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Avifauna diversity and anthropogenic threats of wetlands in South‐Western Ethiopia
Author(s) -
Alemkere Bezabih Azmeraw,
Bakala Gabayo Fayera,
Tolossa Wakjira Tesfaye
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
african journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.499
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1365-2028
pISSN - 0141-6707
DOI - 10.1111/aje.12826
Subject(s) - wetland , species richness , overexploitation , diversity index , geography , swamp , biodiversity , ecology , threatened species , species diversity , agroforestry , environmental science , biology , habitat
This study was conducted to investigate avifauna diversity and anthropogenic threats to wetlands in Sheka and Bench‐Maji Zones. A total of 5 wetlands, 4 swamps and 1 artificial lake, were purposely selected. Avian diversity data were collected using point count method. Household surveys were undertaken to collect data on anthropogenic threats of wetlands. A total of 1,130 individuals of birds belonging to 28 families and 61 species were recorded. Species richness and diversity were higher in the wet season (51 species, H = 3.65) than the dry season (40 species, H = 3.37). The Bray–Curtis Dissimilarity Index (BC) revealed the three study sites were 78.77% dissimilar in species composition (BC ijk = 0.7877) with a total number of 18 shared species. Chega‐Gawussi wetlands and Chonkie‐Shinke wetlands have 70.89% similarity with BC Dissimilarity Index value of 0.291. The study identified that drainage for farming practices, grass overexploitation and Eucalyptus plantations were the main threats to Chonke‐Shinkie wetlands, and Lake Dembi has been threatened by sedimentation from the adjacent farmlands, waste disposal from the Mizan‐Aman Municipality, coffee washing plantations, whereas Chega‐Gawussi wetlands were affected by grass overexploitation and deforestation. Therefore, due attention and conservation actions are required from stakeholders for the protection of these ecosystems.