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\begin{document}

\title{DIVERSITY, ABUNDANCE AND POPULATION STRUCTURE OF MONGOOSE SPECIES
(FAMILY HERPESTIDAE) IN NECH SAR NATIONAL PARK, ETHIOPIA.}



\author[1]{Matewos Masne}%
\author[1]{Serekebirhan Takele}%
\affil[1]{Arba Minch University}%


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  \date{May 25, 2024}


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\begin{abstract}
Study of the carnivore guild is the key to understand quantitative
relationship between members of the carnivore community. The aim of the
study was to investigate diversity, abundance and population structure
of the mongoose in Nech Sar National Park. Ecological data collection on
mongoose species has been carried out from September 2017 to August 2018
in Nech Sar National Park (NSNP). Based on the habitat type and
topography of NSNP, 10 transects, each of 4-5 km long were sampled to
traverse the major habitat types in the park. Line transect distance
sampling methodology was used to determine abundance and population
status. DISTANCE (Version 6.0, Release 2) Software was used for density
and abundance estimation of mongoose populations. The key to distance
sampling analyses is to fit a detection function to the observed
distances, and hence, the key functions hazard rate + hermite
polynomial, unform + cosine polynomial and half normal + hermite
polynomial models were chosen over the others on the basis of best fit.
Three species of mongoose namely- Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes
ichneumon,) Slender mongoose (Herpestessanguineus) and White tailed
mongoose (Ichneumiaalbicauda) were identified in the study. The overall
density of mongoose in the study area was 2.3048+0.16070 individuals/km2
with population estimate of 943+85.593 individuals. Based on season and
habitat type, density and abundance estimates showed variation
(P\textless{}0.05). However, species composition between seasons and
habitats was the same. The highest species diversity (H=1.197) was
recorded in bushland habitat. The population was female-baised with
1:1.171 and 1:1.59, male to female ratio during wet and dry seasons,
respectively. Adult to young (subadult and juvenile) ratio was1.05:1 and
0.94: 1 during wet and dry seasons, respectively. Further researches on
other ecological parameters viz. behavior, feeding habit and activity
pattern are important to acquire a complete picture about mongoose
ecology in the park.%
\end{abstract}%



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