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Girma G, Tirfessa A, Bejiga T, Seyoum A, Mekonen M, Nega A, Gebreyohannes A, Ayana G, Nida H, Mengiste T, Ejeta G, Tesso T. Assessing genetic, racial, and geographic diversity among Ethiopian sorghum landraces and implications for heterotic potential for hybrid sorghum breeding. MOLECULAR BREEDING : NEW STRATEGIES IN PLANT IMPROVEMENT 2024; 44:46. [PMID: 38911335 PMCID: PMC11190104 DOI: 10.1007/s11032-024-01483-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
The wealth of sorghum genetic resources in Africa has not been fully exploited for cultivar development in the continent. Hybrid cultivars developed from locally evolved germplasm are more likely to possess a well-integrated assembly of genes for local adaptation, productivity, quality, as well as for defensive traits and broader stability. A subset of 560 sorghum accessions of known fertility reaction representing the major botanical races and agro-ecologies of Ethiopia were characterized for genetic, agronomic and utilization parameters to lay a foundation for cultivar improvement and parental selection for hybrid breeding. Accessions were genotyped using a genotyping by sequencing (GBS) generating 73,643 SNPs for genetic analysis. Significant genetic variability was observed among accessions with Admixture and Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components where 67% of the accessions fell into K=10 clusters with membership coefficient set to > 0.6. The pattern of aggregation of the accessions partially overlapped with racial category and agro-ecological adaptation. Majority of the non-restorer (B-line) accessions primarily of the bicolor race from the wet highland ecology clustered together away from two clusters of fertility restorer (R-line) accessions. Small members of the B accessions were grouped with the R clusters and in vice-versa while significant numbers of both B and R accessions were spread between the major clusters. Such pattern of diversity along with the complementary agronomic data based information indicate the potential for heterosis providing the foundation for initiating hybrid breeding program based on locally adapted germplasm. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11032-024-01483-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gezahegn Girma
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Alemu Tirfessa
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Melkassa Research Center, P.O.Box 432, Adama, Ethiopia
| | - Tamirat Bejiga
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Melkassa Research Center, P.O.Box 432, Adama, Ethiopia
| | - Amare Seyoum
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Melkassa Research Center, P.O.Box 432, Adama, Ethiopia
| | - Moges Mekonen
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Melkassa Research Center, P.O.Box 432, Adama, Ethiopia
| | - Amare Nega
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Melkassa Research Center, P.O.Box 432, Adama, Ethiopia
| | - Adane Gebreyohannes
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Melkassa Research Center, P.O.Box 432, Adama, Ethiopia
| | - Getachew Ayana
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Melkassa Research Center, P.O.Box 432, Adama, Ethiopia
| | - Habte Nida
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Tesfaye Mengiste
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Gebisa Ejeta
- Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Tesfaye Tesso
- Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
- Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506 USA
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Yilma ZA, Yitay BA. Assessing vegetation cover and valuing ecosystem services in southwestern Ethiopia: Implications for conservation. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0304456. [PMID: 38905215 PMCID: PMC11192345 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The Bench-Sheko zone, parts of the Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot, is characterized by its rich biodiversity. However, recent reductions in vegetation cover have drawn concern, highlighting the critical role of remote sensing in monitoring these alterations is critical. Furthermore, this study evaluates the economic value of the ecosystem services rendered by the diverse types of vegetation cover class in the area. The classification of vegetation types and measuring their ecosystem benefits are crucial for monitoring vegetation and analyzing land cover changes. estimating the value of ecosystem services is vital for environmental impact assessments, cost-benefit analyses, and creating payment schemes for these natural services. For the vegetation cover map, it uses Sentinel-2 satellite data and a Random Forest classifier using Google Earth Engine. Based on a properly chosen reference, ecosystem service assessment approaches include benefit transfer, direct market value, and the social cost of carbon. The results highlight the vegetation classes' enormous value and the services they offer. The largest value for Supporting Services (2829.3 USD ha⁻1yr⁻1) is found in the Remnant Forest, which makes up 30.98% of the total area. With the highest value for both cultural services (2847.7 USD ha⁻1yr⁻1) and regulatory services (5063.9 USD ha⁻1yr⁻1), the wetlands, which make up 4.35% of the total area, stand out. The total annual value of all ecosystem services provided by all vegetation classes is estimated to be 2.089 billion USD. When paired with methods for tracking and assessing changes in vegetation cover over time, high-resolution satellite images and precise classification algorithms can offer insightful information on the condition of the environment and support informed decision-making. In order to evaluate and convey to society and policymakers the advantages of vegetation cover, the value of ecosystem services is essential.
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Aligaz MA, Kufa CA, Ahmed AS, Argaw HT, Tamrat M, Yihune M, Atickem A, Bekele A, Bogale BA. Distribution and extent of suitable habitats of Ruspoli's Turaco (Tauraco ruspolii) and White-cheeked Turaco (Tauraco leucotis) under a changing climate in Ethiopia. BMC Ecol Evol 2024; 24:83. [PMID: 38902600 PMCID: PMC11191209 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-024-02245-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the distribution pattern of species and their suitable habitat is key to focus conservation efforts. Climate change has had notable impact on the distribution and extent of suitable habitats, and the long-term survival of various species. We aim to determine the distribution and extent of suitable habitats for Tauraco ruspolii and T. leucotis in Ethiopia and predict their range in the 2050s and 2070s using MaxEnt algorithm. We used 25 and 29 rarified occurrence points for T. ruspolii and T. leucotis, respectively, and 13 environmental variables. Three regularization multipliers and two cut-off thresholds were used to map the potential suitable habitats for each species under current and future climates. Maps were assembled from these techniques to produce final composite tertiary maps and investigated the habitat suitability overlap between the two species using the UNION tool in the geographical information system. RESULT All model run performances were highly accurate for both species. Precipitation of the driest month and vegetation cover are the most influential variables for the habitat suitability of T. ruspolii. The habitat suitability of T. leucotis is also mainly influenced by mean temperature of the driest quarter and vegetation cover. Under the current climate, the suitable habitat predicted for T. ruspolii covered about 24,639.19 km2, but its range size change shows a gain and increase by 156.00% and 142.68% in 2050 and 2070, respectively. The T. leucotis's current suitable habitat ranges about 204,397.62 km², but this is reduced by 40.84% and 68.67% in 2050 and 2070, respectively. Our modeling also showed that there was suitable habitat overlap between them at the margin of their respective habitat types in time series. CONCLUSION We concluded that there is a direct or indirect impact of climate change on the suitable habitat range expansion for T. ruspolii and contraction for T. leucotis as well as overlapping of these turaco species in different regions of Ethiopia. Therefore, understanding the distribution of current and future suitable habitats of the two turaco species can provide valuable information to implement conservation practices for the species and the regions as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mulatu Ayenew Aligaz
- Department of Biology, Debre Markos University, P.O. Box, 269, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
- Department of Zoological Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box. 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Chala Adugna Kufa
- Department of Biology, Natural and Computational Sciences, Woldia University, P.O. Box, 400, Woldia, Ethiopia
- Department of Zoological Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box. 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Ahmed Seid Ahmed
- Department of Biology, Hawassa University, P. O. Box 05, Hawassa, Ethiopia
- Department of Zoological Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box. 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Hailu Tilahun Argaw
- Department of Wildlife and Ecotourism Management, Wolkite University, P.O. Box. 07, Wolkite, Ethiopia
- Department of Zoological Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box. 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Misganaw Tamrat
- Department of Zoological Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box. 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Mesele Yihune
- Department of Zoological Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box. 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Anagaw Atickem
- Department of Zoological Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box. 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Afework Bekele
- Department of Zoological Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box. 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Bezawork Afework Bogale
- Department of Zoological Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box. 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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Kassaye M, Derebe Y, Kibrie W, Debebe F, Emiru E, Gedamu B, Tamir M. The effects of environmental variability and forest management on natural forest carbon stock in northwestern Ethiopia. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11476. [PMID: 38846707 PMCID: PMC11154818 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Natural forests are crucial for climate change mitigation and adaptation, but deforestation and degradation challenges highly reduce their value. This study evaluates the potential of natural forest carbon stock and the influence of management interventions on enhancing forest carbon storage capacity. Based on forest area cover, a study was conducted in nine purposely selected forest patches across various forest ecosystems. Data on diameter, height, and environmental variables from various forest management approaches were collected and analyzed with R Ver. 4.1. The findings revealed a substantial difference (p .029) in carbon stock between environmental variables and management interventions. The findings revealed a strong connection between environmental variables and the overall pool of carbon stock within forest patches (p .029). Carbon stocks were highest in the Moist-montane forest ecosystem (778.25 ton/ha), moderate slope (1019.5 ton/ha), lower elevation (614.50 ton/ha), southwest-facing (800.1 ton/ha) and area exclosures (993.2 ton/ha). Accordingly, natural forests, particularly unmanaged parts, are sensitive to anthropogenic stresses, decreasing their ability to efficiently store carbon. As a result, the study highlighted the importance of sustainable forest management, particularly area exclosures and participatory forest management, in increasing forest carbon storage potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melkamu Kassaye
- Department of Forestry and Climate ScienceInjibara UniversityInjibaraEthiopia
| | - Yonas Derebe
- Department of Forestry and Climate ScienceInjibara UniversityInjibaraEthiopia
| | - Wondwossen Kibrie
- Department of Forestry and Climate ScienceInjibara UniversityInjibaraEthiopia
| | - Fikadu Debebe
- Department of Natural Resources ManagementInjibara UniversityInjibaraEthiopia
| | - Etsegenet Emiru
- Department of Forestry and Climate ScienceInjibara UniversityInjibaraEthiopia
| | - Bahiru Gedamu
- Department of Forestry and Climate ScienceInjibara UniversityInjibaraEthiopia
| | - Mulugeta Tamir
- Department of Forestry and Climate ScienceInjibara UniversityInjibaraEthiopia
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Mekonnen EN, Fetene A, Gebremariam E. Grid-based climate variability analysis of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27116. [PMID: 38501024 PMCID: PMC10945141 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Climate change is an intricate global environmental concern. However, its impact is more pervasive in developing nations such as Ethiopia. Hence, this manuscript examines temperature variability and the magnitude of change over 38 years in the specific case of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Gridded meteorological data consisting of minimum and maximum temperatures on a monthly time scale ranging from 1981 to 2018 was obtained from the National Meteorological Agency of Ethiopia. The coefficient of variation (CV) and standardized anomaly index (SAI) were used to examine the rate and extent of temperature anomalies. Geostatistical models, particularly ordinary kriging, are presented as a means of spatially interpolating temperature data. Modified Mann-Kendall test (MMK), Sen's Slope (SS) estimator, principal component analysis (PCA), and T-test were employed to determine the monthly, annual, and seasonal trends using Geospatial technologies, "R" programming, and statistical software. The findings revealed substantial spatial and temporal variation in Addis Ababa's annual and seasonal maximum and minimum temperatures. The long-term mean annual maximum and minimum temperatures were 25.8 °C and 12.6 °C, respectively. The monthly, annual, and seasonal temperatures accrued significantly except in the months of January and September. It is noteworthy that the decadal maximum temperature has risen by 2.7 °C, while minimum temperatures have displayed comparatively minor fluctuations. Moreover, the findings also exhibited that the average maximum and minimum temperatures increased by 1.88 °C and 1.72 °C, correspondingly and the highest temperature occurred during the spring (Belg) season. The first two PCAs (Annual and Kiremt Tmax) account for 90% of the temperature variation. In conclusion, the findings underscore the pressing need for the implementation of climate adaptation strategies and policy measures, which can strengthen the city's resilience to imminent climate change-induced hazards. The mounting temperature presents substantial challenges across various sectors within the city, emphasizing the urgency of preemptive actions to mitigate potential repercussions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aramde Fetene
- Environmental Planning and Landscape Design, EiABC, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Ephrem Gebremariam
- Computer Aided Design and Geoinformatics, EiABC, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Fekadu M, Lulekal E, Tesfaye S, Ruelle M, Asfaw N, Awas T, Balemie K, Asres K, Guenther S, Asfaw Z, Demissew S. The potential of Ethiopian medicinal plants to treat emergent viral diseases. Phytother Res 2024; 38:925-938. [PMID: 38098253 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.8084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Ethiopians have deep-rooted traditions of using plants to treat ailments affecting humans and domesticated animals. Approximately 80% of the population continues to rely on traditional medicine, including for the prevention and treatment of viral diseases. Many antiviral plants are available to and widely used by communities in areas where access to conventional healthcare systems is limited. In some cases, pharmacological studies also confirm the potent antiviral properties of Ethiopian plants. Building on traditional knowledge of medicinal plants and testing their antiviral properties may help to expand options to address the global pandemic of COVID-19 including its recently isolated virulent variants and prepare for similar outbreaks in the future. Here, we provide an ethnobotanical and pharmacological inventory of Ethiopian medicinal plants that might contribute to the prevention and treatment of viral diseases. We identified 387 species, about 6% of Ethiopia's known flora, for which records of use by local communities and traditional herbalists have been documented for the treatment of viral diseases. We provide a framework for further investigation and development of this vital resource much anticipated to help combat emergent viral diseases along with existing ones in Ethiopia and elsewhere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mekbib Fekadu
- Plant Ecology and Geobotany, Faculty of Biology, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Department of Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Ermias Lulekal
- Department of Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Solomon Tesfaye
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmacy, Greifswald University, Greifswald, Germany
- School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Morgan Ruelle
- Department of International Development, Community and Environment, Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nigist Asfaw
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Tesfaye Awas
- Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Kebu Balemie
- Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Kaleab Asres
- School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Sebastian Guenther
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmacy, Greifswald University, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Zemede Asfaw
- Department of Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Sebsebe Demissew
- Department of Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Daba D, Kagnew B, Tefera B, Nemomissa S. Modelling the current and future distribution potential areas of Peperomia abyssinica Miq., and Helichrysum citrispinum Steud. ex A. Rich. in Ethiopia. BMC Ecol Evol 2023; 23:71. [PMID: 38057726 PMCID: PMC10702103 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-023-02177-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this study is to investigate how climate change influences the distribution of economically and environmentally important species of P. abyssinica and H. citrispinum in Ethiopia. The species distribution modeling intends to forecast species' ecological niche ranges and habitat suitability by employing a variety of environmental parameters as predictors, which is vital for conservation planning and restoration success. Six representative concentration pathways (RCP 2.6, 4.5, and 8.5 for the years 2050 and 2070) with the same resolution of 2.5 min that shows the emission scenarios were used for the prediction. To predict the current and future distributions of H. citrispinum and P. abyssinica 56 and 45 occurrence records from National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University, GBIF, and available literatures were used respectively. RESULTS The MaxEnt model predicted habitat suitability for H. citrispinum species with an Area Under Curve (AUC) value of 0.961 ± 0.027, and 0.809 ± 0.045 for P. abyssinica, indicating excellent discriminatory ability or accuracy under the current climate scenario. The Future distribution of suitable habitat for both H. citrispinum and P. abyssinica plant species was accurately predicted with AUC values of 0.960 ± 0.017 and 0.780 ± 0.35, respectively under future climatic scenarios. The jackknife test result indicates that environmental variables such as topographic position index (92.5%), precipitation of the driest quarter (3%) and precipitation in the coldest quarter (1.8%) are associated with the distributions of H. citrispinum, while topographic position index (36.6%), precipitation of driest quarter (21.4%), precipitation of warmest quarter (16.2%) and precipitation seasonality (13.9%) were found to be limiting environmental variables for P. abyssinica under current and future climatic conditions in Ethiopia. The prediction map and interception calculation for both present and projected (in the 2050s and again in the 2070s) climate change scenarios indicate significant habitat loss, decreased, and fragmentation under all RCPs (2.6, 4.5, and 8.5) scenarios for P. abyssinica while habitat gain, and increasing for H. citrispinum in Ethiopia. CONCLUSIONS Topographic position index (TPI) is the most impactful predictor variable on the distribution of the two species. Consequently, potentially habitable areas (with diverse aspects and slopes) are increasing for H. citrispinum while decreasing for P. abyssinica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debela Daba
- College of Natural and Computational Science, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- Research Department at Gulelle Botanic Garden, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
| | - Birhanu Kagnew
- College of Natural and Computational Science, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- College of Natural and Computational Science, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia
| | - Belay Tefera
- College of Natural and Computational Science, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- College of Natural and Computational Science, Kotebe University of Education, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Sileshi Nemomissa
- College of Natural and Computational Science, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Abrha AM, Gedeon K, Podsiadlowski L, Weldesilasie DM, Töpfer T. Occupancy of the Ethiopian endemic Moorland Francolin in pristine and degraded Afroalpine biome using a camera trap approach. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10551. [PMID: 37915806 PMCID: PMC10617016 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Occupancy modeling is an essential tool for understanding species-habitat associations, thereby helping to plan the conservation of rare and threatened wildlife species. The conservation status and ecology of several avian species, particularly ground-dwelling birds, are poorly known in Ethiopia. We used camera trap-based occupancy modeling to investigate habitat covariate influence on occupancy (Ψ) and detection probability (ρ) estimates of Moorland Francolins Scleroptila psilolaema from spatially replicated surveys across both relatively pristine and disturbed landscapes in the Afroalpine biome of Ethiopia. Model-averaged estimate of ψ ^ across all sites was 0.76 (SD = 0.28) and ρ ^ was 0.77 (SD = 0.13) in the pristine landscape. The ψ ^ of the species in the disturbed landscape was 0.56 (SD = 0.19) and ρ ^ was 0.48 (SD = 0.06). As hypothesized, based on our model-averaged beta coefficient estimates (βmean ± SE), predators significantly negatively influenced the occupancy of Moorland Francolins in pristine habitat. We also found a significant positive association of occupancy with herb species richness. Contrary to our prediction, distance to road significantly negatively influence the occupancy of the species, suggesting that occupancy probability was highest in proximity to roadsides and trails in the pristine habitat. There was no significant influence of habitat covariates on the occupancy of the species in the disturbed habitat. The most important covariates that significantly influence the detectability of the species in pristine habitat included sampling occasion and precipitation. The greater occupancy and detectability of this endemic species in the pristine habitat could be linked with the particular conservation status and management of this biodiversity hotspot in the central highlands of Ethiopia. Our results suggest that strict legal enforcement is required to sustainably preserve Moorland Francolins and the ecological integrity of the entire Afroalpine biome. We recommend using camera traps in order to develop realistic and effective conservation and management strategies for rare, sensitive, cryptic, and ground-dwelling animals in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abadi Mehari Abrha
- Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity ChangeBonnGermany
- Institute for Evolutionary Biology and EcologyUniversity of BonnBonnGermany
- Department of Animal, Rangeland and Wildlife ScienceMekelle UniversityMekelleEthiopia
| | - Kai Gedeon
- Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity ChangeBonnGermany
| | | | - Demis Mamo Weldesilasie
- Department of Wildlife and Ecotourism ManagementGuassa Community Conservation AreaMehal MedaEthiopia
| | - Till Töpfer
- Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity ChangeBonnGermany
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Kufa CA, Bekele A, Atickem A, Zinner D. Djaffa Mountains guereza ( Colobus guereza gallarum) abundance in forests of the Ahmar Mountains, Ethiopia. Primate Biol 2023; 10:13-23. [PMID: 38039330 PMCID: PMC10654609 DOI: 10.5194/pb-10-13-2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The size and density of a population are essential parameters in primate ecology and conservation. Such information, however, is still scarce for many forest primate species. The Djaffa Mountains guereza (Colobus guereza gallarum) is an endemic Ethiopian taxon for which data about its distribution and population size are missing. Therefore, we aimed to estimate the abundance and population size of the Djaffa Mountains guereza in four forests in the Ahmar Mountains southeast of the Ethiopian Rift Valley. We conducted line-transect surveys in the forests. Within an area of 183 km2 , we sampled 19 transects covering a distance of 75.9 km. We encountered 73 guereza clusters which most likely represent social groups. Since the detection distances and cluster sizes did not differ among the four forests, we applied a conventional distance sampling (CDS) model and estimated a population density of 20.6 clusters per square kilometer, i.e., 109.6 individuals per square kilometer or 20 061 individuals within the complete study area. This abundance is relatively high compared to other C. guereza taxa. However, given that the habitat and population of C . g . gallarum are already highly fragmented, further monitoring of the population and exploration of the possibilities of reconnecting its habitat should be priorities for the conservation of this taxon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chala Adugna Kufa
- Department of Zoological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural and Computational Sciences, Woldia University, P.O. Box 400, Woldia, Ethiopia
| | - Afework Bekele
- Department of Zoological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Anagaw Atickem
- Department of Zoological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Dietmar Zinner
- Cognitive Ethology Laboratory, German Primate Center (DPZ), Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Primate Cognition, Georg August University, 37083 Göttingen, Germany
- Leibniz ScienceCampus "Primate Cognition", 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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Pérez-López AV, Lim SD, Cushman JC. Tissue succulence in plants: Carrying water for climate change. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 289:154081. [PMID: 37703768 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2023.154081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Tissue succulence in plants involves the storage of water in one or more organs or tissues to assist in maintaining water potentials on daily or seasonal time scales. This drought-avoidance or drought-resistance strategy allows plants to occupy diverse environments including arid regions, regions with rocky soils, epiphytic habitats, and saline soils. Climate-resilient strategies are of increasing interest in the context of the global climate crisis, which is leading to hotter and drier conditions in many regions throughout the globe. Here, we describe a short history of succulent plants, the basic concepts of tissue succulence, the anatomical diversity of succulent morphologies and associated adaptive traits, the evolutionary, phylogenetic, and biogeographical diversity of succulent plants, extinction risks to succulents due to poaching from their natural environments, and the myriad uses and applications of economically important succulent species and the products derived from them. Lastly, we discuss current prospects for engineering tissue succulence to improve salinity and drought tolerance in crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arely V Pérez-López
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 89557-0330, USA.
| | - Sung Don Lim
- Department of Plant Life and Resource Science, Sangji University, Gangwon-do, 26339, South Korea.
| | - John C Cushman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 89557-0330, USA.
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Lyra ML, Kirchhof S, Goutte S, Kassie A, Boissinot S. Crossing the Rift valley: using complete mitogenomes to infer the diversification and biogeographic history of ethiopian highlands Ptychadena (anura: Ptychadenidae). Front Genet 2023; 14:1215715. [PMID: 37600664 PMCID: PMC10434514 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1215715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The Ethiopian Highlands are considered a biodiversity hotspot, harboring a high number of endemic species. Some of the endemic species probably diversified in situ; this is, for example, the case of a monophyletic clade containing 12 known species of grass frogs of the genus Ptychadena. The different species occur at elevations ranging from 1,500 to above 3,400 m and constitute excellent models to study the process of diversification in the highlands as well as adaptations to high elevations. In this study, we sampled 294 specimens across the distribution of this clade and used complete mitogenomes and genome-wide SNP data to better understand how landscape features influenced the population structure and dispersal of these grass frogs across time and space. Using phylogenetic inference, population structure analyses, and biogeographic reconstructions, we found that the species complex probably first diversified on the south-east side of the Great Rift Valley. Later on, species dispersed to the north-west side, where more recent diversification occurred. We further demonstrate that Ptychadena species have dispersed across the Great Rift Valley at different times. Our analyses allowed for a more complete understanding of the contribution of geological events, biogeographic barriers and climatic changes as drivers of species diversification and adaptation in this important biogeographic region.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. L. Lyra
- New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - S. Kirchhof
- New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - S. Goutte
- New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - A. Kassie
- Animal Biodiversity Directorate, Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Department of Zoological Sciences, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - S. Boissinot
- New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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12
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Bekere J, Senbeta F, Gelaw A. Analyze of spatial extent and current condition of land use land cover dynamics for the period 1990-2020 Wayu-Tuka district, western Ethiopia. Heliyon 2023; 9:e18587. [PMID: 37576261 PMCID: PMC10415667 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
LULC variation has increased in many parts of the world recent years. Analyzing LULC is valuable to ability to grasp for spatial extent, patterns and impacts of the dynamics. This research examines the magnitudes and trends of LULC dynamics of Wayu-Tuka District, Western Ethiopia for a period of 1990-2020. Data were acquired from Landsat images (i.e, TM from 1990 to 2000, ETM+ from 2010 and OLI 2020). LULC classes were classified (from Landsat images) to develop land use land cover change maps for the study area. Landsat images were grouped via supervised classification method and maximum likelihood classifier (MLC). Accuracy scores and kappa a coefficient was used to confirm the accuracy categorized for LULC classes. Forest, settlement area, cultivated area, water body, and bare land are the main land use land cover categories identified in the study area. At the study district, forest coverage decreased progressively within the past three decades (1990-2020) from 12.4% in 1990 to 2.6% in 2020. The settlements, cultivated lands and water bodies have been explained by a average rate of 0.41% per year and forest land has been reduced by 0.33% per year. The study identified the major drivers of land use/land cover dynamics such as expansion of agricultural land, extraction of fuel woodland, illegal settlements and illegal logging was the key factors of LULC changes in the field of the study. In expressions of historical and current LULC, the analysis indicated that in the three decades years' viewpoint; changes in agriculture land expansion and expansion of settlement land have had a strong impact on the LULC dynamics. The few remaining forest area coverage of the District shall be completely vanished unless measures are taken to curb these declining trends. Therefore, relevant stakeholders should take integrated actions to rehabilitate degraded landscapes through afforestation and reforestation programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jembere Bekere
- (Environment & Natural Resource Mgt) Geography Department & Env'tal Studies, Arba Minch University, Ethiopia
| | - Feyera Senbeta
- (Centre for Environmental and Development) Department of Environmental and Sustainable Development, Addis Abeba University, Ethiopia
| | - Abren Gelaw
- (Environment & Natural Resource Mgt), Geography Department and Env'tal Studies, Arba Minch University, Ethiopia
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13
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Casas-Gallego M, Hahn K, Neumann K, Demissew S, Schmidt M, Bodin SC, Bruch AA. Cooling-induced expansions of Afromontane forests in the Horn of Africa since the Last Glacial Maximum. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10323. [PMID: 37365263 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37135-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the changing plant ecosystems that existed in East Africa over the past millennia is crucial for identifying links between habitats and past human adaptation and dispersal across the region. In the Horn of Africa, this task is hampered by the scarcity of fossil botanical data. Here we present modelled past vegetation distributions in Ethiopia from the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) to present at high spatial and temporal resolution. The simulations show that, contrary to long-standing hypotheses, the area covered by Afromontane forests during the Late Glacial was significantly larger than at present. The combined effect of low temperatures and the relative rainfall contribution sourced from the Congo Basin and Indian Ocean, emerges as the mechanism that controlled the migration of Afromontane forests to lower elevations. This process may have enabled the development of continuous forest corridors connecting populations that are currently isolated in mountainous areas over the African continent. Starting with the Holocene, the expansion of forests began to reverse. This decline intensified over the second half of the Holocene leading to a retreat of the forests to higher elevations where they are restricted today. The simulations are consistent with proxy data derived from regional pollen records and provide a key environmental and conceptual framework for human environmental adaptation research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Casas-Gallego
- Institute of Ecology, Diversity and Evolution, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
- Department of Geodynamics, Stratigraphy and Paleontology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Karen Hahn
- Institute of Ecology, Diversity and Evolution, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Katharina Neumann
- Department of Paleoanthropology, Senckenberg Research Institute, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Sebsebe Demissew
- National Herbarium of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Marco Schmidt
- Palmengarten der Stadt Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Stéphanie C Bodin
- Department of Geodynamics, Stratigraphy and Paleontology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Angela A Bruch
- Research Centre "The role of culture in early expansions of humans" of the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Senckenberg Research Institute, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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14
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DeCarlo A, Johnson S, Abdikadir A, Satyal P, Poudel A, Setzer WN. Evaluating the Potential of Boswellia rivae to Provide Sustainable Livelihood Benefits in Eastern Ethiopia. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:2024. [PMID: 37653941 PMCID: PMC10222219 DOI: 10.3390/plants12102024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Frankincense is an oleo-gum-resin collected from wild Boswellia spp. trees, and widely used in perfumery, cosmetics, aromatherapy, incense, and other industries. Boswellia rivae, growing in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya, is one source of frankincense, but is little-commercialized compared to species such as B. sacra, B. frereana, and B. papyrifera. In this study, we examine the resin essential oil chemistry and harvesting systems of B. rivae in order to evaluate its potential for increased trade and potential positive livelihood benefits. Boswellia rivae produces an essential oil rich in α-thujene (0.1-12.4%), α-pinene (5.5-56.4%), β-pinene (0.3-13.0%), δ-3-carene (0.1-31.5%), p-cymene (1.4-31.2%), limonene (1.8-37.3%), β-phellandrene (tr-5.6%), trans-pinocarveol (0.1-5.0%), trans-verbenol (0.1-11.2%), and trans-β-elemene (0-5.7%), similar to major commercial species, although it is difficult to detect mixing of B. rivae and Commiphora africana resins from chemistry alone. The B. rivae trees are not actively tapped, so resin collection has a neutral impact on the health of the trees, and resin production is unaffected by drought. Consequently, collecting resins acts as a key income supplementing livestock herding, as well as a safety net protecting pastoral communities from the severe negative effects of climate change-exacerbated drought on livestock. Therefore, Boswellia rivae is well positioned chemically, ecologically, and socially to support expanded trade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjanette DeCarlo
- The Aromatic Plant Research Center, 230 N 1200 E, Suite 100, Lehi, UT 84043, USA; (A.D.); (P.S.)
- Grossman School of Business, University of Vermont, 55 Colchester Ave, 100 Kalkin Hall, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Stephen Johnson
- FairSource Botanicals, LLC, 560 Fox Drive #643, Fox Island, WA 98333, USA
| | - Abdinasir Abdikadir
- Somali Region Pastoral and Agro-Pastoral Research Institute, Jigjiga P.O. Box 1020, Ethiopia
| | - Prabodh Satyal
- The Aromatic Plant Research Center, 230 N 1200 E, Suite 100, Lehi, UT 84043, USA; (A.D.); (P.S.)
| | - Ambika Poudel
- The Aromatic Plant Research Center, 230 N 1200 E, Suite 100, Lehi, UT 84043, USA; (A.D.); (P.S.)
| | - William N. Setzer
- The Aromatic Plant Research Center, 230 N 1200 E, Suite 100, Lehi, UT 84043, USA; (A.D.); (P.S.)
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama in Huntsville, 301 Sparkman Drive, Huntsville, AL 35899, USA
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15
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Ebabu K, Taye G, Tsunekawa A, Haregeweyn N, Adgo E, Tsubo M, Fenta AA, Meshesha DT, Sultan D, Aklog D, Admasu T, van Wesemael B, Poesen J. Land use, management and climate effects on runoff and soil loss responses in the highlands of Ethiopia. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 326:116707. [PMID: 36375436 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Soil erosion by water is a major cause of land degradation in the highlands of Ethiopia and anywhere else in the world, but its magnitude and variability are rarely documented across land uses and climatological conditions. The purpose of this study was to examine runoff and soil loss responses under cropland (CL) and grazing land (GL) management practices in three climatic regions of the Ethiopian highlands: semi-arid (Mayleba), dry sub-humid (Gumara), and humid (Guder). We measured runoff and soil loss using runoff plots with and without soil and water conservation (SWC) measures (trenches, stone/soil bunds [embankments] with trenches on the upslope side, and exclosure) during the rainy season (July-September). The results revealed significant variation in runoff and soil loss amounts across land uses, SWC measures, and climatic regions. At Mayleba, seasonal runoff and soil loss in control plot were far higher from GL (280 mm, 26.5 t ha-1) than from CL (108 mm, 7.0 t ha-1) largely due to lack of protective vegetation cover and soil disruption because of intense grazing. In contrast, at Gumara and Guder, seasonal soil loss values were much higher from CL (21.4-71.2 t ha-1) than from GL (0.6-24.2 t ha-1) irrespective of runoff values. This was attributed to the excessive tillage/weeding operations involved in cultivation of teff (cereal crop) at Gumara and potato at Guder. Although SWC measures (practices) substantially reduced runoff and soil loss (decreased by 23%-86%) relative to control plot, seasonal soil loss under GL uses with trenches at Mayleba (12.6 t ha-1), CL with soil bunds and trenches at Gumara (22.1 t ha-1), and Guder (21.4 t ha-1) remained higher than the average tolerable soil loss rate (10 t ha-1 year-1) proposed for the Ethiopian highlands. This suggests that SWC measures should be carefully designed and evaluated specific to land use and climatic conditions. Overall, the results of this study can help improve SWC planning in regions where land use and climate impact on soil erosion vary across geographical areas, as they do in Ethiopia and anywhere else. However, further investigation is crucial with replication of measurements over years and locations to provide more accurate information on land use, management and climate controls on hydrological and soil erosion processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kindiye Ebabu
- Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori, 680-0001, Japan; College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 1289, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
| | - Gebeyehu Taye
- Department of Land Resources Management and Environmental Protection, Mekele University, P.O. Box 231, Mekele, Ethiopia
| | - Atsushi Tsunekawa
- Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori, 680-0001, Japan
| | - Nigussie Haregeweyn
- International Platform for Dryland Research and Education, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori, 680-0001, Japan
| | - Enyew Adgo
- College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 1289, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Mitsuru Tsubo
- Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori, 680-0001, Japan
| | - Ayele Almaw Fenta
- Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori, 680-0001, Japan; Department of Land Resources Management and Environmental Protection, Mekele University, P.O. Box 231, Mekele, Ethiopia
| | - Derege Tsegaye Meshesha
- College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 1289, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Dagnenet Sultan
- Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Dagnachew Aklog
- Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Teshager Admasu
- Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Bas van Wesemael
- Georges Lemaitre Center for Earth and Climate Research, Earth and Life Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Jean Poesen
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, 3001, Heverlee, Belgium; Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Maria-Curie Sklodowska University, Krasnicka Av. 2d, 20-718, Lublin, Poland
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16
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Exome-wide variation in a diverse barley panel reveals genetic associations with ten agronomic traits in Eastern landraces. J Genet Genomics 2022; 50:241-252. [PMID: 36566016 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2022.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Barley (Hordeum vulgare ssp. vulgare) was one of the first crops to be domesticated and is adapted to a wide range of environments. Worldwide barley germplasm collections possess valuable allelic variations that could further improve barley productivity. Although barley genomics has offered a global picture of allelic variation among varieties and its association with various agronomic traits, polymorphisms from East Asian varieties remain scarce. In this study, we analyzed exome polymorphisms in a panel of 274 barley varieties collected worldwide, including 137 varieties from East Asian countries and Ethiopia. We revealed the underlying population structure and conducted genome-wide association studies for ten agronomic traits. Moreover, we examined genome-wide associations for traits related to grain size such as awn length and glume length. Our results demonstrate the value of diverse barley germplasm panels containing Eastern varieties, highlighting their distinct genomic signatures relative to Western subpopulations.
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17
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Xie C, Li M, Jim CY, Liu D. Environmental Factors Driving the Spatial Distribution Pattern of Venerable Trees in Sichuan Province, China. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:3581. [PMID: 36559693 PMCID: PMC9780929 DOI: 10.3390/plants11243581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Venerable trees are important natural resources and cultural heritage, offering historical, ecological, social and economic value. However, global warming and anthropogenic activities have threatened their welfare and survival. A comprehensive understanding of their current and future spatial patterns, vis-á-vis environmental conditions, can inform the co-management of sustainable resource use and conservation. We employed the existing spatial occurrence data and environmental variables (bioclimate and elevation) to simulate the optimal habitats for venerable trees in China's Sichuan Province. We evaluated the current and future climate scenarios of 2100 with double CO2 concentration. The BIOCLIM and QGIS spatial analyses assessed the primary factors of geographical distribution. The results identified 10,720 venerable trees from 123 species, 81 genera and 42 families. Cupressus funebris dominated, with the maximum importance value, followed by Ginkgo biloba, Ficus virens var. sublanceolata, and Phoebe zhennan. The elevation distribution of tree abundance and species richness demonstrated a unimodal pattern, skewing to the low-elevation end, with a concentration in the 600-1500 m low-medium altitude. The majority of trees and excellent habitats were found in eastern Sichuan with a less harsh terrain and climate. The bio3 (isothermality) and bio7 (temperature annual range) factors significantly influenced tree occurrence. Temperature imposed a greater effect on distribution than moisture under the current climate scenario. For the future climate-change scenario, the suitable habitats were predicted to maintain an overall stable pattern, with largely contiguous expansions of better habitats. However, climate warming would shrink the excellent habitats on the plains. The findings can inform strategies and guidelines for venerable-tree conservation in Sichuan. Furthermore, vulnerable areas could be identified. The future range expansion sites could be enlisted to cultivate new trees to replenish the venerable-tree pool. Habitat patches that remain sustainable could provide refugia with the potential for protected-area designation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunping Xie
- College of Sciences, Qiongtai Normal University, Haikou 571127, China
| | - Meng Li
- Co-Innovation Center for the Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - C. Y. Jim
- Department of Social Sciences, Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Dawei Liu
- Nanjing Forest Police College, Nanjing 210023, China
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18
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Vegetation coverage changes driven by a combination of climate change and human activities in Ethiopia, 2003–2018. ECOL INFORM 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoinf.2022.101776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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19
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Kassie Teme A, Bekele Simegn A, Afework Bogale B. Species composition and distribution of endemic frog species of Keffa, southwest Ethiopia. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
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20
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Daily Activity Pattern of Geladas (Theropithecus gelada, Ruppell 1835) in Kotu Forest, Northern Ethiopia. ScientificWorldJournal 2022; 2022:7302240. [PMID: 36199438 PMCID: PMC9529442 DOI: 10.1155/2022/7302240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Gelada (Theropithecus gelada) is one of the endemic primates of Ethiopia. The ecology of meta populations of geladas outside protected areas is less studied, and their population status is uncertain. As a result, we conducted a study to investigate the daily activity pattern of gelada in Kotu forest and associated grasslands in northern Ethiopia from August 2017 to February 2018 covering both wet and dry seasons. The instantaneous scan sampling method was employed to collect behavioral data. The activity pattern of three selected focal groups of geladas was studied, and predominant behavioral activities were scanned in 15 minutes intervals from dawn 7:00 h to dusk at 18:00 h. Feeding comprised 61.65% of the total scan, followed by moving 18.49%. Feeding activity was more frequent during the dry season (about 65%) than in the wet season (58.20%). On the other hand, moving activity was more frequent during the dry season (about 22%) than in the wet season (about 14%). The daily activity pattern of gelada showed a feeding peak early in the morning and in the late afternoon. The time allocated by geladas for feeding and moving in the study area is higher than other activities. Therefore, there is a need for further in-depth research on diet availability and quality to justify why geladas allocate more time for feeding and moving nexus for conservation interventions.
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Beshaw T, Demssie K, Leka I. Levels and health risk assessment of trace metals in honey from different districts of Bench Sheko Zone, Southwest Ethiopia. Heliyon 2022; 8:e10535. [PMID: 36110232 PMCID: PMC9468405 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the levels and potential health risks posed by trace metals (Zn, Cu, Mn, Cd, Cr, and Pb) obtained in honey samples. The honey samples were from Sheko, Guraferda, Mizan Aman Town, Debub Bench, and Semien Bench in Bench Sheko Zone, Southern Ethiopia, and levels of trace metals were determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The levels of trace metals in honey samples across the provinces ranged as follows; Zn (1.78–4.02 mg/kg), Cu(1.85–2.35 mg/kg), Mn (0.75–1.25 mg/kg), Cd (0.011–0.038 mg/kg), Cr (0.25–0.55 mg/kg), respectively. The level of Pb was not detected in all honey samples. The levels of trace metals obtained were lower than the maximum permissible limit set by WHO/FAO. Limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were ranged from 0.00045 to 0.005 and 0.0015 to 0.016, for the tested metals, respectively. The estimated recoveries of the method were ranged from 92.66% to 103.00% showed a good agreement of accuracy. The EDI values (mg/kg) of the investigated trace metals in all honey samples were less than the maximum tolerable daily intake (MTDI). The values of the target hazard quotient (THQ) and the hazard index (HI) were less than unity. The target cancer risk (TCR) values of Cd in all honey samples showed the lowest carcinogenic risks with values ranged from 3.34E-07 to 1.27E-06. However, the TCR value of Cr in all honey samples ranged from 1.03E-05 to 2.43E-05 and was in the moderate range. The ∑TCR value of Cd and Cr ranged from 1.15E-05 to 2.37E-05 and 1.23E-05 to 2.55E-05 for male and female adults, respectively, and were found in the moderate range. Therefore, there was no serious non-carcinogenic and carcenogenic risks to human health from exposure to trace metals through the consumption of this honey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamene Beshaw
- College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Wolkite University, P.O. Box 07, Wolkite, Ethiopia
| | - Kindnew Demssie
- College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Wolkite University, P.O. Box 07, Wolkite, Ethiopia
| | - Israel Leka
- College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Wolkite University, P.O. Box 07, Wolkite, Ethiopia
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22
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Shitaneh E, Arega H, Getent M, Bezabeh A. Performance evaluation of local honey bee race (
Apis melifera secutellata)
in the Metekel Zone of North Western Ethiopia. Vet Med Sci 2022; 8:2696-2702. [DOI: 10.1002/vms3.885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Esubalew Shitaneh
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research Pawe Agricultural Research Center Pawe Ethiopia
| | - Habtie Arega
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research Pawe Agricultural Research Center Pawe Ethiopia
| | - Mezgebu Getent
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research DebreMarkos Agricultural Research Center DebreMarkos Ethiopia
| | - Amssalu Bezabeh
- Oromia Institute of Agricultural Research, Holetta Bee Research Center Holetta Ethiopia
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Kefalew A, Soromessa T, Demissew S. Plant diversity and community analysis of Sele-Nono forest, Southwest Ethiopia: implication for conservation planning. BOTANICAL STUDIES 2022; 63:23. [PMID: 35851664 PMCID: PMC9294133 DOI: 10.1186/s40529-022-00353-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studying the floristic diversity of a certain forest is a basic aspect of the design and management of forest vegetation; and consequently this study focused on the plant diversity and community analysis of the Sele-Nono forest. For the current study, plants were sampled from 90 plots using a stratified random sampling technique along the established strata of the study forest. In all the plots, both floristic and environmental data that were relevant to the study were collected following the state of the art. Based on the collected data, the community types, ordination, floristic diversity, and threats to the forest were analyzed using R-package and SPSS software. RESULTS Cluster analysis produced seven distinct community types which significantly differed among themselves (Cophentic correlation coefficient = 0.785, P < 0.001) of which community types 2 and 6 were relatively poor; whereas communities 1 and 4 were rich in terms of their species richness and diversity. In addition, Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) suggests that a number of environmental factors such as altitude and slope (topographic factor), OM and N (edaphic factors) and disturbance were the main drivers for the current distribution of plant species and disparity in plant community composition in Sele-Nono forest. Moreover, the study revealed high beta diversity ([Formula: see text] >12) of plant species at the landscape level (i.e., throughout the study forest). Deforestation for agricultural land expansion and degradation through selective logging are the main threats to the Sele-Nono forest. CONCLUSIONS The present study revealed that the Sele-Nono forest is a large and heterogenous forest at the landscape level (150, 325.27 ha; [Formula: see text] >12). Moreover, it is one of the richest and diverse forest ecosystems in terms of plant biodiversity, and it could qualify to be labeled as a keystone ecosystem. However, currently it is exposed to a variety of threats. We recommend the forest to be developed into a biosphere reserve. We also recommend the prioritization of areas belonging to community types 2 and 6 of the forest for any possible conservation actions so as to maximize species richness and diversity of the native plants of the area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alemayehu Kefalew
- Department of Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management, the National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 3434, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- Department of Biology, Debre Markos University (DMU), P. O. Box 269, Debre Markos, Ethiopia.
| | - Teshome Soromessa
- Center for Environmental Science, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Sebsebe Demissew
- Department of Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management, the National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 3434, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Ahmed S, Lemessa D, Seyum A. Woody Species Composition, Plant Communities, and Environmental Determinants in Gennemar Dry Afromontane Forest, Southern Ethiopia. SCIENTIFICA 2022; 2022:7970435. [PMID: 35784587 PMCID: PMC9242778 DOI: 10.1155/2022/7970435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Dry Afromontane forests in Ethiopia are vital for the conservation of plant diversity and climate change mitigation. However, these forest resources are rapidly degrading and shrinking, necessitating empirical scientific investigations to ensure their successful conservation and long-term management. As a result, this study was conducted to evaluate the composition, plant communities, and environmental determinants of woody species in the Gennemar dry Afromontane forest of southern Ethiopia. Environmental variables such as altitude, aspect, and geographical location were recorded from 46 plots of 20 × 20 m for trees and 92 subplots of 10 × 10 m for shrubs were laid along 10 transect lines. Vegetation structure, diversity, vegetation classification, importance value index (IVI) and correlation with environmental parameters were analyzed. A total of 55 woody species belonging to 51 genera and 34 families were identified. Among the species identified, Jasminum stans, Maytenus addat, and Pittosporum abyssinicum were endemic to Ethiopia. Celastraceae (with 659 individuals) was the most dominant family, followed by Cupressaceae (268 individuals) and Myrsinaceae (222 individuals). Four plant communities were identified: Syzygium guineense-Mystroxylon aethiopicum, Maytenus arbutifolia-Podocarpus falcatus, Myrsine africana-Erica arborea, and Juniperus procera-Carissa spinarum. Juniperus procera, Podocarpus falcatus, and Maytenus arbutifolia were species with the highest IVI, while Maesa lanceolata, Rhamnus prinoides, and Gnidia glauca had the lowest. The DBH class distribution shows an inverted J-shaped distribution. As DBH increases, the number of individuals decreases in the higher DBH class. The distribution of plant communities and the composition of the species depend on altitude and topographic aspects. The study found that the dry Afromontane Forest is rich in species and that it should be prioritized for conservation to protect endemic and native species. Decisive elements such as the type of species, altitude, and topographic aspects must be considered for forestry activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shemsu Ahmed
- Forest and Rangeland Plant Biodiversity Directorate, Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Abera Seyum
- Forest and Rangeland Plant Biodiversity Directorate, Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Kufa CA, Bekele A, Atickem A. Impacts of climate change on predicted habitat suitability and distribution of Djaffa Mountains Guereza (Colobus guereza gallarum, Neumann 1902) using MaxEnt algorithm in Eastern Ethiopian Highland. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
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Mohammed S, Dekabo A, Hailu T. Phytochemical analysis and anti-microbial activities of Artemisia spp. and rapid isolation methods of artemisinin. AMB Express 2022; 12:17. [PMID: 35150378 PMCID: PMC8840944 DOI: 10.1186/s13568-022-01346-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Artemisia species are important traditional medicinal plants of Ethiopia which are used for the treatment of infection and non-infection health problems. The genus Artemisia (Astraceae) consists of about 500 species worldwide. In this study, the main aim was to investigate chemical components of Artemisia spp. (A. abyssinica, A. absinthium and A. annua) and evaluate their antimicrobial activities against bacterial strains. The results indicated that the crude extract of these plants was effective against selected bacterial strains. Here we isolated the well-known antimalarial drug artemisinin (7 mg, 0.004%) from Artemisia annua leaves using a rapid n-hexane fractionation method. The n-hexane extract of A. abyssinica, ethyl acetate extract of A. absinthium and n-hexane of A. annua showed varying degrees of inhibiting effect against bacterial strains such as Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 T, Salmonella enteritidis ATCC13076T, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC1053T, boydii ATCC1233T, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 T, hospital acquired Acinetobacter baumannii. The ethyl acetate extract of Artemisia absinthium (A.abe) showed the maximum inhibiting effect (35 mm) against A. baumannii. The minimum zone of inhibition (< 3 mm) was recorded for test extract of A.ap against Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC1053T. Ethyl acetate extract of A, absinthium (A.abe) was more effective against these selected bacterial strains and the zone of inhibition ranged from 5 to 35 mm. The minimum inhibition zone (8 mm) was detected against S. typhimurium ATCC 13311 T for both A.ac and n-hexane- EtOAc fraction (8:2) of A, abyssinica. The maximum zone of inhibition (25 mm) for fraction (A.ach F4) of A, abyssinica obtained by column chromatography was recorded against S. pyogen ATCC 19,615. However, there was no zone of inhibition detected for boydii ATCC1233T due to these test extracts. Significant variations (P ≥ 0.05) were observed between all test extracts of these medicinal plants at 95% of confidence intervals. In this study, clear zones of inhibition were detected for the positive control (standard impregnated disks). Based on our results we recommend that various species of Artemisia spp. seem to have the potential for in-depth investigation for various antimicrobial activities that assisting the effort in searching for antimicrobial lead compounds.
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Mekonnen A, Fashing PJ, Chapman CA, Venkataraman VV, Stenseth NC. The value of flagship and umbrella species for restoration and sustainable development: Bale monkeys and bamboo forest in Ethiopia. J Nat Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2021.126117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Challenges in the Governance of Community-Managed Forests in Ethiopia: Review. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14031478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
A large proportion of the rural population in Ethiopia depends on community-managed forests for food security and livelihoods. However, the government and development partners have paid little attention to the governance challenges which limit the contributions of community-managed forests to food security and livelihoods. Also lacking is a synthesis of evidence relating to the requirements for improved governance to support the efforts of decision makers and practitioners. This paper attempts to review and synthesize the available evidence with the aim of identifying the requirements to achieve improved governance in community-managed forests. The results revealed that failure to devise benefit-sharing mechanisms which consider the heterogeneity of rural communities was prevalent. Interference of local authorities and elite capture in decision-making processes of forest and landscape restoration also compromised the willingness of rural communities to engage in collective action. Requirements such as the identification of the needs of specific categories of communities and enabling of the negotiation of diverse interests in the design and implementation of interventions could improve the governance of community-managed forests. Developing management plans and business model scenarios which balance the ecological and socio-economic goals at a local level in collaboration with rural communities is important to improve the governance of community-managed forests. There is also a need to revisit the practice of evaluating the performance of community-managed forests almost exclusively based on the goals of climate change adaptation and mitigation and biodiversity conservation.
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Abraham GT, Mammo DY, Teferedegn GD. Diurnal activity patterns and feeding ecology of geladas (Theropithecus gelada) in Ankober District at Kundi, North Shewa, Ethiopia. TROPICAL ZOOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.4081/tz.2021.79] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Theropithecus gelada is the primate species endemic to the central and northwestern highlands of Ethiopia and is the only extant species of the genus Theropithecus. Diurnal activity patterns and feeding behavior of geladas were studied at Kundi, Ankober district, Ethiopia from August 2017 to March 2018 to cover both wet and dry seasons. Scan sampling method was employed to study the activity patterns and feeding behavior of geladas in the study area. Activity scans were collected at 15-minutes intervals for up to 5 minutes duration from 0700 to 1730h. During each scan, individuals were recorded as performing one of the following behaviors: feeding, moving, resting, playing, aggression, grooming, sexual activity and others. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test were used in data analysis. During the wet season geladas spent grooming 20%, playing 19%, 14% resting, feeding 12%, other activity 11%, moving 9% and 3% in aggression. Geladas spent 27% feeding, 21% moving, 13% other activities, 12% aggression, 7% grooming, 7% playing and 4% resting during the dry season. There were significant differences in all activity time budgets between seasons except other activities. The total time spent feeding on grass blades and cereals were 25.5% and 23.5% in the study area, respectively. There was a significant difference between the age and sex classes of geladas in their activity time budgets. Eleven species of plants were recorded as the food of geladas in this study area. This study provides baseline information on the behavioral ecology of geladas outside protected areas.
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Worku EA, Atickem A, Bro-Jørgensen J, Bekele A, Evangelista P, Stenseth NC. Human activities increase vigilance, movement and home range size of the endangered mountain nyala (Tragelaphus buxtoni) at the cost of foraging and resting. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
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31
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Leonard CM, Assefa A, Sime H, Mohammed H, Kebede A, Solomon H, Drakeley C, Murphy M, Hwang J, Rogier E. Spatial distribution of Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax in northern Ethiopia by microscopy, rapid diagnostic test, laboratory antibody and antigen data. J Infect Dis 2021; 225:881-890. [PMID: 34628501 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiab489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Determining malaria transmission within regions of low, heterogenous prevalence is difficult. A variety of malaria tests exist and range from identification of diagnostic infection to testing for prior exposure. This study describes concordance of multiple malaria tests using data from a 2015 household survey conducted in Ethiopia. METHODS Blood samples (n= 2,279) from three regions in northern Ethiopia were assessed for Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax by microscopy, rapid diagnostic test (RDT), multiplex antigen assay, and multiplex assay for IgG antibodies. Geospatial analysis was conducted with spatial scan statistics and kernel density estimation to identify hotspots of malaria by different test results. RESULTS Prevalence of malaria infection was low (1.4% by RDT, 1.0% by microscopy, and 1.8% by laboratory antigen assay). For P. falciparum, overlapping spatial clusters for all tests and an additional five unique IgG clusters were identified. For P. vivax, clusters identified for bead antigen assay, microscopy, and IgG with partial overlap. CONCLUSIONS Assessing the spatial distribution of malaria exposure using multiple metrics can improve the understanding of malaria transmission dynamics in a region. The relative abundance of antibody clusters indicates that in areas of low-transmission, IgG antibodies are a more useful marker to assess malaria exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen M Leonard
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ashenafi Assefa
- Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.,Infectious Disease ecology and epidemiology lab, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Heven Sime
- Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Amha Kebede
- African Society for Laboratory Medicine, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Hiwot Solomon
- Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Chris Drakeley
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Matt Murphy
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.,U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jimee Hwang
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.,U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Eric Rogier
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
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A Phytolith Supported Biosphere-Hydrosphere Predictive Model for Southern Ethiopia: Insights into Paleoenvironmental Changes and Human Landscape Preferences since the Last Glacial Maximum. GEOSCIENCES 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/geosciences11100418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
During the past 25 ka, southern Ethiopia has undergone tremendous climatic changes, from dry and relatively cold during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM, 25–18 ka) to the African Humid Period (AHP, 15–5 ka), and back to present-day dry conditions. As a contribution to better understand the effects of climate change on vegetation and lakes, we here present a new Predictive Vegetation Model that is linked with a Lake Balance Model and available vegetation-proxy records from southern Ethiopia including a new phytolith record from the Chew Bahir basin. We constructed a detailed paleo-landcover map of southern Ethiopia during the LGM, AHP (with and without influence of the Congo Air Boundary) and the modern-day potential natural landcover. Compared to today, we observe a 15–20% reduction in moisture availability during the LGM with widespread open landscapes and only few remaining forest refugia. We identify 25–40% increased moisture availability during the AHP with prevailing forests in the mid-altitudes and indications that modern anthropogenic landcover change has affected the water balance. In comparison with existing archaeological records, we find that human occupations tend to correspond with open landscapes during the late Pleistocene and Holocene in southern Ethiopia.
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Vegetation Dynamics and Climatological Drivers in Ethiopia at the Turn of the Century. REMOTE SENSING 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/rs13163267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Global change, particularly climate change, poses a risk of altering vegetation composition and health. The consequences manifest throughout Earth’s system as a change in ecosystem services and socioecological stability. It is therefore critical that vegetation dynamics are monitored to establish baseline conditions and detect shifts. Africa is at high risk of environmental change, yet evaluation of the link between climate and vegetation is still needed for some regions. This work expands on more frequent local and multinational scale studies of vegetation trends by quantifying directional persistence (DP) at a national scale for Ethiopia, based on the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) between 2000 and 2016. The DP metric determines cumulative change in vegetation greenness and has been applied to studies of ecological stability and health. Secondary analysis utilizing panel regression methodologies is carried out to measure the effect of climate on NDVI. Models are developed to consider spatial dependence by including fixed effects and spatial weights. Results indicate widespread cumulative declines in NDVI, with the greatest change during the dry season and concentrated in northern Ethiopia. Regression analyses suggest significant control from climatic variables. However, temperature has a larger effect on NDVI, which contrasts with findings of some previous studies.
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Spatio-Temporal Changes and Driving Forces of Vegetation Coverage on the Loess Plateau of Northern Shaanxi. REMOTE SENSING 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/rs13040613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
As an important indicator of terrestrial ecosystems, vegetation plays an important role in the study of global or regional ecological environmental changes. Northern Shaanxi is located in the ecologically fragile area of the Loess Plateau, which is affected by interactions between natural and human factors. Here, we used the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) as an indicator to study the temporal and spatial variations of vegetation in Northern Shaanxi from 2000 to 2018. Based on the geographic detector method which can detect spatial differentiation, we analyzed the spatial differentiation characteristics and driving forces of vegetation in Northern Shaanxi, and revealed the most appropriate range or type of influencing factors for promoting vegetation growth. The results showed that the overall vegetation coverage improved in the study area, and NDVI showed an increasing trend with a growth rate of 0.10/10 years from 2000 to 2018. Natural and human factors are crucial driving forces of NDVI change, among which gross domestic product, land-use type, slope, and temperature have the greatest influence. The interaction between natural and human factors on NDVI was dominated by nonlinear and mutual enhancement effects, and the influence of interactions among all factors was significantly higher than that of a single factor. The range or types of factors suitable for vegetation growth were analyzed in the study area, and the joint action of natural and human factors had a more significant impact on vegetation. These findings provide a scientific basis for local governments to intervene in vegetation changes and ecological restoration through natural and human factors within the favorable scope.
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Season and habitat affect diversity, abundance and reproductive state of small mammals near Lake Abaya, Ethiopia. MAMMALIA 2020. [DOI: 10.1515/mammalia-2020-0128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
This study investigated the spatio-temporal association of small mammals in human-modified habitats. Small mammals were sampled using Sherman traps along 200 m transects (with one trap at every 10 m interval) in each of four habitats (cropland, forest patch, scrubland and wetland) replicated twice. Additional trapping was carried out in rural settlements comprising of eight homesteads, with five traps per homestead. Trapping was conducted in three sessions during the agricultural seasons: rainy (October), off-rain (December) and dry (February) over two years (2018 and 2019). In each session, trapping was carried out for three consecutive nights. A total of 497 small mammals belonging to 12 species from four families (Soricidae, Macroscelididae, Gliridae and Muridae) were captured. Murine rodents accounted for 99.4% of the animals with Mastomys erythroleucus (58%) being the dominant species. The scrubland had the highest small mammal species diversity while the cropland had the lowest. M. erythroleucus was not strongly associated with any spatio-temporal parameter and scored majority of seasonally reproducing individuals in the cropland, signifying its pest importance. Though disconnected from protected areas, habitats such as the scrubland harbor diverse small mammal species (including a vulnerable-endemic species, Grammomys minnae), suggesting the habitats’ significance for ecosystem functioning and conservation.
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Huang H. Sharing earth with all life. PLANT DIVERSITY 2020; 42:209-210. [PMID: 32864177 PMCID: PMC7442907 DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2020.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hongwen Huang
- Lushan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jiujiang, 332900, China
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