Diversity of diurnal large mammals in bayo community managed forest, salamago woreda, south omo zone, Southern Ethiopia
Abstract
T.H. Chankallo* and S.T. Kabtehyimer
An ecological study on diurnal mammals was carried out in Bayo Community Managed Forest located in Salamago Woreda, South Omo Zone. The objective of the study was to investigate the diversity of diurnal large mammals in the study area. Based on the habitat type and topography of the study area, 11 transect, i.e., 7 in forestland and 4 in Wooded Grassland were laid to collect the data. Besides direct methods, indirect methods such as faecal droppings, fresh tracks, carcass or shell count, den (burrow), hair, and digging were used. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, SPSS and SMART software. A total of 20 species of diurnal large mammals belonging to six orders and eight families were identified. The species identified were Cercopithecus pygerythrus, Cercopithecus aethiops, Papio anubis, Erytherocebus patas, Cercopitheus neglectus, Colobus guereza, Equus quagga, Traglaphus strepsiceros, Traglaphus imberbis, Traglaphus scriptus, Medagua guentheri, Sylvicapra grimma, Kobus ellipsiprymnus defessa, Syncerrus caffer, Potamochoerus larvatus, Phacochoerus africanus, Hylochoerus meinertzhageni, Hystrix cristata, Orycteropus afer, and Phataginus temminckii smutus. Seasonal variation in the number of species was not significant (X2=0.024, df=1, p>0.05). Seasonal abundance was significant (X2=5.614, df=1, p<0.05). Totally, 685 and 600 mammals were counted during wet and dry seasons, respectively. On habitat basis, 683 and 602 animals were recorded in forestland and wooded grassland habitats, respectively. The male to female aggregate sex ratio was 0.98:1.00 which was female-biased. However, species wise, female-biased, male-biased and 1:1 male to female sex ratio was recorded. Age structure comprised of the predominantly adult population and aggregate age ratio of adult to young was 1:0.74 and 1:0.57 during the wet and dry seasons, respectively. The highest species diversity (H=2.53) was recorded in the wooded grassland habitat The local government should promote the study area and provide appropriate support for its conservation.