Insights on Ethiopian montane ground beetles biodiversity: Taxonomic study of afro-alpine and sub-alpine Trechini (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae)

Based on collaborative work of a French-Ethiopian team, we investigated the diversity and distribution of Ethiopian trechine beetles (Carabidae, Trechini), in the sub-alpine and afro-alpine ecosystems. Four new genera, three new subgenera and eighteen new species are described from Ethiopian Highland environments: Trechus (Abyssinotus) subgen. nov. (type species: salomon sp. nov.) and Trechus (Abyssinotus) sabae sp. nov. (Mount Choke, Amhara), Trechus (s. str.) lalibelae sp. nov. (Abuna Yusef Mountains, Amhara), T. (s. str.) habeshaicus sp. nov. (Menz-Guassa Plateau, Amhara), Trechus (s. str.) kosso sp. nov. (Bale Mountains, Oromia), Deuveopsis gen. nov. (type species: lobeliae sp. nov.) (Mount Choke, Amhara), Deuveopsis (Abayopsis) subgen. nov. (type species: basilewskianus Geginat, 2008) (Mount Choke, Amhara), Aethiopsis gen. nov. (type species: chioriae sp. nov.) (Abuna Yusef Mountains, Amhara), Aethiopsis abunaensis sp. nov. (Abuna Yusef Mountains, Amhara), Aethiopsis wolloi sp. nov. (Abuna Yusef Mountains, Amhara), Aethiopsis lastaensis sp. nov. (Abuna Yusef Mountains, Amhara), Aethiopsis meneliki sp. nov. (Delanta Mountains, Amhara), Aethiopsis delantae sp. nov. (Delanta Mountains, Amhara), Aethiopsis guassaensis sp. nov. (Menz-Guassa Plateau, Amhara), Afrotrechus gen. nov. (type species: afroalpinus sp. nov.) (Mount Choke, Amhara), Afrotrechus abyssinicus sp. nov. (Mount Choke, Amhara), Afrotrechus (Abyssiniopsis) subgen. nov. (type species: amharicus (Ortuño and Novoa, 2011) comb. nov.) (Mount Choke, Amhara), Afrotrechus (Abyssiniopsis) bunae sp. nov. (Belleta Forest, Oromia), Nilotrechus gen. nov. (type species: reebae sp. nov.) (Mount Choke, Amhara), Nilotrechus niloticus sp. nov. (Mount Choke, Amhara). New data and informations are provided for previously described species: Trechus (A.) dimorphicus Pawlowski, 2001 comb. nov., Trechus (A.) chokensis Pawlowski, 2001 comb. nov., Trechus (A.) gigas Pawlowski, 2001 comb.nov., and Trechus (s. str.) bipartitus Raffray, 1885, sublaevis Raffray, 1885 and aethiopicus Alluaud, 1918. The putative phylogenetic affinities of the different genera are discussed. Considerations about microspeciation and endemism on Mount Choke are proposed.

Interplay of Rhizobial Inoculants and Fungicide on Chickpea (Cicer Arietinum) and Faba Bean (Vicia Faba L.) Nodulation and Seed Yield in Central Ethiopian Highland

Field and green house experiments were conducted on faba bean and chickpea during 2016-2017 to investigate the effect of fungicides and rhizobial inoculant interaction on nodulation and biomass accumulation of chickpea under Vertisol condition and (ii) faba bean under Nitisol condition. Chickpea seed was treated with Apron Star, Imidalm and both, and co-dressed with EAL-029 rhizobia simultaneously or a week later. Likewise, in one of the two sets, faba bean seed was treated with Apron Star and simultaneously dressed with FB-1017 or FB-1035 rhizobial strain. The other set had the same strains as pre inoculant and sprayed with Mancozeb at 30th day after sowing. Sole inoculants and N (faba bean) were used as check. The application rates of Apron Star, Imidalm, and inoculant were 2.5, 0.75, and 3.12 g kg-1 of seed while for Mancozeb is 2.5kg/ha. All treatments were replicated 4x and laid in RCB design. The result generally depicted that Apron Star application was compatible to EAL-029 rhizobia on chickpea. Staggered dressing of Apron Star and EAL-029 had better chickpea shoot dry matter accumulation. With regards to faba bean, co-dressing of Apron Star with FB-1017 or FB-1035 produced the highest nodulation. This confirmed the synergy of Apron Star with FB-1017 on Nitisol of central high land of Ethiopia. Moreover, spraying mancozeb on the 30th day after sowing to FB-1017 or FB-1035 preinoculated faba bean plant showed enhanced seed yield on Nitisol.

Seed-to-seed early-season cold resiliency in sorghum

Early planted sorghum usually experiences cooler day/night temperatures, which may result in delayed growth, floral initiation, and infertile pollen, limiting productivity in high altitudes and temperate regions. Genetic variability for cold tolerance in sorghum has been evaluated by characterizing germination, emergence, vigor, and seedling growth under sub-optimal temperatures. However, the compounded effect of early season cold on plant growth and development and subsequent variability in potential grain yield losses has not been evaluated. Agro-morphological and physiological responses of sorghum grown under early-, mid-, and standard planting dates in West Texas were characterized from seed-to-seed. A set of diverse lines and hybrids with two major sources of tolerance, and previously selected for seedling cold tolerance were used. These were evaluated with a standard commercial hybrid known for its seedling cold tolerance and some cold susceptible breeding lines as checks. Variabilities in assessed parameters at seedling, early vegetative, and maturity stages were observed across planting dates for genotypes and sources of cold tolerance. Panicle initiation was delayed, and panicle size reduced, resulting in decreased grain yields under early and mid-planting dates. Coupled with final germination percent, panicle width and area were significant unique predictors of yield under early and mid-planting dates. Significant variability in performance was observed not only between cold tolerant and susceptible checks, but noticeably between sources of cold tolerance, with the Ethiopian highland sources having lesser yield penalties than their Chinese counterparts. Thus, screening for cold tolerance should not be limited to early seedling characterization but should also consider agronomic traits that may affect yield penalties depending on the sources of tolerance.

Malaria trends in Ethiopian highlands track the 2000 ‘slowdown’ in global warming

A counterargument to the importance of climate change for malaria transmission has been that regions where an effect of warmer temperatures is expected, have experienced a marked decrease in seasonal epidemic size since the turn of the new century. This decline has been observed in the densely populated highlands of East Africa at the center of the earlier debate on causes of the pronounced increase in epidemic size from the 1970s to the 1990s. The turnaround of the incidence trend around 2000 is documented here with an extensive temporal record for malaria cases for both Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax in an Ethiopian highland. With statistical analyses and a process-based transmission model, we show that this decline was driven by the transient slowdown in global warming and associated changes in climate variability, especially ENSO. Decadal changes in temperature and concurrent climate variability facilitated rather than opposed the effect of interventions.

Is Sustainable Watershed Management Feasible under Climate Change? An Economic Appraisal of the Nile River

Historically, the Nile, a well-known transboundary river, has been a major contributor to Egyptian economic growth in many ways but has suffered from sediment accumulation. Since anthropocentric activities on the Nile delta heavily rely on nutrient-rich sediment from the Ethiopian highland, sediment control schemes in the Aswan High Dam not only prolong the life of the dam but also increase the economic value of the watershed. The purpose of our study is to use an economic optimization approach to evaluate the feasibility of sustainable management of the Nile concerning climate change. The model considers significant anthropocentric effects on the reservoir as well as the impacts of climate change on the entire watershed. Moreover, the social planner’s model is developed to unravel somewhat numerous externalities. The results indicate that among the various technically feasible sediment removal schemes, the hydro-suction sediment removal system (HSRS) is the only desirable solution under severe climate change. In order to control the negative externalities in the watershed, the in-stream flow control should be applied. By implementing appropriate management schemes simultaneously, the life of the AHD can be extended, and the total economic benefits of the entire watershed can be maximized to approximately $272 billion USD.

Anopheles cinereus implicated as a vector of malaria transmission in the highlands of north-west Ethiopia

Background Transmission of malaria in the highlands of Ethiopia is poorly understood and usually attributed to importation by mobile populations or local transmission by Anopheles arabiensis. To characterize and identify Anopheles species present in a highland area of northern Ethiopia, adult and larval collections were performed in Gondar town and the neighboring Senbet Debir village (Dembia district, > 2000 meters above sea level, masl), in addition to Bahir Dar town (capital of Amhara region) and Kumer Aftit village (Metema district, < 2000 masl). Methods CDC-light traps were used to collect adult mosquitoes and larval collections were performed from rain pools for rearing into adults for species identification. Collections were made September-March 2016–2018. Adult mosquitoes were identified morphologically and a subset of randomly chosen specimens were identified to species by sequencing the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer region 2 (ITS2) and mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1). Results The primary species of Anopheles identified at elevations higher than 2000 masl was An. cinereus, which was confirmed molecularly by ITS2 and cox1 sequencing. Interestingly, two unknown species were also sequenced, in addition to two specimens of An. pretoriensis. The species collected at sites with elevations less than 2000 masl (Bahir Dar town and Kumer Aftit village) was An. arabiensis. Three Plasmodium falciparum-positive specimens were identified molecularly as An. cinereus. Conclusions The presence of Plasmodium-positive An. cinereus in areas greater than 2000 masl incriminates this species as a potential vector contributing to non-peak malaria transmission in Ethiopian highland areas.