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Vegetation Ecology and Carbon Stock of Wof-Washa Forest, North Shewa Zone, Amhara

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Vegetation Ecology and Carbon Stock of Wof-Washa Forest, North Shewa Zone, Amhara Vegetation Ecology and Carbon Stock of Wof-Washa Forest, North Shewa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia Abiyou Tilahun Ayalew Addis Ababa University Addis Ababa, Ethiopia April 2018 Vegetation Ecology and Carbon Stock of Wof-Washa Forest, North Shewa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia Abiyou Tilahun Ayalew A Dissertation Submitted to The Department of Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Biology: Botanical Sciences) Addis Ababa University Addis Ababa, Ethiopia April 2018 ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY GRADUATE PROGRAMMES This is to certify that the Dissertation prepared by Abiyou Tilahun Ayalew, entitled: Vegetation Ecology and Carbon Stock of Wof-Washa Forest, North Shewa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia, and submitted in partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Biology: Botanical Sciences) complies with the regulations of the University and meets the accepted standards with respect to originality and quality. Signed by Examining Board: Name Signature Date 1. __________________________ (Examiner) _______________ ___________ 2. __________________________ (Examiner) _______________ ___________ 3. __________________________ (Advisor) _______________ ___________ 4. __________________________ (Advisor) _______________ ___________ 5. __________________________ (Advisor) _______________ ___________ 6. __________________________ (Advisor) _______________ ___________ _____________________________________________ _______________ Chair of Department or Graduate Programme Coordinator Abstract Vegetation Ecology and Carbon Stock of Wof-Washa Forest, North Shewa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia Abiyou Tilahun Ayalew, PhD Dissertation, Addis Ababa University, 2018 Dry Afromontane forest in Ethiopia including Wof-Washa Forest is the most altered, exploited and fragmented vegetation type. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate plant species diversity and structure, natural regeneration potential, carbon stock and extent of land use land cover change of Wof - Washa forest. Systematic sampling design following transect lines of 1000 meter intervals and 100 m altitudinal drop were used. Vegetation data were collected from 95, 20 x 20 m2 plots for tree species and 5, 5 x 5 m2 and 1 x 1 m2 subplots for sapling and herb species respectively. All plant species were recorded and voucher specimens were collected. Height, DBH, and cover abundance values were measured. Regeneration status of woody species was analyzed by using total count of seedling and saplings. Topographic variables such as aspect slope, altitude, and geographical coordinates were measured at each plot. Soil samples for soil seed bank analysis and carbon stock estimate were taken from 9 cm and 30 cm depth at five sub plots in each plot. Hierarchical cluster analysis was computed to identify plant community types. Shannon Wiener diversity index was used to compute the plant species richness, and evenness. Jaccard and Sorensen’s similarity coefficients were used to measure species similarities among community types and soil seed bank layers. Basal area, frequency, density and importance value index were computed. Allometric model equation was used to estimate carbon stocks. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was used to analyze the relationship between plant community types and environmental variables. Three satellite images (TM - 1985, ETM+ - 2000 and OLI - 2015 were acquired for land use land cover change analysis. SPSS, R, Arc GIS, Past softwares and Microsoft Excel sheet were used for data analysis. A total of 394 plant species were identified. Asteraceae (62 species) Poaceae (30 species) and Fabaceae (29 species) were the dominant families. 46 endemic plant species to Ethiopia and 13 new records for Shewa Floristic region were identified. Five plant communities were identified and named after the first two species with high synoptic values. The result of CCA reveals that altitude, disturbance, and slope were among the main environmental variables determining plant species distribution pattern and community type formation. The density of mature woody species with DBH > 2.5 cm, > 10 and > 20 cm accounted for 1046.6 stems ha-1, 569.5 and 303.4 stem ha-1 respectively. The total basal area per hectare of woody plant species was 153.26 m2ha-1. Juniperus procera was the most frequent species (79.95 %). The highest IVI value (46.07%) was recorded for six of the most frequent woody species. The overall Shannon-wiener diversity and evenness values were 4.37 and 0.8 respectively. DBH and Height class distribution shows relatively inverted J-shape distribution. 5549 seedlings (76 plant species) were recovered from soil seed bank of Wof-Washa Forest. About 51 % and 34 % of carbon stock were contributed by the aboveground vegetation and soil respectively while the rest of the carbon pools accounted to 11.37 %. Higher carbon stock 298.9 ± 117.8 t/ha were obtained at lower altitudes followed by middle altitude 287.6 ± 192.5 t/ha. Landsat image analysis revealed a continuous expansion of agricultural land and settlement area. In addition, field survey identified that human- induced pressures especially free grazing and human encroachment are the most pressing and persistent driving forces. Therefore, owing to the high biodiversity, carbon stock and anthropogenic pressure, Wof-Washa Forest requires urgent interventions that reduce the threat levels for the maintenance of forest ecosystem services and functioning. Keywords: Biomass, Carbon sequestration, land use land cover, plant community, regeneration, soil seed bank III Dedication This research work is dedicated to the memories of Prof. Ensermu Kelbessa, a generous scientist who kindly shared the wealth of his wisdom and knowledge he has gained as a systematic botanist over the last 40 years to his students, colleagues in Ethiopia and beyond. May the almighty God rest his soul in peace. IV Acknowledgments First of all, I would like to thank my supervisors, the late professor, Prof. Ensermu Kelbessa (AAU), Prof. Sebsebe Demissew (AAU), Dr. Tamrat Bekele (AAU), Dr. Teshome Soromessa (AAU), and Dr. Tesfaye Bekele (FRC) for their unreserved guidance, support and follow up throughout my thesis work. My deepest gratitude goes to Debre Birhan University for sponsoring me to the PhD programme. The postgraduate programme office of Addis Ababa University is also acknowledged for funding field expenses. I am so grateful to thank FRC for covering field data collection and soil laboratory expenses and allowing me to their greenhouse for extended soil seed bank study. Administrative heads of the three Districts and Amhara forest enterprise are acknowledged for arranging legal permit during the field data collection. My thank goes to Ato Abush Bekele, Ato Bikale Tilahun, Ato Gebre Bogale, Ato Emishaw Mindahun, Ato Gebriye Wondafirash and Ato Eshetu Kibret for their generous hospitality during my stay in the study areas and field assistance. Dr. Abeje Eshete (Director of FRC) is duly acknowledged for his expertise encouragement, financial and logistic facilitation. W/ro Mulatua Feyissa, Ato Fitsum Sirak (both from FRC) and Ato Habtamu from Bedele Soil Laboratory Center are truly recognized for their technical support during the laboratory work. Especial thanks to Ato Nesibu Yahiya and W/t Meron Awoke who helped me GIS related techniques and applications. I would like to extend my gratitude to Dr. Ermias Lulekal (AAU) for his valuable encouragement and providing constructive comments on this PhD work. National Herbarium staff members, W/ro Shewangiziew Lemma, Ato Melaku Wondafirash, Ato Wogie Abebe, Ato Shambel Alemu, Digital and main library members (AAU), Ato Sintayehu Gari (FRC library), Atse Zera‟aYakob library members (DBU), Ato Solomon Tadesse, Ato Demissew Gebeyew and Ato Belayhun Tesfaye (Biology Department, DBU) V and Ato Dejene Zewodie (Physics laboratory, DBU) are acknowledged for their hospitality and material support during my stay in DBU laboratory for different activities. Individuals including Dr. Mehari Alebachew, Ato Nesiru Hasen, Ato Mindaye Teshome, Ato Belay Gebre, Ato Genene Tesfaye, Ato Abraham Yirgu, Dr. Alemu Gezahegn, Prof.Fasil Kebede, Ato Negash Mammo, W/ro Eskedar Yirga, Ato Yitayal Abate, Ato Sintayehu Ambachew, Ato Menilk Ayalew, Ato Chalew Tesfaye, Ato Tesfaye Nafo, W/ro Azalech Mekonen, Ato Mesfin Girma, Dr. Mesfin W/aregay, W/ro Mekides Gerawork, Dr. Amare Ayalew and Ato Alamirew Eyayu are acknowledged for their technical support and moral encouragement. I would like to thank my classmates‟ W/t Nuria Abdurahman, Ato Haimanot Reta, Ato Shiferaw Belachew, Ato Nigusie Amsalu, Ato Admasu Adi, Ato Alemayehu Kefyalew, Ato Alemayehu Dessalegn and AtoTsegaye Gobeze for their experience sharing and encouragement. My father Ato Tilahun Ayalew, my mother W/ro Melkam Mulatu, my brothers (Ato Aragaw and Ato Samuel Tilahun), my sisters (W/ro Tegalem Tilahun,W/ro Yeshihareg Tilahun, W/ro Aster Tilahun,W/ro Workalem Tilahun, W/t Nigist Tilahun and W/t Tesfa Tilahun), my father-in-law Ato Bichil Woldelibalos, my mother-in-law W/ro Endewagaw Hailegebriel, sister-in-laws (W/ro Mezigebework Bichil and W/ro Tigist Bichil) and brother in-law Engineer Daniel Bichil are truthfully acknowledged for their unlimited support in all dimensions of my work and their unreserved support to my family while I was on a study leave. I want to send my sincere thanks to those people whose names are not listed here for their priceless
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