Title
Establishing baseline data for herpetofauna in western Uganda, an East African biodiversity hotspot
Author(s)
Behangana, Mathias; Ayebare, Samuel; Magala, Richard; Lukwago, Wilber; Sengooba Ssekisambu, Robert; Alezuyo, Conslate; Sisiria, Akoth; Hughes, Daniel
Published
2023
Publisher
Herpetology Notes
Abstract
We conducted surveys at 14 locations in western Uganda to generate baseline data on the diversity and community structure of herpetofauna before the area is significantly impacted by oil and gas extraction activities. Sampling involved visual encounter surveys and pitfall traps with drift fences covering a total of 118 survey days over three periods: September–December 2014, January–March 2015, and May–July 2015. Diversity indices, cluster analyses, and species composition metrics were used to compare the community composition among the surveyed sites. We detected 53 amphibian and 46 reptile species across all sites with the highest number recorded in Murchison Falls National Park (36 amphibian and 24 reptile species). The frog Ptychadena nilotica was recorded at all sites and the lizard Agama finchi was recorded at 10 localities. Our surveys revealed 16 species previously unknown to the area, which significantly bolsters biodiversity knowledge for the region and provides new insight into the community ecology of its herpetofauna. Our findings generated important baseline data needed to document the extent to which this biodiversity may be affected by impending oil and gas exploration activities in one of Africa’s richest hotspots.
Keywords
Africa; amphibia; conservation; East Africa; herpetofauna; reptilia; Uganda
Access Full Text
A full-text copy of this article may be available. Please email the WCS Library to request.
![]()
Back
PUB36170