Southern Rift Research Articles

The expansion of an invasive malaria vector: Anopheles stephensi emergence in Arba Minch town in the southern Rift Valley of Ethiopia

Urban areas in malaria-endemic countries in East Africa are experiencing a significant increase in malaria cases, with the establishment of an “exotic” urban malaria vector, Anopheles stephensi, increasing the risk of urban malaria. To this end, the present study aimed to investigate the emergence of this species in Arba Minch, Ethiopia. Following the detection of An. stephensi in other parts of Ethiopia, 76 artificial containers (55 discarded tyres, 18 concrete water storage, and three plastic containers) were sampled in 21 locations in Arba Minch town, for immature Anopheles mosquito stages, using the standard dipping technique. Larvae were reared into adults which were morphologically identified at the species level 2–3 days after emergence. Morphological identification results were confirmed by species-specific polymerase chain reaction. Of the examined containers, 67 (88%) had at least one Anopheles larva. Thirty-two of the adults emerged were morphologically identified as An. stephensi, with 26 (81%) confirmed by molecular analysis. This is the first study to report An. stephensi from Arba Minch, one of South Ethiopia’s largest towns, highlighting the need for increased vigilance. The planned and ongoing study in and around Arba Minch will contribute to understanding the bionomics and role of An. stephensi in malaria parasite transmission, helping develop a strategy to address the impending risk of urban malaria in Ethiopia.

Review on Epidemiology and Economic Impact of Tsetse Transmitted Bovine Trypanosomiasis in Ethiopia

Most vector-borne human diseases worldwide are spread by arthropod disease vectors, including mosquitoes, ticks, tsetse flies, and sandflies, which are greatly impacted by environmental factors. The tsetse-transmitted animal Trypanosomiasis severely hampers animal production and agricultural development in Ethiopia. The southern portion of the Rift Valley, the southwest corner of the nation, the western lowlands and escarpments, and the Blue Nile are the only areas in Ethiopia where tsetse flies are found. These areas are limited to longitudes 33° and 38° E and latitudes 5° and 12° N. The three Trypanosoma species that have the most impact on cattle in Ethiopia are Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma vivax, and Trypanosoma congolense. Particularly in the "tsetse belt," which includes the Omo, Borena, and Metekel zones of the Benishangul Gumuz region, the illness is extensively spread throughout the western and southwest regions of the nation. Ethiopia’s main river systems, including the Abay/Didessa, Omo/Gibe, Baro/Akobo, and southern Rift Valley, are linked to the prevalence of tsetse fly infestations and the Trypanosomiasis they cause. Mixed livestock and crop production is the major farming style in Ethiopia’s highlands and plays a crucial role in agricultural activity. The bioclimatic threshold for tsetse flies in Ethiopia has not been met. Since it has long been typical for the peasantry in general and livestock owners, in particular, to avoid tsetse-infested areas to reduce their chance of contracting Trypanosomiasis, the impact of tsetse-borne Trypanosomiasis on development efforts in rural Ethiopia is becoming increasingly significant. This review examines the economic impact and epidemiology of tsetse-transmitted bovine trypanosomiasis in Ethiopia.

Revision of the genus Dilophus Meigen, 1803 (Diptera, Bibionidae) from the Afrotropical Ecozone.

We revise the Afrotropical species of the genus Dilophus Meigen, redescribing each species. Previous Afrotropical records of the Palaearctic species Dilophus antipedalis Wiedemann and Dilophus femoratus Meigen are found to be erroneous, both these represent undescribed species, the former is distributed in the mountains along the southern Rift Valley and described as Dilophus riftensis sp.n., specimens recorded as the latter from Madagascar is described as Dilophus malagasicus sp.n.. Furthermore, one montane or alpine species apparently endemic to Ethiopia is described, Dilophus baleensis sp.n.. Philia splendens Hardy, 1951 is found to be a junior synonym of Dilophus bicolor Wiedemann, 1821. We summarise what is known about the distribution and phenology of these species in the Afrotropical ecozone.

Spatio-temporal variability and rainfall trend affects seasonal calendar of maize production in southern central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

Understanding rainfall variability is important to establish crop calendar related agronomic decisions. To this end, we defined start and end of seasons, analyzed dry spell and evaluated conditional risks of alternative planting dates using a thirty years daily rainfall data across southern central rift valley of Ethiopia. Results showed that the probability of annual rainfall being greater than 1000 mm was 97, 24, 94, and 61%, in Dilla, Bilate, Shamana, and Hawassa clusters, respectively. The variability of annual total rainfall in the lowland areas of Dilla and Bilate was above 25%, whereas for Shamana and Hawassa was below 20%. Variability of seasonal rainfall during FMAM was 33.7%, which is higher than ONDJ (27.1%) and JJAS (27.9%), which could lead to maize plants suffering moisture stress during FMAM season. The onset of rains had variability of 29.2, 19.5, 17.5 and 26.5%, and also LGP showed variability of 22.8, 22.1, 21.2 and 20.3% in Shamana, Bilate, Hawassa, and Dilla clusters, respectively. Moreover Shamana, Bilate, Hawassa and Dilla clusters are hit by agricultural drought in one out of 2.61, 2.3, 2.5 and 2.5 years, respectively. Model based analysis of conditional risk of farmers planting dates also showed a success rate of less than 10, 7, 40 and 63% for maize variety in Shamana, Bilate, Hawassa and Dilla clusters, respectively. However, the success rate of risk taker farmers’ is higher than anticipated by the model. The farmers who take risk were encouraged in Shamana cluster by local edaphic, physiographic, socioeconomic and climatic differences. Hence, there is a need to seek real time local agro-metrological advisory and follow the necessary tactical and strategic farming decisions. Moreover, there is also a need to incorporate local factors with modern climate models to obtain synchronized calendar estimates.

Geology of El Hierro Southern Rift, Canary Islands, Spain

ABSTRACT The geological survey has been carried out in El Hierro with the aim to produce a new Geological Map at 1:12,500 scale for the Southern Rift. Almost 70 km2 have been mapped providing a detailed stratigraphic and volcano-tectonic reconstruction of its evolution. Our work focused on the last Rift Volcanism phase, where hundreds of cinder cones, associated with thin lava flows, cover most of the island’s surface. Lava flows fields (40), monogenetic volcanic edifices (>90), and volcano–tectonic structures (69), such as dykes, eruptive fissures, and faults have been surveyed and stored in the Geological Map. The map poses fundamental constraints on the Southern Rift geological evolution, mainly concerning its recent activity and allowing the definition of 4 main stages during the last 40 ka. Moreover, this 1:12,500 scale detailed map represents a primary tool for the volcanic hazard assessment of the Island, volcanic monitoring, urban planning, and further stratigraphic data-based investigations.

GIS-based multi-criteria decision making under Silica Saturation Index (SSI) for selecting the best direct use scenarios for geothermal resources in Central and Southern Rift Valley, Kenya

Direct use (DU) of geothermal energy is site-specific and majorly dictated by economics. Even with the availability of high enthalpy geothermal fluids, DU could still be curtailed by fluid pH, salinity, and silica content. Selecting economically viable best direct use (DU) scenarios for a given geothermal resource needs meticulous matching of geothermal resource characteristics to the nearby economic activities and local infrastructure. Silica saturation index (SSI) analysis should also be factored in to avoid silica scaling of DU facilities and reinjection well. There is a lack of a visual framework for incorporating all the necessary criteria for selecting the best DU scenarios, hence the motivation of this research. The current study employed a GIS-based multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) method: a hybrid of the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method with the weighted aggregated sum product assessment (WASPAS) method. The model analyzed nine utilization scenarios against eleven criteria to select the best DU scenarios for six high-enthalpy quaternary volcanoes in the central and southern Kenyan rift: Menengai, Elementaita, Eburru, Olkaria, Longonot, and Suswa. The best typical DU schemes identified were horticultural greenhouse warming, spa, and crop drying. The model was validated with existing DU case studies to gauge its ability to predict suitable utilization methods. There was a good matching between the model's selection and existing case studies implicating the synergistic merger of GIS-based MCDM methods and SSI as a robust tool for planning and carrying out the feasibility study for DU of geothermal energy.

Grain-size analysis of the Late Pleistocene sediments in the Corinth Rift: insights into strait-influenced hydrodynamics and provenance of an active rift basin

Abstract Grain-size analysis of the sediments in borehole M0079A, located in the Corinth Rift, was used to explore hydrodynamic conditions and provenance in the Late Pleistocene Corinth Rift. Grain-size populations that were sensitive to the sedimentary environments were characterized by frequency distribution, particle size–standard deviation and probability cumulative curves. Our results indicate the grain-size population component in the range 0.15–0.25 µm may be used as a sensitive proxy for hyperpycnal flows, which have commonly been triggered by river floods from the southern margin of the rift since c. 0.593–0.613 Ma. The high-density plumes derived from the longer rivers of the southern rift that were prevalent before c. 0.593–0.613 Ma. When sediment is supplied as hemipelagic deposition, the proportion of the total grain-size population that is in the 0.3–0.5 µm range becomes an index for suspension fall-out deposits. The core shows coarser sediments during the marine periods, and this may be linked to the current circulation related to the Ishtmia Strait opening. The study thus illustrates how the establishment of interbasinal straits can influence the details of sedimentary hydrodynamics in the deep-water axis of an adjacent depocentre.

Outdoor and early hour human biting activities of malaria mosquitoes and the suitability of clay pot for outdoor resting mosquito collection in malaria endemic villages of southern Rift Valley, Ethiopia

BackgroundSampling adult Anopheles mosquitoes is important for assessing vector density, estimating the sporozoite infection rate, and quantifying the impact of vector control interventions. The objective of this study was to assess the Anopheles mosquito species composition, and their outdoor and indoor biting activities, and to evaluate the suitability of clay pots for indoor and outdoor resting mosquito collections. MethodsTwo malaria-endemic villages in the Gamo zone were purposely selected. Forty clay pots were deployed for outdoor resting mosquitoes sampling and another forty for indoor resting sampling. Twenty pit shelters were constructed for outdoor resting mosquito collection. The human landing catch (HLC) technique was employed to collect indoor and outdoor host-seeking mosquitoes in two households in each village. Morphological identification of the Anopheles mosquito was done using an identification key. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique was used for blood meal origin and circumsporozoite proteins (CSP) test. Speciation of An. gambiae complex was done using polymerase chain reaction. A Chi-square test was used to compare the effectiveness of clay pot and pit shelters for outdoor resting sampling. ResultsA total of 904 female Anopheles mosquitoes comprising An. gambiae complex, An. pharoensis, An. tenebrosus, An. dencalicus and An. demelloni were sampled. The majority (64%) of them were sampled by the HLC technique. There was a slight difference between the outdoor clay pot (19%) and pit shelter (17%) collection. No Anopheles mosquitoes were collected indoor using clay pots. All mosquitoes were tested for CSPs, but none of them were found to be positive. Anopheles mosquitoes were tending to bite humans outdoor than indoors, and their peak biting hours was 10–11 pm. The human blood meal index of Anopheles mosquitoes was 0.07 from pit shelters and it was 0.04 from clay pots. The bovine blood meal index was 0.45 for mosquitoes from both pit shelters and clay pot collections. ConclusionAnopheles arabiensis was the predominant species and it was tending to bite cattle more than humans. Clay pot could be suitable for outdoor resting mosquito collection, but not for indoor resting species.

Detection of Magma Beneath the Northern and Southern Rift Zones of Axial Seamount at the Juan de Fuca Ridge

AbstractAxial Seamount is an active hotspot‐related volcanic system located along the Juan de Fuca Ridge (JdFR) that includes a central volcano and bounding northern and southern rift zones (NRZ and SRZ). Three documented volcanic eruptions in 1998, 2011, and 2015 included dike propagation into and eruptions within the rift zones that are believed to have been sourced from the well‐imaged large magma reservoir found beneath the central volcano. However, areas beyond the central volcano have not been explored for potential magma sources that could have contributed to these events, and geochemical studies of older rift zone lavas indicate differences in compositions suggestive of magma reservoirs fed by more mid‐ocean ridge‐dominated mantle sources. In this study, we analyze multichannel seismic data acquired in 2002 to characterize the internal crustal structure of the rift zones. The new reflectivity images reveal small (<5 km wide) and discontinuous crustal magma bodies at depths of ∼1.5 to 4 km beneath and in the vicinity of the rift zone lava flows from the three eruptions. We also image wide magma bodies within the overlap regions between the rift zones and neighboring segments of JdFR including a 6.4 km wide body under the east flank of NRZ and a 1‐km wide, ∼400 to 500 m, thick body near the base of the crust under the SRZ‐Vance overlap basin. Collectively the new observations indicate that multiple small crustal magma bodies underlie Axial segment, in addition to the main reservoir, and likely contribute to rift zone magmatism with implications for interpretations of seismicity patterns and lava flow compositions.

Mangifera indica (L.)tree as agroforestry component: Environmental and socio-economic roles in Abaya-Chamo catchments of the Southern Rift Valley ofEthiopia

The integration of woody perennials into the agricultural ecosystem often has diversified environmental, economic and social benefits. Mangiferaindicabased agroforestry system in southern rift valley is not investigated and scientifically documented well. The current study tried to investigate the environmental and socio-economic roles of the mango-based agroforestry system in the southern rift valley around the Abaya-Chamo catchment, especially in the Gamo Zone. Three kebeles (a small administrative unit in Ethiopia) were selected purposively based on the potential, and about 151 household heads were interviewed by questionnaires from May 2021 to July 2021. Household socio-economic data and environmental and socioeconomic roles of both mango and non-mango-based agroforestry practitioners were collected. Both key informant interview (KII) and focus group discussions (FGD) were also held. The collected data were analyzed by simple descriptive statistics in SPSS version 24 software. As a result, the interviewed respondents differed significantly (P < 0.05) in terms of agroforestry practices. It was confirmed that the mango-based agroforestry practitioners revealed that the soil fertility enhancement, reduction of crop damage by wind and amelioration of microclimate by shading for crop and livestock were of environmental importance mango-based agroforestry practitioners benefited more than non–mango-based agroforestry practitioners (P < 0.05). Whereas food/fruits, timber, traditional medicine, fuelwood, pole and fodder were socio-economic roles of agroforestry. The mango-based agroforestry practitioners benefited from pole and food more than non-practitioners (P < 0.05). This indicates that the mango-based agroforestry of Abaya-Chamo catchments of the southern Rift valley of Ethiopia has potential for environmental and socio-economic advantages to the society. Elongated experimental research will help to optimize strategies for the management and sustainable utilization of this climate-smart agricultural system.

Impact of irrigation with Lake Abaya water on soil quality – southern Rift Valley, Ethiopia

Abstract The study's aim was to assess the impact of using water from Lake Abaya for irrigation and its impact on soil quality at Mirab Abaya, Ethiopia. Six water samples from the edge of Lake Abaya and 30 (18 irrigated and 12 rain-fed) composite soil samples from farm lands in Wajifo, Fura and Algae were collected. Analyses showed that the use of water from Lake Abaya will bring a soil salinity hazard in future. The soil analyses showed variations in space and time in the physico-chemical components in the study area. The highest salinity was reported from Algae, the closest site to the Lake. The highest soil alkalinity was reported from Wajifo, which has a long irrigation history. The irrigated soils reported higher salinity than the rain-fed soils, indicating that water from Lake Abaya can affect irrigated soil quality. In general, Lake Abaya water is not suitable for salt-sensitive crops and caution is required in using it for irrigation.

Perception and attitude of the local people toward carnivore population and conservation in the Faragosa‐Fura landscape of the Southern Rift Valley, Ethiopia

AbstractLocal people's perceptions and attitudes toward wildlife have been advocating for the success of biodiversity conservation. However, area‐specific data on local people's perceptions and attitudes toward carnivore populations and conservation in human‐dominated landscapes are scarce. The purpose of this study was to investigate local people's perceptions of carnivore population abundance and trend, as well as their attitudes toward carnivore conservation in the Southern Rift Valley of Ethiopia. We collected data from 352 households' interviews using a semi‐structured questionnaire and photographic sampling of 13 carnivore species in 2020. About 57% of respondents perceived the population abundance trend of carnivores had decreased between 2015 and 2019. The reported decline was higher for lions, caracals, and leopards, while the increase was higher for common genets and mongooses. The reported population abundance of carnivore species varied significantly. Only marginally more people (52%) opposed carnivore conservation, citing livestock predation as the primary reason. Two thirds of respondents opposed the conservation of spotted hyenas, black‐backed jackals, common genets, and mongoose species while supporting the conservation of lions, caracals, African civets, and leopards. Respondents' livestock number was the most important factor significantly affecting all three models (population abundance, population trend, and support for conservation). Age and education status were displayed to have an effect on population abundance and trend models, while gender, land size, and damage to livestock were shown to have an effect on one of the two models. Thus, we recommend that awareness raising of human–carnivore coexistence through adult education programs be targeted at people who oppose conservation, own more livestock, experience more livestock damage, and have not received formal education. Also, effective livestock husbandry practices should be implemented to promote peaceful human–carnivore coexistence.

Effects of prey abundance on carnivore populations in the Faragosa-Fura landscape of the Southern Rift Valley, Ethiopia

Understanding how prey abundance affects carnivore species' abundance in sites is critical for the conservation of both prey species and carnivore species. However, research on the effects of prey species on multiple carnivore species in a human dominated landscape in the Southern Rift Valley of Ethiopia is largely untested. Our central premise was that the abundance of carnivores varies with potential prey abundance in different sites. To test this, we divided the study area into 15 grid cells (2 km x 2 km) and installed a camera trap in each grid for four seasons between 2020 and 2021. The results showed a total of 400 photographs of eight carnivore species, of which white-tailed mongoose and common genet were the most common, while leopards were the rarest. Except for the leopard, the record frequencies of all species varied significantly between camera stations. The Shannon diversity index and evenness index of carnivores for the study area were 1.868 and 0.809, respectively. A total of 28 prey species were identified, of which 13 were birds and 15 were mammals. Overall, the record frequency of prey species was 801, of which 288 were birds and 513 were mammals. Primates and medium-sized ungulates were the most abundant species among prey groups. Medium ungulates and large birds both had a significant positive relationship with carnivore abundance, and they contributed to 76.92% of the carnivore abundance in sites. The community structure analysis showed African civet, common genet, leopard, spotted hyena and white-tailed mongoose were positively correlated with medium ungulates and large bird prey groups. A species-specific model showed the spotted hyena prefers areas with a high abundance of both large and medium ungulates, while the other species mainly prefer areas with medium ungulates and/or large birds. Our findings support the importance of prey groups' abundance for carnivore conservation in the human-dominated rural landscape of the Southern Rift Valley of Ethiopia • The effect of prey species abundance on carnivore populations in a human-dominated landscape are largely untested. • Carnivore abundance were assessed using camera trapping survey. • White-tailed mongoose and common genet were the most common, while leopard was the rarest. • Primates and medium-sized ungulates were the most abundant prey species.. • Medium ungulates and large birds were the most important predictors and contributing more for carnivore abundance in sites.

Seasonal Patterns: Bovine Trypanosomosis, Glossina pallidipes Density, and Infection in Rift Valleys of Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia.

Bovine trypanosomosis is a parasitic disease causing serious economic losses in livestock productivity and agricultural development. The disease has been reported in different parts of Ethiopia. However, seasonal pattern of trypanosomosis, tsetse fly apparent density, and infection are very limited in the southern rift valley of the country, particularly in Gamo Zone. Therefore, the objective of this cross-sectional study design was to estimate seasonal prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis, assessing tsetse fly apparent density and its infection by trypanosomes. For the parasitological study, a total of 600 cattle (300 in each season) were sampled and assayed using the buffy coat technique. A total of 80 standard NGU traps were deployed around the watering and grazing areas for the entomological survey. An overall prevalence of trypanosomosis was 10.17% (61/600), of which 7.33% (22/300) and 13% (39/300) accounted for the dry and wet seasons, respectively. The prevalence of trypanosomosis was significantly higher during the wet season (OR = 2.47; p < 0.05), in black coat color (OR = 7.2, p < 0.05), and poor body-conditioned (OR = 3.15; p < 0.05) animals. Two species of trypanosomes, Trypanosoma congolense, 68.85% (42/61), and Trypanosoma vivax, 31.15% (19/61), were circulating in the area. The mean PCV value in infected animals (22.56 ± 4.61) was significantly lower than in non-infected animals (25.3 ± 4.75). Entomological result indicated that Glossina pallidipes (G. pallidipes) was the only species of tsetse found in the study area. Totally, 3,789 flies were caught of which 81.42% (3,085/3,789) belong to G. pallidipes and 18.58% (704/3,789) were other biting flies. The overall apparent density of G. pallidipes was 12.85 flies/trap/day (FTD). Relatively higher G. pallidipes/trap/day were caught in the wet season (13.64 F/T/D) than in the dry season (12.07F/T/D). Of the flies caught, 342 G. pallidipes were randomly selected and dissected. The overall proportion of G. pallidipes infection was 18.42% (63/342) of which 12.28% (21/171) and 24.56% (42/171) were accounted in the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Infection in G. pallidipes was significantly higher during the wet season (OR = 2.32; p < 0.05) and in park grazing areas (OR = 2.45; p < 0.05). In conclusion, trypanosomosis is the major challenge for cattle productivity in the district. So this study warrants the need for strengthening the vector and parasite control interventions in the area.

Distribution of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici Races and Virulence in Wheat Growing Regions of Kenya from 1970 to 2014.

Stripe rust, caused by the fungal pathogen Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici, is a major threat to wheat (Triticum spp.) production worldwide. The objective of this study was to determine the virulence of P. striiformis f. sp. tritici races prevalent in the main wheat growing regions of Kenya, which includes Mt. Kenya, Eastern Kenya, and the Rift Valley (Central, Southern, and Northern Rift). Fifty P. striiformis f. sp. tritici isolates collected from 1970 to 1992 and from 2009 to 2014 were virulence phenotyped with stripe rust differential sets, and 45 isolates were genotyped with sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers to differentiate the isolates and identify aggressive strains PstS1 and PstS2. Virulence corresponding to stripe rust resistance genes Yr1, Yr2, Yr3, Yr6, Yr7, Yr8, Yr9, Yr17, Yr25, and Yr27 and the seedling resistance in genotype Avocet S were detected. Ten races were detected in the P. striiformis f. sp. tritici samples obtained from 1970 to 1992, and three additional races were detected from 2009 to 2014, with a single race being detected in both periods. The SCAR markers detected both Pst1 and Pst2 strains in the collection. Increasing P. striiformis f. sp. tritici virulence was found in the Kenyan P. striiformis f. sp. tritici population, and different P. striiformis f. sp. tritici race groups were found to dominate different wheat growing regions. Moreover, recent P. striiformis f. sp. tritici races in East Africa indicated possible migration of some race groups into Kenya from other regions. This study is important in elucidating P. striiformis f. sp. tritici evolution and virulence diversity and useful in breeding wheat cultivars with effective resistance to stripe rust.

A Hydro-Geotechnical Assessment of a Proposed Embankment Dam Site on a Southern Rift Deltaic Plain, Ethiopia

A Hydro-Geotechnical Assessment of a Proposed Embankment Dam Site on a Southern Rift Deltaic Plain, Ethiopia

Biogeographical Importance of the Livingstone Mountains in Southern Tanzania: Comparative Genetic Structure of Small Non-volant Mammals

The Livingstone Mountains (LM; also known as the Kipengere Range) found in south-western Tanzania at the northern end of Lake Nyasa are an important region for understanding the biogeography of Eastern Africa. The two branches of the East African Rift Valley meet here and the mountains might represent stepping stones for colonization and migration between different parts of the Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot (especially the link between the Eastern Arc Mountains, EAM, and the Southern Rift Mountains, SRM), as well as an efficient barrier to gene flow for taxa living in drier savannahs in lower elevations. Here we combine new mitochondrial sequence data from 610 recently sampled rodents and shrews with available georeferenced genetic data (3538 specimens) from southern Tanzania, northern Malawi/Zambia and northern Mozambique and compare the spatial genetic structure among different taxa. There is no universal phylogeographic pattern in taxa preferring humid montane habitats. For some of them, the Makambako Gap acts as a barrier between the SRM and the EAM, but other taxa can bridge this gap. Barriers within the EAM (frequently) and within the SRM (sometimes) appear more important. The Rukwa rift between the SRM and the ARM is an important barrier that perhaps can only be crossed by taxa that are not that strictly tied to humid montane environments. For mammals living in lower-elevation savannah-like habitats, the LM can act as a strict barrier to gene flow, and together with the Ufipa Plateau, Lake Nyasa and the EAM create a very similar phylogeographic pattern with three recognizable genetic groups in most savannah-dwellers. The Livingstone Mountains thus appear to be one of the most important biogeographic crossroads in Eastern Africa.

Anthropogenic land-use and environmental factors affecting the species richness and occurrence of carnivores in the Faragosa-Fura Landscape of Southern Rift Valley, Ethiopia

Anthropogenic land-use changes pose significant threats to the diversity and occurrence of wildlife species around the world. We investigated how land-use and environmental factors affect the richness and occurrence of carnivore species in the Faragosa-Fura Landscape of the Southern Rift Valley of Ethiopia. We used the line transect method to collect data, combining three complementary field survey techniques: sign survey, camera trapping, and opportunistic sighting surveys. We confirmed the presence of 12 carnivore species belonging to six families, including the vulnerable Felidae species Panthera pardus. More species were found in the family’s Felidae and Herpestidae, while Hyaenidae and Mustelidae were composed of a single species each. The two large-sized species identified were Panthera pardus and Crocuta crocuta. The species richness was the highest in wetlands, while it was the lowest in the settlement. The occurrence of most carnivores was negatively associated with agricultural land and settlements, while they were positively associated with wetlands and altitude. Genetta genetta had the highest occurrence, while Panthera pardus had the lowest in the area. We concluded that of the studied habitats, wetlands are the most important, and anthropogenic land-uses have a negative impact on species richness. Our findings provide valuable baseline data for stakeholders making critical conservation decisions as well as researchers conducting related ecological studies in a human-dominated landscape. Based on our findings, we propose a basic approach for integrating land management and wildlife conservation.Article HighlightsTwelve carnivore species belonging to six families were identified; only two were large-sized.The species richness was the highest in wetlands, while it was the lowest in settlements and agricultural land.Most species tended to have positive associations with higher altitudes and wetlands and negative associations with settlements, agricultural land, and roads.Our finding highlights valuable baseline data for critical conservation decisions as well as researchers in a human-dominated landscape.

Determinants of farmers' multiple-choice and sustainable use of indigenous land management practices in the Southern Rift Valley of Ethiopia

Over a century, farmers in the Iyanda watershed, have globally recognized and successful Indigenous land management practices (ILMP). However, due to various factors, the sustainable application of these practices has been declined over the last four decades. Despite the description of the problem, the basic factors are not yet utterly analyzed. This study, therefore, aimed to examine the determinants of farmers' multiple-choice, and sustainable use of ILMP, and its impact on crop production in the Iyanda watershed, Southern Rift Valley of Ethiopia. The surveyed data were collected from 411 farmers who were selected via multistage sampling technique. The Multivariate probit, Binary logit and Propensity Score Matching were applied for data analysis. The analysis reveals that farmers' decision to multiple-choice and sustainable use of ILMP is significantly determined by different socio-economic, institutional and farmland-related factors. Similarly, access to information, materials, and government supports had a significant impact on the simultaneous-sustainable use of the management practices. Moreover, the analysis shows that the crop production of sustained users was higher than non-sustained users of ILMP. Finally, it can be concluded that despite its long-lasting and potential advantages, the uses of ILMP had been declined. Thus, the land use managers and decision-makers should give adequate emphasis to ILMP and take into consideration the farmers' socio-economic conditions and plots' characteristics while they [re]design land management and agricultural development programs to sustain ILMP with scaling up its advantages in the study area.

Modeling future flood frequency under CMIP5 Scenarios in Hare watershed, Southern Rift Valley of Ethiopia

Modeling future flood frequency under CMIP5 Scenarios in Hare watershed, Southern Rift Valley of Ethiopia