Range Ecology and Biodiversity

EFFECT OF ENCLOSURES ON VEGETATION COMPOSITION, SPECIESDIVERSITY AND SOIL PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES IN SEMI-ARIDRENGE LANDS OF MEYUMULUKE DISTRICTS, EAST HARARGHE, ETHIOPIA

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

EFFECT OF ENCLOSURES ON VEGETATION COMPOSITION, SPECIESDIVERSITY AND SOIL PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES IN SEMI-ARIDRENGE LANDS OF MEYUMULUKE DISTRICTS, EAST HARARGHE, ETHIOPIA Ahmedjowar Mohammedamin Yusuf; Sileshi Gadissa (Ph.D.); Takele Wolkaro (Ph.D.); Kidane Gebremeskel (Ph.D.) Grazing is the most important factor af ecting vegetation and soil properties in range lands. It has a critical impact on range land biodiversity and vegetation composition. Use of enclosuresarea in many parts of semiarid range lands of the world has gained widespread acceptanceasmeans to restore degraded range land ecosystems. Therefore, this study assesses the ef ect of range land enclosures on vegetation composition and species diversity and soil physico-chemical properties in semi-arid range lands of Meyumuluke districts in East HarargheZone, Oromia Region of Ethiopia. For the vegetation and soil data collection, line transect technique was used for enclosure and communal grazing area in this study. In both enclosureand communal grazing areas a total of 36 quadrants of 20mx20m were established along12parallel line transects by 200m interval. These 20mx20m quadrants were used for woodyvegetation data collection. Within quadrants of 20mx20m again five 5m×5m(for shrub) andfive 1mx1m (for herbaceous and soil) sub-quadrants were established, four at the corners oneat the center. This forms the total of 180 (5mx5m) and 180 (1mx1m) for both enclosureandcommunal grazing areas. T-test was employed to compare mean dif erences betweenenclosures and communal grazing areas. Enclosure area enhances herbaceous speciesdiversity and reduces the woody species compared to communal grazing area. The result indicated that Shannon diversity index and species richness of woody vegetationweresignificantly (P<0.05) higher in communal grazing area, while, the Shannon diversityindexand species richness of herbaceous vegetation were significantly (P<0.05) higher in enclosurearea compared to communal grazing area. Likewise textural dif erences were also observedbetween enclosure and communal grazing area. Where the study revealed that, sandfraction was significantly (P<0.05) higher in communal grazing, while, silt fractionwassignificantly (P<0.05) higher in enclosure area. The soil chemical property suchas soil organic matter, nitrogen and soil reaction of the enclosure area were significantly (P<0.01)higher as compared to communal grazing area. In general the result of this study showed that the establishments of enclosure area in semi-arid range land has positive ef ectsonherbaceous vegetation composition that could also, improve soil properties whileit reducing the diversity of woody vegetation. 74p.

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

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

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

Sat, 01 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

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

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

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.