Primates are the mammals of the order Primate that is characterized by advanced development of binocular vision and enlargement of the cerebral hemispheres. The aim of this study was to investigate the abundance, diversity, and distribution of primates on Welel Mountain. From August 2017 to February 2018, we collected data from different parts of Welel Mountain during wet and dry seasons of the year and analyzed them using SPSS version 20. We identified four primate species: Chlorocebus aethiops, Cercopithecus mitis, Papio anubis, and Colobus guereza. We conducted t-test analysis for abundance and distribution of primates in wet and dry season of the year, and the P value obtained was 0.20. The mean percentages of primates in forest, woodland, and shrubs were 43.16%, 32.26%, and 24.58%, respectively. Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H′) value was higher in wet season than in dry season. The current study showed that the species are distributed more evenly in wet season than in dry season, and the number of young individuals is more than that of adults. This indicates that currently the status of primates population on Welel Mountain is good. Therefore, to keep the status of primates in the study area effective, wildlife management and conservation policy should be formulated.

The major objective of this 90 days vermicomposting work was to evaluate the performance of epigeic earthworms, Dendrobaena veneta, to alter and change four commonly dumped and littered solid wastes in Ethiopian cities and towns into a high quality vermicompost. The experiments were conducted in cylindrical plastic containers with 26 cm depth and 53 cm width under shade. All containers were perforated on the sides for aeration as well as bottom for leachate drainage purpose. The wastes were mixed with cow dung in 3:1 ratio and treated with D. veneta in the following waste and worm mass proportion: 9 kg of vegetable waste treated with 130 g of worms, 9 kg of enset waste treated with 130 g of worms, 5 kg of coffee husk treated with 70 g of worms, 8 kg of khat waste treated with 115 g of worms. Results from all beddings treated by this earthworm species show that total Kjeldhal nitrogen (TKN) increased by 68 to 95%, total potassium (TK) increased between 51 and 76%, total phosphorus (TP) increased between 76 and 100% while total organic carbon (TOC) decreased between 35.3 and 38.5%, the C: N ratio reduced between 62 and 65.5% and considerable reduction was also observed in pH value of the final product. The findings from this experiment indicate that vermicomposting could be one good option to improve solid waste management performance of Ethiopian cities and towns through the production of excellent bio-fertilizer for agronomic purpose.

Traditional medicine is a global practice and depends on locally available natural resources and indigenous knowledge. Animals and their products have been used in the preparation of traditional remedies in various cultures since time immemorial. This study aimed to identify and document traditional medicinal sources from animals and associated indigenous knowledge in Assosa Districts, Benshangul Gumuz region, western Ethiopia, from September 2019 to July 2020 to ensure sustainable utilization of natural resources and biodiversity. A cross-sectional survey design was used to collect ethnozoological information with regard to animals used for medicinal purposes, parts used, ingredients added, ailments treated, method of preparation, mode of administration, dosage and duration of treatment, and the mechanisms of knowledge transfer. A total of 38 animal species were used as medicine to treat over 35 different kinds of human diseases including anatomical, physiological, psychological, and spiritual ailments and veterinary treatment. Over 15 animal species were found to score fidelity level (FL) more than 50%, of which the skin of Crocuta crocuta used for the treatment of evil eye had the highest FL (n = 35, 92.1%), followed by the blood of Sus scrofa domestica for treatment of stomach illness (n = 32, FL∼84.2%), the milk of Equus asinus to treat cough and eye disease (n = 28, Fl∼73.7%). The study area harbors diverse medicinal animals that represent key medical alternatives for local communities. The documentation of this indigenous knowledge of animal-derived medicine and the practice helps in developing strategies for conservations of biological diversities.

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Abstract:The ecological status of six selected rivers which are found around central Ethiopia and North Shewa Zone and exposed to environmental stresses at varied extent, was studied using biological quality elements (BQE). One thousand one hundred thirty three (1133) individuals of macroinvertebrates, from 22 families and 5 orders of insects, were collected from the rivers. Seven metrics that had low correlation (p>0.05) were selected to calculate the final B-IBI and the result showed that both sites of Akaki, Sebeta and Jemma Rivers had poor water quality whereas Beresa, Chacha and Mojo (upstream site) had relatively better water quality. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) showed that Tabanidae, Syrphidae, Culicidae, and Canidae was more strongly correlated with temperature but strongly and negatively with pH, Dissolve Oxygen (DO) and Nitrate. The result implied that the change in abundance of these groups of macroinvertebrates could indicate the change in pH, DO and Nitrate. pH and DO were significantly (p < 0.05) and positively correlated with % Ephemeroptera and % Baetidae. On the other hand, DO showed strong but negative correlation % Oligochaeta, % Non-Insect and Hillsenhoff Family Biotic Index which implied that that the change in pH and level of organic pollution can be easily monitored using these metrics

The horticulture sector in Ethiopia is being challenged by multifaceted hitches, among which managing excess wastes produced from the farms and minimizing the cost of inorganic fertilizers are the major ones. The performance of three epigeic earthworm species, Eisenia fetida, Eisenia andrie and Dendrobanae veneta, in managing flower (Rose and Carnation) wastes through vermicomposting was evaluated. The study was done using wastes collected from two flower farms, Dugda Flora (Debre Zeit) and Ethiopian Magical Farm (Legedadi). The wastes were pre-composted by mixing with cow dung and arranged in piles with 80 cm height and 1.5 m width under different treatments. The worms were introduced into the piles when the temperature and moisture of the piles was lowered to a level suitable for the worms. The physico-chemical variables of the vermicompost and size reduction of the wastes were evaluated at the beginning, middle and conclusion of the experiment. It took 3 months for all Rose wastes to be converted into vermicompost and 6 months for Carnation wastes. There could be multifaceted reason for the delay of Carnation, but the recalcitrant nature of the plant seems to be the main reason. Size reduction ranged from 49.6 to 87.5%, Total Nitrogen (TN) (1.43 to 2.5%), Available Phosphorus (P 2 O 5 ) (1879 to 2600 ppm), Available Potassium (AV.K) (73.3 to 105.5 c mol(+)/kg), Carbon to Nitrogen ratio (C:N) (12:1 to 28:1) for Rose while TN ranged from 1.6 to 2.3%, P 2 O 5 from 1867 to 2112 ppm, AV.K from 73.3 to 103 c mol(+)/kg, and C:N from 14.4:1 to 25:1 for carnation during the same study period. There was no significant variation in terms of the quality of vermicompost produced by the worms and between the waste types. The overall results showed that all the three worms can be employed to manage both types of wastes.

Understanding the growth and reproductive efficiency of vermicomposting worms in various substrates is highly essential for effective utilization of earthworms in sustainable waste management system. The growth and reproductive performance of Eisenia fetida in rose, hypericum and carnation flower wastes was evaluated in this microcosm study. Determination of cocoon production rate, hatching success, number of hatchling, biomass and growth in all the three flower waste type were conducted in cylindrical plastic containers. The experiment were designed under three treatment: T1 (rose leftover + cow dung), T2 (hypericum leftover + cow dung) and T3 (carnation leftover + cow dung). Cocoon production started early (within 2 weeks of clitellated worm introduction) in T1 and T2, while it took 4 weeks in T3. The highest total number of cocoon was attained in T2 (178.3 ± 2.8), whereas the minimum cocoon number (109 ± 2.6) was recorded in T3. Significant difference was recorded between the cocoon production performance of E. fetida in all the three varieties of flower leftovers (P< 0.05). The highest total number of hatchlings (52 ± 0.88) was recorded in T1, while the least (30.33 ± 0.6) was observed in T3. Maximum weight increase (0.86 ± 0.006 g/worm) of E. fetida was observed in T1. The overall result of this study showed that better hatching success of cocoons and number of hatchling/cocoon were obtained by experimental species incubated in rose leftover.