A Comparative Study on the Behavioural Ecology and Conservation of the Southern Gelada (Theropithecus Gelada Obscurus) in and Around Borena Sayint National Park, Ethiopia
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2018-04-03
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
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.
Description
Keywords
Activity Budget, Behavioural Flexibility, Conservation, Feeding Ecology, Southern Gelada, BSNP