ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES DEPARTEMNT OF ZOOLOGICAL SCIENCES The Ecology of Black Crowned Crane (Pavonina pavonina ceciliae) in relation to changes of land use at Lake Tana, Ethiopia By: Shimelis Aynalem Zelelew A Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of the Addis Ababa University in Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biology (Zoological Sciences Stream) Advisor: Professor Afework Bekele Addis Ababa University Addis Ababa, Ethiopia June, 2017 Addis Ababa University School of Graduate Studies This is to certify that the dissertation prepared by Shimelis Aynalem Zelelew, entitled: The Ecology of Black Crowned Crane (Pavonina pavonina ceciliae) in relation to changes of land use at Lake Tana, Ethiopia and submitted to in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biology (Zoological Sciences Stream) complies with the regulation of the university and meets the accepted standard with respect to originality and quality. Signed by Examining Committee: External Examiner___________________ Signature_________ Date ___________ Internal Examiner____________________ Signature ________ Date ___________ Chairperson ________________________ Signature ________ Date ___________ Advisor: Professor Afework Bekele ______________Signature ___________Date _____________ i ABSTRACT The Ecology of Black Crowned Crane (Pavonina pavonina ceciliae) in relation to changes of land use at Lake Tana, Ethiopia Shimelis Aynalem Zelelew June, 2017 Black Crowned Crane is a resident species in Ethiopia. However, the available information on the breeding, feeding ecology and its status is in adequate. This study was carried out in Lake Tana area, from 2014-2016. The study aims to investigate the breeding and feeding ecology, distribution, abundance and habitat change of cranes. Different statistical tools were used to evaluate the different parameters. ANOVA and Shannon diversity index, a fixed GLM procedure and MANOVA were applied. A total of 74 and 56 transects in 2015 and 2016 was carried out to estimate the abundance and density of cranes. Multiple Covariate Distance sampling model was employed for distance analysis. Wetland habitat shrinkage was evaluated from the land use land cover change from 1986 to 2016. The result showed that all crane nests were located only in wetlands where water depth ranged 135-220 cm. The active nesting time was September to October. The inter-distance between nests did not vary from site to site. Cranes utilized nest materials collected from the nesting place. The mean vegetation height at which the nest constructed was variable. The nest morphology parameters were not different statistically. The nesting density was 6-7 /100 ha. The average clutch size of Black Crowned Crane was two (n=92). The mean length of eggs was 76.94±.22 mm, and width measured 54.05±.07 mm. The mean weight of eggs (n=92) were 111.99±.65g. There was a positive correlation between egg length and width, and were statistically significant. Hatchability was 91.3%, but the pre-fledged percentage was about 50%. Oryza longistaminata and Leersia hexandra were the dominant macrophytes. The distribution and biomass of macro-invertebrates were significantly different across study sites (P<.05). The most abundant and frequently occurring taxa were Libellulidae, Coenagrionidae, Hydrophilidae, and Culicidae. Grass seeds and crop seeds were major food sources of cranes. Fecal analysis of cranes revealed that the diet contained parts of plants, fragments of animal origin and small quantities of inorganic materials and shells at different proportion. There was spatial and seasonal variation in the distribution of cranes. Crane population was more abundant during the dry season. Chimba and Yiganda wetlands are identified as the main breeding and feeding sites; however, the habitats shrunk by 47% in Chimba and by 25% in Yiganda. Agricultural encroachment, livestock pressure and population growth are the main threats. Keywords/phrases: Breeding, crane density, diet, egg and nest morphometry, land use land cover, nest ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My deepest gratitude and sincere appreciation goes to my advisor Prof. Afework Bekele, for his positive, unreserved suggestion and advice throughout the entire work. Without his intensive support, the study would not have been fruitful. My study was sponsored by Minstry of Education, Bahir Dar University. My research project was partially supported by International Crane Foundation (ICF), USA; The Guinness Family, specially Mirable Helm and Fiona Guiness, UK, Richard and his wife Bea Murray and George Archibald. I would like to thank for their generous support. I would like to appreciate and thank also IDEA WILD http://www.ideawild.org/ specially Ann Marie Gage, IDEA WILD for their support of field equipment without which the work was unthinkable. My regards also goes to Ethiopian Meteorology Agency for meteorological data of Bahir Dar area without payment. Huge thank goes always to Dr. George Archibald co-founder of ICF for his encouragement and support throughout the research period. My special thanks also go to Karen Becker and Jen Stewart from ICF. I would like to thank also the Blue Nile Water Institute and the staffs, my colleagues Abrehet Kahisay, Banchiamlak Getnet, Marshet Mequannet, and Amelework from Fisheries, Wetlands and Wildlife Department during field and laboratory work support. I am grateful to Wubneh Belete for GIS support of the land use study. The support from the Fishery and Aquatic Research Center, Bahir Dar for D-Frame net equipment and the local people from the study area particularly Addisu and Alebachew from Yiganda and Chimba area, and the driver Anmut from Bahir Dar University, I would like to thank all of them for the different type of support they have provided. I am grateful to Wubshet and his wife Gebrelua for their support when I am in Addis, and also to my friends and collegues for their encouragemnt duirng my study time. I would like to thank Prof. Michale Succo and his collegues to bring for me equipment sent from IDEA WILD via ICF. My special heartfelt gratitude and deepest appreciation goes to my mother, W/o Mebrat Asfaw and my brother Agegnehu Aynaelm and sister Askal Aynalem for their unreserved moral and material support throughout my educational career. I am highly indebted to my wife Mazashwork Abebe, for her endurance, enthusiasm and encouragement throughout the study period with patience. My kids were patient during my long absence in the field. iii DEDICATION This Ph.D Dissertation is dedicated to Dr. George Archibald-co-founder of the International Crane Foundation, USA who have spent his entire life for the conservation of cranes and their habitats in the whole world. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................. viii LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................................................... x APPENDICES ......................................................................................................................... xiv LIST OF PLATES .................................................................................................................... xv ACRONYMS .......................................................................................................................... xvi DEFINITIONS ....................................................................................................................... xvii 1. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Breeding biology of birds ............................................................................................ 5 1.2. Food and foraging behavior ....................................................................................... 10 1.3. Distribution of cranes ................................................................................................ 15 1.4. Significance of the study ............................................................................................ 18 1.5. Research questions .................................................................................................... 19 1.6. Objectives ................................................................................................................. 20 1.7. General objectives ..................................................................................................... 20 1.8. Specific objectives ..................................................................................................... 20 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA ......................................................................... 22 2.1. Study sites ................................................................................................................. 22 2.2. Climate ...................................................................................................................... 24 2.3. Hydrological characteristics ....................................................................................... 26 2.4. Agriculture and farming practice ................................................................................ 27 2.5. Land use land cover ................................................................................................... 28 2.6. Wetlands ..................................................................................................................