DIVERSITY, DISTRIBUTION AND RELATIVE ABUNDANCE OF WILD UNGULATES IN DHATI WOLELE NATIONAL PARK OF KELLEM WOLLEGA ZONE, OROMIA REGION, WESTERN ETHIOPIA

WAGARI, ABEBE

dc.contributor.author	WAGARI, ABEBE
dc.date.accessioned	2021-03-03T13:21:42Z
dc.date.available	2021-03-03T13:21:42Z
dc.date.issued	2021-03-03
dc.identifier.uri	http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/12025
dc.description.abstract	This study was carried out to investigate wild ungulate species distribution, diversity and relative abundance from February to March 2020 during dry season and August to September 2020 during wet season in DhatiWolel National Park, Western Ethiopia. The study area was classified into four habitat types(Wetland, Woodland, Riverine forest, Grassland). Population size and abundance were collected from all habitat types using line transect method. Distribution of ungulates was collected using the presence absence survey in all study habitats. Simpson’s similarity index was used to compare ungulate similarity in all the study habitats. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. A total of 12 species belonging to three Orders were recorded during the present study. The highest diversity (H’=1.339) with the highest evenness (E=0.644) was recorded from the woodland habitats. The lowest species diversity of ungulates was recorded from wetland habitat (H’= 0.794) with evenness (E=0.5). The abundance of ungulates was varied: hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) 1271 (52.6 %) was the most abundant while Bohor reedbuck (Reduncare dunca) was the least abundant that contributed only 11 (0.455%) from a total of 2416 recorded individuals. The highest similarity (SI=0.842) was recorded between woodland and grassland and the least similarity (SI= 0.363) was recorded between riverine forest and wetland during the dry season. During the wet season, the highest similarity (SI=0.8) was recorded between grassland and riverine forest and the least similarity (SI=0.16) was recorded between wetland and woodland habitat. The relative abundance of ungulates was abundant (9.09%), common (36.36 %), frequent (9.09), uncommon (27.27 %) and rare (18.18 %). The highest species similarity was recorded between woodland and grassland habitats. This habitat similarity might be due to the presence of similar vegetation composition which is suitable as food resources for most herbivores ungulates in the two habitats. The study area harbor diversified wild ungulates. Woodland habitat was selected best by the ungulate species. This may be due to more suitable for different ungulates. Controlling habitat destruction and livestock grazing of the national park are crucial for the health of the park and the wild animals in the park. Active community participation and awareness creation to the local community are essential for maintaining the habitats and ungulate population of the area. Key words: Distribution, Evenness, Diversity, Ungulates.	en_US
dc.language.iso	en	en_US
dc.subject	BIOLOGY	en_US
dc.title	DIVERSITY, DISTRIBUTION AND RELATIVE ABUNDANCE OF WILD UNGULATES IN DHATI WOLELE NATIONAL PARK OF KELLEM WOLLEGA ZONE, OROMIA REGION, WESTERN ETHIOPIA	en_US
dc.type	Thesis	en_US