PRINCE RUSPOLI’S TURACO AND THE WHITE-CHEEKED TURACO WITH THEIR HYBRID AND THEIR HABITAT ASSOCIATION IN GUJI ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES OF ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY, IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY%%%%The present study was carried out from August 2009 to May 2010 in the southern Ethiopia, Oromia Regional Stae, Guji Zone at Anferera-Wadera Forest, focusing on the survey of hybrid, impact of hybridization and habitat association of T. ruspolii and T. leucotis. The habitats in the study area were categorized in to five variables, viz., forest, woodland, shrubland, agricultural land and plantation. Habitat one was 40% woodland and 60% shrub land; habitat two was 72% woodland, 18% shrubland and 10% agriculture; habitat three was 100% forest; habitat four was 30% woodland and 70% agriculture and habitat five was 25% agriculture and 75% plantation. A total of 46 transects, which consisted of 548 census points was surveyed. Out of the 548 points, at 241 points 333 individuals of T. ruspoli, 251 individuals of T. leucotis and one hybrid individual were recorded. Prince Ruspoli’s Turaco showed positive correlation with woodland and negative correlation with forest. Whereas white-cheeked Turaco showed positive correlation with forest, and negative correlation with woodland. The distribution of T. leucotis showed high significance among vegetation cover (χ24 = 64.58.3, P < 0.01). The distribution of the two turacos showed differences with the habitat types between the forest and the rest of the habitat types (Kiruskal Wallis Test, H = 6.608, P < 0.01). Further investigation is needed in the Prince Ruspoli’s Turaco’s range to know the extent of hybridization of T. ruspolii with T. leucotis and DNA investigation is needed to be sure that the hybrid is different from the parent turacos.