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Addis Ababa University Libraries Electronic Thesis and Dissertations: AAU-ETD! >
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http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/3005
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| Title: | DUNG SEED BANK OF LIVESTOCK IN WEBERI ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA |
| Authors: | Rawda, Seman |
| Advisors: | Prof. Zerihun Woldu |
| Keywords: | Abandoned,
restoration
livestock dung
endozoochory |
| Copyright: | Jul-2007 |
| Date Added: | 11-May-2012 |
| Publisher: | AAU |
| Abstract: | Dung seed content of cattle, donkey and sheep were studied using a greenhouse
technique. Four replicates of 125 g dry weight of dung from each type of livestock
were collected during 12 consecutive sessions starting from October 2/2006 –
March16/2007 in natural grassland. The comparison is done among animal dung
and control as well as within animal dung in 15, 30, 60, 90 and 180 days
intervals. Multivariate numerical analysis as resemblance index was used to
compare species composition among animals dung sources. A substantial
quantity and range of seeds are dispersed by the three livestock species in
grazed ecosystems, and this could have a significant effect on the dynamics and
species richness of these systems. A total of 7417 seedling from 41 species
germinated which is equivalent to 206 germinations per kg of dung. The most
abundantly and frequently recorded plant species were Eragrostis teff and
Trifolium tembense and different Poaceae and Fabaceae species. Seed density
and species richness were further analyzed by Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index.
This study proves the effectiveness of livestock in the dispersal of viable seed via
dung. The differences in richness and vegetation composition show clarification
over time. This experiment proves the potential utility of this treatment for the
restoration of species richness in abandoned pastures. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/3005 |
| Appears in: | Thesis - Environmental Sciences
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