A preliminary survey of medium and large‐sized mammals from Lebu Natural Protected Forest, Southwest Showa, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the species composition and diversity of medium and large‐sized mammals from Lebu Natural Protected Forest, Ethiopia. Surveys were conducted to record mammals through direct observation and indirect evidence from three habitat types, namely: natural forest, bushland, and riverine forest. A total of 15 mammalian species were recorded. The species recorded were Papio anubis, Chlorocebus aethiops, Tragelaphus scriptus, Canis aureus, Crocuta crocuta, Panthera pardus, Procavia capensis, Colobus guereza, Sylvicapra grimmia, Orycteropus afer, Helogale parvula, Hystrix cristata, Lepus fagani, Potamochoerus larvatus, and Phacochoeus africanus. A total of 223 records of observations were compiled. About 74% of these records (N = 167) were obtained from direct sight, whereas the rest was recorded through indirect evidence. The dominant order recorded was order Primates (57.4%) followed by order Artiodactyla (17.5%) while the least record was order Lagomorpha (1.34%). The species richness varied across the stratified habitat types. However, there is no significant difference in Shannon–Wiener Index values between the habitat types. The species diversity of the study area was H′ = 2.119. The present study area is of great potential area for the conservation of the species. Long‐term detailed studies should be carried out for effective conservation and management initiatives in the study area.

Impacts of habitats and seasons on mammalian diversity and distribution in the Faragosa-Fura landscape, Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia

“…The species index of the diversity of the study area showed higher species richness (H = 2.56; 1-D = 0.8968) than to study conducted by Qufa and Bekele (2019) in the Lebu natural protected forest, Ethiopia (H = 2.119; 1-D = 0.8167). The grassland habitat is characterized by greater species richness and Shannon diversity index, and vice versa for wetland habitats.…”

“…The conservation status of each species was also identified based on the IUCN Red List (IUCN, 2021). An individual-based rarefaction method was used to estimate species richness and abundance in habitat types and seasons (Legese et al, 2019;Qufa & Bekele, 2019). Similarities in species composition among habitats were presented using Venn diagram.…”

“…This in line with the work of Kasso and Bekele (2017) in the Assela fragmented forest, Ethiopia, but disagrees with the work of Worku and Girma (2020) in the Geremba forest of Southern Ethiopia where more mammalian species were observed during the wet season than the dry season. The possible explanation for this could be the growth of herbaceous and ground vegetation provided thick cover for the mammalian species, which makes the sighting of them difficult (Diriba et al, 2020;Girma et al, 2012;Qufa & Bekele, 2019).…”

“…Conversely, mammalian species have been in an extinction crisis globally and locally due to anthropogenic activities (Ripple et al, 2014;. Habitat loss and degradation and harvesting (hunting/gathering for food, medicine, fuel, and materials) are by far the main threats to mammalian species (Bakala & Mekonen, 2020;Kasso & Bekele, 2017;Mekonen, 2020;Qufa & Bekele, 2019;Wale, 2017).…”

“…Be that as it may, the study of mammalian species in communal areas is equally important Lemma & Tekalign, 2020;Tamrat et al, 2020;Udy et al, 2021) even more because of the huge anthropogenic pressures (Burgin et al, 2018;Girma et al, 2012;Legese et al, 2019;. There are some documented information on mammalian species of human-dominated landscapes in the northern, southwestern, southeastern, and central parts of Ethiopia (Bakala & Mekonen, 2020;Gebresenbet et al, 2018;Getachew & Mesele, 2018;Lavrenchenko & Bekele, 2017;Legese et al, 2019;Qufa & Bekele, 2019) and a few in Southern Ethiopia (Diriba et al, 2020;Girma et al, 2012;Lemma & Tekalign, 2020). There are several intact forests in the southern parts of Ethiopia.…”