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Herpetofaunal Checklist for Six Pilot Protected Areas in Trinidad and Tobago

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Herpetofaunal Checklist for Six Pilot Protected Areas in Trinidad and Tobago Herpetology Notes, volume 12: 577-585 (2019) (published online on 31 May 2019) Herpetofaunal checklist for six pilot protected areas in Trinidad and Tobago Renoir J. Auguste1,* Abstract. A herpetofaunal inventory for six areas under consideration for protected status in Trinidad and Tobago revealed 67 species: 25 anurans, four chelonians, one crocodilian, and 37 squamates. The species recorded represent about 70% of the country’s amphibians and 50% of the reptiles. Survey techniques for documenting the herpetofauna within the areas, included visual and audio encounter surveys, spotlight surveys, and beach patrols. The results suggest that the six pilot protected areas hold locally endemic and globally threatened species. Improved conservation strategies and management plans for the country’s herpetofauna can be based on this report. Keywords. Amphibians, Caroni Swamp, Main Ridge Forest Reserve, Matura Forest, Nariva Swamp, Northeast Tobago Marine Protected Area, Reptiles, Trinity Hills Introduction al., 2013). Protected areas thus provide reduced levels of threat. However, declines may also occur within The Neotropical region has the highest diversity of protected areas (Stuart et al., 2004) and monitoring the amphibians and reptiles (herpetofauna) globally, yet herpetofauna within the reserves is important to assess there is a paucity of information on them, especially the effectiveness of the conservation efforts (Gibbons et in the eastern Caribbean and even within protected areas. Designation of Protected Areas is a conservation al., 2000; Babbitt et al., 2010; Searcy et al., 2013). management tool to safeguard critical habitats and Trinidad is a continental island while Tobago has species, and such areas have been established to reduce an origin on the Caribbean Plate yet they share a exposure of species to various threats (DeFries et al., similar biota with northern South America (Hailey 2005). As a consequence of this lack of data on species, and Cazabon-Mannette, 2011; Murphy et al., 2018). the overall effectiveness of the protected areas is Although most of Trinidad and Tobagos’ herpetofauna reduced (Gibbes et al., 2009). Filling this information appears to have stable populations because of wide gap can contribute to a more effective protected area ranging distributions, some species are threatened management system for conserving biodiversity, with extinction (IUCN, 2017). For instance, most of especially in a region that has high endemism, threatened the endemic frogs and all five sea turtles known from species, and is considered one of the world’s hotspots Trinidad and Tobago are threatened with extinction for biodiversity (Myers et al., 2000; Jones, 2011). due to various threats such as habitat alteration and Amphibians and reptiles are of conservation concern, over-exploitation (Hailey and Cazabon-Mannette, with most vulnerable taxa occurring in the Neotropics 2011; Murphy et al., 2018). Improved knowledge and (Stuart et al., 2008; Böhm et al., 2013). Habitat better management of protected areas will help provide alteration is considered the main threat contributing more effective protection for the conservation of these to their potential extinction (Cushman, 2006) species. because of their generally restricted distributions and Protected areas in Trinidad and Tobago either lack microhabitat parameters (Böhm et al., 2013, Searcy et baseline data or the data are historical (Auguste and Hailey, 2018). A baseline ecological study was proposed for six pilot protected areas in Trinidad and Tobago (Project: GCP/TRI/003/GFF). The six areas consist 1 Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies, of the two internationally important Ramsar wetlands St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. (Caroni Swamp and Nariva Swamp), three terrestrial * Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] forested areas (Matura Forest also referred to as Matura 578 Renoir J. Auguste National Park Environmentally Sensitive Area, Trinity the BBWS and PM. Twelve hours of diurnal surveys Hills, and Main Ridge Forest Reserve), and a proposed and 24 hours of nocturnal surveys were conducted. Marine Protected Area (Northeast Tobago Marine Protected Area; NETMPA). Matura Forest The aim of this study was to catalogue the herpetofauna Matura Forest (Figure 1) consists of a variety of in the six pilot protected areas with a view to closing the vegetation types, including seasonal evergreen, along gap in our knowledge of the herpetofauna in each of the with premontane and montane forest (Beard, 1946; specific areas. FAPATT, 2017). Visual and audio encounter surveys were used for rapidly sampling in Matura Forest during Materials and Methods July to December 2016. Surveys were conducted Study areas and sampling.—The locations of the six between 10:00 and 13:00 hours during the day and pilot protected areas are shown in Figure 1. Table 1 between 18:00 and 21:00 hours at night. In addition, gives a breakdown of the size and general coordinates beach patrol surveys from 19:00 and 24:00 hours were for each protected area. Sampling involved the author used to sample sea turtles at Fishing Pond Bay, just and one to three other persons conducting visual and south of Matura Forest. A total of 34 hours were applied, audio encounter surveys, spotlight surveys, and beach including 10 hours of surveys at Fishing Pond Bay on patrols adopted from Dodd (2010, 2016). All species two nights, (5 hours per night, once per month), and 24 identifications were made by the author. Sampling was hours of surveys at Matura Forest (16 hours of diurnal conducted in the wet/rainy season (June to December) surveys and 8 hours of nocturnal surveys). when most herpetofaunal species in the country are known to be active (Murphy et al., 2018). Trinity Hills Trinity Hills (Figure 1) consists of seasonal evergreen Caroni Swamp forest (Beard, 1946; FAPATT, 2017). Visual and audio Caroni Swamp (Figure 1) is the largest mangrove encounter surveys together with driving surveys were swamp in the country (Juman and Ramsewak, 2013). used to sample the herpetofauna from July to December Two water channels with an approximate width of 2016. Driving survey involved driving slowly at a 10-15 m were sampled from September to December steady pace and actively searching and listening for 2016, for two hours each, once every other month. Each herpetofauna along Edward’s Trace which dissects the transect was 2 km long and separated from the other by pilot protected area from the south eastern boundary at least 200 m. Spotlight surveys were the standardized edge to the south western. Visual encounter surveys method of making observations. Between the hours involved walking along Edward’s Trace and searching of 18:00-21:00 hours, a motor boat was driven slowly the adjacent vegetation. Twenty hours were spent at a steady pace along the edges of the mangrove and surveying during the day between the hours of 09:00 the water and vegetation were searched with flashlights and 12:00 hours and 16 hours were surveyed during of 1000 lumens. When an animal was spotted, the the night between the hours of 18:30 and 21:30 hours boat stopped and the individual was identified, and its totalling 36 survey hours. location marked by GPS (Garmin 62S). Main Ridge Forest Reserve Nariva Swamp Main Ridge Forest Reserve (Figure 1) consists Nariva Swamp (Figure 1) is the largest wetland in the predominantly of premontane forest (Beard, 1944; country (Gibbes et al., 2009; FAPATT, 2017). Visual FAPATT, 2017). Visual and audio encounter surveys and audio encounter surveys were used to rapidly along trails and streams (Figure 1) and driving surveys sample herpetofauna from July to December 2016. Two along the Roxborough-Bloody Bay Road that dissects main sites were sampled; Plum Mitan Village, (PM) and the pilot protected area were used to rapidly sample Kernahan Village, specifically at Bush Bush Wildlife herpetofauna, similarly described for Trinity Hills. Sanctuary (BBWS). Surveying involved walking at Thirty-five hours of surveys (20 hours during the day night between 18:00 and 21:00 hours and during the day, between the hours of 14:00 and 17:00 hours; 15 hours at between 14:00 and 17:00 hours, along and just off trails night between the hours of 18:30 and 21:30 hours) were at each site and actively searching microhabitats within undertaken from June to October 2016. Herpetofaunal checklist for six pilot protected areas in Trinidad and Tobago 579 Northeast Tobago Marine Protected Area (NETMPA) Results The NETMPA (Figure 1) has been proposed to extend Sixty seven herpetofauna species which consisted of along the northeast portion of Tobago from Roxborough 25 amphibian (Anuran) species, 22 snake species, 15 in the south to Parlatuvier in the north (FAPATT, 2017). lizard species, 4 turtle species, and 1 crocodilian species Sea turtles were specifically surveyed in this area from were recorded across the six pilot protected areas (Table June to August 2016 because of important nesting 2). Three species were recorded in Caroni Swamp, 41 grounds for globally threatened sea turtles (Walker and species in Nariva Swamp, 22 species at Matura Forest Gibson, 2015). Beach patrol surveys were undertaken and nearby coastline, 32 species at Trinity Hills, 21 for two nights each month at two bays, Cambleton Bay species at Main Ridge Forest Reserve and 3 sea turtle and Hermitage Bay, from 20:00 to 03:00 hours. While species at NETMPA. These represent roughly 70% of on the beach, patrols every half hour were undertaken to the amphibian species and 50% of the reptile species search for nesting turtles. When a turtle was observed, currently known for the country (Murphy et al., 2018). we waited until she started laying (so as not to disturb Size of the pilot protected area did not have a significant 2 her) and noted her location with a GPS device. relationship with species richness (R = 0.27; p = 0.36), but survey time did (R2 = 0.71; p = 0.03; Figure 2).
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