Ci a ion: Semu, A.A.; Bekele, T.;
Ca iñanos, P.; Anwa , T.; Qu eshi, H.
Woody Species Di e si y, Communi y
S uc u e, and Regene a ion Capaci y
in Cen al E hiopian U ban Fo es
Pa ches. Sus ainabili y 2022,14, 5164.
h ps://doi.o g/10.3390/su14095164
Academic Edi o : S ein Øi ind
Solbe g
Recei ed: 28 Feb ua y 2022
Accep ed: 20 Ap il 2022
Published: 25 Ap il 2022
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sus ainabili y
A icle
Woody Species Di e si y, Communi y S uc u e, and
Regene a ion Capaci y in Cen al E hiopian U ban
Fo es Pa ches
A ayaselassie Abebe Semu 1,2 , Tam a Bekele 2, Paloma Ca iñanos 3,4 , Tausee Anwa 5and Huma Qu eshi 6,*
1Range Ecology and Biodi e si y P og am, College o Ag icul u e and En i onmen al Science,
Ha amaya Uni e si y, Di e Dawa P.O. Box 138, E hiopia; [email p o ec ed] o
[email p o ec ed]
2Depa men o Plan Biology and Biodi e si y Managemen , Addis Ababa Uni e si y,
Addis Ababa P.O. Box 3434, E hiopia; [email p o ec ed]
3Andalusian Ins i u e o Ea h Sys em Resea ch (IISTA-CEAMA), 18006 G anada, Spain; palomacg@ug .es
4Depa men o Bo any, Uni e si y o G anada, 18071 G anada, Spain
5Depa men o Bo any, The Islamia Uni e si y o Bahawalpu , Bahawalpu 63000, Pakis an;
[email p o ec ed]
6Ins i u e o Biological Sciences, Gomal Uni e si y, De a Ismail Khan 29050, Pakis an
*Co espondence: [email p o ec ed] o [email p o ec ed]; Tel.: +92-315-8253252
Abs ac :
Land co e change in Addis Ababa, E hiopia’s capi al, is d i en by ecu ing d ough and
he economic p oblems o socie y-ini ia ed a o es a ion. The goal o his s udy was o lea n abou he
s a e o woody species egene a ion in Yeka’s u ban o es pa ches. Thi y plo s (20 m
×
20 m in size)
we e sampled o iden i y plan s o his pu posE. All wooden ees wi h a heigh g ea e han 1.3 m
in each plo we e iden i ied, enume a ed, and hei diame e we e measu ed. Acacia decu ens was
de e mined o be he p edominan species, wi h an impo ance alue index (IVI) o 161.09, ollowed
by Acacia melanoxlon (IVI = 44.69). The boo s apping PERMANOVA es was used o show how he
species in he communi y o e lapped. The esul e eals ha dissimila i y is low (p> 0.05), which is
suppo ed by he assump ion o mul i a ia e dispe sion homogenei y. The a ea’s gene alized linea
model (GLM) showed all species s a is ically signi ican o cha ac e is ics associa ed wi h closu e
yea and p esence o ma u e ees and he en i e closu e yea . Two o he wen y ee species, i.e.,
Acacia decu ens and Acacia melanoxylon we e ound in nea ly equal numbe s in all h ee g ow h s ages
as well as ha ing s ong egene a ing po en ial. The apid expansion o exo ic Acacia spp. necessi a es
ca e ul a en ion o hei egene a ion. To ein o ce and imp o e ecosys em se ices, conse a ion
and es o a ion e o s should encou age he egene a ion o na i e plan species.
Keywo ds: plan a ion; p e-u ban; a o es a ion; na i e species; u ban o es s
1. In oduc ion
Plan a ion o es s a e quickly expanding in deg aded a eas a ound he wo ld o educe
de o es a ion and imp o e na u al esou ce a ailabili y [
1
,
2
]. Monocul u e plan a ions ha e
been he mos common ype o e o es a ion plan a ion in p ac ice, as well as ho oughly
documen ed in se e al s udy a eas [
3
]. In compa ison o he exo ic plan ed species, he
na i e lo a o he a ea ecei es e y li le a en ion. T opical pines Eucalyp us globules,
E. camaldulensis, exo ic Acacia species (Acacia decu ens,Acacia mea nsii,Acacia melanoxlon,
and Acacia saligna), G e ilia obus a, and Cup essus lusi anica a e among he mos commonly
plan ed exo ics [
4
,
5
]. Exo ic plan species ha e been claimed o ha e wiped ou a numbe
o species in Queensland, Aus alia [
6
,
7
]. Plan a ions o na i e species a e becoming mo e
popula as pa o es o a ion e o s. Despi e he ac ha na i e species ha e lowe
adap abili y and a e mo e p one o na i e pes s, hei use is p omo ed [
8
]. Some species,
on he o he hand, may be well sui ed o ce ain condi ions, such as low soil nu ien
Sus ainabili y 2022,14, 5164. h ps://doi.o g/10.3390/su14095164 h ps://www.mdpi.com/jou nal/sus ainabili y
Sus ainabili y 2022,14, 5164 2 o 12
and wa e con en , which a e common in deg aded soils [
7
,
9
]. A 0–30 cm dep h o
soil, he amoun o ni ogen (659–725 kg/ha), phospho ous (248–312 kg/ha), po assium
(375–456 kg/ha), and soil o ganic ca bon (4946–6780 kg/ha) was ound o be highe in
Sohagpu han in Bish ampu . [
10
]. Simila ly, a di e en ele a ions o o es s in he
Ga hwal Himalaya, he alues o biomass, ca bon, and densi y pa ame e s we e ound o
be signi ican (p≤0.05) [11].
E hiopia is one o he wo ld’s op 25 biodi e si y- ich coun ies, and i is home o
wo o he wo ld’s 34 biodi e si y ho spo s, he Eas e n A omon ane and he Ho n o
A ica ho spo s, espec i ely [
12
]. Since i s beginnings, Addis Ababa, E hiopia’s capi al
ci y, has wi nessed a cons an ly changing ege a ion s uc u E. Hill ops su ound he
ci y, which a e co e ed in na i e plan a ie ies. Eucalyp us species p edomina e in he
ci y’s o es s, which may be ound on he ci y’s no he n moun ains. An h opogenic
ac i i ies, mos ly ee cu ing o uel-wood and building, ha e had an impac on Addis
Ababa’s u ban o es s, which ha e esul ed in a educ ion in species composi ion and
a ie y. Plan a ion p og ams on de e io a ed sec ions o he ci y’s hill ops we e s a ed
by he go e nmen in pa ne ship wi h NGOs [
13
]. Each yea , h ough E hiopia’s win e
ime (June o mid-Sep embe ), he plan a ion akes placE. These cul i a ed a eas a e no
ounded on me hodical unde s anding, which has esul ed in a ia ions in he alignmen
o wooded ypes in pe i-u ban woods in Addis Ababa [
14
,
15
]. The seedlings dis ibu ed by
go e nmen bodies a e dependen on ma ke and nu se y a ailabili y, acco ding o a epo
by he Founda ion o Fo es y [
13
]. Na i e ee species in plan a ion a eas ha e limi ed
de elopmen and hey a e on he e ge o ex inc ion [16].
E hiopia has woods ha ha e na u ally egene a ed in nume ous a eas. Indeed, man-
aged o es s ha e been p oduced in E hiopia as a o es a ion o e o es a ion on a a ie y o
scales, om indi idually held woodlo s o la ge-scale plan a ion a i udes accomplished by
o es y i ms o wood p oduc ion o pa icipa i e communi y managed o es s o di e se
easons [
17
]. On p e iously un o es ed o de o es ed land, o es s based on a o es a ion
and e o es a ion a e es ablished as e en-aged s ands [
18
]. On he o he hand, se e al
me hods o usual ees ablishmen o public woodlands such as enclosu e a e sui able,
mo e popula and cos -e ec i e in he coun y oday. Despi e he ac ha an h opogenic
ac i i ies ha e diminished he o e all ege a ion co e o E hiopian woodlands [
19
], he
coun y con inues o be a majo sou ce o woody species a ie y. Woody species di e si y is
highly connec ed wi h o es s, wi h no able excep ions such as ag o o es y sys ems [
20
–
22
]
and small-scale po ions o plan a ion s ands. E hiopia has wo ked o he pas 30 yea s o
epai deg aded lands o long- e m use, employing di e se s a egies such as Sus ainable
Land Managemen (SLM). Replan ing, enclosu e, and h ea ened expanse adminis a ion
ha e all aided in he eno a ion o wooded classes in speci ic [
23
,
24
]. The mos commonly
used species in cen al E hiopia du ing he plan a ion season a e Acacia decu ens,Acacia
mea nsii,Acacia melanoxylon, and Acacia saligna [5].
The p ocess by which plan s eplenish hemsel es is known as na u al egene a ion.
T ees a e essen ial o na u al egene a ion. Fo es egene a ion is essen ial o o es g ow h.
I ensu es he su i al o ee species in managed o es s a e he o e s o y laye has been
ha es ed. I is c i ical o an ecosys em’s esilience ollowing na u al dis u bances in na u al
o es s [
25
]. As a esul , a o es ’s eco-des iny sys em is de e mined by i s o es egene a ion
s a e [
26
]. The egene a ion laye , on he o he hand, is di ec ly dependen on he s uc u e
o he s anding ee laye and shows he esilience and heal h o he o es [
27
,
28
]. T ee
species a ie y is los when a o es ecosys em lacks su icien na u al egene a ion o
pa icula ee species, which migh in luence ela ed ecosys em unc ions and se ices
in he long un [
29
,
30
]. As a esul , s udies in o na u al o es egene a ion dynamics and
po en ial ac o s in luencing e ec i e egene a ion will con ibu e o a be e unde s anding
o o es ecosys ems’ long- e m unc ioning and s abili y.
Using exo ic plan species in deg aded land is no in and o i sel a p oblem, bu i
mus be ca ied ou wi h cau ion and esponsibili y because he species ha e a endency o
ake o e he a ea in a sho pe iod o ime [
31
,
32
]. The cen al E hiopian highlands a e one
Sus ainabili y 2022,14, 5164 3 o 12
o he loca ions whe e na i e species a e being los as a esul o unchecked exo ic plan
plan a ion. Na u al egene a ion is elian on alien species plan a ions and si e condi ions.
The exo ic plan in luences he amoun and quali y o ligh , as well as allelopa hy, ha can
occu unde i s canopy [
33
]. Acco ding o a p e ious s udy, he numbe o exo ic plan a ion
si es, pa icula ly Eucalyp us s ands, which egene a e woody plan s, is dec easing [
34
].
G ound co e a ies g ea ly in na u al o es s and exo ic plan a ion si es, supp essing he
es ablishmen o na i e species om soil seed banks.
The composi ion and densi y o he communi y a e in luenced by egene a ing ee
species. By ocusing on he lo is ic composi ion and egene a ion s a e o woody species,
we explo ed na u al o es es o a ion in a cheologically signi ican zones o Yeka Hill ops
and Millennium Pa ks in Addis Ababa, E hiopia.
2. Ma e ials and Me hods
2.1. S udy A ea
The esea ch was ca ied ou a Addis Ababa, E hiopia’s capi al ci y (9
◦
1
0
48
00
N,
38
◦
44
0
24
00
E). The ci y is loca ed in he coun y’s hea land, a an ele a ion o 2,200 m abo e
sea le el (7200 ee ), and has an a ea o 540 squa e kilome e s. The ci y is di ided in o en
adminis a i e sub-ci ies, each ha ing i s own se o 100 dis ic s (Figu e 1).
Sus ainabili y 2022, 14, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 o 13
ions and se ices in he long un [29,30]. As a esul , s udies in o na u al o es egene a-
ion dynamics and po en ial ac o s in luencing e ec i e egene a ion will con ibu e o a
be e unde s anding o o es ecosys ems’ long- e m unc ioning and s abili y.
Using exo ic plan species in deg aded land is no in and o i sel a p oblem, bu i
mus be ca ied ou wi h cau ion and esponsibili y because he species ha e a endency
o ake o e he a ea in a sho pe iod o ime [31,32]. The cen al E hiopian highlands a e
one o he loca ions whe e na i e species a e being los as a esul o unchecked exo ic
plan plan a ion. Na u al egene a ion is elian on alien species plan a ions and si e con-
di ions. The exo ic plan in luences he amoun and quali y o ligh , as well as allelopa hy,
ha can occu unde i s canopy [33]. Acco ding o a p e ious s udy, he numbe o exo ic
plan a ion si es, pa icula ly Eucalyp us s ands, which egene a e woody plan s, is de-
c easing [34]. G ound co e a ies g ea ly in na u al o es s and exo ic plan a ion si es,
supp essing he es ablishmen o na i e species om soil seed banks.
The composi ion and densi y o he communi y a e in luenced by egene a ing ee
species. By ocusing on he lo is ic composi ion and egene a ion s a e o woody species,
we explo ed na u al o es es o a ion in a cheologically signi ican zones o Yeka Hill ops
and Millennium Pa ks in Addis Ababa, E hiopia.
2. Ma e ials and Me hods
2.1. S udy A ea
The esea ch was ca ied ou a Addis Ababa, E hiopia’s capi al ci y (9°1′48′′ N,
38°44′24′′ E). The ci y is loca ed in he coun y’s hea land, a an ele a ion o 2,200 m abo e
sea le el (7200 ee ), and has an a ea o 540 squa e kilome e s. The ci y is di ided in o en
adminis a i e sub-ci ies, each ha ing i s own se o 100 dis ic s (Figu e 1).
Figu e 1. A map o he esea ch a ea.
The ci y has a o al popula ion o 2,112,737 people, wi h 1,023,452 men and 1,089,285
women. The ci y ea u es mixed highlands and a wa m and empe a e clima e. The em-
pe a u e luc ua es om 7.9 deg ees Celsius in Janua y o 25 deg ees Celsius in May, wi h
an annual a e age o 16.6 deg ees Celsius. Figu e 2 shows annual ain all (mm) and em-
pe a u e (°C) da a o he s udy a ea.
Figu e 1. A map o he esea ch a ea.
The ci y has a o al popula ion o 2,112,737 people, wi h 1,023,452 men and
1,089,285 women. The ci y ea u es mixed highlands and a wa m and empe a e cli-
ma E. The empe a u e luc ua es om 7.9 deg ees Celsius in Janua y o 25 deg ees Celsius
in May, wi h an annual a e age o 16.6 deg ees Celsius. Figu e 2shows annual ain all
(mm) and empe a u e (◦C) da a o he s udy a ea.
Sus ainabili y 2022,14, 5164 4 o 12
Sus ainabili y 2022, 14, x FOR PEER REVIEW 4 o 13
(a)
(b)
Figu e 2. (a) Annual p ecipi a ion and (b) annual empe a u e o he esea ch a ea (Sou ce: Na-
ional me eo ology o agency E hiopia da abase).
2.2. Vege a ion Sampling
Be o e he ac ual da a collec ion, a econnaissance su ey was o ganized. To acqui e
an o e iew o he pe o mance o o eign and na i e plan species, da a was collec ed
om 10 Feb ua y o 18 Feb ua y 2019. Each s and was analyzed using 400 m2 (20 m × 20
m) sampling plo s. The quad a s we e sp ead ou acco ding o he s uc u e and opog a-
phy o he s ands. All ees wi h a heigh g ea e han 1.3 m in each plo we e ecognized,
coun ed, and hei diame e a b eas heigh measu ed. All woody species wi h a heigh
o 0.3–1.3 m was coun ed inside a 9 m2 (3 m × 3 m) sampling ame se -up in he middle
o each plo . Seedlings we e de ined as plan s wi h a heigh o less han 1.5 m, while sap-
lings we e de ined as plan s wi h a heigh o 1.5 m o 2 m. Seedlings wi h a heigh o less
han 0.3 m we e excluded om he s udy because hey we e di icul o iden i y and ha e
a high mo ali y a e [35].
Seedlings had hei diame e measu ed a 5 mm abo e g ound, whe eas woody ees
had hei diame e measu ed a 1.3 m abo e g ound. A isual es ima e was used o de e -
mine he pe cen co e o each species in each plo . I was ca ied ou a he same ime as
he enume a ion and eco ding o species in each plo . Finally, he collec ed species we e
iden i ied a he Addis Ababa Uni e si y (AAU) na ional he ba ium using he Flo a o
E hiopia and E i ea (ETH).
2.3. Regene a ion S a us
The da a was collec ed o bo h saplings and ma u e o ms o woody plan s. By com-
pa ing he equency o saplings and seedlings wi h adul ees, he egene a ion s a e o
he plan a ion o es was in es iga ed [36–39].
i. Plan le > sp ou > de eloped ee → Wo hy ede elopmen
Figu e 2.
(
a
) Annual p ecipi a ion and (
b
) annual empe a u e o he esea ch a ea (Sou ce: Na ional
me eo ology o agency E hiopia da abase).
2.2. Vege a ion Sampling
Be o e he ac ual da a collec ion, a econnaissance su ey was o ganized. To acqui e
an o e iew o he pe o mance o o eign and na i e plan species, da a was collec ed om
10 Feb ua y o 18 Feb ua y 2019. Each s and was analyzed using 400 m
2
(20 m
×
20 m)
sampling plo s. The quad a s we e sp ead ou acco ding o he s uc u e and opog aphy
o he s ands. All ees wi h a heigh g ea e han 1.3 m in each plo we e ecognized,
coun ed, and hei diame e a b eas heigh measu ed. All woody species wi h a heigh o
0.3–1.3 m
was coun ed inside a 9 m
2
(3 m
×
3 m) sampling ame se -up in he middle o
each plo . Seedlings we e de ined as plan s wi h a heigh o less han 1.5 m, while saplings
we e de ined as plan s wi h a heigh o 1.5 m o 2 m. Seedlings wi h a heigh o less han
0.3 m
we e excluded om he s udy because hey we e di icul o iden i y and ha e a high
mo ali y a e [35].
Seedlings had hei diame e measu ed a 5 mm abo e g ound, whe eas woody ees
had hei diame e measu ed a 1.3 m abo e g ound. A isual es ima e was used o
de e mine he pe cen co e o each species in each plo . I was ca ied ou a he same
ime as he enume a ion and eco ding o species in each plo . Finally, he collec ed species
we e iden i ied a he Addis Ababa Uni e si y (AAU) na ional he ba ium using he Flo a
o E hiopia and E i ea (ETH).
2.3. Regene a ion S a us
The da a was collec ed o bo h saplings and ma u e o ms o woody plan s. By
compa ing he equency o saplings and seedlings wi h adul ees, he egene a ion s a e
o he plan a ion o es was in es iga ed [36–39].
i. Plan le > sp ou > de eloped ee →Wo hy ede elopmen
Sus ainabili y 2022,14, 5164 5 o 12
ii. Plan le > o ≤sp ou s ≤de eloped ees →Fai es o a ion
iii.
Classes con inues only in seedling, bu no sp ou (saplings may be
≤
adul s)
→
Poo ede elopmen
i . Classes es ablish only in ma u ed o m →No es o a ion.
The ela i e ede elopmen posi ion o he wo o es y a i udes was also analyzed us-
ing he ollowing o mulae o compu e solidi y pe cen ages among sp ou s and de eloped
indi iduals, sp ou s and plan le s, and saplings and ma u ed en i ies [16,40,41].
Plan le o ee a io = (Es ima ed numbe o seedlings)/(Numbe o ees) (1)
Sapling o ee a io = (es ima ed numbe o saplings)/(numbe o ees) (2)
2.4. Da a Analysis
The species signi icance alue was u ilized o es ima e he domina ion o ypes in he
esea ch zonE. I was calcula ed by adding he ela i e densi y and ela i e equency.
Rela i e densi y = (densi y o species)/(densi y o all species) ×100 (3)
Densi y o a species was calcula ed as he numbe o indi iduals o ha species
pe hec a e.
Rela i e equency = ( equency o spp.)/( o al equency o spp.) ×100 (4)
Gene alized linea model (GLM) wi h a logis ic unc ion was employed o modeling
he p esence o absence o seedlings and GLM wi h a nega i e binomial dis ibu ion (log-
i link) o p edic ing seedling coun s. Pe mu a ion-based mul i a ia e analysis o a iance
(PERMENOVA) is a highly lexible “semi-pa ame ic” MANOVA design which uses a
dis ibu ion- ee pe mu a ion echnique and chosen dissimila i y measu e o de ec ing
cumula i e di e ences amongs g oups. The mul i a ia e PERMANOVA analysis ound
cumula i e o es s uc u e on R package.
3. Resul s and Discussion
3.1. Vege a ion Sampling and Regene a ion S a us
Nine woody species, including Acacia abyssinica,Allophylus abyssinicus,Be sama abyssinica,
C o on mac os achyus,Ekebe gia capensis,Junipe us p oce a, we e ound in he sampled plo s.
Maesa lanceola a,E y h ina b ucei, and Olea e uginea we e na i e species, while he o he
we e exo ic species ha had ecen ly been b ough o he a ea. Becium g andi lo um,Clu ia
lanceola a,May enus a bu i olia,Olea eu opaea, and Junipe us p oce a we e ound o ha e
good ec ui men s a us compa ed o o he species in a p e ious s udy o seedling and
sapling assessmen in Yem ehane Ki s os Chu ch Fo es o Las a Wo eda, No h Wollo Zone,
Amha a Region, E hiopia [
42
]. Pou e ia adol i- iede icii,Podoca pus alca us,Cel is a icana,
Mimusops kummel,Pyscho ia o ophila, and Olea capensis subsp. Mac oca pa we e he mos
dominan ee species wi h he g ea es signi icance alues epo ed in he Kenech Fo es ,
Sou hwes E hiopia. [
43
]. Acacia decu ens and Acacia melanoxylon, wo o he wen y ee
species iden i ied in he a ea, we e ound in nea ly equal numbe s in all h ee g ow h s ages.
Only adul indi iduals o Acacia mea nsii,Eucalyp us camaldulensis, and Cup essus lusi anica
we e obse ed. Mille ia e uginea was only obse ed as a seedling, whils Casua ina
equise i olia and A oca pus alca us we e only ound as seedlings and saplings, wi h no
ma u e species in he icini y (Figu e 3). Acco ding o conse a ionis s all ac oss he wo ld,
in asi e alien species a e he second mos se ious h ea o agile plan species a e habi a
deg ada ion. I is he o he majo h ea ha has a conside able in luence on plan species
di e si y in many places o he wo ld. They a e a se ious impedimen o he conse a ion
and sus ainable use o plan species di e si y on a global, egional, and local scale, as well
as ha ing a signi ican de imen al in luence on ecosys em goods and se ices [44].
Sus ainabili y 2022,14, 5164 6 o 12
Sus ainabili y 2022, 14, x FOR PEER REVIEW 6 o 13
Figu e 3. Fo es a eas in a ious s ages o egene a ion.
The op h ee dominan species in he dualis ic o es y spo s a e Eucalyp us globulus,
Junipe us p oce a, and Acacia decu ens, acco ding o he de eloped ee a ie y o he wo
o es y spo s. Eucalyp us globulus, Junipe us p oce a, and Acacia abyssinica a e he op h ee
ypes wi h ad anced compa a i e incidences in he s udied egion. The species’ IVI alue
also implies simila ou comes (Table 1). Small IVI alues we e ound o Acacia mea nsii,
Be sama abyssinica, and E y h ina b ucei. The smalle IVI alue is also used as a species
indica o o conse a ion pu poses. Amongs he in insic ypes in he zone ha equi e
p o ec ion a e Be sama abyssinica (IVI = 1.23) and E y h ina b ucei (IVI = 1.41).
Table 1. Phy osociological a ibu es o adul indi iduals eco ded in U ban o es pa ches.
Species
F e-
quency
Rela i e F e-
quency
Densi y
Rela i e
Densi y
Abundance
Rela i e
Dominance
IVI
Acacia abyssinica Ben h.
53.33
14.95
2.7
12.03
5.06
2.39
29.38
Acacia decu ens Willd.
43.33
12.15
3.43
15.30
7.92
7.18
34.64
Acacia mea nsii De Wild.
6.66
1.86
0.06
0.29
1
0.01
2.17
Acacia melanoxylon R.B .
6.66
1.86
2.3
10.25
34.5
4.82
16.94
Acacia saligna (Labill.) Wendl.
43.33
12.15
0.26
1.18
0.61
0.12
13.46
Allophylus abyssinicus
(Hochs .) Radlk.
10
2.80
0.36
1.63
3.66
1.08
5.52
Be sama abyssinica F esen.
3.33
0.93
0.067
0.29
2
0.0006
1.23
C o on mac os achyus Hochs .
ex Delile
6.66
1.86
0.333
1.48
5
0.034
3.38
Cup essus lusi anica Mill.
10
2.80
0.36
1.63
3.66
0.32
4.76
Eucalyp us camaldulensis
Dehnh.
10
2.80
0.63
2.82
2.33
0.03
3.88
Ekebe gia capensis Spa m.
10
2.80
0.23
1.04
5.06
2.39
29.38
Eucalyp us globulus Labill.
70
19.62
6.93
30.91
9.90
75.10
125.63
Figu e 3. Fo es a eas in a ious s ages o egene a ion.
The op h ee dominan species in he dualis ic o es y spo s a e Eucalyp us globulus,
Junipe us p oce a, and Acacia decu ens, acco ding o he de eloped ee a ie y o he wo
o es y spo s. Eucalyp us globulus,Junipe us p oce a, and Acacia abyssinica a e he op h ee
ypes wi h ad anced compa a i e incidences in he s udied egion. The species’ IVI alue
also implies simila ou comes (Table 1). Small IVI alues we e ound o Acacia mea nsii,
Be sama abyssinica, and E y h ina b ucei. The smalle IVI alue is also used as a species
indica o o conse a ion pu poses. Amongs he in insic ypes in he zone ha equi e
p o ec ion a e Be sama abyssinica (IVI = 1.23) and E y h ina b ucei (IVI = 1.41).
Table 1. Phy osociological a ibu es o adul indi iduals eco ded in U ban o es pa ches.
Species F equency Rela i e
F equency Densi y Rela i e
Densi y Abundance Rela i e
Dominance IVI
Acacia abyssinica Ben h. 53.33 14.95 2.7 12.03 5.06 2.39 29.38
Acacia decu ens Willd. 43.33 12.15 3.43 15.30 7.92 7.18 34.64
Acacia mea nsii De Wild. 6.66 1.86 0.06 0.29 1 0.01 2.17
Acacia melanoxylon R.B . 6.66 1.86 2.3 10.25 34.5 4.82 16.94
Acacia saligna (Labill.) Wendl. 43.33 12.15 0.26 1.18 0.61 0.12 13.46
Allophylus abyssinicus (Hochs .) Radlk. 10 2.80 0.36 1.63 3.66 1.08 5.52
Be sama abyssinica F esen. 3.33 0.93
0.067
0.29 2 0.0006 1.23
C o on mac os achyus Hochs . ex Delile 6.66 1.86
0.333
1.48 5 0.034 3.38
Cup essus lusi anica Mill. 10 2.80 0.36 1.63 3.66 0.32 4.76
Eucalyp us camaldulensis Dehnh. 10 2.80 0.63 2.82 2.33 0.03 3.88
Ekebe gia capensis Spa m. 10 2.80 0.23 1.04 5.06 2.39 29.38
Eucalyp us globulus Labill. 70 19.62 6.93 30.91 9.90 75.10 125.63
Junipe us p oce a Hochs . ex Endl. 56.66 15.88 3.5 15.60 6.17 8.75 40.24
E y h ina b ucei Schwein . 3.33 0.93 0.1 0.44 3 0.035 1.41
Maesa lanceola a Fo ssk. 6.66 1.86 0.46 2.08 7 0.002 3.95
Olea e uginea Wall. ex Ai ch. 10 2.80 0.33 1.48 3.33 0.04 4.33
Pinus pa ula Schiede ex Schl dl. & Cham.
6.66 1.86 0.33 1.48 5 0.01 3.36
Acacia decu ens,Acacia melanoxylon, and Junipe us p oce a had he highes sapling
densi y among he woody species, su eyed by Acacia melanoxylon and Junipe us p oce a.
Acacia saligna,Acacia mea nsii,Cup essus lusi anica, and Mille ia e uginea do no ha e
a plan le o sp ou s age ep esen a i e; only Mille ia e uginea has a plan le s age
ep esen a i e Table 2.
Sus ainabili y 2022,14, 5164 7 o 12
Table 2. Phy osociological cha ac e is ics o he saplings g owing in he u ban o es pa ches.
Species F equency Rela i e
F equency Densi y Rela i e
Densi y Abundance Rela i e
Dominance IVI
Acacia abyssinica Ben h. 30 15.78 0.66 6.53 2.22 0.91 23.24
Acacia decu ens Willd. 40 21.05 5.1 50 12.75 90.04 161.09
Acacia melanoxylon R.B . 36.66 19.29 2 19.60 5.45 5.79 44.69
Acacia saligna (Labill.) Wendl. 10 5.263 0.4 3.92 4 0.30 9.49
Allophylus abyssinicus (Hochs .) Radlk. 3.33 1.75 0.03 0.32 1 0.02 2.10
Be sama abyssinica F esen. 3.33 1.75 0.03 0.32 1 0.03 2.11
C o on mac os achyus Hochs . ex Delile 3.33 1.75 0.03 0.32 1 0.08 2.16
Ekebe gia capensis Spa m. 3.33 1.75 0.03 0.32 1 0.06 2.14
Eucalyp us globulus Labill. 3.33 1.75 0.16 1.63 5 0.31 3.70
Junipe us p oce a Hochs . ex Endl. 26.66 14.03 0.53 5.22 2 0.98 20.24
E y h ina b ucei Schwein . 3.33 1.75 0.06 0.65 2 0.06 2.46
Maesa lanceola a Fo ssk. 3.33 1.75 0.03 0.32 1 0.03 2.11
Olea e uginea Wall. ex Ai ch. 6.66 3.50 0.2 1.96 3 0.36 5.83
Pinus pa ula Schiede ex Schl dl. & Cham.
3.33 1.75 0.03 0.32 1 0.03 2.11
Casua ina equise i olia L. 3.33 1.75 0.16 1.63 5 0.12 3.51
A oca pus alca us (Thunb.) C.N.Page 10 5.26 0.7 6.86 7 0.81 12.94
The numbe o seedlings and saplings in each o he wen y species was compa ed
o he adul and ice e sa o de e mine he deg ee o egene a ion. Acco ding o he
nume al o sp ou s, plan le o ma u ed ege al pe cen age, Acacia decu ens and Acacia
saligna we e de e mined o ha e s ong ede eloping la en be ween he en i e o wen y
o es ed ee ypes in he lea ning egion. Nine species we e disco e ed o be ela i ely
egene a i E. Ekebe gia capensis,Maesa lanceola a,Mille ia e uginea,Casua ina equise i olia,
and A oca pus alca us, as shown in Table 3, a e signi ican ly egene a ing in he a ea. The
epose o he ypes a e no egene a ing, implying ha only adul ypes a e es ablished.
Acacia saligna,Acacia mea nsii,Cup essus lusi anica, and E y h ina b ucei ee species we e
only shown as adul ees, implying ha hey a e no egene a ing.
Table 3. The ex en o which ee ypes in he lea ning zone a e egene a ing.
Species Ma u ed Sapling Seedling Regene a ion
S a es
Acacia abyssinica Ben h. 81 20 32 FR
Acacia decu ens Willd. 103 153 137 GR
Acacia mea nsii De Wild. 2 0 0 NR
Acacia melanoxylon R.B . 69 60 67 FR
Acacia saligna (Labill.) Wendl. 8 12 25 GR
Allophylus abyssinicus (Hochs .) Radlk. 11 1 4 FR
Be sama abyssinica F esen. 2 1 5 FR
C o on mac os achyus Hochs . ex Delile 10 1 6 FR
Cup essus lusi anica Mill. 11 0 0 NR
Eucalyp us camaldulensis Dehnh. 19 0 0 NR
Ekebe gia capensis Spa m. 7 1 1 PR
Eucalyp us globulus Labill. 208 5 13 FR
Junipe us p oce a Hochs . ex Endl. 105 16 47 FR
E y h ina b ucei Schwein . 3 2 0 NR
Maesa lanceola a Fo ssk. 14 1 2 PR
Mille ia e uginea (Hochs .) Bake 0 0 1 PR
Olea e uginea Wall. ex Ai ch. 10 6 20 FR
Pinus pa ula Schiede ex Schl dl. & Cham. 10 1 20 FR
Casua ina equise i olia L. 0 5 0 PR
A oca pus alca us (Thunb.) C.N.Page 0 21 0 PR
FR = Fai egene a ing; GR = Good egene a ing; NR = No egene a ing; PR = poo egene a ing.
3.2. Communal Con igu a ion o he Two Spo s
The seedling popula ions o la ge ees (wooded ege al ypes) emained s udied by
non-me ic mul idimensional scaling (NMDS) o seg ega e hem along wo consequen
axes (Figu e 4). The o es communi y s uc u e shows less a iancE. The e a e a ew a eas
whe e he di e en communal kinds in e sec . The boo s apping PERMANOVA es was
Sus ainabili y 2022,14, 5164 8 o 12
used o check o simila i ies. The esul e eals ha dissimila i y is low (p> 0.05), which
is suppo ed by he assump ion o mul i a ia e dispe sion homogenei y. The numbe
p> 0.3455 deno es a sa is ac o y deg ee o simila i y.
Sus ainabili y 2022, 14, x FOR PEER REVIEW 8 o 13
Table 3. The ex en o which ee ypes in he lea ning zone a e egene a ing.
Species
Ma u ed
Sapling
Seedling
Regene a ion
S a es
Acacia abyssinica Ben h.
81
20
32
FR
Acacia decu ens Willd.
103
153
137
GR
Acacia mea nsii De Wild.
2
0
0
NR
Acacia melanoxylon R.B .
69
60
67
FR
Acacia saligna (Labill.) Wendl.
8
12
25
GR
Allophylus abyssinicus (Hochs .) Radlk.
11
1
4
FR
Be sama abyssinica F esen.
2
1
5
FR
C o on mac os achyus Hochs . ex Delile
10
1
6
FR
Cup essus lusi anica Mill.
11
0
0
NR
Eucalyp us camaldulensis Dehnh.
19
0
0
NR
Ekebe gia capensis Spa m.
7
1
1
PR
Eucalyp us globulus Labill.
208
5
13
FR
Junipe us p oce a Hochs . ex Endl.
105
16
47
FR
E y h ina b ucei Schwein .
3
2
0
NR
Maesa lanceola a Fo ssk.
14
1
2
PR
Mille ia e uginea (Hochs .) Bake
0
0
1
PR
Olea e uginea Wall. ex Ai ch.
10
6
20
FR
Pinus pa ula Schiede ex Schl dl. & Cham.
10
1
20
FR
Casua ina equise i olia L.
0
5
0
PR
A oca pus alca us (Thunb.) C.N.Page
0
21
0
PR
FR = Fai egene a ing; GR = Good egene a ing; NR = No egene a ing; PR = poo egene a ing.
3.2. Communal Con igu a ion o he Two Spo s
The seedling popula ions o la ge ees (wooded ege al ypes) emained s udied by
non-me ic mul idimensional scaling (NMDS) o seg ega e hem along wo consequen
axes (Figu e 4). The o es communi y s uc u e shows less a iance. The e a e a ew a eas
whe e he di e en communal kinds in e sec . The boo s apping PERMANOVA es was
used o check o simila i ies. The esul e eals ha dissimila i y is low (p > 0.05), which
is suppo ed by he assump ion o mul i a ia e dispe sion homogenei y. The numbe p >
0.3455 deno es a sa is ac o y deg ee o simila i y.
Figu e 4. PERMANOVA es wi h boo s apping e eals simila i ies in species composi ion.
Species including Acacia abyssinica, Acacia melanoxylon, and Acacia decu ens show su -
i o ship a a ying diame e s a b eas heigh (DBH) and class sizes, acco ding o he
esea ch a ea’s su i o ship g aph. Acco ding o he da a, Acacia decu ens can be ound
Figu e 4. PERMANOVA es wi h boo s apping e eals simila i ies in species composi ion.
Species including Acacia abyssinica,Acacia melanoxylon, and Acacia decu ens show
su i o ship a a ying diame e s a b eas heigh (DBH) and class sizes, acco ding o he
esea ch a ea’s su i o ship g aph. Acco ding o he da a, Acacia decu ens can be ound in
a a ie y o DBH classes, as shown in Figu e 5. The emaining species we e es ic ed o a
DBH class ange o less han 10 and an occu ence quan i y o ewe han 20. The esea ch
a ea’s wo mos likely su i ing woody plan species a e in he DBH class ange o 10 o 20.
Sus ainabili y 2022, 14, x FOR PEER REVIEW 9 o 13
in a a ie y o DBH classes, as shown in Figu e 5. The emaining species we e es ic ed
o a DBH class ange o less han 10 and an occu ence quan i y o ewe han 20. The
esea ch a ea’s wo mos likely su i ing woody plan species a e in he DBH class ange
o 10 o 20.
Figu e 5. Species wi h a ying DBH classes.
3.3. Compa ison o Seedling o T ee Ra io
The densi y a ios be ween seedlings and ma u e indi iduals, seedlings and saplings,
and sapling and ma u e indi iduals, as well as he egene a ion condi ion o he wo- o -
es pa ch s ands, we e compu ed using he o mula [40,41]. Acco ding o he indings, he
dominan ees in he egion ha e a a io o less han one (Table 4). In bo h si es, he seed-
ling and sapling a ios show ha Acacia decu ens and Acacia saligna ha e good egene a-
ion capabili y when compa ed o hei sapling and seedling o ee a ios. In compa ison
o he o he s, species such as Olea e uginea ha e a be e a io.
Table 4. The a io o seedlings o ees is compa ed.
Species
Plan le o T ee Ra io
Plan le o T ee Ra io
Yeka Hill
Mil Pa k
Yeka Hill
Mil Pa k
Acacia abyssinica Ben h.
0.15
0.26
0.53
0.36
Acacia decu ens Willd.
1.53
1.30
1.42
1
Acacia melanoxylon R.B .
0.64
2.2
0.79
2
Acacia saligna (Labill.) Wendl.
1
1.57
4
3
Allophylus abyssinicus (Hochs .) Radlk.
0
0.09
0
0.36
Be sama abyssinica F esen.
0
0.5
0
2.5
C o on mac os achyus Hochs . ex Delile
0.1
0
0.6
0
Ekebe gia capensis Spa m.
0.14
0
0.14
0
Eucalyp us globulus Labill.
0.04
0
0.09
0.02
Junipe us p oce a Hochs . ex Endl.
0.17
0.13
0.47
0.43
Maesa lanceola a Fo ssk.
0.07
0
0.14
0
Olea e uginea Wall. ex Ai ch.
0.2
1
1.8
2.2
Pinus pa ula Schiede ex Schl dl. &
Cham.
0
0.1
0
1
Figu e 5. Species wi h a ying DBH classes.
3.3. Compa ison o Seedling o T ee Ra io
The densi y a ios be ween seedlings and ma u e indi iduals, seedlings and saplings,
and sapling and ma u e indi iduals, as well as he egene a ion condi ion o he wo- o es
pa ch s ands, we e compu ed using he o mula [
40
,
41
]. Acco ding o he indings, he
Sus ainabili y 2022,14, 5164 9 o 12
dominan ees in he egion ha e a a io o less han one (Table 4). In bo h si es, he seedling
and sapling a ios show ha Acacia decu ens and Acacia saligna ha e good egene a ion
capabili y when compa ed o hei sapling and seedling o ee a ios. In compa ison o he
o he s, species such as Olea e uginea ha e a be e a io.
Table 4. The a io o seedlings o ees is compa ed.
Species Plan le o T ee Ra io Plan le o T ee Ra io
Yeka Hill Mil Pa k Yeka Hill Mil Pa k
Acacia abyssinica Ben h. 0.15 0.26 0.53 0.36
Acacia decu ens Willd. 1.53 1.30 1.42 1
Acacia melanoxylon R.B . 0.64 2.2 0.79 2
Acacia saligna (Labill.) Wendl. 1 1.57 4 3
Allophylus abyssinicus (Hochs .) Radlk. 0 0.09 0 0.36
Be sama abyssinica F esen. 0 0.5 0 2.5
C o on mac os achyus Hochs . ex Delile 0.1 0 0.6 0
Ekebe gia capensis Spa m. 0.14 0 0.14 0
Eucalyp us globulus Labill. 0.04 0 0.09 0.02
Junipe us p oce a Hochs . ex Endl. 0.17 0.13 0.47 0.43
Maesa lanceola a Fo ssk. 0.07 0 0.14 0
Olea e uginea Wall. ex Ai ch. 0.2 1 1.8 2.2
Pinus pa ula Schiede ex Schl dl. & Cham. 0 0.1 0 1
3.4. Gene alized Linea G ow h Model (GLM) o he Sapling
The GLM esul s o he ou mos common ee ypes in he a ea show ha he ac o s
u ilized a e no s a is ically impo an o all o he ypes in he egion. A e mina ion
age de eloped ee ypes in he quad a , and en i e igu e o ypes in he quad a we e
all conside ed in he GLM. All ypes a e s a is ically momen ous aimed a cha ac e is ics
associa ed wi h e mina ion ime, acco ding o he esul s (Table 5). I was also diso e ed
ha he exis ence o adul species in he quad an has no e ec on he es o he species.
Fu he mo e, he model shows ha he numbe o species obse ed in each quad an
has li le s a is ical signi icance o plan le p esen a ion. The R
2
sco e indica es ha he
classical elucida es 89.73 pe cen o he modi ica ion in seedling hickness, indica ing ha
he classical is h i ing- i ing o he da a.
Table 5. Summa y able o seedling a ia ion by yea and he p esence o g own ees.
A. decu ence A. melanoxylon J. p oce a A. abyssicica
Closu e yea 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Ma u e ees in
he quad a 0.02 0.00 0.321 0.02
To al species 0.12 0.85 0.63 0.98
p< 0.05 = Signi ican .
The da a on a o es ’s species composi ion is c ucial o de eloping managemen
ools and making plans. Tulod e al. [
36
] and Bekele [
16
] assessed species ichness and
composi ion using in o ma ion acqui ed om he a ea. Na u al egene a ion po en ial is
an impo an indica o o a o es ecosys em’s heal h. Th ee o he wen y woody species
s udied in his s udy ailed o ec ui seedlings o saplings. Conse a ionis s in se e al
a eas ha e made simila obse a ions [
45
–
47
]. As a esul , se e al species in he o es lack
ep esen a ion in hei saplings o seedlings. The leng h o a o es ’s closu e yea a ec s i s
deg ee o egene a ion. As a esul , he esea ch da a shows ha egene a ion is acili a ed
as he a ea o closu e ime inc eases and he con ac wi h he human educes. Shanka [
37
]
and Shono e al. [
48
] bo h eco ded he same da a. In hei discussions, hey discussed he
impac o humans on na u al o es egene a ion.
Any species’ impo ance alue index (IVI) is a measu e o i s dominance in a mixed
popula ion. Acacia decu ens,Acacia melanoxlon,Eucalyp us globulus, and Junipe us p oce a
