Assoc Prof Dr. Debissa Lemessa | Plant Ecology | Best Researcher Award

Associate Professor at Plant Ecology, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia

👨‍🎓He remarkable academic journey, extensive research contributions, and dedication to the field of psychology are truly commendable. Your wealth of knowledge and diverse skill set reflect a deep commitment to understanding and addressing critical issues such as bullying, inclusion, and socialization.

🔬 He successful completion of a PhD in Psychology, along with the numerous advanced courses and workshops, showcases your continuous pursuit of excellence and expertise in your field.

🏆 The awards and recognitions, including the First Place in the Poster Award at the University of Stavanger, underscore the impact of your research and the high regard it holds in the academic community.

Professional Profiles:

Education:

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Debissa Lemessa has a diverse educational background, including a PhD in Plant Ecology from Stockholm University, Sweden (2014), a Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree in Farm Forestry from Hawassa University, Wondo Genet College of Forestry, Ethiopia (2006), and a Certificate in Apiculture from the Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Holota Bee Research Center, Ethiopia (1994). He also holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Forestry from Alemaya University of Agriculture (AUA), Ethiopia (1990). Furthermore, he achieved distinction in the Ethiopian School Leaving Certificate Examination (ESLCE) at Shambu Senior High School (12th grade), Ethiopia.

Experience:

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Debissa Lemessa has a wealth of professional experience, including roles such as a Natural Resources Conservation and Forestry Expert at the Oromia Region Natural Resources and Agricultural Development Bureaus in Ethiopia from 1995 to 2001. In this capacity, he was involved in forest development, forest surveying, demarcation and inventory, agroforestry, soil and water conservation, and wildlife protection. He then worked as a Soil and Water Conservationist at the Lutheran World Federation, an NGO, from 2001 to 2002. From 2002 to 2008, he served as a Bee Botany Researcher and Head of the Department of Bee Botany at the Holota Bee Research Centre, Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, focusing on research related to pollination, bee plants assessment, and evaluation. Subsequently, from 2008 to 2010, he held the position of Senior Researcher on Plant Ecology at the Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute (EBI) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Additionally, from October 11, 2017, to January 16, 2021, he served as the Director of the Forest and Rangeland Plants Biodiversity Directorate at EBI, where he was involved in executing the three pillars of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), namely conservation, ensuring sustainable utilization, and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources.

Debissa Lemessa ‘s citation metrics and indices from Google Scholar are as follows:

Cited by: All: 924, Since 2018: 808
Citations: 924 (All), 808 (Since 2018)
h-index: 10 (All), 9 (Since 2018)
i10-index: 11 (All), 9 (Since 2018)

These metrics showcase the impact of Lemessa ‘s work within the academic community, demonstrating the number of citations his publications have received and the influence of his research output.

Teaching Experience:

Dr. Debissa Lemessa has extensive experience in teaching various courses related to ecology, biodiversity, and research methods at different academic institutions. His teaching portfolio includes courses such as Plant Biodiversity Management (M.Sc. course), Ecological Methods and Statistical Modelling (PhD course), Vegetation Ecology (M.Sc. course), Research Method and Biological Data Analysis (M.Sc. and PhD courses), Block Seminar on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Agroecosystems for PhD and Postgraduate students at the College of Agriculture, Hawasa University. He has also taught Research Methods, Biostatistics, and the R-statistical program for Masters and PhD courses at the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, and Habitat Characterization and Plant Biodiversity Assessment Masters courses at Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources, Hawasa University. Additionally, he has taught Conservation Biology as part of his Postdoctoral study at Leuphana University Luneburg, Germany.

Research and Teaching Interest:

Dr. Debissa Lemessa has a broad range of expertise in ecological and environmental topics, as evidenced by the diverse courses he has taught. These courses include Agroforestry, Agroecology, Vegetation Ecology, Plant Biodiversity Management, Spatial and Temporal Landscape Ecology, Community Ecology focusing on trophic cascade and trophic interactions across spatial and temporal scales, Numerical Ecology (Biostatistics using R program), Ecosystem Services and Dis-services in agro-ecosystems (specifically pollination, natural pest control, and pests), Pollination Ecology, Biosphere Reserve Management and Biodiversity Conservation, Social and Ecological Systems (Sustainability Science), Apiculture, Research Methods, and Biological Statistics for Ecologists.

Publications:

Crop pests and predators exhibit inconsistent responses to surrounding landscape composition

Published in Energy in 2018 with 548 citations.

Composition of crops and land-use types in relation to crop raiding pattern at different distances from forests

Published in Energy in 2013 with 61 citations.

The effect of local and landscape level land-use composition on predatory arthropods in a tropical agricultural landscape

Published in Energy in 2015 with 43 citations.

Arthropod but not bird predation in Ethiopian homegardens is higher in tree-poor than in tree-rich landscapes

Published in Energy in 2015 with 32 citations.

A heterogeneous landscape does not guarantee high crop pollination

Published in Energy in 2016 with 27 citations.

The roles of apiculture in vegetation characterization and household livelihoods in Walmara District, central Ethiopia

Published in Energy in 2006 with 25 citations.

Published in Energy in 2017 with 17 citations.

A comparative analysis of indigenous and exotic tree species management practices in agricultural landscapes of Southwest Ethiopia

Published in Energy in 2021 with 15 citations.