PHYTOSOCIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY OF A HUMID AFROMONTANE FOREST ON THE CENTRAL PLATEAU OF ETHIOPIA

This paper describes an analysis of the floristic composition and ecological relationships of the Jibat forest, a large remnant humid forest in western Shewa, Ethiopia. The description was based on cover-abundance data for both woody and understorey species. The environmental analysis included altitude, slope, aspect, and physical and chemical soil properties. The application of classification and ordination methods resulted in the recognition of eight community types, which could be arranged along an altitudinal gradient. Organic matter, cation exchange capacity, phosphorus, and silt are positively correlated, while clay, electrical conductance and magnesium are negatively correlated with altitude. A clearer result was obtained when Canonical Correspondence Analysis was applied only to the woody species composition.