Anjan Kumar Chanda
Diversity, ecology and conservation of anurans from Ramnagar, West Bengal, India
Abstract This study aimed to assess and understand the amphibian biodiversity and conservation status in the Ramnagar area, West Bengal, India. Amphibians play crucial roles in ecosystem functioning and serve as indicators of environmental health. However, their populations worldwide are facing significant threats, highlighting the need for comprehensive assessments and conservation strategies. In this study, extensive field surveys were conducted in the Ramnagar area to document amphibian species richness, evenness, diversity and asses the influence of environmental factors (vegetation cover, pH, dissolved oxygen in water, humidity, and temperature) on species diversity. A combination of visual encounter surveys and passive sampling techniques was employed to ensure a comprehensive coverage of the study area. The results of the study revealed a moderate diversity with a total of 10 species and 4 families identified. Duttaphrynus melanostictus was the most abundant, whereas Fajervarya orissaensis was the least observed. Shannon and Simpson indexes suggest a moderately diverse community of anurans, Margalef’s Index indicates a more even distribution of individuals across species, suggesting a balanced community, while the Shannon Equitability Index suggests that the amphibian community is moderately diverse, with a reasonable variety of species present. Of the tested ecological factors, dissolved oxygen and humidity have the most significant effect on species diversity.
Doi https://doi.org/10.35513/21658005.2024.2.3 Keywords Anuran heterogeneity; ecology; species richness; evenness; protection
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