Browsing by Author "Moges Eshetu"

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    Population Structure, Behavioural Ecology and Habitat Vulnerability of Gelada (Theropithecus gelada) in Guassa Community Protected Area, Ethiopia
    (Addis Ababa University, 2015-03) Moges Eshetu; Balakrishnan M. (Professor)
    Gelada is the only survivor of the genus Theropithecus, which once included several successful extinct species that lived in Africa and Asia. The wild populations of gelada are now restricted only to the Ethiopian plateau. The present investigation deals with population structure, behavioural ecology and habitat vulnerability analysis of gelada (Theropithecus gelada) population in Guassa Community Protected Area, Ethiopia. To collect data on population structure and behavioural ecology, three units were identified from six bands of geladas. In order to examine the social bonds among geladas, a total of 2,467 grooming interactions in 320 hours of grooming bouts were extracted from the data set. A total of 7, 890 and 6,250 feeding records were obtained from scan sampling during wet and dry seasons, respectively. Nutritive value of food plants of geladas was determined. For habitat vulnerability analysis, land-cover data from Landsat images of 1986, 2002 and 2013 were used. Structured interviews and group discussions were held with the local people to assess their attitude towards gelada and the protected area. The mean number of females per harem varied from 4.1 to 7.1 for the six studied bands. The sex ratio (females per males), the adult sex ratio and the mean number of reproductive females within the units were not statistically significant between seasons (P > 0.05). In the study bands, there was an overall increase of the population by 17.1 % per annum. The mean annual mortality rate of geladas was 1.4 %. Geladas spent significantly more time in foraging and moving during the dry season compared to the wet season, whereas the time spent in grooming, playing and resting were significantly more during the wet season. The food plants of geladas were better in protein, crude fibre and neutral detergent fibre constituents, but poor in fat. Change detection matrices revealed that within a representative subset of the study area, grassland, Helichrysum, farmland and shrubland have decreased from their previous extent of cover, whereas extents of forest and Erica have increased. The difference in the unit size and variations in time spent on activity patterns of geladas between seasons were related to seasonal variability. The extent of grassland, Helichrysum and shrubland decreased during the period 1986 - 2013. This might be due to human induced and ecological process, whereas the extents of forest and Erica have increased, which might be correlated with the increasing forest conservation efforts in the area. This investigation provides useful information on gelada population structure, habitat changes and attitude of local community towards gelada and their conservation in the study area. Keywords: Behaviour, band, community participation, geladas, Guassa, habitat change detection, land-use/land-cover changes, population structure, nutritive value
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    Species Composition, Distribution, Relative Abundance and Habitat Association of Small Mammals in Denkoro Forest, South Wollo, Ethiopia
    (Addis Ababa University, 2008-07) Moges Eshetu; Bekele Afework (Professor); Tefera Zelealem (PhD)
    A study on the ecology of small mammals was carried out in Denkoro Forest Priority Area from August 2007 to February 2008. Five trapping grids were randomly selected based on the representative habitat types; open grassland, moorland, Lobelia with Hypericum, montane forest and farmland. Both live and snap traps were used to capture small mammals. Seven hundred and Ninety three live trapped individuals were captured in 2,940 trap nights. Moreover, a total of 78 individuals of snap trapped small mammals were also captured in 1,500 trap nights. Ten species of small mammals belonging to rodents and insectivores were captured. Additional two rodent species were sighted but not captured. The small mammals trapped were: Lophuromys flavopunctatus (35.7%), Otomys typus (28.5%), Stenocephalemys griseicauda (14.6%), Arvicathis dembeensis (9.1%), Stenocephalemys albipes (1.9%), Pelomys harringtoni (0.8%), Mus mahomet (0.6%), Dendromus lovati (0.3%), and insectivores represented, Crocidura flavescens (5.9%) and Crocidura fumosa (1.4%). Population abundance and species composition of small mammals varied from habitat to habitat and from season to season. L. flavopunctatus and O. typus were the most widely distributed and abundant species, whereas S. albipes, C. fumosa (in the forest), P. harringtoni, D. lovati and M. mahomet (in the farmland) were restricted. Reproduction was high during the wet season. Analysis of the stomach contents of snap trapped small mammals showed plant matter was the common food items. Out of the ten rodent species recorded in the study area, A. dembeensis, M. mahomet and Hystrix cristata were recognized as pest rodents on wheat farm. Key words: Denkoro Forest, habitat association, insectivores, rodents, species composition, Wollo
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    Species Composition, Distribution, Relative Abundance and Habitat Association of Small Mammals in Denkoro Forest, South Wollo, Ethiopia
    (Addis Ababa Universty, 2008-07) Moges Eshetu; Bekele Afework (Professor)
    A study on the ecology of small mammals was carried out in Denkoro Forest Priority Area from August 2007 to February 2008. Five trapping grids were randomly selected based on the representative habitat types; open grassland, moorland, Lobelia with Hypericum, montane forest and farmland. Both live and snap traps were used to capture small mammals. Seven hundred and Ninety three live trapped individuals were captured in 2,940 trap nights. Moreover, a total of 78 individuals of snap trapped small mammals were also captured in 1,500 trap nights. Ten species of small mammals belonging to rodents and insectivores were captured. Additional two rodent species were sighted but not captured. The small mammals trapped were: Lophuromys flavopunctatus (35.7%), Otomys typus (28.5%), Stenocephalemys griseicauda (14.6%), Arvicathis dembeensis (9.1%), Stenocephalemys albipes (1.9%), Pelomys harringtoni (0.8%), Mus mahomet (0.6%), Dendromus lovati (0.3%), and insectivores represented, Crocidura flavescens (5.9%) and Crocidura fumosa (1.4%). Population abundance and species composition of small mammals varied from habitat to habitat and from season to season. L. flavopunctatus and O. typus were the most widely distributed and abundant species, whereas S. albipes, C. fumosa (in the forest), P. harringtoni, D. lovati and M. mahomet (in the farmland) were restricted. Reproduction was high during the wet season. Analysis of the stomach contents of snap trapped small mammals showed plant matter was the common food items. Out of the ten rodent species recorded in the study area, A. dembeensis, M. mahomet and Hystrix cristata were recognized as pest rodents on wheat farm. Key words: Denkoro Forest, habitat association, insectivores, rodents, species composition, Wollo