Management and conservation of Species diversity in Abaya–Hamassa region, Rift Valley of Ethiopia

Eyasu Chama Didana; Dr.B. Sairam Pattnaik

Volume : VII, Issue : VII, July - 2017

Management and conservation of Species diversity in Abaya–Hamassa region, Rift Valley of Ethiopia

Eyasu Chama Didana, Dr. B. Sairam Pattnaik

Abstract :

With its diverse and viant bio–geo terrain, Ethiopia is unique for its species diversity and uncanny dispersion of flora and fauna. In the deep south of the country lies the Abaya–Hamassa region in the banks of mighty rift valley Lake Abaya’ dominated specifically by several species of disparate origin. 315 plant species representing 198 genera belonging to 59 families and over 120 varieties of animal fauna were identified in the Abaya–Hamassa natural vegetation. Six plant communities were designated and described as per the ecological conglomeration and assemblage of various species. The interaction between various communities and surrounding environment was assessed based on ecological, physiological and pedological data collected from 55 quadrates (400 ) belonging to eight selected sites between October 2013 to June 2014. The floristic composition, animal diversity, community types and interaction among all these were investigated in association with several ecological, physical, chemical as well as biological parameters. Multivariate techniques were used to assess the species diversity. Plots grouped into clusters with the aid of the TWINSPAN program. Jaccard’s coefficient of similarity was used to see the species composition turnover of the communities and species composition The Percentage of coverage, Canopy, abundance and frequency of species were estimated and converted as per the modified Brawn–Blanquet 1–9 scale.