Diversity and Composition of Anuran Amphibian Communities in Agroecosystems in the Village of Nebo, Lôh-Djiboua Region, Southwestern Côte d’Ivoire
Kouassi Philippe Kanga *
Biological Sciences Teaching and Research Unit, Department of Animal Biology, Laboratory of Environment, Climate, Health, Engineering, and Sustainable Development, Peleforo Gon Coulibaly University, P.O. Box 1328, Korhogo, Côte d’Ivoire.
Jean-Christophe Béhibro Yao N’Gatta Konan
Agroforestry Training and Research Unit, Agricultural Production Improvement Laboratory, Jean Lorougnon Guédé University, P.O. Box 150, Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire.
Kouassi Brahiman Kien
Biological Sciences Teaching and Research Unit, Department of Animal Biology, Laboratory of Environment, Climate, Health, Engineering, and Sustainable Development, Peleforo Gon Coulibaly University, P.O. Box 1328, Korhogo, Côte d’Ivoire.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The expansion of agroecosystems is one of the main causes of habitat change for amphibians in West Africa. This study assessed the diversity, structure, and distribution of anuran amphibian communities in four agroecosystem types (a rice field, an oil palm plantation, a cocoa plantation, and a rubber plantation) in the village of Nebo, Côte d’Ivoire. Surveys were conducted using visual and acoustic methods, and communities were compared using the Shannon and Simpson diversity indices, Pielou’s evenness index, and Sørensen’s similarity index. A total of 1,030 individuals belonging to 25 species, 10 genera, and 8 families were recorded. The families Phrynobatrachidae, Hyperoliidae, and Ptychadenidae were the most diverse. The rice field (21 species) and oil palm plantation (18 species) exhibited the highest species richness, diversity indices, and abundance, whereas the cocoa plantation (8 species) and rubber plantation (5 species) supported fewer species. The species Amnirana albolabris, Hyperolius concolor, and Leptopelis viridis were present in all agroecosystems, while several species were exclusive to certain habitats. The communities in the rice field and oil palm plantation were highly similar (Cs = 0.821), whereas similarity was lower among the other agroecosystem pairs. Species distribution was primarily associated with water availability, humidity, and vegetation cover. These results indicate that the rice field and oil palm plantation are important habitats for anuran amphibians in the agricultural landscapes of Nebo. Maintaining a mosaic of agroecosystems that incorporates wetlands and patches of natural vegetation appears to be important for preserving amphibian diversity in West African agroecosystems.
Keywords: Anura, amphibian diversity, agroecosystems, agricultural landscapes, community composition, habitat heterogeneity, species richness, wetland habitats, conservation