Abstract:
Guna Mountains Community Conservation Area is found in South Gondar. It was formally
established as a community conservation area in 2016. The concern of this study is to estimate
the diversity, abundance, and distribution of medium and large-size mammalian in different
habitat types of Guna Mountains Community Conservation Area. The study area was divided
into four habitats (Guassa grassland, Plantation, open grassland with scattered Lobelia and
Helichrysum, and Erica moorland) based on vegetation type during a preliminary survey.
Representatives sample sites were taken from each habitat types and surveyed using the line
transect method. Overall 25 transect lines (8 transect lines on Guassa grassland, 5 transect lines
on Plantation, 5 transect lines on Erica moorland, and 7 transect lines on Open grassland with
scattered Lobelia and Helichrysum) were laid systematically in all habitats to study and collect
data on mammalian species diversity, abundance, and distribution. The study was conducted
from December 2018 to May 2019. Data collected from the study area was coded, entered and
analyzed by using SPSS version 22 and Microsoft Excel. Species diversity was calculated by
Shannon diversity index. Distribution of species among different habitat types was analyzed
by chi square association test. A total of 13 medium and large-size mammalian species those
belong to 8 families and 6 orders were recorded in the study area. The higher number of species
were recorded in Plantation (5 species) followed by Guassa grassland, (4 species) whereas the
lower number of specie was recorded in open grassland with scattered Lobelia and Helichrysum
(2 species). Relative abundance of different species was statistically significantly different
(χ2=1197.276, df=12, p = 0.001). The diversity index was higher in Plantation (0.94), whereas
lower diversity index was recorded in open grassland with scattered Lobelia and Helichrysum
(0.13). Results revealed that statistically significantly difference in mammalian distributions in
different habitat types (χ2 =1167.33, df =36, p = 0.001). Rock hyrax (P. capensis) was the most
abundant (42.2%) species followed by T. gelada (32.85%). Whereas Canis aureus was the least
abundant (0.5%) species. Currently, the area was suffering from different human activities
mostly from agriculture and settlement expansion and cattle grazing. Administrative units and
all other concerned bodies shall cooperate to limit the impact of anthropogenic a