Species Composition, Distribution and Relative Abundance of Large Mammals in and around Wondo Genet Forest Patch, Southern Ethiopia

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.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

“…Olive baboon (P. anubis) was the most abundant species, both in the natural forest habitat type and in the present study area. Similarly, Girma, Mamo, and Ersado (2012) (Mullu & Solomon, 2016). Also, this species might account to use the natural forest to escape from the local people attack to prevent their crops-ride from wildlife.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Qufa

Bekele

2019

“…angustifolia , and scattered Erica arborea at the summit of mount Abaro (Kebede et al., ). Anthropogenic fire occasionally occurs in the upper altitude of the wooded grassland habitat often impacting the vegetation dynamics and survival of the wildlife species (Girma, Mamo, & Ersado, ; Kebede et al., ). The grassland habitat consisted of undifferentiated grassland with scattered tress species of Podocarpus falcatus , Acacia spp., and Eucalyptus spp.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Location points were randomly generated in a geographical information system (GIS) using ArcGIS software v10.1 (ESRI, ). From field observations and site descriptions found in the literature (Girma et al., ; Kebede et al., ), the approximate area of each habitat type in the study area was estimated to determine the proportion of sample plots needed to represent each of the four habitat types. A total of 16 point transects representing each habitat were systematically established to estimate the diversity and abundance of birds of Wondo Genet Forest Patches.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The wooded grassland habitat covers the upland areas with rugged topography (2,200-2,670 m asl) and dominated by grassland intermixed with scattered stands of shrubs predominantly Protea aguedi, Myyrsine africana, Dodonaea viscose, D. angustifolia, and scattered Erica arborea at the summit of mount Abaro (Kebede et al, 2013). Anthropogenic fire occasionally occurs in the upper altitude of the wooded grassland habitat often impacting the vegetation dynamics and survival of the wildlife species (Girma, Mamo, & Ersado, 2012;Kebede et al, 2013). The grassland habitat consisted of undifferentiated grassland with scattered tress species of Podocarpus falcatus, Acacia spp., and Eucalyptus spp.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Seasonal abundance and habitat use of bird species in and around Wondo Genet Forest, south‐central Ethiopia

Girma

Mamo

Mengesha

et al. 2017

Self Cite

The habitat use and seasonal migratory pattern of birds in Ethiopia is less explored as compared to diversity studies. To this end, this study aimed at investigating the patterns of distribution related to seasonality and the effect of habitat characteristics (elevation, slope, and average vegetation height) on habitat use of birds of Wondo Genet Forest Patch. A stratified random sampling design was used to assess the avian fauna across the four dominant habitat types found in the study area: natural forest, wooded grassland, grassland, and agroforestry land. A point transect count was employed to investigate avian species richness and abundance per habitat type per season. Ancillary data, such as elevation above sea level, latitude and longitude, average vegetation height, and percent slope inclination, were recorded with a GPS and clinometers per plot. A total of 33 migratory bird species were recorded from the area, of which 20 species were northern (Palearctic) migrants while 13 were inter-African migrants. There was a significant difference in the mean abundance of migratory bird species between dry and wet seasons (t = 2.13, p = .038, df = 44). The variation in mean abundance per plot between the dry and wet seasons in the grassland habitat was significant (t = 2.35, p = .051, df = 7). In most habitat types during both dry and wet seasons, omnivore birds were the most abundant. While slope was a good predictor for bird species abundance in the dry season, altitude and average vegetation height accounted more in the wet season. The patch of forest and its surrounding is an important bird area for migratory, endemic, and global threatened species. Hence, it is conservation priority area, and the study suggests that conservation coupled with ecotourism development is needed for its sustainability. K E Y W O R D Saltitude, average vegetation height, distribution, feeding guilds, migratory, slope

Diversity of medium and large mammals in the Loka Abaya National Park, southern Ethiopia

Diriba¹,

Tamene²,

Mengesha³

et al. 2020

We evaluated the richness, diversity, and composition of the medium and large mammal community in the Loka Abaya National Park (LANP), southern Ethiopia, and how these parameters differ among four habitat types: wooded grassland, riverine forest, hilly scrubland and wetland, and between seasons. We recorded a total of 2,573 individual animals of 28 medium and large mammal species in the park. This included three globally threatened species: the endangered African wild dog (Lycaon pictus), the vulnerable Leopard (Panthera pardus), and Hippopotamus (Hippopothamus amphibius). Season had little effect on species richness, diversity, and composition both across and within habitat types. However, species richness across seasons was significantly different among the four habitat types, in the declining order of the following: wooded grassland > riverine forest > hilly scrubland > wetland. The strongest similarity in species composition, both across and within seasons, was found between wooded grassland and riverine forest. In terms of relative abundance, mammal assemblage of the wooded grassland and wetland habitats had more evenly distributed number of species with different relative abundance categories. Overall, Anubis Baboon (Papio anubis), Grivet Monkey (Chlorocebus aethiops), and Greater Kudu (Tragelephus strepsiceros) were the three most abundant species across habitat types. In conclusion, findings of our study reveal that LANP plays an important role in Ethiopia's mammal conservation. Our findings will serve as baseline information for managers of the park to make effective conservation decisions and as a baseline for researchers wishing to conduct related ecological studies.