Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2691-2707 |
| Number of pages | 17 |
| Journal | Biodiversity and conservation |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| Publication status | Published - Sept 2012 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Abstract
Understanding plant species distribution patterns along environmental gradients is fundamental to managing ecosystems, particularly when habitats are fragmented due to intensive human land-use pressure. To assist management of the remaining vegetation of the Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot, plant species richness and diversity patterns were analyzed along the main elevation gradient (1,000-2,760 m) of the Great Rift Valley escarpment in northern Ethiopia, using 29 plots established at 100-m elevation intervals. A total of 129 vascular plant species belonging to 59 families was recorded. Species richness and diversity showed a hump-shaped relationship with elevation, peaking at mid-elevation (1,900-2,200 m). Beta diversity values indicated medium species turnover along the elevation gradient and were lowest at mid-elevation. Elevation strongly partitioned the plant communities (r = 0. 98; P < 0. 001). Four plant communities were identified along the elevation gradient: Juniperus procera-Clutia lanceolata community (2,400-2,760 m), Abutilon longicuspe-Calpurnia aurea community (1,900-2,300 m), Dracaena ombet-Acacia etbaica community (1,400-1,800 m), and Acacia mellifera-Dobera glabra community (1,000-1,300 m). To optimize conservation of species and plant communities, it is recommended that a conservation corridor be established along the elevation gradient that includes all four plant communities. This strategy-in contrast to creating single isolated reserves in zones with high species richness-is necessary for the habitat protection of species with narrow elevational ranges, in particular the globally endangered Nubian dragon tree (Dracaena ombet).
Keywords
- Afromontane, Conservation, Diversity, Dracaena ombet, Elevation, Forest fragment, Plant community, Species richness
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
- Environmental Science(all)
- Ecology
- Environmental Science(all)
- Nature and Landscape Conservation
Sustainable Development Goals
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In: Biodiversity and conservation, Vol. 21, No. 10, 09.2012, p. 2691-2707.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Altitudinal variation and conservation priorities of vegetation along the Great Rift Valley escarpment, northern Ethiopia
AU - Aynekulu, Ermias
AU - Aerts, Raf
AU - Moonen, Pieter
AU - Denich, Manfred
AU - Gebrehiwot, Kindeya
AU - Vågen, Tor Gunnar
AU - Mekuria, Wolde
AU - Boehmer, Hans Juergen
N1 - Funding Information: Acknowledgments The first author is grateful to the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for financial support and Mekelle University for logistical support during the fieldwork.
PY - 2012/9
Y1 - 2012/9
N2 - Understanding plant species distribution patterns along environmental gradients is fundamental to managing ecosystems, particularly when habitats are fragmented due to intensive human land-use pressure. To assist management of the remaining vegetation of the Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot, plant species richness and diversity patterns were analyzed along the main elevation gradient (1,000-2,760 m) of the Great Rift Valley escarpment in northern Ethiopia, using 29 plots established at 100-m elevation intervals. A total of 129 vascular plant species belonging to 59 families was recorded. Species richness and diversity showed a hump-shaped relationship with elevation, peaking at mid-elevation (1,900-2,200 m). Beta diversity values indicated medium species turnover along the elevation gradient and were lowest at mid-elevation. Elevation strongly partitioned the plant communities (r = 0. 98; P < 0. 001). Four plant communities were identified along the elevation gradient: Juniperus procera-Clutia lanceolata community (2,400-2,760 m), Abutilon longicuspe-Calpurnia aurea community (1,900-2,300 m), Dracaena ombet-Acacia etbaica community (1,400-1,800 m), and Acacia mellifera-Dobera glabra community (1,000-1,300 m). To optimize conservation of species and plant communities, it is recommended that a conservation corridor be established along the elevation gradient that includes all four plant communities. This strategy-in contrast to creating single isolated reserves in zones with high species richness-is necessary for the habitat protection of species with narrow elevational ranges, in particular the globally endangered Nubian dragon tree (Dracaena ombet).
AB - Understanding plant species distribution patterns along environmental gradients is fundamental to managing ecosystems, particularly when habitats are fragmented due to intensive human land-use pressure. To assist management of the remaining vegetation of the Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot, plant species richness and diversity patterns were analyzed along the main elevation gradient (1,000-2,760 m) of the Great Rift Valley escarpment in northern Ethiopia, using 29 plots established at 100-m elevation intervals. A total of 129 vascular plant species belonging to 59 families was recorded. Species richness and diversity showed a hump-shaped relationship with elevation, peaking at mid-elevation (1,900-2,200 m). Beta diversity values indicated medium species turnover along the elevation gradient and were lowest at mid-elevation. Elevation strongly partitioned the plant communities (r = 0. 98; P < 0. 001). Four plant communities were identified along the elevation gradient: Juniperus procera-Clutia lanceolata community (2,400-2,760 m), Abutilon longicuspe-Calpurnia aurea community (1,900-2,300 m), Dracaena ombet-Acacia etbaica community (1,400-1,800 m), and Acacia mellifera-Dobera glabra community (1,000-1,300 m). To optimize conservation of species and plant communities, it is recommended that a conservation corridor be established along the elevation gradient that includes all four plant communities. This strategy-in contrast to creating single isolated reserves in zones with high species richness-is necessary for the habitat protection of species with narrow elevational ranges, in particular the globally endangered Nubian dragon tree (Dracaena ombet).
KW - Afromontane
KW - Conservation
KW - Diversity
KW - Dracaena ombet
KW - Elevation
KW - Forest fragment
KW - Plant community
KW - Species richness
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84865409231&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10531-012-0328-9
DO - 10.1007/s10531-012-0328-9
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84865409231
VL - 21
SP - 2691
EP - 2707
JO - Biodiversity and conservation
JF - Biodiversity and conservation
SN - 0960-3115
IS - 10
ER -