SPECIES COMPOSITION AND ABUNDANCE OF ANURAN IN LOKOJA, KOGI STATE

Abstract

 Anuran species composition and abundance was carried out at Lokoja Kogi state (Latitude of 07049 ̷N and Longitude of 06045 ̷E) for six months: February-April for the dry season and May- July 2018 for rainy season. Night transect virtual survey and active search survey methods were used. The anurans were grouped based on the habitat type. Identification was done by comparing captured animals with identification manual. A total of 901 individuals belonging to three families, three species were encountered. The species were Sclerophrys maculata, Hoplobatrachus occipitalis and Ptychadena mascareniensis. Sclerophrys maculata and Ptychadena mascareniensis with 603 and 71 individuals had the highest and lowest individuals. There were more individuals in the wet season than the dry season (190 and 711 respectively). The species were seen utilizing five different habitats; human settlement, water bodies, grassland, open habitat and riparian forest. The highest number of individuals were found in the riparian forest with 335 individuals. Species diversity did not differ between Water body (H̷ 0.85), human settlement (H̷ =0.78) and grassland (H̷ 0.81). However, they differ with the open habitat with the lowest diversity index, H ̷ 0.36. The high relative abundance of Sclerophrys maculata may be due to its classification as an adaptable species occurring in wide variety of savanna, grassland and riparian forest. Ptychadena mascareniensis was the least abundant probably due to their ecological habitat requirement, cryptic habitat and reduced activity pattern. We therefor recommend that, water body, grassland, riparian forest and human settlement should be conserved equally as each habitat support a particular species.