College of Dryland Agriculture and Natural Resources

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    Abundance and Habitat Use of White-billed Starling (Onychognathus albirostris) in Human Inhabited Landscape: in case of Endayesus Campus Mekelle University, Tigray, Ethiopia.
    (Mekelle University, 2024-02-18) Gebrekidan Teka
    Ethiopia is known for its diverse and unique avifaunal resources. In modern sense the endemic and near endemic birds of Ethiopia can be used to provide early warning of environmental problems. This study was conducted from July 2023 to March 2024, covering both the wet and dry seasons. Limited research has been conducted on the abundance and habitat use of White-billed Starling. The objective of this study was to assess the abundance and habitat use of the White-billed Starling in the human-inhabited landscape of Endayesus Campus, Mekelle University Tigray Regional State, Ethiopia. The study employed a line transect point count method to collect data on bird populations. The line transect point count method was specifically used for the bird survey. The study area was categorized into three habitat types: built areas, farmland, and forestland. Three, two, and one transects were established in each habitat type, respectively. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 26 software for statistical analysis, Microsoft Office Excel for descriptive statistics, and generalized linear mixed models for advanced statistical modeling. The results indicate that the White-billed Starling exhibited the highest abundance during the dry season (1915 individuals) and the lowest abundance during the wet season (435 individuals) at Mekelle University Endayesus Main Campus. The highest abundance of White-billed Starlings was recorded in built-up areas during the wet (337) seasons. Conversely, the lowest abundance was observed in forest land (40) during the wet season and farmland (42) during the dry season. Human inhabited landscape appears to be a favorable habitat for White-billed Starlings and other bird species due to its abundant food resources and suitable nesting sites. The integration of White-billed Starlings into human-inhabited areas, such as urban landscapes, is crucial as these birds have been observed utilizing such environments for feeding, roosting, and breeding.
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    Abundance, Diversity and Distribution of Medium and Large-sized Mammal Species in Wurna Community Protected Forest, Tanqua Mlash, Tigray, Ethiopia.
    (Mekelle University, 2025-02-18) Tesfay Hadush
    Medium and large-sized mammals are found in most forest and savannah regions of Africa and it is utmost important to protect them for the role they play in the ecosystem and beauty of nature. The study was conducted from July 2023 to March 2024 on species composition, diversity and distribution of medium and large-sized mammals in Wurna Community Protected Forest, Tanqua Mlash Woreda. Data were collected through direct and indirect evidence using both primary and secondary sources. The forest was stratified in to four habitat types, in each habitat type a representative line transects was selected and counting was employed during the early morning and late afternoon. Finally, the collected data was analysed using Excel, SPSS and Past 4.03 software in the form of descriptive and inferential statistics. A total of 128 observations were compiled and nine medium and large-sized mammalian species were recorded in the forest. During the wet and dry seasons of the year, a total of 1,114 and 584 individuals were recorded respectively. The species diversity index and evenness of the area were H′ = 1.334 and J = 0.8288, respectively during the wet season. The strongest similarity in species composition, both across and within seasons, was found between woodland and riverine forest. There was a differences in species richness and abundance of the mammal species in the four habitat types between the dry and wet seasons (p < 0.05). The findings of the study revealed that Wurna Community Protected Forest supports a considerable number of medium and large-sized mammalian species, including the vulnerable P. pardus. Further investigation should be conducted on cause and effects of human mammal conflict in the study area. The federal and regional governments should legalize it as a wildlife refuge area to conserve mammalian species.