Range Ecology and Biodiversity

DISTRIBUTION AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF THE INVASIVE PLANT Argemone mexicana L. AND ITS IMPACT ON THE LIVELIHOOD OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IN SOUTH WOLLO, ETHIOPIA

2025-02-10T07:00:21Z

DISTRIBUTION AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF THE INVASIVE PLANT Argemone mexicana L. AND ITS IMPACT ON THE LIVELIHOOD OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IN SOUTH WOLLO, ETHIOPIA Shewakena Teklegiorgis Belete; Dr. Sintayehu Workeneh; Dr. Anteneh Belayneh; Dr. Kidane Gebermeske; Dr. Gbenga Festus Globally, approximately 17% of valuable ecosystems are impacted by invasive alien species categorized as high or very high threats. The spread of invasive alien plants (IAPs) is exacerbated by changes in climate and land use. Argemone mexicana L. is an IAP that thrives in warm tropical and subtropical climates and can survive in areas with low moisture, disturbed environments, and poor soil nutrients. In Ethiopia, the presence of A. mexicana is increasing, identifying it as a significant IAP. This study focused on the current and future (2050 and 2070) agroecological distributions of A. mexicana. It quantified its density, biomass, fruit, and seed production across farmlands, settlements, roadsides, and grazing lands and between midland and highland agroecology. This study also tests the allelopathic effects of A. mexicana on two crops Cicer arietinum L. and Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter, and grasses Eragrostis japonica (Thunb.) Trin. and Urochloa brachyura (Hack.) Stapf (1920), seed germination and seedling growth and assessed their impacts on household livelihood income in South Wollo, Ethiopia. Stratified sampling methods were employed to sample the study sites and households. A total of eight kebeles and 384 households were sampled from two districts covering two agroecologies. The data were analyzed via various statistical approaches, including ensemble species distribution models (SDMs), one-way ANOVA, Tukey’s HSD test, independent t-tests, and propensity score matching (PSM) logit models. The analytical tools used included Arc-GIS 10.7.1, R4.2.1, and STATA14 software. The results indicated that A. mexicana potentially occupies an agroecological range from the midland (1500 masl) to the sub-alpine (3700 masl), both currently and in future projections (2050 and 2070). The total suitable agroecological area currently accounts for 23.26% of the total area. In the future, under the three Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) projected climate change scenarios, SSP1-2.6(low), SSP2- 4.5(intermediate), and SSP5-8.5(very high) total suitable agroecological areas will be 28.67%, 27.29% and 25.15% by 2050 and 24.35%, 28%, and 21.14% by 2070, respectively. The mean density of A. mexicana varied significantly, ranging from 22,450 to 75,833 individuals per hectare across different land uses (p < 2e-16, f = 262.1) and from 39,208 to 46,219 based on xxiii agroecological conditions (t = 2.6981, df = 379.27 p = 0.007286). The aboveground fresh biomass measured between 0.556 kg/m² to 2.41 kg/m² (p < 2e-16, f = 87.29) and 1.247 kg/m² to 1.594 kg/m² (t = 3.3049, df = 151.7 p = 0.001186), for land use and agroecology respectively. Belowground fresh biomass ranged from 0.129 kg/m² to 0.343 kg/m² (p < 4.33e-12, f = 22.35), and 0.135 kg/m² to 0.233 kg/m² (t = 3.8362, df = 104.81, p = 0.0002138), for land use and agroecology respectively. For aboveground dry biomass, values varied from 0.049 kg/m² to 1.22 kg/m² ( p < 3.28e-11, f = 37.74 ) and 0.379 kg/m² to 0.689 kg/m² (t = 3.4117, df = 146.39, p = 0.0008347), while belowground dry biomass ranged between 0.093 kg/m² to 0.313 kg/m² (p < 4.33e-11, f = 22.35) and 0.106 kg/m² to 0.203 kg/m² (t = 3.8307, df = 104.2, p = 0.0002187), for land use and agroecology respectively. The mean number of fruits per A. mexicana ranged from 23 to 76 (p < 2e-16, f = 274.7) and 36 to 52 (t = 10.186, df = 1535.6, p = 0.0001) across land use types and agroecological settings respectively. Additionally, the seed count per fruit varied from 345 to 384(p < 2e-06 , f = 9.861) and 352 to 377(t = 5.5824, df = 1320. 3, p = 0.0001), depending on land use and agroecology, respectively. The A. mexicana roots, stems, and leaves had allelopathic effects on the seed germination and seedling growth of C. arietinum and E. tef, crops and, E. japonica, and U. brachyura grass species’. Argemone mexicana invasions affected households by significantly reducing their livelihood income from crops and livestock production. The estimated average treatment effect on the treated (ATT), from the entire A. mexicana-invaded sample households showed that their incomes decreased annually, by - 3764.7 Ethiopian Birr (ETB), SE = 1832.6, t = -3.09, p = 0.010. The agroecological distribution potential of A. mexicana in South Wollo, Ethiopia, is bound above 1500 masl and below 3,700 masl. Agroecologies found below 1,500 masl and above 3,700 masl are unsuitable for A. mexicana distribution in current and future periods. The density, biomass, fruit, and seed production of A. mexicana are not the same across farmlands, settlements, roadsides, and grazing land uses and between the midland and highland agroecology. In the farmlands and the midlands, agroecology had the highest mean values, whereas it had the lowest mean values in the grazing land and highland agroecology. Their distribution is favorable and depends on climate change and land use type or change. It has an allelopathic inhibitory effect on the tested crops and grasses in the order of leaf > stem > root. It has an impact on the livelihood income of the household obtained from crop and livestock production. Effective coordination among xxiv local community, government, and non-government bodies is needed to minimize the agroecological distribution potential of A. mexicana in South Wollo, Ethiopia 252p.

EFFECTS OF CONVENTIONAL WATERSHED MANAGEMENT ON VEGETATION ATTRIBUTES AND ASSOCIATED SOCIO ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO LOCAL COMMUNITY IN DIRE DAWA ADMINISTRATION ETHIOPIA

2024-12-23T07:29:50Z

EFFECTS OF CONVENTIONAL WATERSHED MANAGEMENT ON VEGETATION ATTRIBUTES AND ASSOCIATED SOCIO ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO LOCAL COMMUNITY IN DIRE DAWA ADMINISTRATION ETHIOPIA ABRAHAM MENGISTU LEMMA; Kidane G/Meskel (Ph.D); Abebe Aschlew (Ph.D) The study was conducted in Adada, Awale and Biyo Awale kebele, Dire Dawa Administration, with the objectives of evaluating the intervention and non-intervention area plant species diversity, population distribution, and socio-economic advantages to local community. 20m× 20m main plot and 10 m × 10m subplots were lied down in each 36 selected intervention and non-intervention area to collect trees and shrubs seedling and saplings data, respectively. In each intervention and non-intervention area 12 parallel transects lines were laid at 300mt interval with 100m away from the edge to avoid edge effect. The socio-economic advantages to local community were studied through socio economic benefit survey questionnaires, group discussions, personal observation, and secondary data were collected from Dire Dawa agricultural development office. There was a significant difference in species richness, diversity, evenness, and Important Value Index (IVI) of trees and shrubs seedling and saplings, 1.676, +2.060, (P<0.05) between intervention and control area. Higher species richness (R=6.79), species diversity (H'=2.879), evenness (E=9.5) and IVI (51.00 Acacia tortilis) were observed at intervention area. Structural pattern of species in Adada, Biyo awale and Awale coverage was 42, 39 and 34, seedling 30, 33 and 30 sapling and 27, 27 and 34 mature species, respectively. Density of woody species in Adada, Biyo awale and Awale intervention area were 1266.6/ha, 900/ha and 1233/ha, respectively. Specie frequency in intervention area was found more in A, B and C percentage classes (heterogeneous). Study showed that conservations play a key role to rehabilitate woody species diversity of degraded lands. Socioeconomic and ecological contributions of conservation intervention had positive attitude in community which is a basis for future rehabilitation. 86

VEGETATION STRUCTURES AND RANGELAND CONDITION AND THEIR EFFECTS ON LIVESTOCK COMPOSITION IN MIESO DISTRICT OF WEST HARARGHE ZONE, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

2023-12-04T08:20:26Z

VEGETATION STRUCTURES AND RANGELAND CONDITION AND THEIR EFFECTS ON LIVESTOCK COMPOSITION IN MIESO DISTRICT OF WEST HARARGHE ZONE, EASTERN ETHIOPIA Mahadi Abdella Mohammed; (PhD) Anteneh Belayneh; (PhD) Yonas Berhanu The current status of vegetation composition and condition of Ethiopian rangelands were highly deteriorated due to factors such as bush encroachment, alien invasive plant species, recurrent droughts, overgrazing, and expansion of cultivated land, which seems favoring unpalatable plant species and drought tolerant thorny bushes. Therefore, this study was aimed to study the vegetation structures and rangeland condition and their effects on livestock composition in Mieso District of West Hararghe zone. A random sampling procedure was used to collect vegetation data from 30 sample plots along four transect lines. Nested plot design was used a size 20m x 20m for trees, 5m x 5m for shrubs and 1m x 1m for herbaceous plant species. The density of plant species, DBH/DSH >2.5 cm and heights > 1m of woody species were collected. Shannon - wiener diversity Index (H’), Basal area (BA), and evenness (E) were estimated. Visual estimation of coverage/abundance values for woody and herbaceous species per plot was done. In addition, key informant interview and focus group discussions were conducted to collect data on herd dynamics and condition of the rangeland. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 21 software. In this study, a total of 97 species of vascular plants belonging to 39 families and 45 genera were recorded and identified. Trees, shrubs, herbs and grasses accounted for 23, 40, 18 and 16 species, respectively. The (H’) value of woody species was 2.4 with (E) value of 0.6, and (H’) for herbaceous species was 1.9 with (E) value of 0.5 in all sites. Fabaceae is the dominant Family followed by Poaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Tiliaceae which accounted for17.5%, 15.5%, 7.2%, and 6.2% of the plant species, respectively. Total BA of wood species was 4.14 m2 /ha. The condition of the rangeland indicated that non-palatable woody and herbaceous plant species are increasing and accounted for highest percentage (45.3% and 44.5% respectively) of the vegetation cover. Most of the respondents involved in household survey and focus group discussions believed that the rangeland vegetation composition had changed intensely in the past 10 or 20 years and resulted in herd composition dynamics of animals from grazers to browsers (camels and small ruminants). Community survey indicated that, 75% of the respondents mentioned that the status of their rangeland as fair (25.5) or poor (19.8) due to several disturbances pressure resulting in low feed production with the increased unpalatable species. The disturbances negatively diminished existing (native) species abundances, diversity and xv richness. Therefore, the rangeland of the study area requires immediate attention and implementation of appropriate conservation and management strategies. As such, there is a need for Integration of the traditional knowledge of the pastoralist community and their strong participation in order to improve the rangeland condition in the study area. 89p.

DISTRIBUTION OF INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES AND THEIR EFFECTS ON NATIVE VEGETATION AND LOCAL LIVELIHOODS IN GUMBI BORDODE DISTRICT, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

2023-11-24T11:50:40Z

DISTRIBUTION OF INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES AND THEIR EFFECTS ON NATIVE VEGETATION AND LOCAL LIVELIHOODS IN GUMBI BORDODE DISTRICT, EASTERN ETHIOPIA Umer Abdela Musa; Anteneh Belayneh (PhD); Yonas Berhanu (PhD) The rangelands in Ethiopia are highly deteriorating due to different anthropogenic factors like, overgrazing, bush encroachment, invasive alien plant species (IAPSs) coupled with climate change impacts. This study was conducted to assess the distribution of invasive alien plant species (IAPSs) and their effects on natural vegetation and local livelihood of Gumbi Bordode District, Eastern Ethiopia. Agro/pastoralists’ Perceptions on the socio-ecological effects of IAPSs were assessed using semi-structured questionnaire (260 household heads), focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Vegetation data were collected from three kebeles selected using stratified random sampling. Transect line and quadrat methods were used for data collection. Invasive alien woody and herbaceous species were collected from 60 quadrats and the main quadrat was 400 m2 for trees, and 25 m2 for shrubs, and 1 m2 for herbs/forbs nested within the main plot were used. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25 software and results were largely presented using descriptive statistics. The Shannon Weiner diversity index (H), richness, species evenness, frequency, abundance, density woody species, and dominance of herbaceous IAPSs were analyzed. GPS readings from several research sites were loaded into a computer using the ArcView GIS 10.3 software, and the distribution map IAPSs were also analyzed. A total of 122 plant species from 82 genera and 43 families were counted and identified. Of these a total of 22 invasive alien plant species representing 8 families were recorded. The frequency, abundance, and density of Prosopis juliflor, Opuntia stricta, and Parthenium hysterophorus were substantialy higher and hence considered as the major IAPSs in the study area. The distribution of invasive plant species per the three kebele indicated that 42.3% were in the grazing lands, 23.1% were long the road sides, 12.7% were in pastoral settlements, while 21.9% were in the cultivated lands. The Shannon Weiner index (H) and species evenness in the Buri arba kebele were 3.42 and 0.74, while in Dire kalu 3.36 and 0.76, respectively. The third kebele Obensa kebele has diversity and evenness values of 3.52, and 0.82, respectively. The local people had xiv relatively the same opinion about the IAPSs impacts in the their environment as 96.5% of the respondents indicated effects on pasture productivity, 92.3% of the respondents indicated reduced the entire biodiversity, 89.6% indicated competing and reduced native species, 82.7% replied affects rangelands (grazing) area, 78.5% said effects on livestock production, 75.4% replied decrease in crop production, and 71.2% replied affected human and animal health. The common control and management options for IAPS used in the district included Mechanical such as burning/use of fire mentioned by 65.4% of the respondensts, while 14.2% mentioned the employed chemical methods, and a further 17.7% stated that they manage the spread of the invasive plants through utilization for various purposes such as charcoal production, and 2.7 % of the repsondents mentioned biological methods. In general, the IAPSs threatened the rangeland of the study area and pose ecological, social, and economic problems and become the serious challenge for the local community. There is a strong need for enhancing the traditional practices of the control and management of these IAPSs in the study area through an integrated ways in collaboration with all appropriate stakeholders 109