January 2019
Assessment of woody species in agroforestry systems around Jimma Town, Southwestern Ethiopia
Woody species are the major components of traditional agroforestry systems. These species vary across the different types of agroforestry practices in different parts of Ethiopia. This study was conducted to assess woody species across land use in three different sites around Jimma town, Southwest Ethiopia. A total of 100 plots were laid out on six transect lines with sample plot size of 25 m × 25 m for 20 plots...
January 2019
The dynamics of medicinal plants utilization practice nexus its health and economic role in Ethiopia: A review paper
Medicinal plants play important roles in human and animals disease treatment. 1000 medicinal plant species are identified and reported in the Ethiopian Flora. They contribute and is more preferable for new drug development. Ethiopia has the potential to become an important source country, given the diversity of plants and the rich traditional knowledge regarding their use. The main sources of medicinal plants for...
January 2019
Impacts of human activities on wildlife: The case of Nile Lechwe (Kobus megaceros) Gambella National Park, Southwest Ethiopia
Assessing human-induced threatening factors to wildlife is the basis in determining and proposing appropriate conservation measures. The present study was conducted to assess impacts of human activities on wildlife in Gambella National Park, Southwest of Ethiopia, from October 2015 to March 2016, focusing on the case of Nile Lechwe (Kobus megaceros). The data in this study were gathered using questionnaires with...
January 2019
On farm diversity of barley landraces in North Western Ethiopia
Barley is one of the major cereal crops grown in Ethiopia. The diversity of barley landraces kept for generations in Ethiopia is nowadays subject to genetic erosion. This is true in North Gondar highlands of the country as well. This research was therefore initiated with the aim of studying the farm diversity status of barley landraces in Debark, Dabat and Wogera districts. A total of 180 randomly selected farmers from...
January 2019
Ecological distribution, diversity and use of the genus Digitaria Haller (Poaceae) in Senegal
The genus Digitaria Haller is one of the most important of grass flora of Senegal by both its specific richness and the socio-economic value of its species. Despite this importance, no studies have been done specifically on these species. This study aims, therefore, to document the diversity, distribution, ecology and usefulness of the genus of such species for raising public awareness about botanical, ecological...
December 2018
A preliminary study on species composition, relative abundance and distribution of bird species in Choke Mountains, East Gojjam, Ethiopia
Avian diversity is among the key components of the earth’s biodiversity. This study was conducted in Choke Mountains from January to April, 2018 to identify the diversity, relative abundance and distribution of avian fauna. Data were collected in three different habitats (natural forest, grazing and protected areas). The sampling areas were selected using stratified random sampling technique. Point count (for...
December 2018
Diversity of local varieties of banana and plantain cultivated in Benin
Banana and plantain are popular fruits considered as major staple foods, and provide significant income to farming communities. A handicap to their development and production remains access to quality suckers. However, their diversity is still unknown in Benin. To assess the knowledge on the diversity of local varieties of both dessert banana and plantain at the community level, ethnobotanical surveys were undertaken...
December 2018
An evaluation of the effectiveness of the co-management approach in selected protected areas of Bangladesh
This study undertook a qualitative approach to evaluate the perceptions and attitudes of stakeholders towards the effectiveness of planning and management, in three protected areas in Bangladesh. A complex socio-economic context was revealed, within which there were diverse views leading, in some cases, to ongoing conflict and difficulty in law enforcement. While the co-management approach in theory takes the interests...
November 2018
Conservation status assessment of native vascular flora of Kalam Valley, Swat District, Northern Pakistan
In the present study, conservation status of important vascular flora found in Kalam valley was assessed. Kalam Valley represents the extreme northern part of Swat District in KPK Province of Pakistan. The valley contains some of the precious medicinal plants. 245 plant species which were assessed for conservation studies revealed that 10.20% (25 species) were found to be endangered, 28.16% (69 species) appeared to be...
November 2018
Effects of Dactylopius tomentosus infestation on the morphology of Opuntia fiscus-indica plant species growing in Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe
Many studies have described the parasitic relationship between Opuntia ficus-indica plants and Dactylopius tomentosus insects with respect to the use of these insects as a biological control method to curtail the rampant growth of these invasive plants. This has been done with little concern on the morphological effects the insects pose on the host plant. The aim of this study was to assess the level of morphological...
November 2018
Structure and diversity of weed communities associated with Cucurbita pepo L. cv. Scarlette “Zucchini” in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia
Weed communities constitute an important component of any agro-ecosystem. Weeds are widespread among different crop cultivars and usually cause many changes. Cucurbita pepo is a common vegetable cultivated around the world. Additionally, there is a significant increase in the cultivation of Cucurbita pepo in Saudi Arabia. During the 2015 and 2017 growing seasons of Cucurbita pepo “zucchini,” weed communities...
November 2018
Socioeconomic implication of protecting natural vegetation: The case of Gra-Kahsu protecting natural vegetation In Southern Tigray, Northern Ethiopia
Communities in southern Tigray have established the protection of natural vegetation on formerly degraded grazing lands to promote natural regeneration of plants. Even though same scholars in Tigray have developed their research of environmental management that enjoy great acceptability, the socioeconomic implication of environmental protection has been generally low. Hence, a study on understanding the socioeconomic...
October 2018
“Ecology of soil seed banks: Implications for conservation and restoration of natural vegetation”: A review
Seed bank (henceforth referred to as SB) refers to viable seed which is present on or in soil and associated with litter/humus. Under different land use/land cover systems and climatic regions, density of seeds in the soil is variable both in space and time. SB density decreases with increasing depth and age of seeds in the soil. Smaller seeds are more easily incorporated, moved to deeper soil layers and persist longer...
October 2018
Characteristics of macrophytes in the Lubigi Wetland in Uganda
The Lubigi wetland, which is located in the north-western part of Kampala, the capital city of Uganda has been severely strained from anthropogenic encroachment and activities. These activities include harvesting of Cyperus papyrus and other plants, land filling for reclamation, human settlements and disposal of wastewater into the wetland among others. As a result of these anthropogenic activities, the macrophytes...
October 2018
Resource partitioning among sympatric species of primates at Kakum Conservation Area, Ghana
We investigated how four primate species in Kakum Conservation Area (KCA) coexisted after logging shrunk their feeding resources. We used multivariate discriminant function analysis to determine whether feeding sites and food types could discriminate them. Results showed that lower canopy discriminated Cercopithecus mona and Cercopithecus petaurista; middle canopy, C. petaurista and Procolobus verus; upper canopy P....
October 2018
Spatial variation in diversity of woody vegetation species within Kwara State University Malete campus, Kwara, Nigeria
The roles of woody vegetations and Africa savanna in human development and survival as attracted interest in their conservation to prevent the depletion or loss of those resources. However, there is need for accurate data on species composition, distribution and conservation of woody species in many parts of Africa for adequate planning, monitoring, management and conservation efforts. This study assessed woody species...
October 2018
Butterfly species composition and diversity in a protected area of Karnataka, India
Field investigations were made to record the diversity of butterflies at six forest ranges in Nagarahole National Park (NNP), Karnataka during 2014 to 2015. 138 butterfly species were recorded from 94 genera, which belong to five families such as Hesperiidae, Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae, Papilionidae, and Pieridae. Species composition varied significantly (F = 93.85; P < 0.05) among forest ranges in NNP; 113 butterfly...
October 2018
Determinants of revegetation on landslide scars in an agro-based socio-ecological system in Bududa, Uganda
Landslides cause displacement or loss of plant cover, soil and other materials on slopes. Exposure of soil accelerates erosion processes thus contributing to stream sedimentation. Though playing a crucial role in stabilising scars there is limited understanding of the plant species colonisation process. This study aimed at examining the determinants and status of plant revegetation on a recent landslide scar in Bududa...
September 2018
Macrofungal diversity in Yangambi Biosphere reserve and Yoko reserve rainforests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Detecting and understanding patterns in the distribution of taxa is a fundamental element in implementing biodiversity conservation. Regarding fungi, understanding how functional diversity varies with forest types helps to define their niche and allows predicting the impact of forest degradation on communities of macrofungi. It also allows better understanding of the way in which they realize their ecological function...
September 2018
In vitro micropropagation of Rhinacanthus nasutus (L) Kurz
The study was aimed to standardise a protocol for the in vitro mass propagation of Rhinacanthus nasutus (L) Kurz, an anticancer shrub. Leaf, node and inflorescence explants were inoculated onto the Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium enriched with different combinations and concentrations of growth regulators. Maximum callusing percentage was achieved in leaf explants in MS medium supplemented with 5 mg/l 2,4-D....
September 2018
Study on community perception of termite expansion and control in Borana plateau: Case study of Southern Oromia, Ethiopia
Ecologically termites can be divided into damp wood dwellers, dry wood dwellers under and above ground dwellers in Dire, Miyo and Moyale districts. The combination of methods and tools such as stakeholder, key informant interview, group discussions, timelines, transect walk, community sketches were used. About 90 pastoralists were interviewed formally on its expansion and control techniques. The cause of termite...
September 2018
Diversity, distribution and habitat association of birds in Menze-Guassa Community Conservation Area, Central Ethiopia
A study was conducted in Menz-Guassa Community Conservation Area (MGCCA) from November 2016 to March 2017, to assess the diversity, distribution and habitat association of birds. Three habitat types including forest, grassland, and moorland habitats were identified based on their vegetation composition. Point count method in Eucalyptus and Juniperus forest, and line transect technique in grassland and moorland habitats...
August 2018
Evaluation of socio-economic factors influencing exploitation of non-timber forest products in Tanzania
Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) constitute an important source of livelihood for millions of people from forest fringe communities across the world. This study was conducted to identify main NTFPs used by local communities around Nyanganje Forest Reserve (NFR) which is within the Eastern Arc Mountains in Kilombero district, Tanzania. Furthermore, the study aimed at determining socio-economic factors influencing...
August 2018
Perception, attitude and impacts of local communities on Senkele Swayne’s Hartebeest Sanctuary, Ethiopia
This study aimed to investigate perception, attitude and impacts of local communities on Senkele Swayne’s Hartebeest Sanctuary. Questionnaire survey, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and observation were employed to collect data. A total of 196 households participated in the questionnaire survey. The findings revealed that the local communities of SSHS had unfavorable perceptions and attitude...
July 2018
Agro-pastorals’ adoption of soil and water conservation (SWC) technologies: The case of Aba’ala district in Afar Region, Ethiopia
This study assessed agro-pastoralists’ adoption of soil and water conservation measures in Aba’alla. A convergent parallel mixed design was used, combining quantitative and qualitative methods. Samples were taken from five selected kebelles of spate irrigation areas in the Woreda. Questionnaires, group discussions, interviews and field observations were used. About 150 households were taken from 2450...
July 2018
Impact of human activities on biosphere reserve: A case study from Yayu Biosphere Reserve, Southwest Ethiopia
Little is known on wild animal threats and their relative severity in most biospheres reserves of Ethiopia. This study was conducted during the period of May 2015 to June 2015 and was aimed at documenting relative severity of current threats of Yayu Biosphere Reserve, Southwestern Ethiopia. One hundred farmers in and around Yayu biosphere reserve were interviewed. The most relatively severe threat factors were...
July 2018
New sighting record of white-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus in Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh, India
The white-tailed Lapwing, Vanellus leucurus, is a species of bird which is listed by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as Least Concern, winter visitor to India and breed in Central Asia and Southern Russia. It is occasionally sighted in the western region of Maharashtra State, Gujarat, Rajasthan, India, but hardly ever documented. There is no record of its presence in the study area. In this note,...
June 2018
Indigenous knowledge based identification of medicinal plants in Central Zone of Tigray, North Ethiopia
There are many traditional medicine practitioners in every corner of the world, which can be grouped into spiritual healers and herbalists. Both groups do not tell to others about medicinal plants sometimes even to their descendants. This may have many different reasons, some say the medicine becomes functional if it is used in secret and some do not tell others fearing for competition of market as well as the medicinal...
June 2018
Conservation status of bird fauna of South West of Omo National Park, Ethiopia
A study on the conservation status of bird fauna of South West of Omo National Park (SWONP), South Western Ethiopia was conducted for dry (January - March, 2012) and wet (April - June, 2012) seasons. The study area was stratified based on vegetation (Riverine Forest land (RFL), Grass land (GL), and Bush land (BL)). Using systematic sampling, data was collected on birds in the morning (6:30 - 10:00 am) and evening...
June 2018
On-farm description and status of Nuer (Abigar) cattle breed in Gambella Regional State, Ethiopia
This study was conducted in Gambella Regional State (GRS) in order to characterize the Abigar cattle breed phenotypically at its breeding tract. It was done purposively in four selected districts of the region using extensive field surveys, morphological measurements and focused group discussions on the origin, distribution, current status and future threats, production and reproduction characteristics of Abigar cattle...
May 2018
Qualitative traits variation in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) landraces from the Southern highlands of Ethiopia
Thirty six barley landraces were collected from three districts of the southern highlands of Ethiopia and evaluated for 11 morphological traits to assess the extent of qualitative trait variations based on morphological traits. The results showed that 42% of the 36 barley landraces were found to have six kernel row numbers for the three collection districts. The distribution of four kernel raw number was found to be...
May 2018
How far can climate changes help to conserve and restore Garcinia kola Heckel, an extinct species in the wild in Benin (West Africa)
A study was conducted to assess how well climate changes can help to conserve and restore Garcinia kola Heckel in the Protected Area Network (PAN) and in urban areas in Benin. To achieve this, occurrence data from GBIF was used and the environmental data from AfriClim was used in order to model the species’ potential habitat under current and future climates. The maximum entropy modeling approach of MaxEnt was...
May 2018
Habitat biophysical and spatial patterns assessment within Oti-Keran-Mandouri protected area network in Togo
Oti-Keran-Mandouri (OKM) is part of the elephant historical range and one of the priority corridors proposed for elephant conservation in West Africa. However, its potentialities to be a functional corridor are yet to be evaluated in a context of increasing anthropogenic pressure. This study aims at assessing habitat biophysical patterns and fragmentation level. A multicriteria evaluation using fuzzy logic was performed...
May 2018
Effects of bush encroachment on plant composition, diversity and carbon stock in Borana rangelands, Southern Ethiopia
Bush encroachment is reducing rangeland productivity in Borana rangelands. This study was conducted in Teltele Woreda of Borana zone, to evaluate the effects of bush encroachment on plant species composition, diversity and its contribution to carbon stock. Bush encroached, non-encroached and bush thinned rangeland types were selected for the study. Nested plots for collecting tree, shrub, herbaceous and soil data were...
May 2018
Study of floral diversity from rural pockets of Odisha, India: Plants for fun and games
In earlier days, children used to play in outdoors with plant parts and their products for fun making and games. However with modernity and advancement in science and technology, this indigenous knowledge is vanishing day by day. There is no scientific documentation of plants being used for fun and games by children. The present study carried out in different tribal and non-tribal village schools of Koraput and Khordha...
April 2018
Mammalwatching: A new source of support for science and conservation
During the 20th century, birding evolved from a little-known hobby into a global phenomenon important for ornithology and bird conservation. More recently a similar change has begun for mammalwatching, which is rapidly gaining popularity and is already providing financial support, observational data, diagnostic information, and a volunteer base for mammalogy and mammalian conservation. The study data suggest that...
April 2018
Plant diversity analysis for conservation of Afromontane vegetation in socio-ecological mountain landscape of Gurage, South Central Ethiopia
The present study was conducted for the conservation and management of vegetation in a socio-ecological mountain landscape through assessment of floristic composition, community types and structure of woody species in the Wabe River catchment of the Gurage Mountains in Ethiopia. The preferential sampling technique was applied to collect floristic and vegetation structure data, and within each plot, woody species...
April 2018
Effect of forest management approach on household economy and community participation in conservation: A case of Aberdare Forest Ecosystem, Kenya
Forest ecosystems are important for ecological and socio-economic wellbeing, particularly for diversification of the livelihoods of adjacent communities. The forest management approach applied in an ecosystem influences availability, access and utilisation of forest products, and community participation in conservation. This study examined the effect of forest management approach on households’ economy and...
April 2018
Species diversity, habitat association and abundance of avifauna and large mammals in Gonde Teklehimanot and Aresema monasteries in North Gondar, Ethiopia
Studies on species composition, distribution and relative abundance of birds and mammals in Gonde Teklehimanot and Aresema Monasteries was carried out from December, 2015 to February, 2016. In these areas, wildlife conservation is directly relevant to the local community, often as a source of livelihood, medicine and spiritual values. To collect data on population status of large mammals, we commenced a line transect...
April 2018
Spatial-temporal distribution, abundance, diversity and mortality of birds on road network in the Serengeti Ecosystem, Tanzania
Vehicle collisions with wild animals are acknowledged as a non-negligible source of death of wild birds and often affect their spatial-temporal distribution, abundance and diversity. However, data to ascertain the impact of road kills on wild birds are scarce, especially around the Serengeti Ecosystem in Tanzania. This work aims to investigate the impact of road kills on wild birds and their spatial-temporal...
March 2018
Bioprospection of freshwater microalgae from Bonito, MS, Brazil
The great biodiversity of the Serra da Bodoquena is the result of years of biological evolution. A complex combination of natural factors allows aquatic plants, fish and invertebrates to coexist in absolutely crystalline water springs. Together, organisms form an intricate web of life, connecting a single-celled microalga with large river predators. For better knowledge of the biodiversity of microalgae, an important...
March 2018
Livestock depredation by wild carnivores in the Eastern Serengeti Ecosystem, Tanzania
Livestock losses caused by wild carnivores foster negative attitudes and promote retaliatory killings, threatening the future of carnivore populations. Measures to bring about coexistence between humans and carnivores are of great importance to carnivore conservation. The study questionnaire survey involved 180 respondents from Eastern Serengeti tribes (Maasai and Sonjo), all of which owned livestock. Reported livestock...
March 2018
The effect of land use type on butterfly diversity at Masako Forest Reserve, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo
The effect of land use type on butterfly abundance, species richness, and biodiversity was studied at Masako Forest Reserve in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo. The study was conducted in a primary (PF) and secondary forest (SF), fallow (FW), and an agricultural field (AF). Three bait traps were used; each trap had a cylinder consisting of two metal rings of 30.48 cm diameter and 106.68 cm length with a 15.24 cm...
March 2018
Impacts of anthropogenic pressures on wildlife in the northern sector of the National Park of Mbam and Djerem, Adamaou Cameroon
The study on the assessment of the scale of human pressure on wildlife in the Mbam and Djerem National Park was conducted between December 2012 and April 2013. This evaluation has relied on a review of seven reports ecological monitoring produced by Wildlife Conservation Society between 2006 and 2012, and direct observations. Results show that: the main causes of the reduction of wildlife are poaching (60.5%),...
February 2018
Intra and inter specific genetic divergence of termites species based on ISSR markers and 28S rDNA sequences
The comprehensive analysis of five identified and two unknown termite species with their binary scores of three markers viz., morphological, ISSR scoring and 28s rDNA sequence has been made to reveal in unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) cluster that Trinervitermes biformis (Wasmann) is out grouped with 35.7% of dissimilarity with other species; Odontotermes obesus (Rambur) and Odontotermes...
February 2018
Ethnobotany and population structure of Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile in Sahelian zone of Cameroon
Indigenous tree species have multiple functions and the strong pressure exerted on them threatens their populations. The study aims to investigate the main uses of Balanites aegyptiaca and assess its population structure in the Sahelian zone of Cameroon. The study was carried out using ethnobotanical and quantitative ecological methods. The results showed that the species is multipurpose and produces six different...
February 2018
Hunting of Preuss’s red colobus (Procolobus preussi) in Korup National Park, Cameroon
This study was carried out in Korup Region to investigate the reasons for hunting preuss’s red colobus (PRC) in Korup National Park (KNP) Cameroon in order to contribute to its sustainable management. Questionnaires (open and closed end) were used to gather personal information from hunters on different hunting tactics, reasons for hunting PRC and threats to this species in KNP for a period of one month (January...
February 2018
Impacts of waste on macroinvertebrate assemblages of Msimbazi River, Tanzania
The status of waste and its impact on macroinvertebrate assemblages along Msimbazi River was assessed between May 2014 and August 2014. The aim was to identify the type of waste, their potential sources, and the assemblage of macroinvertebrate taxa that have been affected by waste disposal in the river. The study involved field study and laboratory analysis. Results indicated that organic and inorganic waste are the...
January 2018
Evaluation of land use land cover changes using remote sensing Landsat images and pastoralists’ perceptions on range cover changes in Borana rangelands, Southern Ethiopia
Studies on land-use/land cover (LULC) changes through remote sensing techniques represent vital tools for generating rational information for sound decision making on natural resources management. Related to the launching of the first Landsat satellite in 1973 there is a region of attention on the use of remote sensing techniques as tool for planning the appropriate management in rangelands. This study therefore aimed...
January 2018
Can communities close to Bui National Park mediate the impacts of Bui Dam construction? An exploration of the views of some selected households
This paper explores the perceptions of families and households near Bui National Park, on the impact of Bui dam on their capital assets and how they navigate their livelihoods through the impacts of Bui Dam construction. The mixed methods approach was applied to sample views of respondents from thirteen communities of which eight have resettled as a result of the Bui Dam construction. In-depth interviews were conducted...
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