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Herpetoplogical Survey Across Three Distinct SIT Graduate Institute/SIT Study Abroad SIT Digital Collections Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection SIT Study Abroad Spring 2017 Herpetoplogical survey across three distinct habitats in Ankarana National Park: Long-term effects of past land use on species composition in and around the park Julia Park SIT Study Abroad Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection Part of the Animal Sciences Commons, Biodiversity Commons, Environmental Sciences Commons, Environmental Studies Commons, and the Other Forestry and Forest Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Park, Julia, "Herpetoplogical survey across three distinct habitats in Ankarana National Park: Long-term effects of past land use on species composition in and around the park" (2017). Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. 2574. https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/2574 This Unpublished Paper is brought to you for free and open access by the SIT Study Abroad at SIT Digital Collections. It has been accepted for inclusion in Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection by an authorized administrator of SIT Digital Collections. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Herpetoplogical survey across three distinct habitats in Ankarana National Park: Long-term effects of past land use on species composition in and around the park Julia Park Advisor: Christian Randrianantoandro Academic director: Jim Hansen SIT Madagascar: Biodiversity and Natural Resource Management Spring 2017 1 Acknowledgements I would like to thank Madagascar National Parks for enabling me to conduct this study in Ankarana. None of this would have been possible without my fearless guides, Rene and Oscar, who worked with me despite challenging terrain and multiple encounters with les guêpes. I also have to thank Aurelien and his family, whose kindness and generosity made my stay in Ankarana an incredible and memorable experience. Thanks as well to my advisor, Christian Randrianantoandro and Barry Ferguson for their help in developing my project, and to Jim Hansen and the rest of the SIT staff for their ongoing support through the development and execution of the project. 2 Table of Contents Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................ 2 Abstract .................................................................................................................................................. 5 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 5 Geological history and characteristics of Ankarana National Park ................................................... 5 Land use history of Ankarana ............................................................................................................. 6 Herpetofauna of Ankarana National Park .......................................................................................... 6 Previous studies ................................................................................................................................... 6 Methods .................................................................................................................................................. 7 Selection of study sites ......................................................................................................................... 7 Habitat A: Dry forest ........................................................................................................................... 7 Figure 1: Map of transect sites ........................................................................................................ 7 Table 1 : Habitat descriptions .......................................................................................................... 7 Habitat B: Karstic limestone or “tsingy” ........................................................................................... 8 Habitat C: Anthropogenic ................................................................................................................... 8 Transect line survey ............................................................................................................................. 9 Figure 2: Transect configuration ..................................................................................................... 9 Opportunistic search ......................................................................................................................... 10 Nocturnal surveys .............................................................................................................................. 10 Data Analysis .................................................................................................................................... 10 Results .................................................................................................................................................. 12 Species richness of study area ........................................................................................................... 12 Red List and endemism status ........................................................................................................... 12 Habitat uses ....................................................................................................................................... 12 Table 2: Complete species list ....................................................................................................... 12 Species richness by habitat type ........................................................................................................ 13 Table 3 Diversity indices ............................................................................................................... 13 Figure 3 Reptile species distribution ............................................................................................. 14 Figure 4: Amphibian species distribution ...................................................................................... 14 Table 4: Jaccard Index ................................................................................................................... 15 Table 5: Relative abundance ......................................................................................................... 15 Discussion ............................................................................................................................................. 15 Species richness by habitat: Dry Forest ............................................................................................ 15 Species richness by habitat: Karstic Limestone ................................................................................ 16 Species richness by habitat: Anthropogenic ...................................................................................... 16 Habitat comparison ........................................................................................................................... 16 3 Comparison to studies of the surrounding region ............................................................................. 17 Table 6: Species composition comparison .................................................................................... 17 Methods analysis ............................................................................................................................... 19 Table 7: Methods analysis ............................................................................................................. 19 Figure 5: Methods efficiency......................................................................................................... 20 Limitations of this study .................................................................................................................... 20 Future studies .................................................................................................................................... 21 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................ 21 Works Cited ......................................................................................................................................... 22 Appendix .............................................................................................................................................. 24 Appendix I: Photos ........................................................................................................................ 24 4 Abstract Ankarana National Park is home to a diverse population of herpetofauna. In this study, three distinct habitats in and around Ankarana National Park were surveyed for herpetological diversity. These habitats were defined as the deciduous forest located within the “tsingy” limestone karst canyons, the dry deciduous forest outside of the canyons, within the borders of the park, and the anthropogenically affected forest outside of the park’s borders, which is subject to logging and fruit tree harvesting. A total of 27 species of herpetofauna – six amphibian and 21 reptile species were found over the course of twelve days of surveying by transect walk and opportunistic search. Of the species found, 88.9% were endemic to Madagascar, 22.2% were endemic to Ankarana or the
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