In recent years, the concept of metapopulation has acquired traction in both biological and conse... more In recent years, the concept of metapopulation has acquired traction in both biological and conservation circles. The population of a metapopulation is believed to be unstructured and spatially distributed when modeling it. As a result of both natural and artificial forces, Ethiopia's forest has been fragmented and divided into smaller portions. Due to the expansion of agriculture and urbanization, forest areas have been preserved around Ethiopian Orthodox Church monasteries and churches. Species that are important to the local community are on the edge of extinction in the forest and are seeking shelter in protected or church woodlands. Olea europaea subsp. Cuspidata is a plant that is widely used by locals in different sections of the country. The study's major goal is to determine the population distribution and investigate factors that influence Olea's survival and growth. Both a plot and a comprehensive survey were used to determine the species' prevalence. The metapopulation of the Olea population in the Zobel region was studied using thirty forest patches owned by various owners. The Incidence function model was used to analyze the presence and absence data from both the dry and rainy seasons. The largest patch was 24.06 hectares in size, while the smallest was 0.9 hectares in size. The presence of mature trees in the study area was shown to be strongly influenced by the age of the patch. Forest ownership and the number of goats in the area, according to the GLM data, have a significant impact on the occurrence of Olea seedlings and saplings in the patches. The species' adult stage has been influenced by the local community, and it can only be found in old forests like church forests. Steps must be taken to improve awareness in order to increase the incidence of species planting.
Land cover change in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, is driven by recurring drought and the econ... more Land cover change in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, is driven by recurring drought and the economic problems of society-initiated afforestation. The goal of this study was to learn about the state of woody species regeneration in Yeka’s urban forest patches. Thirty plots (20 m × 20 m in size) were sampled to identify plants for this purpose. All wooden trees with a height greater than 1.3 m in each plot were identified, enumerated, and their diameter were measured. Acacia decurrens was determined to be the predominant species, with an importance value index (IVI) of 161.09, followed by Acacia melanoxlon (IVI = 44.69). The bootstrapping PERMANOVA test was used to show how the species in the community overlapped. The result reveals that dissimilarity is low (p > 0.05), which is supported by the assumption of multivariate dispersion homogeneity. The area’s generalized linear model (GLM) showed all species statistically significant for characteristics associated with closure year a...
Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity, 2021
Asmelash F, Bekele T, Belay Z, Kebede F. 2021. Cordia africana but not Juniperus procera and Podo... more Asmelash F, Bekele T, Belay Z, Kebede F. 2021. Cordia africana but not Juniperus procera and Podocarpus falcatus respond positively to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi at the early stages of seedling development. Biodiversitas 22: 2971-2980. AMF (Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) inoculation could be an important technology to improve the growth and field survival of trees. Hence, we evaluated the mycorrhizal responsiveness of Cordia africana Lam., Juniperus procera (Hoechst. ex Endl.), and Podocarpus falcatus (Thumb.) Mirb. seedlings. Seedlings germinated on sterile sand were transplanted to 1-liter plastic pots filled with sterile and non-sterile degraded bulk soil. Rhizospheric soil from adult C. africana and J. procera were used as whole-soil AMF inocula. Cordia africana and J. procera received conspecific whole-soil AMF inocula while P. falcatus received J. procera inoculum. Hence, in the two-by-two factorial experiment, we also evaluated the growth effects of AMF inoculation, soil type, and their interaction. On the sterile potting soil, MRi (mycorrhizal responsiveness due to AMF inoculation) of C. africana was positive and significantly (p<0.05) greater than the MRi of J. procera and P. falcatus. However, on the non-sterile potting soil, it was significantly greater than the MRi of P. falcatus only. MRs (MR due to the existing potting soil inocula) and considering all growth variables were mostly positive for C. africana but negative for J. procera and P. falcatus. AMF inoculation significantly increased most growth variables of C. africana seedlings and no significant "inoculation" x "soil type" interaction effects were detected. Hence, AMF inoculation of C. africana seedlings could be merited and under wide range of field conditions. In the case of J. procera and P. falcatus, after-planting care could be more appropriate.
Prosopis juliflora (henceforth referred as Prosopis) plant is an invasive species affecting the h... more Prosopis juliflora (henceforth referred as Prosopis) plant is an invasive species affecting the health of rangelands in Afar region of Ethiopia. The study aims to assess (1) the effects of Prosopis invasion on land use land cover (henceforth referred to LULC), and (2) extent of vegetation cover changes. We used a combination of remote sensing data and field observations to analyze the effects Prosopis invasion on land use/ land cover dynamics and changes (LULCC) for the patterns and dynamics of landuse/cover changes for 31 years from 1986 to 2017 in the arid and semi-arid of Sothern Afar rangelands, Ethiopia. The overall accuracy for 1986, 2000, and 2017 were 81.4%, 82.3%, and 84.9% with Kappa statistics of 0.77, 0.79, and 0.82 respectively. In Amibara district, farmlands, water bodies, land under Prosopis, and grassland areas were increased during 1986-2017 by 1879 ha (10.8%), 1197 ha (55.6%), 3132 ha (99.0 %), and 31,039 ha (22.0 %), respectively. However, bare lands and woodlands...
Converting degraded free grazing lands into exclosures is one option to promote natural regenerat... more Converting degraded free grazing lands into exclosures is one option to promote natural regeneration of plants and to restore degraded ecosystems in Ethiopia. The present study was initiated with the objective of assessing the determinants that affect the sustainability of exclosure establishment and management practices at the household level. A total of 180 households were systematically selected and a structured questionnaire was provided to these households to collect their perception. Ten in-depth interviews with key informants 9 FGDs were also carried out. Determinants of farmers’ sustainability of exclosure establishment and management practices were assessed. The empirical results from binary logistic regression model showed age, tenure, and offfarm activity were positive and significant predictors of sustainability of exclosure establishment and management practices while household size, farm size, distance and number of livestock have a negative effect on exclosure establi...
Species tend to shift their suitable habitat both altitudinally and latitudinally under climate c... more Species tend to shift their suitable habitat both altitudinally and latitudinally under climate change. Range shift in plants brings about habitat contraction at rear edges, forcing leading edge populations to explore newly available suitable habitats. In order to detect these scenarios, modeling of the future geographical distribution of the species is widely used. Vachellia negrii (Pic.-Serm.) Kyal. & Boatwr. is endemic to Ethiopia and was assessed as vulnerable due to changes to its habitat by anthropogenic impacts. It occurs in upland wooded grassland from 2000–3100 m.a.s.l. The main objective of this study is to model the distribution of Vachellia negrii in Ethiopia by using Maxent under climate change. Nineteen bioclimatic variables were downloaded from an open source. Furthermore, topographic position index (tpi), solar radiation index (sri) and elevation were used. Two representative concentration pathways were selected (RCP 4.5 and RC P8.5) for the years 2050 and 2070 using...
Research Highlights: Hagenia abyssinica is geographically localized, poor regenerated and endange... more Research Highlights: Hagenia abyssinica is geographically localized, poor regenerated and endangered species in Ethiopia. Ethiopia has been experiencing variability of rainfall and rise in temperature due to the climate change. This study has hypothesized that the suitable areas for the species will be narrowed by the year 2070. Background and Objective The prediction of species distribution models help to implement appropriate conservation actions. The aim of this research was to identify the current and likely future distribution range and suitable areas for the species, and to determine the presence of H. absyssinica in risk in a short-term future. Material and method: To this end, occurrence data, bioclim variables, soil, elevation, and land cover map of Ethiopia were used. MaxEnt was used to predict distribution. Climate change impacts on the distribution of the species was performed using bioclimatic variables of the future climate data, 2070 (average for 2061-2080) was obtain...
This study was carried out in the Dodola forest, Southern Ethiopia, to investigate the structure,... more This study was carried out in the Dodola forest, Southern Ethiopia, to investigate the structure, reproductive biology, and regeneration status of Podocarpus falcatus. Based on their disturbance status, two blocks each having an area of 16 ha (400 m × 400 m) were laid in the forest to collect vegetation data. 16 plots (100 m × 100 m) and 256 subplots (25 m × 25 m) were established in each block. The population status of Podocarpus falcatus (dbh ≥ 5 cm) was assessed in the 256 subplots. The regeneration status of Podocarpus falcatus was also assessed around 40 randomly selected female trees isolated at least 10 m from any other female tree in each block. A total of 1363 Podocarpus falcatus individuals were recorded, with an average distribution of 43 individuals ha−1 and a higher proportion of small-sized individuals. The population structures of Podocarpus falcatus in the two blocks were a typical inverted J-shape pattern, indicating good regeneration and recruitment status of the s...
Ethiopia aims to restore 15 million ha degraded forests and woodlands, but effects on the potenti... more Ethiopia aims to restore 15 million ha degraded forests and woodlands, but effects on the potentially contrasting goals of long-term carbon storage, biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods are unknown. To quantify the effects of grazing exclusion on vegetation and fire behaviour, we established six 30 × 30 m fenced exclosures with grazed controls, in a mesic wooded savanna. Experimental burns were done after 1.5 years. Tree seedlings were few but more common inside fences. Field layer cover and biomass increased inside fences, and grass species increased in numbers and cover. Fire intensity was higher inside fences, killing shrubs and saplings but not mature trees. Interviews confirmed that overgrazing has resulted in “cool fires”, causing shrub encroachment. High-intensity fires occurred in the 1980s after a zoonotic disease killed most livestock. Short-term increase in carbon storage through fire and grazing exclusion may lead to loss of pasture, and in the long-term increased wi...
The aims of the study were to analyze (1) the effects of Prosopis juliflora (Prosopis) on the spa... more The aims of the study were to analyze (1) the effects of Prosopis juliflora (Prosopis) on the spatial distribution and soil seed banks (SSB) diversity and density, (2) the effects of environmental factors on SSB diversity and density (number of seeds in the soil per unit area), and (3) the effects of animal fecal droppings on SSB diversity, density, and dispersal. Aboveground vegetation data were collected from different Prosopis-infested habitats from quadrats (20 × 20 m) in Prosopis thickets, Prosopis + native species stand, non-invaded woodlands, and open grazing lands. In each Prosopis-infested habitats, soil samples were collected from the litter layer and three successive soil layer, i.e., 0–3 cm, 3–6 cm, and 6–9 cm. Seeds from soil samples and animal fecal matter were separated in the green house using the seedling emergence technique. Invasion of Prosopis had significant effects on the soil seed bank diversity. Results revealed that the mean value of the Shannon diversity of...
Tree species selection and seedlings lack of infective arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) could p... more Tree species selection and seedlings lack of infective arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) could potentially contribute to low forest restoration success in Ethiopia. Hence, we evaluated the comparative field performance of Cordia africana (C. africana), Juniperus procera (J. procera), and Podocarpus falcatus (P. falcatus) seedlings and the effect of whole soil AMF inoculation. Seedlings prepared using the existing practice were planted on a field at Chancho, Central Ethiopia. Seedlings were inoculated with six types of whole soil AMF inoculums, no inoculation being the control. Seedlings survival was determined at the end of the 11 th month; relative growth rate in collar diameter (RGR-CD) and height (RGR-H) was determined at the 1 st , 2 nd , 5 th , 8 th , and 11 th months. We found out that the plantation site were very fertile with available phosphorus (Av P) =103.16 mg/Kg; total nitrogen (TN) = 0.376%; organic carbon (OC) = 3.12%; AMF spore abundance = 6.91±2.00 g-1. None of the P. falcatus and C. africana seedlings survived while 25% of J. procera seedlings survived. AMF inoculation did not have statistically significant effect on RGR-CD and RGR-H but conspecific inoculum resulted in significantly lower RGR-H of C. africana at the 2 nd month, indicating the probability of species specific effect of AMF inoculation.
The plant communities of the forests of southwestern Ethiopia were described based on floristic a... more The plant communities of the forests of southwestern Ethiopia were described based on floristic analysis of the data collected between February 1995 and May 1996. Floristic analysis is based on the cover-abundance values of both woody and herbaceous species. Plant community-environment relationship was assessed based on topographic and some soil physical and chemical characteristics. A total of 101 relevés were analysed at altitudes between 1050 and 2550 m a.s.l. (metres above sea level), and a total of 139 species of vascular plants were identified. Nine plant community types were described. Most of these show significant variations for most of the environmental parameters studied. The species in the forest were phytogeographically related to the Afromontane, Guineo-Congolean or Guineo-Congolean linking species.
Ecosystems worldwide are threatened with the extinction of plants and, at the same time, invasion... more Ecosystems worldwide are threatened with the extinction of plants and, at the same time, invasion by new species. Plant invasiveness and loss of species can be caused by similar but opposing pressures on the community structures. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can have multiple positive effects on plant growth, productivity, health, and stress relief. Many endangered species live in symbiosis with AMF. However, the list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN Red List of Threatened Species) indicates that the mycorrhizal status of most of the threatened species has not been assessed. Rare plants often occur in specialized and also endangered habitats and might utilize specialized or unique AMF. The specificity of any endangered plant to its AMF population has not been investigated. Because most of the current AMF isolates that are available colonize a broad range of plant species, selected inocula could be used to promote growth of endangered plants before the proper and more effective indigenous AMF are characterized. Application of AMF in field sites to protect endangered plants is hardly feasible due to the complexity of plant community structures and the large amount of fungal inocula needed. Endangered plants could, however, be grown as greenhouse cultures together with appropriate fungi, and, at the relevant developmental stage, they could be replanted into native sites to prevent extinction and to preserve plant community ecology.
An ethnoboatnical study was carried out in Cheffa plain, Ethiopia, between 20 November 1999 to 30... more An ethnoboatnical study was carried out in Cheffa plain, Ethiopia, between 20 November 1999 to 30 February 2000. Ethnobotanical data of wild plants were obtained from local key informants, mainly based on semi-structured interviews. A total of 206 plant species distributed in 148 genera and 66 families were documented. Of these 54 species are non-cultivated food plants, 83 medicinal, 38 forage, 39 cleansing, laundry, toothbrush, fumigation and fragrance. The Cheffa people utilize 79 and 31 medicinal plants for his and ethnoveterinary use respectively. Habit of medicinal plants includes shrubs (38 species), herbs (21), trees (13) and climbers (11). The most frequently used plant parts are leaves (33 species). Remedies are usually prepared by pounding, crushing and squeezing juice (79.69%). The two major route of administrations are oral (53.60%) and dermal (20.72%). Relict forest islands are traditional-community based in sit conservation sites. Traditional community based in situ conservation should be complemented with ex situ conservation activities.
Low-altitude lakes in eastern Africa have long been investigated and have provided valuable infor... more Low-altitude lakes in eastern Africa have long been investigated and have provided valuable information about the Late Quaternary paleohydrological evolution, such as the African Humid Period. However, records often suffer from poor age control, resolution, and/or ambiguous proxy interpretation, and only little focus has been put on high-altitude regions despite their sensitivity to global, regional, and local climate change phenomena. Here we report on Last Glacial environmental fluctuations at about 4000 m asl on the Sanetti Plateau in the Bale Mountains (SE Ethiopia), based on biogeochemical and palynological analyses of laminated lacustrine sediments. After deglaciation at about 18 cal kyr BP, a steppe-like herb-rich grassland with maximum Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae and Plantago existed. Between 16.6 and 15.7 cal kyr BP, conditions were dry with a desiccation layer at ~ 16.3 cal kyr BP, documenting a temporary phase of maximum aridity on the plateau. While that local event las...
On the Ground We analyzed the composition and spatial variations of soil seed banks of plant spec... more On the Ground We analyzed the composition and spatial variations of soil seed banks of plant species and densities of soil seed banks in Prosopis juliflora invaded and noninvaded grasslands. Soil samples were collected from soil layers of 0 to 3, 3 to 6, and 6 to 9 cm. The highest density of 1,037 ± 633 seedlings/m2 was recovered from a soil depth of 3 to 6 cm. But, the lowest density of 461 ± 315 seedlings/m2 was recovered from the depth of 0 to 3 cm. In noninvaded grasslands, the lowest density of 94 ± 32 seedlings/m2 was germinated in the soil depth of 0 to 3 cm. In Prosopis juliflora grasslands at the 3 to 6 cm, the density was 519 ± 257 seedlings/m2, but 1,484 ± 1,144 seedlings/m2 was in the noninvaded grasslands at the depth of 3 to 6 cm. Our findings have implications for recovery of rangelands after disturbances.
Background: Traditional management regimes and knowledge systems of forest resources have shaped ... more Background: Traditional management regimes and knowledge systems of forest resources have shaped forests throughout the world where materials from individual species are harvested in a sustainable manner. To comprehend this, the vegetation of Hugumburda-Gratkhassu Forest was described and related to anthropogenic factors. Methods: Three ethnobotanical research methods were used to collect indigenous knowledge of the local inhabitants related to conservation and utilization of forest resources. Direct matrix ranking was conducted to discover local attitudes on species preference for multiple use. During this work, the 46 most important tree and shrub species were selected based on recommendations of local guides and key informants to determine the range of uses obtained from each species. Through paired comparison, activities supposed to be the major cause of degradation of the forest were adopted. Pairs of activities were then established from the relation n (n-1)/2. Each respondent was then asked to select an activity that he considered being a major problem to management of the forest. Semi-structured interviews were used to obtain information from sixty local informants to address community attitudes towards forest management and utilization. Results: The result obtained from direct matrix ranking showed; that 20 out of 46 plant species compared had the highest scores and rank, indicating that these species are the most important and are exploited by the local communities for multiple purposes. The paired comparison exercise revealed logging for construction materials to be the major threat to the forest due to cutting of large volume of wood for construction of churches, health centers, schools and new houses. Juniperus procera, Olea europaea ssp. cuspidata, Rhus glutinosa, Ficus sur, Hagenia abyssinica, Cassipourea malosana and Acacia etbaica were the most selected and exploited plant species for these purposes. Conclusions: Survival of protected areas depends on the support of local communities, rather than on fences, fines, or even force. The local communities in the study area have a rich indigenous ecological knowledge to suggest appropriate solutions for improvement of the forest resources. Thus the old tradition of isolating forests from the community has to be avoided and the basic needs and traditional rights of the communities over the uses of forest resources should be recognized.
Background Different land-use systems have different potentials to change soil chemical propertie... more Background Different land-use systems have different potentials to change soil chemical properties either positively or negatively. Hence, scientifically information on the soil chemical properties dynamics under different land-use systems is crucial for best land management practices, and to avoiding ecological negative impacts of it for sustainable development. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of different land-use systems and soil depths on selected soil chemical properties in Yerer forest and its surrounding area, central Ethiopia. The land-use systems included natural forest, four exotic tree plantation species (Eucalyptus globules, Cupressus lusitanica, Grevillea robusta, and Pinus patuala), grassland, grazing land, and agricultural cropland . Results The analysis of variance (ANOVA) for the majority of soil chemical properties of OC, TN, Avial. P, soil pH, EC, CEC, and exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg, K, Na) were showed that significant variations among land-use systems (P&l...
Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, Sep 28, 2013
Though the majority of people in Ethiopia at large, and at Bale Mountains National Park in partic... more Though the majority of people in Ethiopia at large, and at Bale Mountains National Park in particular, rely on ethnomedicinal plant species to manage human ailments, the indigenous knowledge largely remains undocumented. Therefore, an ethnobotanical study was conducted on medicinal plant species used to manage human ailments at Bale Mountains National Park, Southeastern Ethiopia. Observations and semi-structured interviews were used to gather ethnobotanical data. Altogether, 56 ailments were reported to be managed using 101 different ethnomedicinal plant species. Consensus of traditional healers was high in managing eczema (ICF = 0.58), tinea versicolor (ICF = 0.50), rheumatism (ICF = 0.43), haemorrhoids (ICF = 0.33), earache (ICF = 0.33) and gonorrhoea (ICF = 0.27). The mean number of plant species used by each healer showed significant difference with district. Most medicinal plant species reported in this study were found to be under threat and this calls for urgent conservation measures so as to maximize the sustainable use of these vital resources in the study area.
Introduction: In Ethiopia, the majority of animal owners throughout the country depend on traditi... more Introduction: In Ethiopia, the majority of animal owners throughout the country depend on traditional healthcare practices to manage their animals’ health. Ethnoveterinary practices play significantly greater roles in livestock health care as an alternative or integral part of modern veterinary practices. This is because traditional medicines have remained the most economically affordable and easily available form of therapies for resource-poor communities. Even although, ethnoveterinary medicine is the most important and has higher acceptance and trust by the community in Ethiopia, ethnoveterinary medicinal plants and associated indigenous practices are not adequately documented. This study aimed to identify and document ethnoveterinary medicinal plants with their associated indigenous practices along with the habitats of these plants in Ensaro district.Methods: This ethnobotanical survey included 389 informants (283 males and 106 females) from all 14 kebeles of Ensaro district, wh...
In recent years, the concept of metapopulation has acquired traction in both biological and conse... more In recent years, the concept of metapopulation has acquired traction in both biological and conservation circles. The population of a metapopulation is believed to be unstructured and spatially distributed when modeling it. As a result of both natural and artificial forces, Ethiopia's forest has been fragmented and divided into smaller portions. Due to the expansion of agriculture and urbanization, forest areas have been preserved around Ethiopian Orthodox Church monasteries and churches. Species that are important to the local community are on the edge of extinction in the forest and are seeking shelter in protected or church woodlands. Olea europaea subsp. Cuspidata is a plant that is widely used by locals in different sections of the country. The study's major goal is to determine the population distribution and investigate factors that influence Olea's survival and growth. Both a plot and a comprehensive survey were used to determine the species' prevalence. The metapopulation of the Olea population in the Zobel region was studied using thirty forest patches owned by various owners. The Incidence function model was used to analyze the presence and absence data from both the dry and rainy seasons. The largest patch was 24.06 hectares in size, while the smallest was 0.9 hectares in size. The presence of mature trees in the study area was shown to be strongly influenced by the age of the patch. Forest ownership and the number of goats in the area, according to the GLM data, have a significant impact on the occurrence of Olea seedlings and saplings in the patches. The species' adult stage has been influenced by the local community, and it can only be found in old forests like church forests. Steps must be taken to improve awareness in order to increase the incidence of species planting.
Land cover change in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, is driven by recurring drought and the econ... more Land cover change in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, is driven by recurring drought and the economic problems of society-initiated afforestation. The goal of this study was to learn about the state of woody species regeneration in Yeka’s urban forest patches. Thirty plots (20 m × 20 m in size) were sampled to identify plants for this purpose. All wooden trees with a height greater than 1.3 m in each plot were identified, enumerated, and their diameter were measured. Acacia decurrens was determined to be the predominant species, with an importance value index (IVI) of 161.09, followed by Acacia melanoxlon (IVI = 44.69). The bootstrapping PERMANOVA test was used to show how the species in the community overlapped. The result reveals that dissimilarity is low (p > 0.05), which is supported by the assumption of multivariate dispersion homogeneity. The area’s generalized linear model (GLM) showed all species statistically significant for characteristics associated with closure year a...
Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity, 2021
Asmelash F, Bekele T, Belay Z, Kebede F. 2021. Cordia africana but not Juniperus procera and Podo... more Asmelash F, Bekele T, Belay Z, Kebede F. 2021. Cordia africana but not Juniperus procera and Podocarpus falcatus respond positively to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi at the early stages of seedling development. Biodiversitas 22: 2971-2980. AMF (Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) inoculation could be an important technology to improve the growth and field survival of trees. Hence, we evaluated the mycorrhizal responsiveness of Cordia africana Lam., Juniperus procera (Hoechst. ex Endl.), and Podocarpus falcatus (Thumb.) Mirb. seedlings. Seedlings germinated on sterile sand were transplanted to 1-liter plastic pots filled with sterile and non-sterile degraded bulk soil. Rhizospheric soil from adult C. africana and J. procera were used as whole-soil AMF inocula. Cordia africana and J. procera received conspecific whole-soil AMF inocula while P. falcatus received J. procera inoculum. Hence, in the two-by-two factorial experiment, we also evaluated the growth effects of AMF inoculation, soil type, and their interaction. On the sterile potting soil, MRi (mycorrhizal responsiveness due to AMF inoculation) of C. africana was positive and significantly (p<0.05) greater than the MRi of J. procera and P. falcatus. However, on the non-sterile potting soil, it was significantly greater than the MRi of P. falcatus only. MRs (MR due to the existing potting soil inocula) and considering all growth variables were mostly positive for C. africana but negative for J. procera and P. falcatus. AMF inoculation significantly increased most growth variables of C. africana seedlings and no significant "inoculation" x "soil type" interaction effects were detected. Hence, AMF inoculation of C. africana seedlings could be merited and under wide range of field conditions. In the case of J. procera and P. falcatus, after-planting care could be more appropriate.
Prosopis juliflora (henceforth referred as Prosopis) plant is an invasive species affecting the h... more Prosopis juliflora (henceforth referred as Prosopis) plant is an invasive species affecting the health of rangelands in Afar region of Ethiopia. The study aims to assess (1) the effects of Prosopis invasion on land use land cover (henceforth referred to LULC), and (2) extent of vegetation cover changes. We used a combination of remote sensing data and field observations to analyze the effects Prosopis invasion on land use/ land cover dynamics and changes (LULCC) for the patterns and dynamics of landuse/cover changes for 31 years from 1986 to 2017 in the arid and semi-arid of Sothern Afar rangelands, Ethiopia. The overall accuracy for 1986, 2000, and 2017 were 81.4%, 82.3%, and 84.9% with Kappa statistics of 0.77, 0.79, and 0.82 respectively. In Amibara district, farmlands, water bodies, land under Prosopis, and grassland areas were increased during 1986-2017 by 1879 ha (10.8%), 1197 ha (55.6%), 3132 ha (99.0 %), and 31,039 ha (22.0 %), respectively. However, bare lands and woodlands...
Converting degraded free grazing lands into exclosures is one option to promote natural regenerat... more Converting degraded free grazing lands into exclosures is one option to promote natural regeneration of plants and to restore degraded ecosystems in Ethiopia. The present study was initiated with the objective of assessing the determinants that affect the sustainability of exclosure establishment and management practices at the household level. A total of 180 households were systematically selected and a structured questionnaire was provided to these households to collect their perception. Ten in-depth interviews with key informants 9 FGDs were also carried out. Determinants of farmers’ sustainability of exclosure establishment and management practices were assessed. The empirical results from binary logistic regression model showed age, tenure, and offfarm activity were positive and significant predictors of sustainability of exclosure establishment and management practices while household size, farm size, distance and number of livestock have a negative effect on exclosure establi...
Species tend to shift their suitable habitat both altitudinally and latitudinally under climate c... more Species tend to shift their suitable habitat both altitudinally and latitudinally under climate change. Range shift in plants brings about habitat contraction at rear edges, forcing leading edge populations to explore newly available suitable habitats. In order to detect these scenarios, modeling of the future geographical distribution of the species is widely used. Vachellia negrii (Pic.-Serm.) Kyal. & Boatwr. is endemic to Ethiopia and was assessed as vulnerable due to changes to its habitat by anthropogenic impacts. It occurs in upland wooded grassland from 2000–3100 m.a.s.l. The main objective of this study is to model the distribution of Vachellia negrii in Ethiopia by using Maxent under climate change. Nineteen bioclimatic variables were downloaded from an open source. Furthermore, topographic position index (tpi), solar radiation index (sri) and elevation were used. Two representative concentration pathways were selected (RCP 4.5 and RC P8.5) for the years 2050 and 2070 using...
Research Highlights: Hagenia abyssinica is geographically localized, poor regenerated and endange... more Research Highlights: Hagenia abyssinica is geographically localized, poor regenerated and endangered species in Ethiopia. Ethiopia has been experiencing variability of rainfall and rise in temperature due to the climate change. This study has hypothesized that the suitable areas for the species will be narrowed by the year 2070. Background and Objective The prediction of species distribution models help to implement appropriate conservation actions. The aim of this research was to identify the current and likely future distribution range and suitable areas for the species, and to determine the presence of H. absyssinica in risk in a short-term future. Material and method: To this end, occurrence data, bioclim variables, soil, elevation, and land cover map of Ethiopia were used. MaxEnt was used to predict distribution. Climate change impacts on the distribution of the species was performed using bioclimatic variables of the future climate data, 2070 (average for 2061-2080) was obtain...
This study was carried out in the Dodola forest, Southern Ethiopia, to investigate the structure,... more This study was carried out in the Dodola forest, Southern Ethiopia, to investigate the structure, reproductive biology, and regeneration status of Podocarpus falcatus. Based on their disturbance status, two blocks each having an area of 16 ha (400 m × 400 m) were laid in the forest to collect vegetation data. 16 plots (100 m × 100 m) and 256 subplots (25 m × 25 m) were established in each block. The population status of Podocarpus falcatus (dbh ≥ 5 cm) was assessed in the 256 subplots. The regeneration status of Podocarpus falcatus was also assessed around 40 randomly selected female trees isolated at least 10 m from any other female tree in each block. A total of 1363 Podocarpus falcatus individuals were recorded, with an average distribution of 43 individuals ha−1 and a higher proportion of small-sized individuals. The population structures of Podocarpus falcatus in the two blocks were a typical inverted J-shape pattern, indicating good regeneration and recruitment status of the s...
Ethiopia aims to restore 15 million ha degraded forests and woodlands, but effects on the potenti... more Ethiopia aims to restore 15 million ha degraded forests and woodlands, but effects on the potentially contrasting goals of long-term carbon storage, biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods are unknown. To quantify the effects of grazing exclusion on vegetation and fire behaviour, we established six 30 × 30 m fenced exclosures with grazed controls, in a mesic wooded savanna. Experimental burns were done after 1.5 years. Tree seedlings were few but more common inside fences. Field layer cover and biomass increased inside fences, and grass species increased in numbers and cover. Fire intensity was higher inside fences, killing shrubs and saplings but not mature trees. Interviews confirmed that overgrazing has resulted in “cool fires”, causing shrub encroachment. High-intensity fires occurred in the 1980s after a zoonotic disease killed most livestock. Short-term increase in carbon storage through fire and grazing exclusion may lead to loss of pasture, and in the long-term increased wi...
The aims of the study were to analyze (1) the effects of Prosopis juliflora (Prosopis) on the spa... more The aims of the study were to analyze (1) the effects of Prosopis juliflora (Prosopis) on the spatial distribution and soil seed banks (SSB) diversity and density, (2) the effects of environmental factors on SSB diversity and density (number of seeds in the soil per unit area), and (3) the effects of animal fecal droppings on SSB diversity, density, and dispersal. Aboveground vegetation data were collected from different Prosopis-infested habitats from quadrats (20 × 20 m) in Prosopis thickets, Prosopis + native species stand, non-invaded woodlands, and open grazing lands. In each Prosopis-infested habitats, soil samples were collected from the litter layer and three successive soil layer, i.e., 0–3 cm, 3–6 cm, and 6–9 cm. Seeds from soil samples and animal fecal matter were separated in the green house using the seedling emergence technique. Invasion of Prosopis had significant effects on the soil seed bank diversity. Results revealed that the mean value of the Shannon diversity of...
Tree species selection and seedlings lack of infective arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) could p... more Tree species selection and seedlings lack of infective arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) could potentially contribute to low forest restoration success in Ethiopia. Hence, we evaluated the comparative field performance of Cordia africana (C. africana), Juniperus procera (J. procera), and Podocarpus falcatus (P. falcatus) seedlings and the effect of whole soil AMF inoculation. Seedlings prepared using the existing practice were planted on a field at Chancho, Central Ethiopia. Seedlings were inoculated with six types of whole soil AMF inoculums, no inoculation being the control. Seedlings survival was determined at the end of the 11 th month; relative growth rate in collar diameter (RGR-CD) and height (RGR-H) was determined at the 1 st , 2 nd , 5 th , 8 th , and 11 th months. We found out that the plantation site were very fertile with available phosphorus (Av P) =103.16 mg/Kg; total nitrogen (TN) = 0.376%; organic carbon (OC) = 3.12%; AMF spore abundance = 6.91±2.00 g-1. None of the P. falcatus and C. africana seedlings survived while 25% of J. procera seedlings survived. AMF inoculation did not have statistically significant effect on RGR-CD and RGR-H but conspecific inoculum resulted in significantly lower RGR-H of C. africana at the 2 nd month, indicating the probability of species specific effect of AMF inoculation.
The plant communities of the forests of southwestern Ethiopia were described based on floristic a... more The plant communities of the forests of southwestern Ethiopia were described based on floristic analysis of the data collected between February 1995 and May 1996. Floristic analysis is based on the cover-abundance values of both woody and herbaceous species. Plant community-environment relationship was assessed based on topographic and some soil physical and chemical characteristics. A total of 101 relevés were analysed at altitudes between 1050 and 2550 m a.s.l. (metres above sea level), and a total of 139 species of vascular plants were identified. Nine plant community types were described. Most of these show significant variations for most of the environmental parameters studied. The species in the forest were phytogeographically related to the Afromontane, Guineo-Congolean or Guineo-Congolean linking species.
Ecosystems worldwide are threatened with the extinction of plants and, at the same time, invasion... more Ecosystems worldwide are threatened with the extinction of plants and, at the same time, invasion by new species. Plant invasiveness and loss of species can be caused by similar but opposing pressures on the community structures. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can have multiple positive effects on plant growth, productivity, health, and stress relief. Many endangered species live in symbiosis with AMF. However, the list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN Red List of Threatened Species) indicates that the mycorrhizal status of most of the threatened species has not been assessed. Rare plants often occur in specialized and also endangered habitats and might utilize specialized or unique AMF. The specificity of any endangered plant to its AMF population has not been investigated. Because most of the current AMF isolates that are available colonize a broad range of plant species, selected inocula could be used to promote growth of endangered plants before the proper and more effective indigenous AMF are characterized. Application of AMF in field sites to protect endangered plants is hardly feasible due to the complexity of plant community structures and the large amount of fungal inocula needed. Endangered plants could, however, be grown as greenhouse cultures together with appropriate fungi, and, at the relevant developmental stage, they could be replanted into native sites to prevent extinction and to preserve plant community ecology.
An ethnoboatnical study was carried out in Cheffa plain, Ethiopia, between 20 November 1999 to 30... more An ethnoboatnical study was carried out in Cheffa plain, Ethiopia, between 20 November 1999 to 30 February 2000. Ethnobotanical data of wild plants were obtained from local key informants, mainly based on semi-structured interviews. A total of 206 plant species distributed in 148 genera and 66 families were documented. Of these 54 species are non-cultivated food plants, 83 medicinal, 38 forage, 39 cleansing, laundry, toothbrush, fumigation and fragrance. The Cheffa people utilize 79 and 31 medicinal plants for his and ethnoveterinary use respectively. Habit of medicinal plants includes shrubs (38 species), herbs (21), trees (13) and climbers (11). The most frequently used plant parts are leaves (33 species). Remedies are usually prepared by pounding, crushing and squeezing juice (79.69%). The two major route of administrations are oral (53.60%) and dermal (20.72%). Relict forest islands are traditional-community based in sit conservation sites. Traditional community based in situ conservation should be complemented with ex situ conservation activities.
Low-altitude lakes in eastern Africa have long been investigated and have provided valuable infor... more Low-altitude lakes in eastern Africa have long been investigated and have provided valuable information about the Late Quaternary paleohydrological evolution, such as the African Humid Period. However, records often suffer from poor age control, resolution, and/or ambiguous proxy interpretation, and only little focus has been put on high-altitude regions despite their sensitivity to global, regional, and local climate change phenomena. Here we report on Last Glacial environmental fluctuations at about 4000 m asl on the Sanetti Plateau in the Bale Mountains (SE Ethiopia), based on biogeochemical and palynological analyses of laminated lacustrine sediments. After deglaciation at about 18 cal kyr BP, a steppe-like herb-rich grassland with maximum Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae and Plantago existed. Between 16.6 and 15.7 cal kyr BP, conditions were dry with a desiccation layer at ~ 16.3 cal kyr BP, documenting a temporary phase of maximum aridity on the plateau. While that local event las...
On the Ground We analyzed the composition and spatial variations of soil seed banks of plant spec... more On the Ground We analyzed the composition and spatial variations of soil seed banks of plant species and densities of soil seed banks in Prosopis juliflora invaded and noninvaded grasslands. Soil samples were collected from soil layers of 0 to 3, 3 to 6, and 6 to 9 cm. The highest density of 1,037 ± 633 seedlings/m2 was recovered from a soil depth of 3 to 6 cm. But, the lowest density of 461 ± 315 seedlings/m2 was recovered from the depth of 0 to 3 cm. In noninvaded grasslands, the lowest density of 94 ± 32 seedlings/m2 was germinated in the soil depth of 0 to 3 cm. In Prosopis juliflora grasslands at the 3 to 6 cm, the density was 519 ± 257 seedlings/m2, but 1,484 ± 1,144 seedlings/m2 was in the noninvaded grasslands at the depth of 3 to 6 cm. Our findings have implications for recovery of rangelands after disturbances.
Background: Traditional management regimes and knowledge systems of forest resources have shaped ... more Background: Traditional management regimes and knowledge systems of forest resources have shaped forests throughout the world where materials from individual species are harvested in a sustainable manner. To comprehend this, the vegetation of Hugumburda-Gratkhassu Forest was described and related to anthropogenic factors. Methods: Three ethnobotanical research methods were used to collect indigenous knowledge of the local inhabitants related to conservation and utilization of forest resources. Direct matrix ranking was conducted to discover local attitudes on species preference for multiple use. During this work, the 46 most important tree and shrub species were selected based on recommendations of local guides and key informants to determine the range of uses obtained from each species. Through paired comparison, activities supposed to be the major cause of degradation of the forest were adopted. Pairs of activities were then established from the relation n (n-1)/2. Each respondent was then asked to select an activity that he considered being a major problem to management of the forest. Semi-structured interviews were used to obtain information from sixty local informants to address community attitudes towards forest management and utilization. Results: The result obtained from direct matrix ranking showed; that 20 out of 46 plant species compared had the highest scores and rank, indicating that these species are the most important and are exploited by the local communities for multiple purposes. The paired comparison exercise revealed logging for construction materials to be the major threat to the forest due to cutting of large volume of wood for construction of churches, health centers, schools and new houses. Juniperus procera, Olea europaea ssp. cuspidata, Rhus glutinosa, Ficus sur, Hagenia abyssinica, Cassipourea malosana and Acacia etbaica were the most selected and exploited plant species for these purposes. Conclusions: Survival of protected areas depends on the support of local communities, rather than on fences, fines, or even force. The local communities in the study area have a rich indigenous ecological knowledge to suggest appropriate solutions for improvement of the forest resources. Thus the old tradition of isolating forests from the community has to be avoided and the basic needs and traditional rights of the communities over the uses of forest resources should be recognized.
Background Different land-use systems have different potentials to change soil chemical propertie... more Background Different land-use systems have different potentials to change soil chemical properties either positively or negatively. Hence, scientifically information on the soil chemical properties dynamics under different land-use systems is crucial for best land management practices, and to avoiding ecological negative impacts of it for sustainable development. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of different land-use systems and soil depths on selected soil chemical properties in Yerer forest and its surrounding area, central Ethiopia. The land-use systems included natural forest, four exotic tree plantation species (Eucalyptus globules, Cupressus lusitanica, Grevillea robusta, and Pinus patuala), grassland, grazing land, and agricultural cropland . Results The analysis of variance (ANOVA) for the majority of soil chemical properties of OC, TN, Avial. P, soil pH, EC, CEC, and exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg, K, Na) were showed that significant variations among land-use systems (P&l...
Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, Sep 28, 2013
Though the majority of people in Ethiopia at large, and at Bale Mountains National Park in partic... more Though the majority of people in Ethiopia at large, and at Bale Mountains National Park in particular, rely on ethnomedicinal plant species to manage human ailments, the indigenous knowledge largely remains undocumented. Therefore, an ethnobotanical study was conducted on medicinal plant species used to manage human ailments at Bale Mountains National Park, Southeastern Ethiopia. Observations and semi-structured interviews were used to gather ethnobotanical data. Altogether, 56 ailments were reported to be managed using 101 different ethnomedicinal plant species. Consensus of traditional healers was high in managing eczema (ICF = 0.58), tinea versicolor (ICF = 0.50), rheumatism (ICF = 0.43), haemorrhoids (ICF = 0.33), earache (ICF = 0.33) and gonorrhoea (ICF = 0.27). The mean number of plant species used by each healer showed significant difference with district. Most medicinal plant species reported in this study were found to be under threat and this calls for urgent conservation measures so as to maximize the sustainable use of these vital resources in the study area.
Introduction: In Ethiopia, the majority of animal owners throughout the country depend on traditi... more Introduction: In Ethiopia, the majority of animal owners throughout the country depend on traditional healthcare practices to manage their animals’ health. Ethnoveterinary practices play significantly greater roles in livestock health care as an alternative or integral part of modern veterinary practices. This is because traditional medicines have remained the most economically affordable and easily available form of therapies for resource-poor communities. Even although, ethnoveterinary medicine is the most important and has higher acceptance and trust by the community in Ethiopia, ethnoveterinary medicinal plants and associated indigenous practices are not adequately documented. This study aimed to identify and document ethnoveterinary medicinal plants with their associated indigenous practices along with the habitats of these plants in Ensaro district.Methods: This ethnobotanical survey included 389 informants (283 males and 106 females) from all 14 kebeles of Ensaro district, wh...
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