Journal de la biodiversité et des espèces menacées

Background: The fast growing natures of conifer tree species and favorable economic returns from these trees have encouraged the conversion of natural grasslands in open forests into tree plantations in ethiopia. The dominant tree species used for this purpose were Podocarpus falcatus, Juniperus procera and Cupressus lusitanica. These tree species plantation is spreading rapidly in mountain, specially, open forest areas of eastern oromia. Therefore, in the current study, we evaluated the effects of these tree species on herbaceous plant composition, distribution and diversity. Data was collected under and outside canopies of each tree in four directions. Four quadrants for each canopy type used. Twenty trees selected from each tree species. Totally, 60 trees were selected purposively. Four quadrants for each canopy type used under and outside canopy of the tree.

Results: The present results showed that tree species had negatively effect on herbaceous plant distribution, composition and diversity where the whole parameters were significantly higher outside canopy than inside canopy cover. The values of IVI reported that the outside canopy was dominated by hyparrhenia rufa while under canopy cover was dominated by oplismenus compositus. Also the value of IVI showed that some of the herbaceous species were found in both canopy types while a few of them were found only inside or outside canopy of the tree species.

Conclusion: Our current study suggests that Podocarpus falcatus, Juniperus procera and Cupressus lusitanica tree species has negative effects on the grassland found in open forest. Therefore, management and monitoring of herbaceous vegetation of grassland found in open forest is crucial in keramile open forest, Goro-Gutu district, eastern ethiopia and open woodlands receiving similar practice.

Research on plant ecology and biodiversity has increasingly used trait-based methods and remote sensing. Remote sensing permits assessing functional qualities over vast contiguous areas, in contrast to traditional field survey (which often samples individual trees), but assigns trait values to biological units like as Using pixel-based techniques is challenging for both species and individuals. We compared a pixel-based method with a technique based on aerial LiDAR-delineated individual tree crowns (ITCs) for evaluating functional features from remote sensing data in a subtropical forest setting in China. As pixel size and extent varied, we examined the trait distributions, trait-trait correlations, and functional diversity metrics produced using the ITC- and pixel-based techniques. We discovered that physiological differences between ITC- and pixel-based techniques were overshadowed by variations in morphological features determined from airborne laser scanning.

In order to strengthen and restore delicate ecological settings, vegetation is crucial. The eco-environment has been significantly impacted by mining activities in the loess-filled Antaibao opencast coal mine, and it is unclear how the vegetation is related to the environment. Therefore, it is essential to comprehend how topographic and soil elements affect vegetation restoration in order to strengthen the vulnerable ecosystems of damaged land. In 50 reclamation sample plots in the Shanxi Pingshuo Antaibao opencast coal mine dumps, the soil, topography, and vegetation were examined. One-way ANOVA, significance testing with SPSS 20.0, and multivariate detrended correspondence analysis techniques were all used in the statistical analyses for this study. Presently, 12% of China's total coal production comes from open-pit mines.

Herbivores are known to select habitats that provide maximum forage intake. The availability of preferred habitat determines the spatial and temporal distribution of herbivores in savanna woodland ecosystems. Understanding habitat preference of a targeted wildlife species is crucial for developing effective management strategies. Hence, the objective of this study was to examine the importance of various habitats to the hartebeest population in the national park. Research data was collected on animal-group activity through observation. The observed animal-group activity was recorded on check-sheets alongside some ecological parameters. The survey showed a significance between the antelope-group size and behavior X²=5.441 df=3, P<0.05. Nonetheless, the survey witnessed animal-group size ranging from 1-5 (22%) and 6-10 (78%) respectively. More so, antelopes’ movement recorded a significant activity 70% compared to feeding 20%, rest 7% and drinking 4% respectively. There was a significance between antelope-group behavior and vegetation X²=9.723 df=6, P<0.05. Three vegetation types were considered during this study, grassland 48%, shrub-land 45%, and forest patches 7% respectively. This study observed the hartebeest antelopes feeding on grass vegetation 93% and lower branches of shrubs 7% due to their large body sizes. Also, there was a significance between landscape and hartebeest-group behavior X²=34.371 df=9, P<0.05. Antelope-group behavior was predominantly recorded in flat landscape areas 55% than slope 30%, hill 11%, and flood plains 4% respectively. Furthermore, landscape recorded a significance on vegetation types X²=3.332 df=6, P<0.05. Bouba-ndjidda national park is rich in wildlife population such as antelopes; hence, more study is needed to be done to understand the population dynamics and behavior of the hartebeest antelopes. Unfortunately, the wildlife population in the national park does not have a rich database research reference compared to other national parks in sub Saharan Africa region.