Addis Ababa University Science Faculty School of Graduate Studies Department of Environmental Science Zoology Module

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Addis Ababa University Science Faculty School of Graduate Studies Department of Environmental Science Zoology Module ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY SCIENCE FACULTY SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE ZOOLOGY MODULE AN INVESTIGATION OF AMPHIBIAN DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE IN RELATION TO ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE IN HARENNA FOREST, BALE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK, ETHIOPIA A Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of Addis Ababa University, in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Environmental Science By Roman Kassahun Advisors: Professor Samy A.Saber, A.A.U. Ethiopia Dr. Simon Loader, Institute of Biogeography, Basel, Switzerland July, 2009 ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES An investigation of Amphibian diversity and abundance in relation to environmental change in Harenna Forest, Bale Mountains National Park. By Roman Kassahun A Thesis presented to the School of Graduate Studies of Addis Ababa University, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Environmental Science Approved by Examining Board: _______________________ _____________ _____________________________ ________________ _____________________________ ________________ ______________________________ ________________ Acknowledgement I owe my sincere gratitude to my adviser Prof Samy A. Saber for his advice and encouragement prior to the start of research work and for his enormously consistent and valuable guidance and advice without which this research project would not have been realized. I am also grateful to my Co-advisor Dr. Simon Loader from the University of Basel, for the logistical support and great help during the wet season of the project, for his guidance in the identifications of the specimens and for giving me this opportunity in the first place. My gratitude also goes to the Ethiopian Wild Life Conservation Authority (EWCA) for allowing me to pursue the M.S.C. program. I would like to thank Ato Mengistu from the Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural History Society for his valuable recommendation for funding. I acknowledge with gratitude the Horn of Africa, demand driven action research, MSc Thesis Research Fund for providing me the funds. I am very grateful to Dr. Anoushka Kinhan and Mr. Thadaigh Baggalay from FZS, for providing field equipments, good accommodation, and encouragement during the field work in the BMNP. My special thanks goes to Ms Silvia Schwaller and Mr. Michael Geiser (from University of Basel) for their great help during the wet season data collection in the BMNP. I would like to thank also the local guides, Ato Issa Ismael, Ato Ahmed Nebso, Ato Hussien Umer, Ato Hussien Nebso, Ato Mohammed, our drivers Ato Geremew and Ato Girma for their consistent and kind assistance ii during the field work. My thanks also go to the local people in Rira, Fute, Galema, and the Park scouts in Dinsho (Ato Aro Batu, Ato Kassim Adem and Ato Haji Ebo) for the active participation in the discussions. I would like to thank Dr. Zelalem Tefera, for his advice and encouragement during the thesis work. My gratitude also goes to Ato Ketema and W/t Meseret for allowing me to work in the biology department NHM Laboratory. I am also grateful for the help provided by the staff of the Environmental Science department. Additionally I would like to thank Ato Melake, (from the department of Earth Science ) for the Satellite images and GIS work. I would also like to thank my colleagues from EWCA, Dr. Kifle Argaw, Ato Lakew Berhanu, Ato Kahsay G/ Tensae, Ato Chere Enawgaw, Ato Yeneneh Teka, Ato Daniel Pawlos, Ato Kumera Waqjira, W/o Genet Garedew, W/o Berhane Yesuf, W/t Genet Asseffa, W/t Tiruwerk Bekele W/O Emebet Mitslale, W/o Menbere Seyoum, W/O Emebet Assefa, W/o Etalemahu for assisting me in one way or another during the study period. Last but not least I express my gratefulness, respect and love to my Husband Negussie Abnet, my Children kidest, Hanna, Pawlos, Lielina and my Sister Wubit Kassahun for their patience and consistent support and encouragement throughout the study period. iii Table of Contents Page Acknowledgements--------------------------------------------------------------------------------ii Table of Contents----------------------------------------------------------------------------------iv List of Tables---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------vii List of figures--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------viii List of Appendices---------------------------------------------------------------------------------x Abstract----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------xi 1. Introduction and Literature Review --------------------------------------------------------1 1.1. Introduction--------------------------------------------------------------------------------1 1.2. Literature Review ------------------------------------------------------------------------5 1.2.1. General characteristics of amphibians--------------------------------------5 1.2.2. Amphibian taxonomy------------------------------------------------------------7 1.2.3. The history of amphibian studies in Ethiopia ------------------------------7 1.2.4. Amphibians of the Bale Mountains National Park--------------------- 12 1.2.5. Amphibians as indicators of environmental change ------------------- 12 1.2.6. Amphibian population declines --------------------------------------------- 13 1.2.7. Measuring and analyzing DI as a tool for monitoring frog populations---------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 1.2.8. GIS and remote sensing---------------------------------------------------- 15 1.3. Significance of the study------------------------------------------------------------- 15 1.4 Objectives of the study -------------------------------------------------------------- 17 iv 1.4.1. General objectives---------------------------------------------------- -17 1.4.2. Specific objectives ----------------------------------------------------- 17 2. The study area and methods----------------------------------------------------- 18 2.1. The study area ---------------------------------------------------------------- 18 2.1.1. Location and topography ------------------------------------------ 18 2.1.2. Geology and glaciation--------------------------------------------- 21 2.1.3. Climate ---------------------------------------------------------------- 21 2.1.4. Hydrology-------------------------------------------------------------- 22 2.1.5. Flora -------------------------------------------------------------------- 22 2.1.5.1. Northern Grasslands-------------------------------------- 23 2.1.5.2. Northern Woodlands-------------------------------------- 23 2.1.5.3. Heather moorlands---------------------------------------- 24 2.1.5.4. Afroalpine moorlands------------------------------------- 24 2.1.5.5. Harenna Forest -------------------------------------------- 25 2.1.6. Fauna ------------------------------------------------------------------- 26 2.1.6.1. Mammals ---------------------------------------------------- 27 2.1.6.2. Birds ---------------------------------------------------------- 28 2.1.6.3. Amphibians ------------------------------------------------- 28 2.1.7. Human settlement, cultivation and land use------------------- 29 2.2. Methods------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31 2.2.1. Amphibian sampling-------------------------------------------------- 31 2.2.1.1. Quadrat sampling ------------------------------------------ 31 2.2.1.1.1. Habitat data collection ------------------------ 31 2.2.1.1.2. Amphibian search------------------------------ 33 2.2.1.2. Random search--------------------------------------------- 33 2.2.1.3. Transect sampling VES and AES ---------------------- 33 2.2.2. GIS and Remote Sensing-------------------------------------------- 35 2.2.3. Determining DI in frog populations -------------------------------- 35 2.2.4. Focus group discussions--------------------------------------------- 36 3. Results -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 39 v 3.1. Amphibian sampling --------------------------------------------------------- 39 3.1. 1. Systematic sampling survey of the habitat and amphibians --------------------------------------------------------39 3.1. 1. 1. Quadrat sampling ------------------------------------ 39 3.1.1.1.1. Habitat characterization --------------- 40 3.1.1.2. Random search around the plots ------------------ 42 3.1.1.3. Transect sampling VES and AES ------------------ 43 3.1.2. Description of the species encountered during the present study--------------------------------------------------- 46 3.1.3 Comparisons of the results of the current study with the past--------------------------------------------------------- 54 3.2. GIS and Remote Sensing ------------------------------------------------- 56 3.3. Measuring and analyzing developmental instability in frog population ------------------------------------------------------------ 58 3.4. Focus group discussions --------------------------------------------------- 67 4. Discussion ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 73 4.1. Amphibian sampling --------------------------------------------------------- 73 4.2. GIS and remote sensing --------------------------------------------------- 74 4.3. Measure of DI in frogs------------------------------------------------------- 75 4.4. Focus group discussions --------------------------------------------------- 76 5.
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