Abstract:
Studies on species composition, distribution and relative abundance of birds and mammals in Gonde
Teklehimanot and Aresema Monasteries was carried out from December, 2015 to February, 2016. In
these areas, wildlife conservation is directly relevant to the local community, ofte n as a source of
livelihood, medicine and spiritual values. To collect data on population status of large mammals, we
commenced a line transect while date on distribution, species composition and habitat association of
Avifauna were collected by using a point transect, or point count in both Gonde Teklehimanot and
Aresema monasteries. Based on these, a total of 95 and 72 species of birds and 21 and 9 species of
mammal were recorded, respectively. Duncan’s Multiple Range Test showed that mean number of
species did significantly differ between the two study sites. However, mean no. of species between
habitats did not show a significant in both study areas. During the dry season, the highest species
diversity at was recorded in farmlands and its associated habitat, 0.93 and followed by Riverine
bushland, 0.75. This might be correlated with the less habitat diversity; i.e a homogenous (Ticket forest)
habitat type is a dominantly habitat type in the area. Among the monastries, Gonde Teklehimanot was
better in mammalian and Avifauna diversity than Aresema monastery. Both of them are rich in
biodiversity, and hence, conservation practices and management innervations should be done at
different levels of the local communities.
