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Gutema TM, Mersha A, Aticho A, Gemeda DO, Diriba S, Alemu T, Gemechu D, Habtamu T, Dinsa DT, Tsegaye D, Stenseth NC. Wildlife roadkill in Southwestern Ethiopia: Hotspots, drivers, and victim species. Heliyon 2023; 9:e19783. [PMID: 37809595 PMCID: PMC10559101 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19783] [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: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Wildlife-vehicle collision (WVC) is one of the major causes of wildlife mortality and a concern for conservationists worldwide. The study of roadkill data that can be used to develop appropriate measures and strategies for both wildlife conservation and traffic safety to mitigate the WVC and animals' mortality. Extensive studies have been conducted in the developed countries on the identification of WVC hotspots and its potential impact; however, less attention is given in developing countries. Because of this, the problem is not well understood in developing countries. This study was intended to identify victim species, hotspot areas for roadkill, and factors that contribute to WVC in Jimma Zone, along three roads leading from Jimma City. Data were collected using a citizen science approach and a skilled man power road survey (March-September 2022) to document the number and type of species killed. Three road segments (135 km in total) were surveyed weekly as a baseline for future research. All statistical analyses were carried out using R-software. In the present study, a total of 84 roadkill specimens were collected from 16 different mammal species, of which 85.7% were medium-sized carnivores. The findings showed that Jackals (Canis mesomalis and Canis adustus) were the most frequently killed species (25%, n is 21), followed by Civettictis civetta (22.62%, n is 19). The study revealed that the major factors causing collisions include habitat type (forest cover) and wildlife behavior (nocturnal or diurnal). Further, the study revealed that the majority of WVC occurred at night (dusk) and at dawn in areas that are covered with dense forests. To minimize the potential risks of WVC and animals' mortality, we suggest putting warning signs in hotspot areas where roadkill usually occur frequently. In addition, we recommend creating awareness among drivers, traffic police, and all communities about the negative impacts and consequences of collisions on the ecological and economic value of wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tariku Mekonnen Gutema
- Department of Natural Resource Management, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, P. O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | | | - Abebayehu Aticho
- Department of Natural Resource Management, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, P. O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Dessalegn Obsi Gemeda
- Department of Natural Resource Management, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, P. O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Shiferaw Diriba
- Department of Natural Resource Management, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, P. O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Tibebu Alemu
- Department of Natural Resource Management, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, P. O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Dejene Gemechu
- Department of Social Anthropology, College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Jimma University, P. O. Box 378, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Tadese Habtamu
- Department of Biology, College of Natural Science, Jimma University, P. O. Box 378, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Dagne Tiruneh Dinsa
- Department of English Language and Literature, College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Jimma University, P. O. Box 378, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Diress Tsegaye
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P. O Box 1066, Blindern, 0316, Oslo, Norway
| | - Nils C. Stenseth
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P. O. Box1066, Blindern, Norway
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Teressa H, Ersino W, Alemayo T. Distribution, diet, and trophic level of Arvicanthis abyssinicus and Tachyoryctes splendens around the area of recently extinct Ethiopian Wolf Canis simiensis on Mount Guna, northwestern Ethiopia. JOURNAL OF THREATENED TAXA 2022. [DOI: 10.11609/jott.6786.14.2.20539-20549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Abyssinian Grass Rats Arvicanthis abyssinicus and Common Mole Rats Tachyoryctes splendens are preyed upon by the Ethiopian Wolf Canis simiensis. The aim of this study was to assess distribution, diet and trophic level of Arvicanthis abyssinicus and Tachyoryctes splendens on Mount Guna, where wolves have recently become extinct. Rodents were captured with Sherman trap and identified, and samples were taken to Debre Tabor University for dissection and diet analysis via microscopy examination of stomach contents. 110 A. abyssinicus and 52 T. splendens were captured from the study area, and the estimated population sizes of A. abyssinicus and T. splendens in Mt. Guna computed by Peterson-Lincoln Index were 1,364 and 416, respectively. In addition, 379 burrows (203 of A. abyssinicus and 176 of T. splendens) were counted. Both species were observed to consume plants and arthropods, with plants predominant. We recommend that intensive studies should be carried out to determine the effects of rodent communities upon Mt. Guna afroalpine and subafroalpine ecosystems.
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Meheretu Y, Meinig H, Mikula O, Hermes N, Wale M, Tadele A, Kaipf I, Bryja J. Small‐ and medium‐sized mammals of the Kafa Biosphere Reserve, Ethiopia. Afr J Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yonas Meheretu
- Department of Biology and Institute of Mountain Research & Development Mekelle University Mekelle Ethiopia
| | | | - Ondřej Mikula
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology Czech Academy of Sciences Brno Czech Republic
| | - Nicole Hermes
- Project Office Wildcat BUND Regional Association Halle‐Saalekreis Petersberg bei Halle Germany
| | - Mengistu Wale
- Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute Addis Ababa Ethiopia
| | | | - Ingrid Kaipf
- Department of Animal Physiology University of Tübingen Tübingen Germany
| | - Josef Bryja
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology Czech Academy of Sciences Brno Czech Republic
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