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<p>Understanding woody species community distributions is imperative for grasping species coexistence mechanisms, resource tolerance and utilization, and management regimes at specific spatiotemporal scales. However, exclosure-induced woody species community assembly, significant indicator species, and local-scale community-environment relations, especially topographic elements and edaphic variables, are not well explored. Here, we evaluated woody species community assembly in four forest exclosure ages based on indicator species and their relationships to environmental gradients in the north-eastern highlands of Ethiopia. A total of 185 sampling plots (20 × 20&#xa0;m) were established to study the woody species community distribution patterns. Indicator species analysis, Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA), Redundancy Analysis (RDA) Ordination, and agglomerative hierarchical clustering were used to provide an in-depth analysis of woody species community classification and relationships with environmental gradients. In addition, Multi-Response Permutation Procedure (MRPP) and one-way ANOVA were used to compare significance differences in community clusters and diversity metrics. The result identified six woody species community types with significant variations in their clusters. The one-way ANOVA revealed significant differences in the taxonomic metrics of woody species among different community types. In this regard, the <i>Myrica salicifolia</i>—<i>Pittosporum viridiflorum</i> community, bearing 53 woody species across 61 plots, displayed the highest average number of woody species (<i>R</i> = 19.3 ± 2.5) and alpha diversity (H’ = 3.19 ± 0.18). The study found a high similarity index (94%) between <i>Gymnosporia senegalensis</i>—<i>Vachellia etbaica</i> and <i>Myrica salicifolia</i>—<i>Pittosporum viridiflorum</i> wood species community types. The RDA showed topographic elements (elevation, slope, and slope position) and edaphic factors (sand, soil bulk density, calcium, and soil pH) as significant explanatory variables in shaping and hosting local-scale woody species community patterns, with elevation being the most noteworthy gradient. In general, it could be concluded that exclosure-induced conservation can potentially improve the distribution of woody plant species community types and significant indicator species. This urges for a combination of holistic and integrated approaches to enhance the livelihoods and service provision of local communities while ensuring sustainable ecosystem stewardship.</p>

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Environmental drivers of Afromontane woody plant community assembly: evidence from exclosures in north-eastern highlands of Ethiopia

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月22日

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  • Getahun Yemata,
  • Meseret Muche,
  • Wubetie Adnew,
  • Eyayu Molla,
  • A. Muthama Muasya

摘要

Understanding woody species community distributions is imperative for grasping species coexistence mechanisms, resource tolerance and utilization, and management regimes at specific spatiotemporal scales. However, exclosure-induced woody species community assembly, significant indicator species, and local-scale community-environment relations, especially topographic elements and edaphic variables, are not well explored. Here, we evaluated woody species community assembly in four forest exclosure ages based on indicator species and their relationships to environmental gradients in the north-eastern highlands of Ethiopia. A total of 185 sampling plots (20 × 20 m) were established to study the woody species community distribution patterns. Indicator species analysis, Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA), Redundancy Analysis (RDA) Ordination, and agglomerative hierarchical clustering were used to provide an in-depth analysis of woody species community classification and relationships with environmental gradients. In addition, Multi-Response Permutation Procedure (MRPP) and one-way ANOVA were used to compare significance differences in community clusters and diversity metrics. The result identified six woody species community types with significant variations in their clusters. The one-way ANOVA revealed significant differences in the taxonomic metrics of woody species among different community types. In this regard, the Myrica salicifolia—Pittosporum viridiflorum community, bearing 53 woody species across 61 plots, displayed the highest average number of woody species (R = 19.3 ± 2.5) and alpha diversity (H’ = 3.19 ± 0.18). The study found a high similarity index (94%) between Gymnosporia senegalensis—Vachellia etbaica and Myrica salicifolia—Pittosporum viridiflorum wood species community types. The RDA showed topographic elements (elevation, slope, and slope position) and edaphic factors (sand, soil bulk density, calcium, and soil pH) as significant explanatory variables in shaping and hosting local-scale woody species community patterns, with elevation being the most noteworthy gradient. In general, it could be concluded that exclosure-induced conservation can potentially improve the distribution of woody plant species community types and significant indicator species. This urges for a combination of holistic and integrated approaches to enhance the livelihoods and service provision of local communities while ensuring sustainable ecosystem stewardship.