Diversity and abundance of the herpetofauna of the Bosque Protector Cerro Blanco, Ecuador during the dry season

Study Extent

52 sampling points were carried out in the Cerro Blanco Protected Forest in the same way as in the previous phase of the project. These sampling points were divided into 4 sites (Caseta Jaguar, Caseta Pigío, Zona Turística and 507); and at each site 13 sampling points were carried out; 8 PMH: herpetofauna sampling points (quantitative) and 5 POH: herpetofauna observation points (qualitative). These sampling points had different ecosystem types in order to cover as many ecosystems as possible. These samplings were carried out during 6 days at each sampling site.

Sampling

Field phase The methodology used has been successfully employed in similar herpetological studies in the Ecuadorian Amazon and tropical rainforests (Duellman, 1978; Jaeger and Inger, 1994; Duellman & Mendelson, 1995; Pearman, 1997); however, it has been modified in accordance with that proposed by Heyer and collaborators (1994)

Method steps

1. Records by visual encounters (REV). This is one of the most commonly used inventory techniques as it can be used to measure species composition, estimate relative abundance, habitat association and daily activity (Lips et al., 2001). This technique allows as many species as possible to be recorded in a short period of time. Transects were selected according to habitat in order to obtain as many records as possible. During this period, all active or visible herpetofauna was captured within each REV, which was observed from ground level to approximately three metres in height, both in the herbaceous vegetation and in the undergrowth, and four metres in a band, i.e. two metres on each side. The sampling unit is defined as a 60-minute walk, equivalent to one hour, along each of the line transects (8 transects per sampling site) with a length of approximately 150 metres in an assessment area of approximately 600 m2. The REVs were conducted in two periods, in the morning between 08:00 and 12:00 hours and in the evening between 19:00 and 23:00 hours. The transects were delimited with tapes every 150 metres, which helped to record specific information on each individual and its activity, coordinate, time, location on the transect, height from the ground, substrate, behaviour and in situ photography. This technique was carried out with two researchers for each transect. To avoid species recounting, all active fauna were temporarily captured during the sampling and kept in plastic bags for amphibians and cloth bags for reptiles and taken to the camp. This also made it easier for the species to be photographed and correctly identified. After identification and at the end of sampling at each point, the individuals were returned to the place where they were found. Auditory Inspections (AI) Simultaneously during the REVs, the technique of auditory inspections (AI) was carried out, which consisted of detecting the vocalisations of male frogs. This method can be effective for rapid estimation of frog and toad richness and abundance, as the observer does not have to waste time searching for individuals (Lips et al., 2001), is very useful for species that live in the canopy or depend on water for breeding and hide well to vocalise on the edges of marshes or in floodplains. Vocalisations that could not be identified in the field were recorded on digital audio recorders for later identification using the frog and toad song guides of Read (2000) and Ron et al. (2021). Surveys were conducted in two periods, in the morning between 08:00 and 12:00 hours and in the evening between 19:00 and 23:00 hours. Observation and free roaming This is the most effective method for obtaining the greatest number of species in the shortest time; it consists of walks during the day or at night, in search of amphibians and reptiles, but without major rules for exploration (except for thoroughly checking all available microhabitats) (Angulo et al., 2006), these walks provide additional information on the richness, reproduction and ethology of the amphibians and reptiles present. The walks were conducted in two periods, in the morning, between 10:00 and 16:00 hours, and in the evening, between 19:00 and 23:00 hours.

N/A

1. Animal
   rank: kingdom
2. Strabomantidae
   rank: family
3. Reptilia
   rank: class
4. Iguanidae
   rank: family
5. Anura
   rank: order
6. Hylidae
   rank: family
7. Amphibia
   rank: class
8. Dendrobatidae
   rank: family
9. Squamata
   rank: order
10. Spheaerodactylidae
    rank: family

52 sampling points were carried out in the Cerro Blanco Protected Forest in the same way as in the previous phase of the project. These sampling points were divided into 4 sites (Caseta Jaguar, Caseta Pigío, Zona Turística and 507); and at each site 13 sampling points were carried out; 8 PMH: herpetofauna sampling points (quantitative) and 5 POH: herpetofauna observation points (qualitative). These sampling points had different ecosystem types in order to cover as many ecosystems as possible. These samplings were carried out during 6 days at each sampling site.