics. However, how the species composition is related to the spatial and environmental gradients was poorly studied. Here, we examined the effects of the topographic aspects and altitude gradient on the species composition across four sites of Acacia-Commiphora woodland and bushland ecosystem. We collected data on the number of species, number of individuals, dbh and total height for those dbh was ≥ 2.5cm from ten quadrates (size: 50  50 m each) along transect of about 2kms laid out in each four sites. Altitude was taken with handheld GPS (Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx) and topographic aspects were recorded for each quadrate. The species composition was dissimilar among the four sites, across altitudinal gradients and topographic aspects. Here, the majority of the rare species are specific to each site, for example, Olea europea is the rare species in site (A) but not recorded in the rest of the three sites. Our overall results underscore the importance of considering the spatial scales and environmental variables in designing conservation methods. Nevertheless, identifying the biotic attributes driving the species composition in the ecosystem envisages further studies.

Published in	International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management (Volume 2, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170203.12
Page(s)	53-59
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2017. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Altitude, Aspect, Conservation, Ecosystem, Spatial Scales, Species Composition

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APA Style

Debissa Lemessa, Fisseha Asmelash, Yayehrad Teka, Sisay Alemu, Motuma Didita, et al. (2017). Woody Species Composition in Relation to Spatial and Environmental Gradients in Acacia-Commiphora Vegetation Ecosystem of Ethiopia. International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, 2(3), 53-59. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170203.12

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ACS Style

Debissa Lemessa; Fisseha Asmelash; Yayehrad Teka; Sisay Alemu; Motuma Didita, et al. Woody Species Composition in Relation to Spatial and Environmental Gradients in Acacia-Commiphora Vegetation Ecosystem of Ethiopia. Int. J. Nat. Resour. Ecol. Manag. 2017, 2(3), 53-59. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170203.12

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AMA Style

Debissa Lemessa, Fisseha Asmelash, Yayehrad Teka, Sisay Alemu, Motuma Didita, et al. Woody Species Composition in Relation to Spatial and Environmental Gradients in Acacia-Commiphora Vegetation Ecosystem of Ethiopia. Int J Nat Resour Ecol Manag. 2017;2(3):53-59. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170203.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170203.12,
  author = {Debissa Lemessa and Fisseha Asmelash and Yayehrad Teka and Sisay Alemu and Motuma Didita and Seid Melesse},
  title = {Woody Species Composition in Relation to Spatial and Environmental Gradients in Acacia-Commiphora Vegetation Ecosystem of Ethiopia},
  journal = {International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management},
  volume = {2},
  number = {3},
  pages = {53-59},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170203.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170203.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijnrem.20170203.12},
  abstract = {Woody species composition at local scale has been studied well in the tropics. However, how the species composition is related to the spatial and environmental gradients was poorly studied. Here, we examined the effects of the topographic aspects and altitude gradient on the species composition across four sites of Acacia-Commiphora woodland and bushland ecosystem. We collected data on the number of species, number of individuals, dbh and total height for those dbh was ≥ 2.5cm from ten quadrates (size: 50  50 m each) along transect of about 2kms laid out in each four sites. Altitude was taken with handheld GPS (Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx) and topographic aspects were recorded for each quadrate. The species composition was dissimilar among the four sites, across altitudinal gradients and topographic aspects. Here, the majority of the rare species are specific to each site, for example, Olea europea is the rare species in site (A) but not recorded in the rest of the three sites. Our overall results underscore the importance of considering the spatial scales and environmental variables in designing conservation methods. Nevertheless, identifying the biotic attributes driving the species composition in the ecosystem envisages further studies.},
 year = {2017}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Woody Species Composition in Relation to Spatial and Environmental Gradients in Acacia-Commiphora Vegetation Ecosystem of Ethiopia
AU  - Debissa Lemessa
AU  - Fisseha Asmelash
AU  - Yayehrad Teka
AU  - Sisay Alemu
AU  - Motuma Didita
AU  - Seid Melesse
Y1  - 2017/04/13
PY  - 2017
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170203.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170203.12
T2  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
JF  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
JO  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
SP  - 53
EP  - 59
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-3061
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170203.12
AB  - Woody species composition at local scale has been studied well in the tropics. However, how the species composition is related to the spatial and environmental gradients was poorly studied. Here, we examined the effects of the topographic aspects and altitude gradient on the species composition across four sites of Acacia-Commiphora woodland and bushland ecosystem. We collected data on the number of species, number of individuals, dbh and total height for those dbh was ≥ 2.5cm from ten quadrates (size: 50  50 m each) along transect of about 2kms laid out in each four sites. Altitude was taken with handheld GPS (Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx) and topographic aspects were recorded for each quadrate. The species composition was dissimilar among the four sites, across altitudinal gradients and topographic aspects. Here, the majority of the rare species are specific to each site, for example, Olea europea is the rare species in site (A) but not recorded in the rest of the three sites. Our overall results underscore the importance of considering the spatial scales and environmental variables in designing conservation methods. Nevertheless, identifying the biotic attributes driving the species composition in the ecosystem envisages further studies.
VL  - 2
IS  - 3
ER  -

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Author Information

Debissa Lemessa

Forest and Range Land Plant Biodiversity Directorate, Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fisseha Asmelash

Forest and Range Land Plant Biodiversity Directorate, Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Yayehrad Teka

Forest and Range Land Plant Biodiversity Directorate, Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Sisay Alemu

Forest and Range Land Plant Biodiversity Directorate, Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Motuma Didita

Forest and Range Land Plant Biodiversity Directorate, Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Seid Melesse

Forest and Range Land Plant Biodiversity Directorate, Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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APA Style

Debissa Lemessa, Fisseha Asmelash, Yayehrad Teka, Sisay Alemu, Motuma Didita, et al. (2017). Woody Species Composition in Relation to Spatial and Environmental Gradients in Acacia-Commiphora Vegetation Ecosystem of Ethiopia. International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, 2(3), 53-59. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170203.12

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ACS Style

Debissa Lemessa; Fisseha Asmelash; Yayehrad Teka; Sisay Alemu; Motuma Didita, et al. Woody Species Composition in Relation to Spatial and Environmental Gradients in Acacia-Commiphora Vegetation Ecosystem of Ethiopia. Int. J. Nat. Resour. Ecol. Manag. 2017, 2(3), 53-59. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170203.12

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AMA Style

Debissa Lemessa, Fisseha Asmelash, Yayehrad Teka, Sisay Alemu, Motuma Didita, et al. Woody Species Composition in Relation to Spatial and Environmental Gradients in Acacia-Commiphora Vegetation Ecosystem of Ethiopia. Int J Nat Resour Ecol Manag. 2017;2(3):53-59. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170203.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170203.12,
  author = {Debissa Lemessa and Fisseha Asmelash and Yayehrad Teka and Sisay Alemu and Motuma Didita and Seid Melesse},
  title = {Woody Species Composition in Relation to Spatial and Environmental Gradients in Acacia-Commiphora Vegetation Ecosystem of Ethiopia},
  journal = {International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management},
  volume = {2},
  number = {3},
  pages = {53-59},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170203.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170203.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijnrem.20170203.12},
  abstract = {Woody species composition at local scale has been studied well in the tropics. However, how the species composition is related to the spatial and environmental gradients was poorly studied. Here, we examined the effects of the topographic aspects and altitude gradient on the species composition across four sites of Acacia-Commiphora woodland and bushland ecosystem. We collected data on the number of species, number of individuals, dbh and total height for those dbh was ≥ 2.5cm from ten quadrates (size: 50  50 m each) along transect of about 2kms laid out in each four sites. Altitude was taken with handheld GPS (Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx) and topographic aspects were recorded for each quadrate. The species composition was dissimilar among the four sites, across altitudinal gradients and topographic aspects. Here, the majority of the rare species are specific to each site, for example, Olea europea is the rare species in site (A) but not recorded in the rest of the three sites. Our overall results underscore the importance of considering the spatial scales and environmental variables in designing conservation methods. Nevertheless, identifying the biotic attributes driving the species composition in the ecosystem envisages further studies.},
 year = {2017}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Woody Species Composition in Relation to Spatial and Environmental Gradients in Acacia-Commiphora Vegetation Ecosystem of Ethiopia
AU  - Debissa Lemessa
AU  - Fisseha Asmelash
AU  - Yayehrad Teka
AU  - Sisay Alemu
AU  - Motuma Didita
AU  - Seid Melesse
Y1  - 2017/04/13
PY  - 2017
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170203.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170203.12
T2  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
JF  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
JO  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
SP  - 53
EP  - 59
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-3061
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20170203.12
AB  - Woody species composition at local scale has been studied well in the tropics. However, how the species composition is related to the spatial and environmental gradients was poorly studied. Here, we examined the effects of the topographic aspects and altitude gradient on the species composition across four sites of Acacia-Commiphora woodland and bushland ecosystem. We collected data on the number of species, number of individuals, dbh and total height for those dbh was ≥ 2.5cm from ten quadrates (size: 50  50 m each) along transect of about 2kms laid out in each four sites. Altitude was taken with handheld GPS (Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx) and topographic aspects were recorded for each quadrate. The species composition was dissimilar among the four sites, across altitudinal gradients and topographic aspects. Here, the majority of the rare species are specific to each site, for example, Olea europea is the rare species in site (A) but not recorded in the rest of the three sites. Our overall results underscore the importance of considering the spatial scales and environmental variables in designing conservation methods. Nevertheless, identifying the biotic attributes driving the species composition in the ecosystem envisages further studies.
VL  - 2
IS  - 3
ER  -

Copy | Download