Diversity, relative abundance and distribution of medium and large-sized mammals in Belete forest, Shebe Sombo district, Jimma Zone, South West Ethiopia

Abstract

The present study was carried out to assess the diversity, distribution, and relative abundance of medium and large-sized mammalian fauna in Belete Forest Shebe Sombo district south west Ethiopia, and conducted from March 2023 up to July 2023 in Belete Forest Shabe Sombo district south west Ethiopia. The study area was classified into three habitat types: natural forest, semi- natural forest and plantation. Line transects survey, camera trapping, indirect evidence and focus group discussions were used for data collection. Twenty one species of medium and large sized mammals were identified and recorded from Belete forest. Among these recorded mammalian four, species were considered as medium-sized and the remaining species were large-sized mammals. Papio anubis, Colobus guereza, and Chlorocebus aethiops were the most abundant species in this study area. Lepus habissinicus, Civetticitis civetta, and Panthera pardus were represented by few individuals. The highest and lowest species diversity was recorded in the natural forest (H’=1.62) and plantation forest (H’=1.1) during the dry season respectively. Natural forests had the maximum diversity of mammalian species (H'=1.702) during the wet season, whereas plantation forests had the lowest diversity (H'=1.27). Natural forest and Semi- natural forest had the highest species similarity (SI=0.83, 0.85), and natural forest and plantation had the lowest similarity (SI=0.55, 0.56) during dry and wet seasons, respectively. The analysis of association between habitat type and number of species indicated that there is a significant association between them (df=32, p<0.05). Even though the area has a rich biodiversity, illegal logging, charcoal production, and overgrazing are all threats to the species that inhabit the study area. Hence, establishment of the area as a national park in order to save these species from further loss is recommended.