Department of Biology
URI for this collectionhttps://rps.wku.edu.et/handle/123456789/45779
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Item DIET COMPOSITION AND FEEDING HABITS OF CYPRINUS CARPIO (LINNAEUS 1758) (PISCES: CYPRINIDAE)(Wolkite University, 2024-11-01) INJIGU WENDIMUThe diet composition and feeding habits of Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus, 1758) were examined using 209 fish samples from Lake Arekit. The species' feeding patterns were determined through numerical indexes (frequency of occurrence and volumetric contribution) and composite indexes (Index of Preponderance (IOP) and Geometric Index of Importance (GIIi)). Among the 209 specimens, 174 (83.3%) displayed a range of dietary items in their stomachs. Detritus emerged as the primary food source for C. carpio, followed by macrophytes, insects, and zooplankton. A lesser amount of phytoplankton, nematodes, and ostracods were also consumed. Based on the findings, C. carpio can be classified as a detri-omnivore, as it consumes benthic species like nematodes, ostracods, and insect larvae. Seasonal fluctuations in food item consumption were noted (p < 0.05), with higher intake during the rainy season and reduced consumption in the dry season. Significant variations in food preferences were observed among size groups (p < 0.05). Smaller size classes preferred foods of animal origin, such as ostracods, zooplankton, and insects, while macrophytes and detritus were more prevalent in the largest class. This study enhances our understanding of C. carpio's diet in Lake Arekit. Still, further research is necessary to explore the diet across the fish's lifespan and monthly, considering various environmental conditions.Item College of Natural and Computational Sciences Department of Biology Ethnobotanical Study of `Medicinal Plants Used by Indigenous People of Munesa District(Wolkite University, 2024-12-01) Getu HirpoEthno botany is the scientific study of the way that people used plants to treat different human and livestock diseases. It includes all studies that concern with the mutual relationship between plants and people.The main objective of this study was to assess the traditional medicinal plants used by the indigenous people in selected kebeles of Munesa district. Traditional medicine is used throughout the world as it is dependent on locally available plants, which are easily accessible and capitalizes on traditional wisdom repository of knowledge simple to use and affordabily. Structured questionnaire, interview, observation, and document reviews were employed to collect both primary and secondary data. The data was analyzed and presented in qualitative and quantitative methods in that Paired comparison, fidelity level, preference ranking, informant consensus factor and direct matrix ranking were used during data analysis Medicinal healers of the study area gave treatment for different human and livestock diseases like: conjure, breast disease, snake bite, liver diseases, diabetic, cold sore, throat infections, sexually inactive male, allergy, epilepsy, antiseptics, diarrhea, bloat, endo and ecto parasite, Helminthiasis, Anthrax and others. The traditional healers prepare the traditional medicine by mechanisms like: crushing/grinding, squeezing, boiling, roasting. They used different route of administration such as: oral, tying, fitted to the target infected site by traditionally standardized dose. Leaf/pod and root/rhizome were highly used by more than half of the respondents (27%, 26% respectively) for the preparation of traditional medicine. The findings of this study showed that, many of effective medicinal plants in the study area were under risk of threatening or they endangered and any concerned body can give attention for conservation of these threatened medicinal plant species.Item Ethnobotanical Study of `Medicinal Plants Used by Indigenous People of Munesa District Arsi zone Oromia Region Ethiopia(Wolkite University, 2024-09-01) Getu HirpoEthno botany is the scientific study of the way that people used plants to treat different human and livestock diseases. It includes all studies that concern with the mutual relationship between plants and people.The main objective of this study was to assess the traditional medicinal plants used by the indigenous people in selected kebeles of Munesa district. Traditional medicine is used throughout the world as it is dependent on locally available plants, which are easily accessible and capitalizes on traditional wisdom repository of knowledge simple to use and affordabily. Structured questionnaire, interview, observation, and document reviews were employed to collect both primary and secondary data. The data was analyzed and presented in qualitative and quantitative methods in that Paired comparison, fidelity level, preference ranking, informant consensus factor and direct matrix ranking were used during data analysis Medicinal healers of the study area gave treatment for different human and livestock diseases like: conjure, breast disease, snake bite, liver diseases, diabetic, cold sore, throat infections, sexually inactive male, allergy, epilepsy, antiseptics, diarrhea, bloat, endo and ecto parasite, Helminthiasis, Anthrax and others. The traditional healers prepare the traditional medicine by mechanisms like: crushing/grinding, squeezing, boiling, roasting. They used different route of administration such as: oral, tying, fitted to the target infected site by traditionally standardized dose. Leaf/pod and root/rhizome were highly used by more than half of the respondents (27%, 26% respectively) for the preparation of traditional medicine. The findings of this study showed that, many of effective medicinal plants in the study area were under risk of threatening or they endangered and any concerned body can give attention for conservation of these threatened medicinal plant species.Item An Ethnozoological Study of Traditional Medicinal Animals used to treat Human and Livestock Ailments in Ginnir District East Bale Zone Oromia National Regional State Ethiopia(Wolkite University, 2024-08-01) Beka LemaIn Ethiopia, many ethnic communities use traditional medicine for primary health care. Indigenous medicinal practice is being neglected and continues to be lost due to poor documentation as they are transferred from generation to generation through oral tradition. Thus, this study aimed to carry out animal-based traditional medicinal uses in the Ginnir district, Eastern Bale Zone, south East Ethiopia. A purposive sampling method was carried out from December 2023 to March, 2024. The data were collected through semi-structured questionnaire and interview from 112 selected respondents. Descriptive statistics was employed for the analysis of data. A total of 33 medicinal animals species were reported to be used to treat 34 ailments. Out of these 57.58% were mammals followed by 15.15% of reptiles and birds. Of 33 medicinal animals five of them were used to treat both human and animals ailments. The most frequently used animals parts were external body parts (42.86%) followed by products (19.05% and) excreta were the least. The most commonly used applications of medicinal animal were tying (37.5%) followed by eating (20%) and drinking (7.5%). The skin of a hyena used to treat evil eyes and bad spirit has the highest fidelity level 100%, whereas lesser kudu has the lowest fidelity level (22.2%) used to treat evil spirit and chill. The ICF values were varied from 0.7 up to 1. Animal-derived medicines are an alternative source of medicine to treat various ailments both in rural and urban the study area. Different illegal practices like hunting today are a big pressure on many animal species, a cause of habitat degradation, increase the vulnerability of wild animals, and affect the knowledge of practitioners on traditional medicinal animals. Further research should be done to test the products scientifically for product development and design effective conservation and management strategies.Item ASSESSMENT OF THE ECOLOGICAL CONDITION OF LAKE AREKIT USING BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATES AS A BIOLOGICAL WATER QUALITY INDICATOR GURAGE ZONE ETHIOPIA(Wolkite University, 2024-09-01) ABDISA DEGAFUThe ultimate objective of this study was to determine the ecological condition of Lake Arekit using benthic macroinvertebrate communities and some selected physicochemical parameters. Both environmental and macroinvertebrate data were collected from three sampling sites between April and May 2023. Sampling sites were selected based on the degree of anthropogenic disturbance as high impaired (shore area/SS-site 1); moderately impaired (open area/OS-site-2); and less impaired (macrophyte area/vegetation area/MS- site-3). Water temperature, DO, pH, and conductivity, were measured using a portable mulitimeter probe. Turbidity and TDS were measured using measuring turbidometer. Inorganic nutrients were measured using APHA 1995 standardized method. Benthic macroinvertebrates were collected from the littoral region (sampling depth: 0-0.5 m) using standardized kick sampling with a hand D-frame net (28 cm x 30 cm in diameter) with a horizontal transect up to 10 meter from the shore towards the lake when the lake depth less than 0.5 m and diagonal transect when the lake depth greater than 0.5 m to maintain the consistency of sampling effort, a sample was obtained within 10 minutes at each site with three replicas. The results showed that the lake temperature and DO were ranged from 20.20C (at OS) to 20.80C (at SS) and 2.59 mg/L (at OS) to 5.68 mg/L (at SS), respectively. The lake was alkaline with a pH ranged from 7.07 to 8.82. The maximum and the minimum pH of the study lake were recorded at SS. The water turbidity of the lake was varied from minimum values of 3.95 NTU (at MS) to a maximum value of 43.23 NTU (SS). Major inorganic nutrients of the Lake Arekit did not showed a significant spatial effect (p>0.05). Nitrate and total phosphate (TP), correspondingly, were ranged between 2.71 mg/L and 108.18mg/L and 12.8 and 151.8 mg/L. In this study lake, a total of 620 benthic macroinvertebrate specimens comparing of six taxa were collected from all the three study sites. Notonectidae (39.19%) were comprised the highest taxa followed by Coenagrionidae (25.45%) and Chironomidae (20.64%). The occurrence of Hirunidae (5.8%), Gerridae (1.61%), and Begidae (0.64) were found low, all comprised less than 10% of the total taxa. All most all the benthic taxa found in the study lake were pollution tolerant, indicating that the lake water condition was highly impacted. The results of the physicochemical parameters and benthic invertebrates strongly suggested that the lake water of the study lake was polluted. This study proposes that management of anthropogenic activities, nonpoint sources of pollution, loss of natural riparian habitat, and occasional untreated point inflow are necessary.Item Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used for the treatment of human and livestock diseases in Kokir Gedebano Gutazer Welene Woreda Gurage Zone and Central Ethiopia(Wolkite University, 2025-02-01) Tariku Melis DodeIn an ethnobotanical survey conducted designated rural and urban areas, randomly chosen sites were to find the most skilled practitioners who are familiar with treating human illnesses with traditional medicinal plants. This ethnobotanical study focuses on medicinal plants used for treating diseases in both humans and livestock in Kokir Gedebano Gutazer Welene Woreda, located in the Gurage Zone of Central Ethiopia. The study aimed to identify the diversity of medicinal plants and their applications in healthcare. Utilizing adescriptive research design, qualitative and quantitative methods were employed the study employed a combination of simple random sampling and purposive sampling techniques. Data collection methods included field visits, interviews, and participant observation. From the 34 kebeles in Kokir Gedebano Woreda, three kebeles were selected based on their agro-climatic zones: Ambelta Kebele lowland Tilamo Kebele midland, and Kentwat in highland. Research design descriptive research method was used because descriptive method used to describe research was qualitative and quantitative approaches The majority of medicinal plants were found in cultivated areas, with fewer collected from natural environ in average the three kebele medicinal plants of cultivated land (77.43%) forest (22.53%). Regard to plant families, the highest species richness consisting of 6 (8.69%) family solanaceae, Fabaceae, Rutaceae decrease respectively and Lamiaceae 5 (5.79%) each families and next families Cucurbitaceae, Rosaceae and Asteraceae 4 (4.34%) each families.ments. Additionally market surveys, focus group discussions, and ethnobotanical data analysis. Preference ranking and informant consensus factors were assessed using the Informant to evaluate the effectiveness of the medicinal plants across various disease categories. The research area's medicinal plant variety was determined by collecting and identifying 71 species of medicinal plants from 64 genera and 40 families. The cultivated land was where the majority of the medicinal plants were gathered, 54 medicinal plant species gathered in the study area were used to cure human ailments, while 15 were used to treat cattle ailments, and 13 were used to treat both. Both official and informal education systems should incorporate tested and validated indigenous knowledge indigenous about the traditional uses of plants in general and therapeutic applications.Item AN INVESTIGATION OF WOODY SPECIES CONTRIBUTION FOR AGROFORESTERY AND COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT PRACTICE IN MISRAK MESKAN DISTRICT OF MISRAK GURAGE ZONE CENTRAL ETHIOPIA REGIONAL STATE ETHIOPIA(Wolkite University, 2024-12-01) MOHAMMED KEDIRWoody species conservation is an issue of scientific, economic and ecological concern at global level.Woody species play many functions and make a real contribution to farmland protection, making them essential parts of an agroforestry system.Farmland plays significant role in the woody species conservation. The study was conducted to An Investigation of Woody Species Contribution For Agroforestery And Community Management Practice In Misrak Meskan District Of Misrak Gurage Zone Central Ethiopia Regional State, Ethiopia.Using systematic sampling techniques were representative kebele were selected from district . Four kebele and a total of 400 households were included in the study. Data on woody species were collected using a line transect across 60 plots, each measuring 40m × 40 m, spaced at 100 m intervals on farmland. For all woody species ≥5 cm, the diameter at breast height (DBH) was measured. Key materics such as important value index, density, dominance, and frequency were computed and analyzed. A total of 20 families and 33 woody species were identified and documented.The average basal area of woody species on farmland in study area was 0.55 m2. Farmers preferred woody species that provided for fuel wood, timber, shade and construction materias, with Fiaderbia albida the most favored, followed by Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Acacia abyssinica. The common management practices include coppicing and Lopping. Socioeconomic aspects like the size of the farm, educational background, and wealth status influenced the management of woody species on farmland.With 6 species, the Fabaceae family was the most represented. Fiaderbia albida., Eucalyptus camadulensis., Acacia abyssinica., Balanites aegyptiaca., and Cordia Africana. were the most common species, occurring in 85%, 80%, 76%, 68.33%, and 65% of the farms that were sampled.Overall, the study demonstrated that an agroforestry system is essential to the preservation of woody species.While farmers employ traditional management practice for wood species on their farmland,these practices required better support and extention service to address existing challenges.Item FLORSTIC COMPOSITIONVEGETATION STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN ZARA NATURAL FOREST IN GETA WOREDA DISTRICT GURAGE ZONE, CENTRAL ETHIOPIA REGION STATE, ETHIOPA.(Wolkite University, 2025-01-01) JILALU HASSENThis research was conducted in the Zara Natural Forest to evaluate the diversity of plant species, the structure of the vegetation, and the management practices aimed at conserving the forest. There is a notable absence of documentation concerning plant composition, conservation efforts, and management strategies in the area, as no previous floristic studies have been performed on the dry Afromontane vegetation in the district. The study employed a systematic sampling method, collecting vegetation data from 45 quadrats, each measuring 20m by 20m and spaced 100m apart along four transect lines. These transect lines were established every 500m from each direction within the study area. Additionally, smaller plots of 2m x 2m were created within each major plot for collecting herbaceous data. All plant species within each quadrat were recorded, leading to the identification of 66 plant species across 54 genera and 40 families. Of these, 35% were trees, 33% were shrubs, 23% were herbs, and 9% were climbers. The Fabaceae family was the most prominent, featuring eight species, followed by Astraceae with seven species, Rosaceae with four species, and both Euphorbiaceae and Solanaceae with three species each. The remaining thirty-five families were represented by either one or two species. The forest's total basal area and density were recorded at 19.58 m²/ha and 2542.94 stems/ha, respectively. An analysis of the importance value index revealed that Juniperus procera (59.74%) is the most frequent and dominant species, followed by Podocarpus falcatus (39.55%) and Calpurnia aurea (34.98%). This forest type is more associated with dry Afromontane forests and has a promising start in terms of protection and conservation efforts. Community participation in these efforts was at a moderate level. The study of the forest's regeneration status indicated a low level of regeneration. It is recommended to implement a community-based participatory forest management program to enhance the successful conservation of the Zara natural forest.