Terrestrial medium and large-sized mammalian species diversity in Michole Community Protected Forest, southern Ethiopia

Abstract

The study on medium and large-sized mammalian species' diversity and distribution is important for conservation efforts in the different protected areas of Ethiopia. The present study was intended to investigate the species diversity of medium and large-sized mammalian fauna between October 2019 and July 2020 in Michole Community Protected Forest, southern Ethiopia. The study was conducted by stratification of the study area into three habitat types: riverine forest (3.37 km2), woodland (4.14 km2), and grassland with scattered trees (2.33 km2) based on the vegetation cover. A diurnal transect survey method was implemented to record the mammalian species diversity. A total of 18 representative sample transect lines (six in riverine forest, four in grassland with scattered trees, and eight in woodland habitats) that varied in length and width were used. A total of 17 species of medium and large-sized mammalian species were identified and recorded in the study area. As a result, the orders Carnivora and Primates have the greatest abundance, while the order Lagomorpha has the least. Anubis baboon (Papio anubis) was the most abundant species (15.14%), followed by Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) (12.98%), Crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata) (12.51%), Vervet monkey (Chlorocebus aethiops) (10.35%), Common duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia) (8.80%), and Giant root-rat (Tachyoryctes macrocephalus) (8.65%). The distributions of mammals among the three habitat types were comparable. The riverine forest harbored the highest mammalian diversity index (H′ = 2.35) followed by the woodland (H′ = 2.32), and the grassland with scattered trees (H′ = 2.30), respectively. The greatest species similarity was recorded in woodland (0.902). The study area harbors considerable mammalian species that are threatened by interacting anthropogenic factors. So, urgent conservation measures by concerned sectors are needed to safeguard these animals and their habitat.

The role of Dodola Community Conservation Area for large mammal conservation, Ethiopia

“…Similarly, [ 26 ] recorded 21 medium and large mammals in the Jorgo-Wato protected forest, in western Ethiopia. Michole Community Protected Forest was reported to harbor 17 species of large and medium-sized mammals [ 19 ].…”

“…The length and width of the transect line varied from habitat to habitat because of the topography, vegetation structure, and diversity; the length of the line transect in the sub-afro-alpine (Erica scrubland habitat) was 2.5 km and the maximum sighting distance was 300 m, in Dry Evergreen Afro-montane forest transect line length of 1.5 km and 200 m width was used, while in the plantation forest the transect line length was 2 km and 200 m width was used. The distance between two adjacent transects ranged from 1 to 1.5 km to avoid double counting of the same individuals and transects were transversed against the direction of the wind to minimize disturbance [ 19 , 43 , 44 ].…”

“…Surveys of large wild mammals were carried out during early morning hours (6:00 to 10:00 a.m.) and late afternoon hours (3:00 to 5:00 p.m.), when most mammals were more active [ 17 , 19 , 26 , 30 ]. Sampling was done for a total of forty days, twenty days in each wet and dry season.…”

“…The Ethiopian wildlife conservation approach has been predominantly a top-down approach in that wildlife conservation is exclusively carried out by wildlife authorities with little or no participation of the local communities [ 14 , 17 , 18 ]. This has led to the development of a negative attitude towards wildlife resource conservation, which in turn has caused wildlife population decline and habitat degradation, fragmentation, and loss [ 19 – 21 ]. In Ethiopia, in response to this challenge, over the last 15 years, there has been a paradigm shift from a traditional top-down approach to a more participatory bottom-up approach that encourages local communities to actively participate in wildlife conservation decisions and considers them an important partner for conservation [ 8 ].…”

Relationships between Anthropogenic Activities and Distribution of Medium to Large Mammal Species Assemblage in Madi Wildlife Corridor: Implication for Biodiversity Conservation in Uganda

“…Mammalian species are indicators and umbrella species of terrestrial ecosystems (Agebo and Tekalign 2022) because they help conserve other species and maintain ecosystem balance (Jorgensen and Ostanza 2005). Particularly, medium and large-sized mammals are good indicators of ecosystem health in savannah woodland communities (Larsen 2016).…”