Browsing by Author "Kifle Zewdu"
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item A Comparative Study on the Behavioural Ecology and Conservation of the Southern Gelada (Theropithecus Gelada Obscurus) in and Around Borena Sayint National Park, Ethiopia(Addis Ababa University, 2018-04-03) Kifle Zewdu; Bekele Afework (Professor)A Comparative Study on the Behavioural Ecology and Conservation of the Southern Gelada (Theropithecus gelada obscurus) in and around Borena Sayint National Park, Ethiopia Zewdu Kifle Aweke, Doctoral degree Addis Ababa University, 2018 The southern gelada (Theropithecus gelada obscurus) is an endemic little known subspecies of gelada that occur in northern central highlands of Ethiopia. The study was conducted for 18 months (May 2015–March 2017) to investigate the flexibility of southern geladas in terms of their behavioural ecology by comparing two bands (Selam and Tikure) that occupied different habitat types in and around Borena Sayint National Park (BSNP). The study also examined the magnitude of human-gelada conflict and assessed the attitude of local farmers toward the conservation of geladas. The population size of geladas was estimated, and their group sizes were also compared between fragments and BSNP. Total count method was employed to estimate the population size of geladas. Data on the activity budget, feeding ecology, ranging ecology and microhabitat use of the two bands were quantified using scan sampling method. Data on human-gelada conflict were collected using questionnaire interview method. The population size of geladas was 2786 individuals. The band size in the unprotected area was 40.07 while in BSNP it was 81.56. The overall time spent feeding, moving, resting, grooming and socializing between the two bands were not significant. Selam band spent significantly more time feeding during the dry season than the wet season (p = 0.049); however, for Tikure band the difference was not significant (p = 0.112). The trend of activity pattern of the two bands differed from each other. 74 plant species were identified as food for Selam band while Tikure band was found feeding on 36 plants. Food items consumption markedly varied between seasons. Cumulative aboveground herb consumption was higher for Tikure band than Selam band, and the difference was significant (p < 0.00l). Fruits accounted for 7.18% for Selam band and 0.22% for Tkure band. The similarities of food species of the two bands overlapped very weakly (Sørensen’s coefficient = 0.19). The availability of green grasses was positively correlated with the consumption of grass blades and negatively correlated with underground grass item. The mean annual day path length for Selam band was 2438.35 m while it was 2512.64 m for Tikure band, but the difference was not significant (p = 0.569). Both bands used different home range sizes. Selam spent more time in open grazing plateau while Tikure spent in a long grassland plateau type of microhabitat. Overall, 42.41% of respondents had negative attitude towards geladas, and 92.13% considered them as crop pest. The result showed that southern geladas adapt anthropogenic habitat alterations by adjusting their ecological flexibility with respect to the habitat type. Thus, it is critical to consider the conservation value of humanaltered landscapes.Item Population status, Distribution and Behavioural ecology of the Gelada baboon (Theropithecus gelada) and conflicts with humans in Wonchit Valley, Ethiopia(Addis Ababa University, 2009-07) Kifle Zewdu; Bekele Afework (Professor); Belay Gurja (PhD)A study on gelada baboon (Theropithecus gelada) was carried out to estimate the population status and to determine the seasonal distribution and human – gelada baboon conflict in Wonchit Valley. A band of gelada baboon was selected to study behavioural ecology. The study was carried out from August 2008 to March 2009. Total count method was used to determine the population status and seasonal distribution of gelada baboons. Data on human – gelada conflict was collected using questionnaire interview method. The data were compared using chi-square test. The total average number of gelada baboon in the study area was 1525 during the course of the study. There was seasonal variation in the distribution of gelada baboon across different habitat types. Adult male : adult female sex ratio was 1.00:6.61. The average size of the band was 58.03. The average size of one-male unit was 16.96. The range of group size was from 3 up to 220. They spent 65.18% for feeding, 16.32% moving, 4.59% resting, 13.91% socializing. The home range size was 1.54 km2 during the dry season and 0.22 km2 during the wet season. The total time spent feeding on grass blade was 83.75% and it was 11.75% for bulbs, roots and rhizomes. Gelada baboons in the study area caused crop damage, sharing drinking water and livestock pasture and destroying the grazing pasture by digging. Among the respondents 85.33% had negative attitude towards gelada baboon. Among them 41.33% guard their cereal crops for 6 months. Gelada baboon eats crops during harvesting stage more than in the seedling and vegetative stage of the crops. Key words: Distribution, Gelada baboon, human – gelada baboon conflict, population status, Wonchit Valley