Assessment of diversity of plant species, composition, structure and regeneration status in Gondar Zuria District, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study assesses the composition, arrangement, and state of regeneration in Gondar Zuria District. The two transect lines over the gradient were set up using a systematic random sample strategy in order to gather the number of species and their diameter for tree species in DBH (cm). The distance between the sample plots was 50 m, and the transect lines were 50 m apart. 12 circular plots were used in the total sample area of the botanical garden, and the sizes of the circular plots were 6.5 m for trees, 4.5 m for saplings, and 2.5 m for seedlings. Using the important value index and the diameter at breast height, the pattern of plant structure displays an inverted J shape. A review of the botanical garden’s plant species’ regeneration status revealed that, of the tree and shrub species, 6.25% had fair regeneration status and 25% had poor regeneration quality. While 56.25% of plant species that were only available as saplings or seedlings were regarded as “new” at the botanical garden, a total of 25% of plant species were not regenerating at all. At the study site, the species diversity as determined by the Shannon-Weiner (H’) index was 1.58. But this value shows the species diversity is included in the low biodiversity range unless they are well managed from disturbance. The species composition of the site shows a few species; only 16 plant species were found. A high number of individual species are found in the Leguminosae family.