WOODY SPECIES DIVERSITY, REGENERATION STATUS AND CARBON STOCK ALONG AN ELEVATION GRADIENT IN FURI FOREST, CENTRAL ETHIOPIA

Abstract

This thesis was conducted in Furi forest in central of Ethiopia. Biodiversity is organized along altitudinal gradient in different layers as altitude determines climate distribution. Plant diversity is one of the major groups of biological diversity. Plant diversity can be affected by living and nonliving factors. The overall objective of this study was to assess composition, diversity and structure, regeneration status of woody species and total carbon stocks along an elevation gradient of Furi forest. A total of 72 quadrats of 20m x 20 m, 5m x 5m and 1m x 1m were laid at Lower altitude (LA), Middle altitude (MA) and Upper altitude(MA) of the forest with three horizontals transect to collect data. Soil samples were collected from two soil profiles (0-30cm and 30-60 cm) to analyze bulk density (BD) and carbon percentage (%C). Estimation of aboveground and belowground biomass and carbon was done. The vegetation and soil data were analyzed statically in one-way ANOVA. A total of 27 woody species were identified with Myrtaceae being a dominant family in the area. Both diameter and height class distribution of the species were almost in irregular conditions. The similarities index indicated that the highest species similarity was observed between MA and UA (57%) followed by LA and MA (49%). Regeneration statuses of the three altitude gradients were included under fair status. Aboveground and belowground carbon stocks were significantly higher in MA gradient with 58.74 tonha-1 and 11.74 ton ha-1, respectively. However, UA had the lowest (P<0.05) AGC (49.76 ton ha-1) and BGC (9.95 ton ha-1) than others. Dead wood carbon was only found in the LA and MA altitudinal gradients. However, there was no significant difference in dead wood carbon (DWC.. Lower altitude (LA), MA and UA had significant SOC value for both upper (0-30cm) and lower (30-60) layers