International Journal of Molecular Evolution and Biodiversity 2016, Vol. 6, No. 1, 1-12
1
Research Article Open Access
Avian Diversity in Dhati Walel National Park of Western Ethiopia
Megersa Tsegaye, Tsegaye Gadisa
, Gelaye G/Micchael
Department of Biology, Jimma University, P.O. Box 378, Ethiopia
Corresponding author email:
International Journal of Molecular Evolution and Biodiversity, 2016, Vol.6, No.1 doi:
10.5376/ijmeb.2016.06.0001
Received: 15 Jan., 2016
Accepted: 29 Feb., 2016
Published: 09 Mar., 2016
Copyright © 2016
This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use,
distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Preferred citation for this article
:
Tsegaye M., Gadisa T. and G/Micchael G., 2016, Avian Diversity in Dhati Walel National Park of Western Ethiopia, International Journal of Molecular
Evolution and Biodiversity, 2016, 6(1), 1-12
(doi:
10.5376/ijmeb.2016.06.0001
)
Abstract
Knowledge on species diversity, distribution and abundance are among prerequisite ecological information to design
sound conservation strategy. The present study was carried out to assess diversity, distribution and relative abundance of avian fauna
in Dhati Walel National Park, western Ethiopia. Data were collected from June 2013 to May 2014 from three habitat types: wetland,
woodland, and riverine forest. Data were collected using the method of line transects in wetland and woodland and point count
method in riverine forest. A total of 124 avian species belonging to 18 orders and 50 families were recorded during the whole study
period. Twenty-three families were from order Passeriformes. Three species: Banded barbet (
Lybius undatus
), Erlanger’s lark
(
Calandrella erlangeri
) and Wattled ibis (
Bostrychia carunculata
), are endemic to Ethiopia and Eritrea. The highest number of
species (14) was recorded from the family Accipitridae (order Accipitriformes). Families Columbidae (order Columbiformes),
Nectariniidae (order Passeriformes) and Ciconiidae (order Charadriiformes) were represented with nine, six and five species,
respectively. Woodland supported the highest avian diversity both during wet (H’ = 3.96) and dry (H’= 3.71) seasons. Wetland was
the least diversified (H’= 2.93, wet and H’ = 3.07, dry) in both seasons. Similarity of bird species was more between woodland and
riverine forest both during the wet (SI=0.44) and dry (SI=0.31) seasons. There were no rare species and many frequent (33 species
wet and 38 species dry seasons) and common (23 wet) species were recorded in the woodland. Awareness creation to reduce human
pressure and research on the remaining habitat of the park are recommended.
Keywords
Abundance; Avifauna; Dhati Walel National Park; Distribution; Diversity
1 Introduction
Among 2100 bird species so far recorded in Africa (Sinclair and Ryan, 2003), Ethiopia harbors 926 species
(Lepage, 2006) of which 21 species are endemic and 19 species are globally threatened (Redman et al., 2009). Out
of the threated bird species of the country, two species are critically endangered, five species endangered, and 12
species vulnerable (Collar et al., 1994). Seventy-three hot spots have been identified in the country represented by
three conservation categories: 19 critical sites, 23, urgent sites and 31 highly sited areas (Mengistu, 2003).
Birds have long been popular with naturalists, amateurs and professionals and hence their systematics and
distributions are better known than any other comparable groups of animals, with the possible exception of large
mammals (Furness and Greenwood, 1993). They are one of the most important components of biodiversity with
immense ecological, economic and esthetic values. Birds are technologically advanced, highly motivated,
extremely efficient and cost-effective insect pest controllers (Pschorn-Walker, 1977). Fruit-eating birds help in
dispersal of seeds and seeds may sprout wherever the droppings fall (Clout and Hay, 1989) and certain birds like
hummingbirds and sunbirds pollinate flowers that produce nectar. Birds through the ages have been the source of
considerable fascination and folklore and have been used as symbols. They are arguably the most universally
celebrated form of nature, found in pictures, photographs, sculptures, word and song (Clifford et al., 1998). On the
other hand, few bird species like Quelea (Quelea quelea) cause major agricultural loss in some regions of the
world (Elliott, 1989).
In the tropics, Ethiopia not being exception, habitat losses and habitat degradation are causing rapid declines in
bird species, which in turn caused reductions in ecosystem processes, services and benefits (Sekercioglu et al.,
2012). Agriculture puts 1 065 threatened birds at risk, logging and wood harvesting impacting 668 species and
