Hind limb bones and locomotion in the Old World monkeys

A functional morphological study of the hind limbs of 49 species of cercopithecids reveals their respective positional behaviour. The result of the principal component analysis, based on sixty indices of the hind limb bones brings Colobus, Cercopithecus (including Miopithecus and Allenopithecus), Cercocebus,and Lophocebus, together, separating them from Macaca, Papio and Theropithecus in the first component. In the second component, colobinae are distinctly separated from the rest, with mangabeys being closest to them. The first component is interpreted to represent the adaptation to the substrata of locomotion, namely, arboreality and terrestriality; and the second their positional behaviour. Key words/phrases: Functional morphology, hind limb, Old World monkeys, principal component analysis, quadrupedalism SINET: Ethiopian Journal of Science Vol.25(2) 2002: 205-22

Rainfall and Temperature Trend Analysis at Indibir Station, Gurage Zone, Ethiopia

In Ethiopia where crop production overly depends on rainfall and temperature, studying the trend of these climate variables at a local scale is essential to devise proper strategies that enhance adaptive capacity. In light of this, a study was conducted in Indibir station, Gurage Zone to analyze rainfall and temperature trend. Data on climate variables (1986-2015) were obtained from National Meteorological Agency of Ethiopia. Mann-Kendall test was used for the analysis of trend in rainfall and temperature from 1986 to 2015 time period and carried out by XLStata softwares. The analyzed data indicated the respective annual and kiremt rainfall amounts were found to increase by a factor of 4.5 and 6.15 mm/year. However, the seasonal belg rainfall amount decreased by -2.23 mm/year and it was not statistically significant for the study period of 1986 to 2015. Respective annual and belg maximum temperature showed an increasing trend by a factor of 0.03 and 0.06 OC/year, but a decreasing trend was observed in kiremt maximum temperature by -0.13 OC/year. Minimum temperature revealed a decreasing trend at annual, belg and kiremt seasons by a factor of -0.2, -0.16 and -0.1 OC/year, respectively. Development planners of the area should design strategies and plans by taking into account a declining belg rainfall and increasing temperature impacts on livelihood of local communities

Irrigation Practices as Alternative Means of Supporting Rain-fed Agriculture: A Case Study of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Estimation of evapotranspiration is important for study, design, determining crop water requirement and management of irrigation systems. Also it’s important for determining irrigation water requirement during dry spell and water shortage i.e. when the evapotranspiration is greater than effective rainfall. Based on this, the study was conducted in Cheha district, Gurage Zone with determine crop water requirement of potato. In line to this, ten years climatological recorded data (2008-2017) for Indibir station on (sunshine duration hr /day), maximum and minimum temperature (OC), humidity (%) and wind speed (km/day) at 2 meters height were used to determine ETo using Penman combination method. Secondary data were used to collect important soil parameters required for determination of crop water requirement. Lengths of growing periods, planting date and crop varieties data were received from the validation value of the local farmers and CDAO.  Crop coefficients (kc), rooting depth, critical depletion fractions, yield response factors and crop height were obtained from food and agriculture organization of the United Nations guidelines (No. 56). The analyzed data indicated that reference crop evapotranspiration ranged from 2.40 to 4.73 mm with a mean of 3.56mm. The assessment has showed that the water requirement of potato is 63.2, 84.1, 145.8 and 77.2mm during initial, development, mid and late growth stages, respectively. The effective rainfall contribution throughout the growing stage of potato in the area is 8.5, 23, 187.2 and 158.1mm all through initial, development, mid and late growth stages, whereas the net irrigation requirement of potato throughout the dry spell period is 52.9, 61.3, 14.9 and 0mm in initial, development, mid and late growth stages, respectively. Soil and water conservation management practice, water harvesting technology and agronomic practices should be applied, principally mulching is very important to save soil moisture during high heat stress and dry spell or water shortage. Key terms: reference evapotranspiration, crop water requirement, potato DOI: 10.7176/JAAS/55-03 Publication date:May 31st 201

A study on abundance, group size and composition of Soemmering's Gazelle (Gazella soemmerringii) in Awash National Park and Alledeghi Wildlife Reserve, Ethiopia

Population status, group composition and social organization of the Soemmerring's gazelle (Gazella soemmeringii) were studied at Awash National Park (ANP) and Alledeghi Wildlife Reserve (AWR) in 2000. Total count method was used to assess the population size of the gazelle. Thirteen routes, each route being two kilometres away from the other, were designated at AWR for the vehicle survey. Similarly, 10 routes, each being one kilometre away from the other, were designated at ANP. The results revealed a mean population of 457.8 individuals in the selected study site in Alledeghi Wildlife Reserve, and 41.45 in Ilala Sala. Grouping pattern showed that cohesion was stronger. The large females group containing juveniles and of adult males were the two main social units. Mean group size in ANP was 4.4 whereas that of AWR was 16.8 individuals (p>0.001). A paired-sample t-test comparison of the total frequency of categories of the group sizes for the two areas showed a significant difference (p=0.026). Local variation in group size did exist in AWR (p=0.021). But this variable showed no significant difference (p= 0.414) in ANP. Herds of 6–10 were most common at Ilala Sala and 20–50 at AWR. However, herd size ranges from 3–250 individuals at AWR. Comparing seasonal variations in group sizes showed no significant difference. It is presumed that alteration of the original habitats might have an effect on the group pattern and social organization of study population as observed from one of the study site. Keywords: abundance, Alledeghi Wildlife Reserve, Awash National Park, group size, Soemmerring's gazelleSINET: Ethiopian Journal of Science Vol. 28(2) 2005: 161-17

Mammals of the Mazie National Park, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State, Ethiopia

A study to investigate the diversity of the mammalian fauna of the Mazie National Park (mnp) was carried out from October 2007 to March 2008. Based on topographic maps, and a preliminary survey, four habitat types (riverine forest, grassland with scattered trees, savannah grassland, and bush land) were identified.  Mammals were recorded in representative samples of each vegetation type in the park. A total of 39 mammalian species were recorded in mnp.  Of these, 30 were medium to large-sized mammals, 6 were small rodents and 3 were shrews. The observed mammals of the study area were grouped into eight categories based on their feeding habits as meat eaters (23%), fruit and leaf eaters (8%), termite specialists (3%), root eaters (8%), grazers and browsers (10%), small gleaners (13%), bulk feeders (3%) and others (32%)

Seasonal home range of Swayne\'s Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei) in Senkele Swayne\'s Hartebeest Sanctuary

The home range of the endangered Ethiopian endemic hartebeest, Swayne\'s hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei, was studied in Senkele Swayne\'s Hartebeest Sanctuary (SSHS). The size of the sanctuary has been diminishing since 1974, resulting in the shrinking of the area available for the hartebeests. Even in the current available habitat, the animals still preserved their behaviour of ranging in wider area during the wet season and smaller area during the dry season. However, when the human settlers migrate from the sanctuary and the bordering area during the dry season, the hartebeests occupy a range which is larger than their wet season range in the sanctuary. As their dry season home range increased in absence of the settlers, their movement was observed to have increased becoming equivalent to that of the wet season. Key words/phrases: Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei, home range, human interference, movement, Senkele Swayne\'s Hartebeest Sanctuary SINET: Ethiopian Journal of Science Vol. 27 (2) 2004: 121–12

A preliminary survey of Erythrocebus patas in Anbesa Chaka, Bambesi Woreda of Benishangul-Gumuz Region, western Ethiopia

A preliminary survey conducted in Benishangul-Gumuz Region, Bambesi Woreda from late January to early February, 2010 resulted in finding two groups of the same taxon of patas monkeys. Each of the two groups had one adult male, and one of them consisted of 33 individuals, where as the other had a total of 23 individuals including the adult males, adult and sub-adult females and infants. The survey was conducted on foot and by a vehicle and behavioural data were collected using adlibtum method. From the structure of the two groups and the season during which they probably had their newborns, they belong to the species Erythrocebus patas which are also found elsewhere. However, the long black fur coloration along the shoulder, back and upper fore limbs of the males is different from any of the four different subspecies, namely, E. patas patas, E. patas villiersi, E. patas pyrrhonotus and E. patas baumstarki, and others found in Athi plains, southeast of Nairobi and east of the rift valley, which have pink faces and a blue nasal spot and not given subspecific names. Thus, it is reasonable to think of the Benishangul patas as subspecies, as they are distinct from the other subspecies

Diatom community structure in relation to physico-chemical factors in a tropical soda Lake Shala and inflowing hot-springs, Ethiopia

Diatoms are highly diverse and versatile, with members growing under different environmental conditions including extreme environments. Although diatom communities in some extreme environments have been investigated recently, little is known about their community structure within the hot springs of soda lakes in Ethiopia. The study aimed to assess the diversity and distribution of diatoms from Lake Shala and inflowing hot springs in relation to physico-chemical variables. Water and diatom samples were collected from Lake Shala and three inflowing hotsprings. The mean pH, temperature, EC, salinity, TDS, DO, NO3-+NO2-, NH3+NH4+, SRP, TP and SiO2 were significantly different among the stations. The significant variations in these factors could be attributed to their heterogeneous geological characteristic and the hydrology of the study area.  A total of 45 diatom taxa were identified, with the highest species observed in Shala Hora Mid Hotspring sites (37) and the lowest in Shala Gike Hotspring (29). Diatom community structure was also examined and it was found that the diatom community of Lake Shala and inflowing hotsprings are highly influenced by environmental water conditions. Characteristic taxa including Anomoeoneis sphaerophora, Nitzschia spp., Rhomboids gibberula, R. gibba, R. acuminata, R. operculata, Navicula spp. and Frustulia rhomboids, showed a wide tolerance to pH, salinity, EC, TDS, temperature, nitrogen and phosphate. RDA analysis found a number of discriminating taxa and salinity, conductivity, pH, DO SRP and temperature were key factors that accounted for a significant variation in the diatom community structure

Fisheries in Lake Tinishu Abaya (Ethiopia) could be managed using dietary nature of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L. 1757)

Lake Tinisu Abaya is home to some fish species. The lake’s native fish species include Barbus and Tilapia zilli. Tilapia fish (Oreochromis niloticus L.) were stocked in Lake Tinishu Aabaya in 1997. This study aimed to investigate the feeding behaviors of O. niloticus in Lake Tinishu Abaya to develop an appropriate fisheries management approach in the lake. 428 O. niloticus fish samples (2.5 to 30.9 cm and 1.1 to 475 g) were collected to calculate the diet composition. Out of the total of 428 gut contents examined, 55 (12.85%) were found to be empty and 373 (87.15%) to be containing one or more food items. The diet behavior of the stocked fish in the study lake revealed that phytoplankton (39.5% by volume) and macrophytes (25.81% by volume) were the most noteworthy food items followed by detritus (14.39%) and zooplankton (12.95%). With increasing fish size, the importance of phytoplankton, macrophytes, and detritus increased while the contribution of zooplankton, insects, and other foods with an animal origin decreased. Seasonal variation in the diet composition of fish was evident (t-test; p < 0.05). Macrophytes, zooplankton, and detritus were the dominating food items during the wet season, while phytoplankton predominated during the dry season. This study demonstrated that O. niloticus had phytoplanktivores that primarily consumed phytoplankton and that the seasons and fish size had a significant impact on their feeding preferences. The diet of O. niloticus in Lake Tinishu Abaya comprised foods with both plant and animal origins. It concludes that the dietary habit of O. niloticus in the lake is, generally, the omnivorous type

Current fishery status in Ethiopian reservoirs: challenges and management

Ethiopia is branded as the Water Tower of Africa because of its abundant inland water bodies that may be used sustainably to boost the economy. This review article’s goal is to examine the current status and future potential of Ethiopia’s fisheries, with a special focus on reservoirs. There are 200 known fish species (194 native, 40 endemic, and 11 exotic) in in Ethiopia’s inland water. Ethiopia’s fish production has increased by a factor of more than five in the past three decades (3,500 tons in 1983 to 15,681 tons in 2000 and 18,058 tons in 2010). However, fish produced in reservoirs is too low (8,059 t/year). The current fish harvests from reservoirs are significantly below the predicted potential yield, accounting for only 35% of the calculated fish production capacity. In this review, 14 potential reserves were revealed. A total of 48 fish species have been reported in these, of which 26 species (or around 54%) are present in Alwero reservoir. 19 of the 48 species that have been officially recognized belong to the Cyprinidae family and made up nearly 40% of the fish population in Ethiopian reservoirs. There has been, however, a decline in the productivity of Ethiopia’s reservoir fish. Hence, actively start fishing in the numerous reservoirs that have been neglected yet, link the potential of fisheries and the benefits of the fish farming supply chain, let’s begin building several other reservoirs similar to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and beginning mechanized-based fish harvesting