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Tadesse D, Masresha G, Lulekal E, Wondafrash M. A systematic review exploring the diversity and food security potential of wild edible plants in Ethiopia. Sci Rep 2024; 14:17821. [PMID: 39090093 PMCID: PMC11294628 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-67421-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: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Wild edible plants (WEPs) are important food sources globally due to their accessibility and affordability. In Ethiopia, where diverse cultural groups consume WEPs, this systematic review explores their diversity, edible parts, and role in supporting food security. The review examined 38 original studies on the ethnobotany of WEPs in Ethiopia from 2000 to 2022. It identified a total of 651 WEP species from 343 genera and 94 families, with the Fabaceae family having the most species (51). Herbs and shrubs were the predominant growth habits, and fruits were the most consumed plant parts. The review prioritized nine WEP species for cultivation and promotion. However, threats such as overgrazing, agricultural expansion, and the use of woody species for construction, firewood, and charcoal have depleted WEP resources and eroded traditional knowledge about their use. The review suggests that WEPs have the potential to contribute to food and nutritional security in Ethiopia if these threats are effectively managed. However, the limited coverage of ethnobotanical studies on WEPs requires further investigation. The study recommends integrating the prioritized WEPs into the national food system for promotion, cultivation, and nutrient analysis to evaluate their nutritional bioavailability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Tadesse
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
- Department of Biology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
| | | | - Ermias Lulekal
- Department of Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Melaku Wondafrash
- Department of Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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2
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Hatsey A, Yahya N, Eshete A, Gidey T. Land use and land cover changes, and woody vegetation status of the Tsimur Gebriel Monastery in Northern Ethiopia. Heliyon 2024; 10:e34200. [PMID: 39092250 PMCID: PMC11292265 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34200] [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: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Ethiopian Orthodox churches are significant habitats for endemic and threatened plant species, yet their vegetation status and the land use systems impacting them, are little known. Therefore, this study assessed the land use and land cover changes (LULCC) within a 3 km buffer area and the woody vegetation status of the Tsimur Gebriel Monastery in the Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia. The United States Geological Survey's multi-dated (1986, 1999, and 2018) Landsat imagery was used for LULCC analysis. A supervised classification technique was employed for image classification using a maximum likelihood algorithm. Systematic sampling techniques were used to collect vegetation data (tree species, height, and DBH), using 20 sample plots (20 × 20 m) distanced 100 m apart. The results highlighted that among the five identified LULCC types in the buffer zone of the monastery, the farmland area has expanded from 56 to 78 % at the expense of shrublands between 1986 and 2018. At the monastery, 19 woody tree species from 13 families were identified, with an evenness of 0.5 and a Shannon diversity index of 2.4. The stem density was 336 stems per hectare, and the forest cover was approximately 65 %. Olea europaea was the dominant tree species, while Juniperus procera showed a lack of regeneration at the monastery. Despite the fair natural regeneration, the monastery exhibited lower species diversity, richness, and evenness. However, the monastery remains an important habitat for rare and threatened tree species and may supply seeds for the restoration of degraded lands. Therefore, establishing exclosures in the buffer zone, strengthening stone walls and enrichment planting of degraded tree species should be implemented to ensure the sustainable conservation of valuable tree species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abraha Hatsey
- Mekelle Center, Ethiopian Forestry Development, P.O. Box 1282, Mekelle, Ethiopia
| | | | - Abeje Eshete
- Ethiopian Forestry Development, P.O. Box, 24536 code 1000, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Tesfay Gidey
- Department of Plant Science, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Adigrat University, P.O. Box 50, Adigrat, Ethiopia
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Kassaye M, Tamer M, Temesgen F, Derebe B, Derebe Y. Effects of environmental changes on vegetation and soil characteristics at Lewi Afromontane forest and wetland in Northwestern Ethiopia. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:1514. [PMID: 37989924 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-12124-6] [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: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Due to anthropogenic pressures, Ethiopian Afromontane forests, particularly Lewi Mountain and Wetland, are threatened and require urgent restoration planning and implementation. However, there is a lack of scientific baseline information to provide efficient restoration planning and implementation. Thus, this scientific research is being conducted to evaluate the condition of the vegetation and soil properties, specific to environmental variability in the study area. The study area was stratified as a natural forest patch, plantation stands, and wetland, and transect lines were established at a distance of 200 m across the elevation. The 0.04-ha plots were established at transects with a distance of 200 m. The biophysical and environmental data were collected and analyzed at each plot using descriptive and inferential statistics. The vegetation and soil parameters of natural forest patches, slopes, aspects, and elevation gradients vary considerably (p 0.029). The natural forest patches, gentle slopes, lower elevations, and northeast-facing gradients had the largest species diversity (1.7-2.4) and carbon stock (1105.9 tons ha-1). At the natural forest patch, there was significant human and livestock disturbance (3) and sporadic vegetation cover (< 50%). Natural forest patches and plantation stands had the best textural proportion, organic carbon (2.5-2.63%), total nitrogen (0.22-0.23%), available phosphorus (27.9 ppm), and available potassium (11.3-12.9 ppm). The study discovered that the soil and vegetation state at Lewi Mountain and the wetland fluctuated in response to environmental changes, necessitating restoration design and implementation tailored to environmental variability. This data is critical as a foundation for local, national, and international ecological restoration agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melkamu Kassaye
- Forestry and Climate Science, Injibara University, Injibara, Ethiopia.
| | - Mulugeta Tamer
- Forestry and Climate Science, Injibara University, Injibara, Ethiopia
| | - Fekadu Temesgen
- Forestry and Climate Science, Injibara University, Injibara, Ethiopia
| | - Binega Derebe
- Forestry and Climate Science, Injibara University, Injibara, Ethiopia
- Natural Resource Managment, Injibara University, Injibara, Ethiopia
| | - Yonas Derebe
- Forestry and Climate Science, Injibara University, Injibara, Ethiopia
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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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Schönauer M, Hietz P, Schuldt B, Rewald B. Root and branch hydraulic functioning and trait coordination across organs in drought-deciduous and evergreen tree species of a subtropical highland forest. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1127292. [PMID: 37377798 PMCID: PMC10291250 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1127292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Vessel traits are key in understanding trees' hydraulic efficiency, and related characteristics like growth performance and drought tolerance. While most plant hydraulic studies have focused on aboveground organs, our understanding of root hydraulic functioning and trait coordination across organs remains limited. Furthermore, studies from seasonally dry (sub-)tropical ecosystems and mountain forests are virtually lacking and uncertainties remain regarding potentially different hydraulic strategies of plants differing in leaf habit. Here, we compared wood anatomical traits and specific hydraulic conductivities between coarse roots and small branches of five drought-deciduous and eight evergreen angiosperm tree species in a seasonally dry subtropical Afromontane forest in Ethiopia. We hypothesized that largest vessels and highest hydraulic conductivities are found in roots, with greater vessel tapering between roots and equally-sized branches in evergreen angiosperms due to their drought-tolerating strategy. We further hypothesized that the hydraulic efficiencies of root and branches cannot be predicted from wood density, but that wood densities across organs are generally related. Root-to-branch ratios of conduit diameters varied between 0.8 and 2.8, indicating considerable differences in tapering from coarse roots to small branches. While deciduous trees showed larger branch xylem vessels compared to evergreen angiosperms, root-to-branch ratios were highly variable within both leaf habit types, and evergreen species did not show a more pronounced degree of tapering. Empirically determined hydraulic conductivity and corresponding root-to-branch ratios were similar between both leaf habit types. Wood density of angiosperm roots was negatively related to hydraulic efficiency and vessel dimensions; weaker relationships were found in branches. Wood density of small branches was neither related to stem nor coarse root wood densities. We conclude that in seasonally dry subtropical forests, similar-sized coarse roots hold larger xylem vessels than small branches, but the degree of tapering from roots to branches is highly variable. Our results indicate that leaf habit does not necessarily influence the relationship between coarse root and branch hydraulic traits. However, larger conduits in branches and a low carbon investment in less dense wood may be a prerequisite for high growth rates of drought-deciduous trees during their shortened growing season. The correlation of stem and root wood densities with root hydraulic traits but not branch wood points toward large trade-offs in branch xylem towards mechanical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marian Schönauer
- Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, Institute of Forest Ecology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Forest Work Science and Engineering, Department of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Peter Hietz
- Department of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Research, Institute of Botany, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernhard Schuldt
- Chair of Forest Botany, Institute of Forest Botany and Forest Zoology, Technical University of Dresden, Tharandt, Germany
| | - Boris Rewald
- Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, Institute of Forest Ecology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
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Derebe Y, Derebe B, Kassaye M, Gibru A. Species diversity, relative abundance, and distribution of avifauna in different habitats within Lewi Mountain, Awi zone, Ethiopia. Heliyon 2023; 9:e17127. [PMID: 37484391 PMCID: PMC10361310 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17127] [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: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Almost all habitats on the planet are home to birds, from the lowest deserts to the highest mountains. Birds have proved to be excellent indicators of biodiversity or productivity as they are easily observed and are relatively well known compared to other animals. Although bird species are distributed across the globe, habitat destruction, fragmentation, and loss have adversely affected their survival and distribution. Therefore, this study is an attempt to prepare a baseline data on avifaunal diversity with their relative abundance and species richness in different habitats within Lewi Mountain Awi zone, Ethiopia from December 2018 to October 2020, including both the wet and dry seasons. The sampling sites were stratified based on land cover features, and transect count techniques were employed. The data were summarized per season and habitat type in the excel spreadsheet throughout the study period. In this study, one-way ANOVA was used to determine the effect of habitat type on species diversity and abundance. T-tests are also use to analyze bird populations among seasons. A total of 1591 individuals, 56 bird species belonging to 29 families and 12 orders were identified during the two seasons. The Wetland habitat had the highest species diversity index (H' = 3) with high evenness index (J = 0.88) during the dry season followed by the open shrubs habitat (H' = 2.97) with the highest evenness index (J = 0.95). The settlement had the lowest species diversity (H' = 2.17) and the lowest evenness index (J = 0.8) in the same season. During the wet season, disturbed forests recorded the highest Shannon-Weiner diversity index (H' = 3.2) with the highest evenness (J = 0.92) followed by Wetland habitat (H' = 2.97) with high evenness index (J = 0.87). During dry and wet seasons, the abundance of birds' species in different habitat types did not differ significantly (F = 1.91, p = 0.193, dƒ = 3) and (F = 1.579, p = 0.199, dƒ = 3), respectively. From all studied habitats, the overall mean abundance of bird species between dry and wet seasons was significantly different (F = 3642, P ≤ 0.001, dƒ = 1). In conclusion, settlement had the lowest species diversity and the lowest evenness index in the research area for the entire season. The habitats are important to the conservation of birds, so good habitat management is required, such as minimizing agricultural expansion and overgrazing, demarcating the forest habitats for wild species only, and creating awareness among local communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonas Derebe
- Department of Forest and Climate Science, College of Agriculture, Food and Climate Science, Injibara University, Ethiopia
| | - Binega Derebe
- Department of Natural Resource Management, College of Agriculture, Food and Climate Science, Injibara University, Ethiopia
| | - Melkamu Kassaye
- Department of Forest and Climate Science, College of Agriculture, Food and Climate Science, Injibara University, Ethiopia
| | - Amare Gibru
- Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute, P.O. Box- 30726, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Derebe Y, Derebe B, Kassaye M, Gibru A. Species diversity, relative abundance, and distribution of avifauna in different habitats within Lewi Mountain, Awi zone, Ethiopia. Heliyon 2023; 9:e17127. [DOI: https:/doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
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8
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Admasie A, Eshetu A, Tessema TS, Vipham J, Kovac J, Zewdu A. Prevalence of Campylobacter species and associated risk factors for contamination of dairy products collected in dry season from major milk sheds in Ethiopia. Food Microbiol 2022; 109:104145. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2022.104145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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The Biological Origins of Soil Organic Matter in Different Land-Uses in the Highlands of Ethiopia. FORESTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/f13040560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
In the Ethiopian highlands, clearance of Afromontane dry forest and conversion to crop and grazing land lead to land degradation and loss of soil organic matter (SOM). Eucalyptus is often grown on degraded soils, and this results in the partial recovery of soil carbon stocks. The aim of this work was to assess the biological sources of SOM in this land-use sequence. In top-soils (0–10 cm) of four land-use systems, namely remnant natural forest, eucalyptus plantation, cropland, and grazing land, in the Ethiopian highlands, the origin of SOM was investigated. For this, a sequential extraction method was used, involving a solvent extraction, base hydrolysis, and a subsequent CuO oxidation. In these extracts, biomarkers (molecular proxies) were identified to characterize the SOM of the soil of the four land-uses. Putative lipid monomers of leaf, root, and microbial degradation products suggest that root inputs and microbial inputs dominate in SOM of all the land-uses, except grazing land. The ratios of syringyls, vanillyls, and cinnamyls showed that non-woody angiosperm plants were the predominant source for lignin in eucalyptus, cropland, and grazing land soil. In the soils of the natural forest, lignin originates from both woody angiosperms and woody gymnosperms. Our study shows the importance of root and microbial inputs in the formation of SOM, but also that, in the natural forest, legacies of previous forest cover are present.
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Alem D, Dejene T, Geml J, Oria-de-Rueda JA, Martín-Pinto P. Metabarcoding analysis of the soil fungal community to aid the conservation of underexplored church forests in Ethiopia. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4817. [PMID: 35314738 PMCID: PMC8938458 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08828-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Most of the Dry Afromontane forests in the northern part of Ethiopia are located around church territories and, hence, are called church forests. These forests are biodiversity islands and provide key ecosystem services to local communities. A previous study of church forest fungal species was based on sporocarp collections. However, to obtain a complete picture of the fungal community, the total fungal community present in the soil needs to be analyzed. This information is important to integrate church forests into global biodiversity conservation strategies and to understand what actions are required to conserve church forests and their biological components, including fungi, which are known for their exceptionally high diversity levels. We assessed soil fungal communities in three church forests using ITS2 rDNA metabarcoding. In total, 5152 fungal operational taxonomic units representing 16 fungal phyla were identified. Saprotrophs followed by ectomycorrhizal fungi and animal pathogens dominated fungal communities. Significant differences in diversity and richness were observed between forests. Non-metric multidimensional scaling confirmed that fungal community composition differed in each forest. The composition was influenced by climatic, edaphic, vegetation, and spatial variables. Linear relationships were found between tree basal area and the abundance of total fungi and trophic groups. Forest management strategies that consider cover, tree density, enrichment plantations of indigenous host tree species, and environmental factors would offer suitable habitats for fungal diversity, production, and function in these forest systems. The application of the baseline information obtained in this study could assist other countries with similar forest conservation issues due to deforestation and forest fragmentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Demelash Alem
- Sustainable Forest Management Research Institute, University of Valladolid, Avda. Madrid 44, 34071, Palencia, Spain.,Ethiopian Environment and Forest Research Institute (EEFRI), P. O. Box 30708, 1000, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Tatek Dejene
- Sustainable Forest Management Research Institute, University of Valladolid, Avda. Madrid 44, 34071, Palencia, Spain.,Ethiopian Environment and Forest Research Institute (EEFRI), P. O. Box 30708, 1000, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - József Geml
- MTA-EKE Lendület Environmental Microbiome Research Group, Eszterházy Károly University, Leányka u. 6, 3300, Eger, Hungary
| | - Juan Andrés Oria-de-Rueda
- Sustainable Forest Management Research Institute, University of Valladolid, Avda. Madrid 44, 34071, Palencia, Spain
| | - Pablo Martín-Pinto
- Sustainable Forest Management Research Institute, University of Valladolid, Avda. Madrid 44, 34071, Palencia, Spain.
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Aydagnehum SG, Ugo Y, Shibru S, Honnay O, Muys B. Composition and structure of woody plant communities as a function of altitude and human degradation in Afromontane moist evergreen forests SW Ethiopia. Afr J Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Seyoum Getaneh Aydagnehum
- Division Forest, Landscape and Nature KU Leuven Leuven Belgium
- Department of Biology College of Natural Sciences Arba Minch University Arba Minch Ethiopia
| | - Yonas Ugo
- Department of Biology KU Leuven Leuven Belgium
- Department of Forestry College of Agriculture Arba Minch University Arba Minch Ethiopia
| | - Simon Shibru
- Department of Biology College of Natural Sciences Arba Minch University Arba Minch Ethiopia
| | | | - Bart Muys
- Division Forest, Landscape and Nature KU Leuven Leuven Belgium
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Cao Z, Dou L, Yang N, Zhang K, Wang B, Xu Y, Ran J. Evaluating the effectiveness of vegetation conservation on a sacred mountain in western China. NATURE CONSERVATION 2021. [DOI: 10.3897/natureconservation.45.72215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Sacred natural sites, as probably the oldest form of habitat reserve for religious or cultural causes worldwide, are suggested to have an important role in conserving vegetation; however, there are insufficient data supporting the detailed implications of such sites for vegetation conservation. Thus, we evaluated the effectiveness of vegetation conservation on a Tibetan sacred mountain in Yajiang County, Sichuan, China, by investigating species richness and the structural attributes of higher vascular plant communities on and around the sacred mountain from April to June 2009. The results showed that the number of tree species on the sacred mountain was significantly higher than that in the surrounding area, but there were no notable differences in the numbers of shrub and grass species between the two sites. The sacred mountain harbored a greater number of small, short trees compared with the surrounding area, wherein the low-shrub and grass understory was relatively dense. We conclude that the sacred mountain has a positive impact on indigenous vegetation protection, but disparities in the management of the allowed uses of such sites could reduce their conservation effectiveness.
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Donald J, Murienne J, Chave J, Iribar A, Louisanna E, Manzi S, Roy M, Tao S, Orivel J, Schimann H, Zinger L. Multi-taxa environmental DNA inventories reveal distinct taxonomic and functional diversity in urban tropical forest fragments. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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Nature’s contributions to people from church forests in a fragmented tropical landscape in southern Ethiopia. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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15
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Leuzinger S, Rewald B. The Who or the How? Species vs. Ecosystem Function Priorities in Conservation Ecology. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:758413. [PMID: 34795686 PMCID: PMC8593376 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.758413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Current conservation strategies are targeted at preserving species, without explicitly aiming at the maintenance of ecosystem functions. In a physically highly connected world, the unintentional relocation of terrestrial, marine, and microbial life is therefore unavoidable and has been an integral part of human evolution for thousands of years. Here, we challenge the default perception often shared among conservation ecologists that preserving native species at all costs and reducing the number of exotic species and their abundance is the only way to conservation and restoration success. While this strategy is valuable in cases where exotic species disrupt ecological function, there are examples where exotic species have similar functional traits to the threatened or extinct native species and can in fact help maintain the overall or target function of an ecosystem. In the race to cope with global environmental change, we argue that ecosystem function and ecosystem services need to be viewed not only through a taxonomic lens, but increasingly also through a functional, trait-based one.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Leuzinger
- School of Science, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
- *Correspondence: Sebastian Leuzinger,
| | - Boris Rewald
- Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
- Boris Rewald,
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Mequanint F, Wassie A, Aynalem S, Adgo E, Nyssen J, Frankl A, Muys B, Lens L, Strubbe D. Biodiversity conservation in the sacred groves of north-west Ethiopia: diversity and community structure of woody species. Glob Ecol Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
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17
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Asmamaw M, Mereta ST, Ambelu A. The role of local knowledge in enhancing the resilience of dinki watershed social-ecological system, central highlands of Ethiopia. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0238460. [PMID: 32886702 PMCID: PMC7473574 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0238460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
This study was designed to explore the role of local knowledge (LK) in enhancing the resilience of Dinki watershed in the central highlands of Ethiopia. The data were collected through focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and household surveys. The qualitative data were analyzed through thematic analysis. Whereas descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used for quantitative data analyses. The result showed that the majority of the respondents have local knowledge and used in their daily activities. Furthermore, the LK is reported to have the adaptive capacity in managing land resource degradation, treating disease, mitigating food insecurity, and enhancing social capital, among others. Likewise, the logistic regression analysis showed that age, gender, and education status of the household head were significantly correlated (p<0.05) to knowledge level, indicating their predictive power for the acquisition of LK. Accordingly, old-aged (60+ years) male respondents who attended primary education were higher to acquire LK than their counterparts. The result realized that the adaptive roles (land resource management, medication, climate change adaptation, etc.) of local knowledge systems could contribute to enhancing resilience. More importantly, the presence of social mechanisms is insurance to maintain LK. Thus, both intergenerational and intragenerational information gaps are filled with education and promotion on the roles of local knowledge systems. Besides, local-decision options should participate in custodians to share their experiences, that could contribute to sustaining ecosystem resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengistu Asmamaw
- Department of Environmental Health Science and Technology, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
- Department of Biology, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia
| | - Seid Tiku Mereta
- Department of Environmental Health Science and Technology, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Argaw Ambelu
- Department of Environmental Health Science and Technology, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
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18
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Asefa M, Cao M, He Y, Mekonnen E, Song X, Yang J. Ethiopian vegetation types, climate and topography. PLANT DIVERSITY 2020; 42:302-311. [PMID: 33094201 PMCID: PMC7567763 DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2020.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Ethiopia is land of geographical contrasts with elevations that range from 125 m below sea level in the Danakil Depression to 4533 m above sea level in the Semien Mountains, a world heritage site. The diverse climate of various ecological regions of the country has driven the establishment of diverse vegetation, which range from Afroalpine vegetation in the mountains to the arid and semi-arid vegetation type in the lowlands. The formation of Ethiopian vegetation is highly connected to the climate and geological history of the country. Highland uplift and rift formation due to volcanic forces formed novel habitats with different topography and climatic conditions that have ultimately become drivers for vegetation diversification. Due to Ethiopia's connection with the temperate biome in the north and the Arabian Peninsula during the dry glacial period, the biotic assemblage of Ethiopian highlands consists of both Afrotropical and palearctic biota. In general, eight distinct vegetation types have been identified in Ethiopia, based mainly on elevation and climate gradients. These vegetation types host their own unique species, but also share several common species. Some of the vegetation types are identified as centers of endemism and have subsequently been identified globally as the East African Afromontane hotspot. Ethiopia is biologically rich, with more than 6500 vascular plant species. Of these species, 12% are endemic mainly due to geographical isolation and unique climatic conditions. However, researchers have yet to extensively investigate the ecology, phenology, as well as the evolutionary, genetics, and conservation status of Ethiopian vegetations at community and species level over space and time. This lack of research is a barrier to achieving the goal of zero global plant extinctions. Taxa extinction risk assessment has not been extensively carried out for majority of Ethiopian species. Detailed research is needed to explore how vegetation and species respond to rapidly growing environmental change. Currently, human-induced climate change and habitat fragmentation are severely threatening the country's biodiversity, and the consequences of these effects have not been studied at large. Furthermore, we still lack scientific evidence on how micro- and macro-ecological and evolutionary processes have been shaping vegetation structures in this climatically, topographically, and geologically diverse country. These gaps in our knowledge represent an opportunity for ecologists, geneticists, evolutionary biologists, conservation biologists, and other experts to investigate the biodiversity status and the complex ecological processes involved in structuring vegetation dynamics so as to help take effective conservation actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengesha Asefa
- CAS, Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 666303, Yunnan, China
- Department of Biology, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, University of Gondar, 196, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Min Cao
- CAS, Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 666303, Yunnan, China
| | - Yunyun He
- CAS, Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 666303, Yunnan, China
| | - Ewuketu Mekonnen
- CAS, Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 666303, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiaoyang Song
- CAS, Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 666303, Yunnan, China
| | - Jie Yang
- CAS, Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 666303, Yunnan, China
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19
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Carbon stock and woody species diversity patterns in church forests along church age gradient in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Urban Ecosyst 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-020-00961-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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20
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Landry Yuan F, Ballullaya UP, Roshnath R, Bonebrake TC, Sinu PA. Sacred groves and serpent‐gods moderate human–snake relations. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Félix Landry Yuan
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR China
| | - U. Prashanth Ballullaya
- Department of Animal Science School of Biological Science Central University of Kerala Kasaragod India
| | - Ramesh Roshnath
- Department of Animal Science School of Biological Science Central University of Kerala Kasaragod India
| | | | - Palatty Allesh Sinu
- Department of Animal Science School of Biological Science Central University of Kerala Kasaragod India
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21
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Levy-Tacher SI, Ramírez-Marcial N, Navarrete-Gutiérrez DA, Rodríguez-Sánchez PV. Are Mayan community forest reserves effective in fulfilling people's needs and preserving tree species? JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2019; 245:16-27. [PMID: 31136936 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.04.097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2018] [Revised: 04/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Mayan community forest reserves (MCFR) play an important role in agricultural landscapes in Mexico, as they provide forest products and a broad variety of benefits that contribute to improving local people's livelihoods. Nevertheless, academia has generally considered conservation and use of forest resources to be incompatible. We describe the spatial configuration of MCFR, evaluate floristic and structural characteristics of woody vegetation present in selected reserves, and identify social norms that govern use and conservation of MCFR. These reserves largely consist of mature vegetation (80% of total cover); their plant structure is similar to that of the surrounding tropical sub-deciduous forest; and they house a large number of endemic species. The MCFR studied contain a total of 146 tree species and cover 11% of the study area, which includes at least 140 villages in the north-central part of the Yucatan Peninsula. These reserves are collectively managed and conserved by Mayan peasants in the interest of the common good. The communities in our study area combine conservation and use of forest resources, and we recommend that in public policy, government agencies and NGOs incorporate MCFR as a model of biological conservation and sustainable natural resource use, taking into account traditional knowledge and local norms that allow these reserves to function in a sustainable manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Israel Levy-Tacher
- Departamento de Conservación de la Biodiversidad, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Carretera Panamericana y Periférico Sur s/n, 29290, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico.
| | - Neptalí Ramírez-Marcial
- Departamento de Conservación de la Biodiversidad, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Carretera Panamericana y Periférico Sur s/n, 29290, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico.
| | - Darío Alejandro Navarrete-Gutiérrez
- Laboratorio de Información Geográfica y Estadística, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Carretera Panamericana y Periférico Sur s/n, 29290, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico.
| | - Perla Victoria Rodríguez-Sánchez
- Departamento de Conservación de la Biodiversidad, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Carretera Panamericana y Periférico Sur s/n, 29290, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico.
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22
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Cardelús CL, Woods CL, Bitew Mekonnen A, Dexter S, Scull P, Tsegay BA. Human disturbance impacts the integrity of sacred church forests, Ethiopia. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0212430. [PMID: 30840665 PMCID: PMC6402655 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Land-use change can have profound effects on forest communities, compromising seedling recruitment and growth, and long-term persistence of forests on the landscape. Continued forest conversion to agriculture causes forest fragmentation which decreases forest size, increases edge effects and forest isolation, all of which negatively impact forest health. These fragmentation effects are magnified by human use of forests, which can compromise the continued persistence of species in these forests and the ability of the forests to support the communities that depend on them. We examined the extent and influence of human disturbance (e.g. weedy taxa, native and exotic tree plantations, clearings, buildings) on the ecological status of sacred church forests in the northern highlands of South Gondar, Ethiopia and hypothesized that disturbance would have a negative effect. We found that disturbance was high across all forests (56%) and was negatively associated with tree species richness, density, and biomass and seedling richness and density. Contrary to expectation, we found that forests < 15.5 ha show no difference in disturbance level with distance from population center. Based on our findings, we recommend that local conservation strategies not only protect large forests, but also the small and highly used forests in South Gondar which are critical to the needs of local people, including preserving large trees for seed sources, removing exotic and weedy species from forests, and reducing clearings and trails within forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine L. Cardelús
- Department of Biology, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Carrie L. Woods
- Department of Biology, University of Puget Sound, Puget Sound, WA, United States of America
| | | | - Sonya Dexter
- Department of Biology, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY, United States of America
| | - Peter Scull
- Department of Geography, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY, United States of America
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Tesfamariam Z, Nyssen J, Poesen J, Ghebreyohannes T, Tafere K, Zenebe A, Deckers S, Van Eetvelde V. Landscape research in Ethiopia: misunderstood or lost synergy? RANGELAND JOURNAL 2019. [DOI: 10.1071/rj18060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
A full understanding of the concept of landscape plays a paramount role in sustainable management of natural resources and an increase of landscape studies. However, little is known about the concept of landscape, landscape research and its application in Ethiopia. Hence, the overall objective of this paper is to explore the concept of landscape and review available literatures on landscape research in Ethiopia and to identify research gaps. A questionnaire (n=30) was administered to explore the concept of landscape. A systematic review of available studies on landscape and related concepts has also been made. Out of the 398 papers in which the terms ‘landscape’ and ‘Ethiopia’ appeared in the title, keywords or abstract, 26 papers, having 10 or more keywords related to landscape research were included in this in-depth review. An exploratory study of art and media has been made to examine the perception of artists on landscapes. The results of the study show that the perception of Ethiopian artists on landscape is highly associated with concept of the landscape.
The findings of the survey also reveal that the meaning of the term landscape differs semantically. The findings of the review also indicate that landscape studies carried out in Ethiopia do not fully cover the holistic concept of landscape; as they mostly focus more on physical features of the landscape. Moreover, the interdisciplinary approach that integrates landscape ecology, perception and history, which is important for understanding landscapes and landscape changes, is also lacking. Generally, the concept of landscape seems to be misconceived in most studies undertaken in Ethiopia, mainly because it is interchangeably used with land use and land cover. Hence, there is a need for a better understanding of the concept of landscape and the applications of a holistic landscape approach.
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24
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Vorovencii I. Quantification of forest fragmentation in pre- and post-establishment periods, inside and around Apuseni Natural Park, Romania. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2018; 190:367. [PMID: 29846795 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-018-6741-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2017] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Protected areas (PAs) represent real cornerstones in the conservation of biodiversity and natural habitats. Their protection must be a priority today for each society. The enhanced socio-economic requirements increase the pressure upon protected areas, and the effect can result in a reduction of biodiversity. The aim of this study is to quantify forest fragmentation in the pre- (1986-2002) and post-establishment (2002-2016) periods, inside and around (buffer 1, buffer 2 and buffer 3) Apuseni Natural Park (ANP), Romania, using a series of classified Landsat satellite images and six landscape metrics. The results show that forest fragmentation occurred both in the pre- and post-establishment periods, inside and around ANP. Inside the park, the deforestation rate increased four times, from 0.03% year-1 in the pre-establishment period to 0.14% year-1 in the post-establishment period. Around the park, the deforestation rate decreased from 0.31% year-1 in the pre-establishment period (buffer 1) to 0.10% year-1 in the post-establishment period (buffer 1). Forest fragmentation resulted in an increase in the patch density and edge density, and a decrease in the total core area and mean patch size leading to isolation of patches and fragmentation of landscape, especially in ANP in the post-establishment period. Several measures can be taken in order to stop forest fragmentation inside and around ANP, including the education of buffer-zone communities, reforestation, enforcement of park regulations, and forest legislation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iosif Vorovencii
- Forest Engineering, Forest Management Planning and Terrestrial Measurements Department, Faculty of Silviculture and Forest Engineering, Transilvania University of Brasov, Beethoven street nr. 1, 500123, Brasov, Romania.
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25
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Molnár V A, Nagy T, Löki V, Süveges K, Takács A, Bódis J, Tökölyi J. Turkish graveyards as refuges for orchids against tuber harvest. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:11257-11264. [PMID: 29299298 PMCID: PMC5743569 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2017] [Revised: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 10/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Harvest of orchid tubers for salep production is widespread in southwestern Asia and the Balkans and constitutes a major conservation risk for wild orchid populations. Synanthropic habitats, such as graveyards, are important refuges for orchids and other organisms and could offer protection from salep harvesting because of their special cultural role. However, little is known about the occurrence and factors influencing harvesting of salep in graveyards. During field surveys of 474 graveyards throughout Turkey, we observed 333 graveyards with orchids, 311 graveyards with tuberous orchids, and salep harvest in 14 graveyards. Altogether, 530 individuals of 17 orchid species were collected, representing 9% of the individuals recorded. Harvesting intensity was relatively low, and populations were usually not wholly destroyed. However, some species were clearly more affected than others. Salep harvesting risk of orchid species was significantly associated with flowering time, with early‐flowering species being more affected. A marginally significant positive relationship between harvesting risk and species‐specific tuber size was also detected. Our data suggest that graveyards might offer some protection against salep harvesting in Turkey, but they also show that some orchid taxa are much more affected than others. Overall, our observations add more weight to the conservation value of these special habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Attila Molnár V
- Department of Botany University of Debrecen Debrecen Hungary
| | - Timea Nagy
- Department of Plant Sciences and Biotechnology Georgikon Faculty University of Pannonia Keszthely Hungary
| | - Viktor Löki
- Department of Botany University of Debrecen Debrecen Hungary
| | - Kristóf Süveges
- Department of Botany University of Debrecen Debrecen Hungary
| | - Attila Takács
- Department of Botany University of Debrecen Debrecen Hungary.,MTA-DE "Lendület" Evolutionary Phylogenomic Research Group University of Debrecen Debrecen Hungary
| | - Judit Bódis
- Department of Plant Sciences and Biotechnology Georgikon Faculty University of Pannonia Keszthely Hungary
| | - Jácint Tökölyi
- MTA-DE Behavioural Ecology Research Group University of Debrecen Debrecen Hungary
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26
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Fine Root Dynamics in Afromontane Forest and Adjacent Land Uses in the Northwest Ethiopian Highlands. FORESTS 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/f8070249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Fine roots are a major pathway of C input into soils. The aim of this study was to quantify fine root stocks, production and turnover in natural forest and land use systems converted from forests in Ethiopia. The study was conducted in a remnant Afromontane forest, eucalyptus plantation and grass and cropland in NW Ethiopia. Fine root dynamics were investigated using three different methods: sequential coring, in-growth cores and in-growth nets. Soil cores for sequential analyses were taken in quarterly intervals, while in-growth cores and nets were harvested corresponding to 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 8- and 12-month interval. Fine root stocks averaged 564, 425, 56 and 46 g·m−2 in the forest, eucalyptus, grazing land and cropland ecosystems, respectively. The values decreased exponentially with increasing soil depth. In forest and eucalyptus, fine root biomass and necromass were highest in the dry season. Estimates of fine root production differed according to the method used. Fine root production based on in-growth coring averaged 468, 293, 70 and 52 g m−2·year−1. In general, land use conversion from forest to open lands reduced fine root production by 85–91%. The turnover rate of fine roots was 1.5 for forest and 2.1 for eucalyptus plantation.
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27
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Kassa A, Konrad H, Geburek T. Landscape genetic structure of Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata in Ethiopian highland forest fragments. CONSERV GENET 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-017-0993-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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28
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Fine Root Morphology, Biochemistry and Litter Quality Indices of Fast- and Slow-growing Woody Species in Ethiopian Highland Forest. Ecosystems 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-017-0163-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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29
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Volume and Carbon Estimates for the Forest Area of the Amhara Region in Northwestern Ethiopia. FORESTS 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/f8040122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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30
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Cardelús CL, Scull P, Wassie Eshete A, Woods CL, Klepeis P, Kent E, Orlowska I. Shadow conservation and the persistence of sacred church forests in northern Ethiopia. Biotropica 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter Scull
- Department of Geography Colgate University Hamilton NY 13346 USA
| | - Alemayehu Wassie Eshete
- Colgate University Hamilton NY 13346 USA
- College of Agriculture Bahir Dar University Bahir Dar Ethiopia
| | - Carrie L. Woods
- Department of Biology University of Puget Sound Tacoma WA 98416 USA
| | - Peter Klepeis
- Department of Geography Colgate University Hamilton NY 13346 USA
| | - Eliza Kent
- Religion Department Skidmore College Saratoga Springs NY 12866 USA
| | - Izabela Orlowska
- Colgate University Hamilton NY 13346 USA
- Zentrum Moderner Orient Berlin Germany
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31
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Tolessa T, Senbeta F, Kidane M. Landscape composition and configuration in the central highlands of Ethiopia. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:7409-7421. [PMID: 28725408 PMCID: PMC5513271 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2016] [Revised: 08/11/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Landscape dynamics are common phenomenon in the human-dominated environments whereby it can be observed that the composition and configuration between landscape elements change over time. This dynamism brings about habitat loss and fragmentation that can greatly alter ecosystem services at patch, class, and landscape levels. We conducted a study to examine composition and configuration of forested landscape in the central highlands of Ethiopia using satellite images of over a period of four decades, and FRAGSTAT raster dataset was used to analyze fragmentation. Our result showed five land use/land cover (LULC) types in the study area. Cultivated land and settlement land increased at the expense of forestland, shrubland, and grassland. Fragmentation analysis showed the number of patches increased for all LULC types, indicating the level of fragmentation and interspersion. Juxtaposition increased for shrubland, grassland, and cultivated lands and decreased for settlement and forestland resulting in the fragmentation and isolation of patches. The study of LULC along with fragmentation at the landscape level can help improve our understanding of the pace at which conversion of landscape elements is happening and the impacts on ecosystem services as studies of LULC are courser in nature and would not show how each land use is reducing in size, proximity and shape among other things that determine ecosystem services. Such type of studies in rural landscapes are very vital to consider appropriate land management policies for the landscape level by taking into account the interaction between each element for sustainable development. We recommend land managers, conservationists, and land owners for observing the roles of each patch in the matrix to maximize the benefits than focusing on a single element.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terefe Tolessa
- Center for Environment and Development College of Development Studies Addis Ababa University Addis Ababa Ethiopia.,Department of Natural Resource Management College of Agriculture and Veterinary Science Ambo University Ambo Ethiopia
| | - Feyera Senbeta
- Center for Environment and Development College of Development Studies Addis Ababa University Addis Ababa Ethiopia
| | - Moges Kidane
- Department of Natural Resource Management College of Agriculture and Veterinary Science Ambo University Ambo Ethiopia
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32
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LoTemplio S, Reynolds TW, Wassie Eshete A, Abrahams M, Bruesewitz D, Wall JA. Ethiopian Orthodox church forests provide regulating and habitat services: evidence from stream sediment and aquatic insect analyses. Afr J Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sara LoTemplio
- Environmental Studies Program; Colby College; Waterville ME U.S.A
| | | | | | - Marie Abrahams
- Environmental Studies Program; Colby College; Waterville ME U.S.A
| | | | - Jacob Ablow Wall
- Environmental Studies Program; Colby College; Waterville ME U.S.A
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