# Ecological Factors Influence Diversity, Structure, and Regeneration Status of Woody Plant Species in Basso Subwatershed, Gamo Zone, Ethiopia

## TL;DR

This study examines how ecological factors affect woody plant diversity and regeneration in a woodland area in Ethiopia.

## Contribution

The study identifies key environmental factors influencing woody plant communities and regeneration in the Basso Subwatershed.

## Key findings

- Slope, disturbance, and grazing intensity significantly affect woody vegetation patterns.
- Acalypha fruticosa, Terminalia brownii, Combretum molle, and Balanites aegyptiaca are the most dominant woody species.
- Species like Dichrostachys cinerea, Grewia bicolor, and Maytenus senegalensis show low regeneration rates.

## Abstract

Ethiopian woodlands offer a variety of cultural, social, and economic advantages. However, human disturbances, climate change, and changes in land use may have influences on the benefits and services that woodlands currently provide. Furthermore, the distribution of plant ecosystems can be influenced by ecological characteristics. This study aimed to identify the types of plant communities, the relationships between plant communities and environmental conditions, the diversity, composition, and structure of woody plant species, and the regeneration status of woody species in the Basso Subwatershed. To gather information on vegetation and environmental conditions, systematic random sampling was employed. Fifty-two 20 m × 20 m sample quadrats were set up to assess trees and shrubs, and five 5 × 5 m subplots were created to assess seedlings and saplings. Woody species diversity was evaluated using the Shannon–Weiner diversity index, species richness, and Shannon evenness. Canonical correspondence analysis was used to examine links between vegetation and the environmental factors. In this study, a total of 28 plant species that belong to 17 families and five different plant community types were identified. The richness and diversity of species differed depending on the type of community. The overall Shannon–Wiener diversity index (2.65), species richness (25), and the Shannon evenness value (0.84) of the woodland were recorded in the subwatershed. Findings show that slope, disturbance, and grazing intensity reflected significant effects on woody vegetation patterns in the Basso Subwatershed (p < 0.01). However, altitude, aspect, and human impacts did not show significant effects on woody vegetation patterns in the Basso Subwatershed (p > 0.01). The most dominant woody species in the subwatershed were Acalypha fruticosa, Terminalia brownii, Combretum molle, and Balanites aegyptiaca. In the future, rehabilitation and sustainable vegetation management techniques will take into consideration significant environmental factors, particularly for species with low rates of regeneration like Dichrostachys cinerea, Grewia bicolor, and Maytenus senegalensis.