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<p>Remnant forests are vital yet threatened refugia for biodiversity. We assessed herpetofauna diversity in Nyagasenyi, Sanza, and Ibanda Makera remnant forests using visual encounter, dip-netting, acoustic, and active searches (dip-netting for amphibians only). Seventeen amphibians and thirteen reptiles were recorded, with Hyperoliidae (amphibians) and Scincidae (reptiles) as dominant families. Notable records include three Albertine Rift endemics (<i>Arthroleptis schubotzi</i>,&#xa0;<i>Leptopelis kivuensis</i>,&#xa0;<i>Hyperolius rwandae</i>), Near Threatened&#xa0;<i>Python sebae</i>, a putatively novel&#xa0;<i>Sclerophrys</i>&#xa0;sp., and&#xa0;<i>Trachylepis</i>&#xa0;cf.&#xa0;<i>quinquetaeniata</i>, a potential new record to Rwanda. Amphibian richness peaked at Nyagasenyi; reptile richness at Ibanda Makera, though statistical tests revealed no significant differences among forests. Only&#xa0;<i>Ptychadena nilotica</i>&#xa0;occurred in all three forests, while most species were recorded in a single forest. Community composition differed significantly among forests (PERMANOVA: amphibians <i>p</i> = 0.01, reptiles <i>p</i> = 0.01). Spearman correlations were predominantly negative, indicating compositional dissimilarity. Numerous species exhibited positive associations with specific microhabitats (Spearman’s rho = 1.00, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) including flooded grasses, forest edges, swamps, water pools, shrubs, rocky areas, and tree logs, underlining habitat specialization. The presence of&#xa0;<i>Hyperolius lateralis</i>, restricted to natural wetlands in Nyagasenyi, together with&#xa0;<i>Arthroleptis schubotzi</i>&#xa0;in Sanza, substantiates that these forests maintain natural ecological conditions. They support Albertine Rift, threatened, and potentially undescribed species, so conservation must prioritize habitat heterogeneity over large intact blocks.</p>

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Diversity and community composition of herpetofauna from Ibanda-Makera, Sanza, and Nyagasenyi remnant forests, Eastern Rwanda

  • 期刊论文

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月20日

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  • Mapendo Mindje,
  • Edmond Twagirayezu,
  • Venuste Nsengimana

摘要

Remnant forests are vital yet threatened refugia for biodiversity. We assessed herpetofauna diversity in Nyagasenyi, Sanza, and Ibanda Makera remnant forests using visual encounter, dip-netting, acoustic, and active searches (dip-netting for amphibians only). Seventeen amphibians and thirteen reptiles were recorded, with Hyperoliidae (amphibians) and Scincidae (reptiles) as dominant families. Notable records include three Albertine Rift endemics (Arthroleptis schubotzi, Leptopelis kivuensis, Hyperolius rwandae), Near Threatened Python sebae, a putatively novel Sclerophrys sp., and Trachylepis cf. quinquetaeniata, a potential new record to Rwanda. Amphibian richness peaked at Nyagasenyi; reptile richness at Ibanda Makera, though statistical tests revealed no significant differences among forests. Only Ptychadena nilotica occurred in all three forests, while most species were recorded in a single forest. Community composition differed significantly among forests (PERMANOVA: amphibians p = 0.01, reptiles p = 0.01). Spearman correlations were predominantly negative, indicating compositional dissimilarity. Numerous species exhibited positive associations with specific microhabitats (Spearman’s rho = 1.00, p < 0.05) including flooded grasses, forest edges, swamps, water pools, shrubs, rocky areas, and tree logs, underlining habitat specialization. The presence of Hyperolius lateralis, restricted to natural wetlands in Nyagasenyi, together with Arthroleptis schubotzi in Sanza, substantiates that these forests maintain natural ecological conditions. They support Albertine Rift, threatened, and potentially undescribed species, so conservation must prioritize habitat heterogeneity over large intact blocks.