Addisu Mekonnen Kassie

Researcher
Username
Visiting address Blindernveien 31 Kristine Bonnevies hus 0371 Oslo
Postal address Postboks 1066 Blindern 0316 Oslo

Background

My PhD research focuses on the behaviour, ecology and conservation genetics of the little-known, endemic and bamboo specialist Bale monkeys (Chlorocebus djamdjamensis) in the southern Ethiopian Highlands. The study aims to assess the impacts of habitat loss and fragmentation on the survival of Bale monkeys by comparing their behaviour, ecology and population genetics both in the continuous bamboo forests of the Bale Mountains and fragmented forests of Sidamo Highlands. Specifically, the main objectives of the study are to assess the remaining distribution patterns and develop habitat suitability models, assess the population genetic structure, examine the feeding and nutritional ecology, activity budget, ranging ecology, habitat use and locomotor behaviour of Bale monkeys. This study is imperative to designing effective conservation management strategies focusing on this Vulnerable species and its preferred habitats. In addition, I have been working in collaboration with other researchers on the ecology and conservation biology of the endemic and little-known primates of Ethiopia, including the rare Arsi gelada (Theropithecus gelada arsi), Boutourlini’s blue monkey (Cercopithecus mitis boutourlinii), black and white colobus monkeys [Djaffa Mountains Guerezas (Colobus guereza gallarum), Omo River Guerezas (C. g. guereza)]  and also De Brazza's monkey (Cercopithecus neglectus) and Hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas) as well as other large mammals of Ethiopia.

Tags: Conservation biology, Behavioral ecology, Ecology, Forest conservation and management, Habitat fragmentation, Bamboo, Habitat suitability, Conservation genetics, Human-wildlife conflict, Gastrointestinal parasitic ecology

Publications

Zinner, Dietmar; Atickem, Anagaw; Beehner, Jacinta C.; Bekele, Afework; Bergman, Thore J.; Burke, Ryan; Dolotovskaya, Sofya; Fashing, Peter J.; Gippoliti, Spartaco; Knauf, Sascha; Knauf, Yvonne; Mekonnen, Addisu; Moges, Amera; Nguyen, Nga; Stenseth, Nils Christian & Roos, Christian (2018). Phylogeography, mitochondrial DNA diversity, and demographic history of geladas (Theropithecus gelada). PLoS ONE 13: e0202303. DOI:   https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0202303

Mekonnen, Addisu; Rueness, Eli Knispel; Stenseth, Nils Christian; Fashing, Peter J.; Bekele, Afework; Hernandez-Aguilar, R. Adriana; Missbach, Rose; Haus, Tanja; Zinner, Dietmar & Roos, Christian (2018). Population genetic structure and evolutionary history of Bale monkeys (Chlorocebus djamdjamensis) in the southern Ethiopian Highlands. BMC Evolutionary Biology 18: 106. DOI: 10.1186/s12862-018-1217-y

Trosvik, Pål; de Muinck, Eric J.; Rueness, Eli Knispel; Fashing, Peter J.; Beierschmitt, Evan C.; Callingham, Kadie R.; Kraus, Jacob B.; Trew, Thomas H.; Moges, Amera; Mekonnen, Addisu; Venkataraman, Vivek V. & Nguyen, Nga (2018). Multilevel social structure and diet shape the gut microbiota of the gelada monkey, the only grazing primate. Microbiome 6: 84. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40168-018-0468-6

Mekonnen, Addisu; Fashing, Peter J.; Sargis, Eric J.; Venkataraman, Vivek V.; Bekele, Afework; Hernandez-Aguilar, R. Adriana; Rueness, Eli Knispel & Stenseth, Nils Christian (2018). Flexibility in positional behavior, strata use, and substrate utilization among Bale monkeys (Chlorocebus djamdjamensis) in response to habitat fragmentation and degradation. American Journal of Primatology 80: e22760. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajp.22760

Mekonnen, Addisu; Fashing, Peter J.; Bekele, Afework; Hernandez-Aguilar, R. Adriana; Rueness, Eli Knispel & Stenseth, Nils Christian (2018). Dietary flexibility of Bale monkeys (Chlorocebus djamdjamensis) in southern Ethiopia: effects of habitat degradation and life in fragments. BMC Ecology 18: 4. DOI: 10.1186/s12898-018-0161-4

Trosvik, Pål; Rueness, Eli Knispel; de Muinck, Eric J.; Moges, Amera & Mekonnen, Addisu (2018). Ecological plasticity in the gastrointestinal microbiomes of Ethiopian Chlorocebus monkeys. Scientific Reports 8: 20. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-18435-2

Abu, Kelil; Mekonnen, Addisu; Bekele, Afework & Fashing, Peter J. (2018). Diet and activity patterns of Arsi geladas in low-elevation disturbed habitat south of the Rift Valley at Indetu, Ethiopia. Primates 59:153–161. DOI: 10.1007/s10329-017-0640-9

Mekonnen, Addisu; Fashing, Peter J; Bekele, Afework; Hernandez-Aguilar, Adriana; Rueness, Eli Knispel; Nguyen, Nga & Stenseth, Nils Christian (2017). Impacts of habitat loss and fragmentation on the activity budget, ranging ecology and habitat use of Bale monkeys (Chlorocebus djamdjamensis) in the southern Ethiopian Highlands. American Journal of Primatology 79: e22644. ISSN 0275-2565. DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22644

Tesfaye, Dereje; Fashing, Peter J.; Bekele, Afework; Mekonnen, Addisu & Atickem, Anagaw (2013). Ecological flexibility in Boutourlini's blue monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis boutourlinii) in Jibat Forest, Ethiopia: A comparison of habitat use, ranging behavior, and diet in Intact and fragmented forest. International Journal of Primatology 34: 615- 640. DOI: 10.1007/s10764-013-9684-x

Mekonnen, Addisu; Bekele, Afework; Fashing, Peter J., Lernould, Jean-Marc; Atickem, Anagaw & Stenseth, Nils Christian (2012). Newly discovered Bale monkey populations in forest fragments in southern Ethiopia: Evidence of crop raiding, hybridization with grivets, and other conservation threats. American Journal of Primatology 74: 423–432. DOI: 10.1002/ajp.21999

Mekonnen, Addisu; Bekele, Afework; Fashing, Peter J., Hemson, Graham & Atickem, Anagaw (2010). Diet, activity patterns, and ranging ecology of the Bale monkey (Chlorocebus djamdjamensis) in Odobullu Forest, Ethiopia. International Journal of Primatology 31: 339–362. DOI: 10.1007/s10764-010-9389-3

Mekonnen, Addisu; Bekele, Afework; Hemson, Graham; Teshome, Eyob & Atickem, Anagaw (2010). Population size and habitat preference of the Vulnerable Bale monkey (Chlorocebus djamdjamensis) in Odobullu Forest and its distribution across the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia. Oryx 44: 558–563. DOI: 10.1017/S0030605310000748

 

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  • Mekonnen, Addisu ; Downs, Colleen; Effiom, Edu O.; Razafindratsima, Onja; Stenseth, Nils Christian & Chapman, Colin A. (2021). What costs half a year’s pay for African scholars? Open access. Nature. ISSN 0028-0836. 596, p. 189–189. doi: 10.1038/d41586-021-02173-7.
  • Mekonnen, Addisu ; Downs, Colleen; Effiom, Edu O.; Kibaja, Mohamed; Lawes, Michael J. & Omeja, Patrick [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2021). Can I afford to publish? A dilemma for African scholars. Ecology Letters. ISSN 1461-023X. p. 1–5. doi: 10.1111/ele.13949.
  • Atickem, Anagaw Meshesha; Stenseth, Nils Christian; Fashing, Peter; Nguyen, Nga; Chapman, Colin A. & Bekele, Afework [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2019). Build science in Africa. Nature. ISSN 0028-0836. 570, p. 297–300. doi: 10.1038/d41586-019-01885-1.
  • Kassie, Addisu Mekonnen & Jafe, K. E. (2016). Chlorocebus djamdjamensis. In Rowe, Noel & Myers, Marc (Ed.), All The World's Primates. Pogonias Press. ISSN 978-1940496061. p. 473–474.
  • Kassie, Addisu Mekonnen (2016). Effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on the activity budget, ranging ecology and habitat use of Bale monkeys (Chlorocebus djamdjamensis) in the southern Ethiopian Highlands.
  • Kassie, Addisu Mekonnen (2015). Impact of habitat loss and fragmentation on the genetic diversity of the Bale monkey (Chlorocebus djamdjamensis) in the southern Ethiopian Highlands.
  • Kassie, Addisu Mekonnen (2012). Comparative behavioural ecology and phylogeography of the Bale monkey (Chlorocebus djamdjamensis) in southern Ethiopia.

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Published June 21, 2012 11:09 AM - Last modified Mar. 9, 2023 3:13 PM

Projects

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