1. Soil moisture & roads influence the occurrence of frogs in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
- Author
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Prakash Chandra Aryal, Chandramani Aryal, Sandesh Neupane, Bishal Sharma, Man Kumar Dhamala, Dipak Khadka, Subash Chandra Kharel, Pramananda Rajbanshi, and Dinesh Neupane
- Subjects
Amphibians ,Roads ,Soil moisture ,Urbanization ,Visual encounter survey ,Ecology ,QH540-549.5 - Abstract
Urbanization and linear infrastructure are reported to influence amphibian assemblages and populations. In areas undergoing rapid infrastructure development and urbanization, the mounting threats to biodiversity are evident. Although protected area coverage and focus on charismatic species conservation are well recognized, non-charismatic species such as amphibians are far from mainstream conservation actions and policies in Nepal. Studies on pattern and distribution of amphibians are limited, as are the roles of environmental variables in amphibian diversity in the urban landscape. This study was designed to assess the frog species richness and correlates of amphibian occurrence in Kathmandu valley. Visual encounter survey of 161 belt transects was carried out in August 2018. Data analysis used two part or Hurdle regression methods where the richness of frogs was considered a response variable. A total of 10 frog species belonging to six families were recorded. The occurrence of frogs was negatively associated with the dry soil conditions and positively associated with increased distance from roads. Occurrence of frogs along road distance gradient depicts the influence of urban infrastructure in amphibian distribution. This entails consideration of systematic conservation planning for rapidly urbanizing areas.
- Published
- 2020
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