A conservation assessment of the herpetofauna of a moist semi-deciduous forest in Ghana

Paper Details

Research Paper 01/12/2013
Views (270) Download (4)
current_issue_feature_image
publication_file

A conservation assessment of the herpetofauna of a moist semi-deciduous forest in Ghana

Musah Yahaya, Daniel K. Attuquayefio, Erasmus H. Owusu, Lars H. Holbech, Benjamin Y. Ofori
J. Bio. Env. Sci.3( 12), 186-197, December 2013.
Certificate: JBES 2013 [Generate Certificate]

Abstract

A conservation assessment of amphibians and reptiles was undertaken in the Gyemera Forest Reserve (GFR) and Gyeni River Forest Reserve (GRFR) in the Moist Semi-deciduous forests of the Amansie West District of the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Refuge examination, acoustic searches, pitfall trapping and interviews were employed in data collection at the study sites. Forty herpetofaunal species were recorded comprising 16 amphibians (two toads and 14 frogs) and 24 reptiles (one chelonian, 14 lizards and nine snakes). Four species (one lizard and three snakes) were not directly encountered but were recorded from interviews of local residents. The GRFR recorded a higher number of species than GFR and there was a low similarity in species composition between the sites (Sorenson’s Similarity Index CS = 0.52). Five species were widely distributed and frequently encountered and only 12 species were directly recorded within the forest reserves. The main threats to herpetofaunal species in the study area were habitat destruction and fragmentation due to illegal logging and small-scale/artisanal mining. Four species were of conservation concern; Phrynobatrachus alleni is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN and the other three; Kinixys erosa, Varanus niloticus and Python sebae are listed in CITES Appendix II where limited trading is allowed and are nationally protected. Inclusion of the local people in conversation initiatives as well as conservation education and awareness programmes would help sensitise and concientise them about the need to conserve biodiversity. Also, enforcement of the laws on illegal logging and mining should be intensified.

VIEWS 6

Adeba PJ, Kouassi P, Rodel M-O. 2010. Anuran amphibians in a rapidly changing environment – revisiting Lamto, Cote d’ Ivoire, 40 years after the first herpetofauna investigation. African Journal of Herpetology 59 (1), 1 – 16.

Cansdale GS. 1961. West African Snakes. Longmans, London.

Dickson KB, Benneh G. 1980. A New Geography of Ghana, Longmans Group, London.

Freedman AH, Wolfgang B, Mathew L, Laurent C, Thomas BS. 2008. Modeling the effects of anthropogenic habitat change on savanna snake invasions into African rainforest. Conservation Biology 23 (1), 81 – 92.

Hillers A, Veith M, Rodel M-O. 2008. Effects of forest fragmentation and habitat degradation on West African leaf litter frogs. Conservation Biology 22, 762–772.

Hillers A, Boateng CO, Segniagbeto GH, Agyei AC, Rodel M-O. 2009. Assessment of the amphibians in the forests of southern Ghana and western Togo. Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research 85 (1), 127 – 141.

Hoogmoed MS. 1974. Ghanaian lizards of the genus Mabuya (Scincidae, Sauria, Reptilia). Zoologische Verhandelingen 138, 1-68.

Hughes B, Barry DH. 1969. The snakes of Ghana: a checklist and key. Institut Fondamental d’Afrique Noire (a) 31 (3), 1004 – 1041.

Hughes B. 1988. Herpetology of Ghana (West Africa). British Herpetological Society Bulletin 25, 29-38.

IUCN 2013. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1.

Leaché AD, Rödel M-O, Linkem CW, Diaz RE, Hillers A, Fujita MK. 2006. Biodiversity in a forest island: Reptiles and amphibians of the West African Togo Hills. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation 4, 22-45.

Leache A, Boateng CO. 2009. A Rapid Survey of Amphibians and Reptiles in Ajenjua Bepo and Mamang River Forest Reserves, Eastern Region of Ghana. Conservation International. p. 46- 49.

Magurran AE. 2004. Measuring Biological Diversity. Blackwell Publishers, Oxford.

Ministry  of  Food  and  Agriculture  (MOFA). 2010. Amansie West. URL: [http://mofa.gov.gh/site/?page_id=837] accessed on 24/11/2013

Ofori BY, Attuquayefio DK, Erasmus HO. 2012. Ecological status of large mammals of a moist semi-deciduous forest of Ghana: Implications for wildlife conservation. Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences 2(2), 28-37.

Ofori BY, Attuquayefio DK, Gbogbo F. 2013. Terrestrial small mammal community structure in an anthropogenically-altered moist semi-deciduous forest zone of Ghana. International Journal of Development and Sustainability 2(2). (In Press).

Omogbai EKI, Nworgu ZAM, Imhafidon MA, Ikpeme AA, Ojo DO, Nwako CN. 2002. Snakebites in Nigeria: A study of prevalence and treatment in Benin City. Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research 1 (1), 39 – 44.

Onadeka AB, Rodel M-O. 2009. Anuran survey of South-western Nigeria. Salamandra 45 (1), 1 – 14.

Rödel M-O. 2000. Herpetofauna of West Africa, Vol. I. Amphibians of the West African Savanna. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt, Germany.

Rödel M-O, Agyei AC. 2003. Amphibians of the Togo-Volta highlands, eastern Ghana. Salamandra 39(3), 207-234.

Rödel M-O, Gil M, Agyei AC, Leaché AD, Diaz RE, Fujita MK. 2005. The amphibians of the forested parts of south-western Ghana. Salamandra 41(3), 107-127.

Schiøtz A. 1999. Treefrogs of Africa. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt am Main.

Taylor CJ. 1960. Synecology and Sylviculture in Ghana. Thomas Nelson & Sons, London. p. 418.

Trakimas G. 1999. Amphibian species diversity in Kurtuvenai Regional Park. Acta Zoologica Lituanica. Biodiversity 9 (3), 1392 – 1657.

Whitfield SM, Bell KE, Philippi T, Sasa M, Bolan F, Chaves G, Savage MJ, Wilson LD, McCranie JR. 2004. The herpetofauna of Parque Nacional El Cusuco, Honduras (Reptilia, Amphibia). The Herpetological Bulletin 87, 13-24.