ICDSUPL4-A034

Volume: 4, 2025
4th International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland:
ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT

Abstract number: A034

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL4.A034

Published online: 9 April 2025

ICDSUPL, 4, A034 (2025)

Disturbed vs non-disturbed wetlands: a case of bird assemblages around Lake Tana in East Africa

Amare Gibru Mekonnen^1,2*, Michał Polakowski¹, Łukasz Jankowiak¹

¹ Department of Ecology and Anthropology, Institute of Biology, University of Szczecin, Wąska 13, 71-415 Szczecin, Poland

² Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute, Box 30726, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

^{* Corresponding author: agibru64@gmail.com}

Abstract

Birds are pivotal indicators of environmental health, as they reflect alterations in habitat quality through their population dynamics and behavior. Despite the critical role birds play as ecological indicators, current conservation strategies often fall short. This study was conducted at the two sub-basin wetlands of Lake Tana to investigate and compare the assemblage of bird species between these two wetlands, one is Yiganda which is an example of minor influence of humans and other is Chimba which is under higher anthropogenic pressure. A systematic random sample technique was used, and wetland birds were recorded based on the established counting stations. In total, we recorded a total of 6,432 individuals belonging to 95 species in the two study sites in both dry and wet seasons. We found the effect of season on bird abundance differed between the two wetland types. The decrease in abundance and biodiversity from the dry to the wet season was less pronounced at Yiganda wetland compared to Chimba wetland. Overall abundance of birds and diversity differs between Chimba and Yiganda wetlands during the wet season, but not during dry season. Implementing conservation strategies in disturbed areas like Chimba can serve as a model for other regions facing similar challenges.

Keywords: anthropogenic pressure, biodiversity, nature protection, wetland birds

How to cite

A. Gibru, M. Polakowski, Ł. Jankowiak, 2025. Disturbed vs non-disturbed wetlands: a case of bird assemblages around Lake Tana in East Africa. In: 4th International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL4.A034