Distribution Pattern of Anuran Species in Kimboza Forest Reserve, Morogoro, Tanzania
Abstract
An assessment of the distribution of anuran species of Kimboza forest reserve, Tanzania was conducted between March 2017 and April 2017. Visual encounter survey applying Time-Constraint Search (TCS) approach was used to study the distribution of anurans in seven micro-habitats within the forest. A total of 13 species of amphibian belonging to seven families of order anuran were found to exist in Kimboza forest. The highest occurrence of anurans (70%) was recorded in areas along forest and farms border and along Kimboza forest streams. The study shows that there was no significant variation of occurrence of anurans among different habitats in the forest (Q=11; DF =6; P=0.096). However, the variation of total number of occurrences of anuran species between the upper and lower segment of the forest was significant (McNemar Test, P<0.05). The study provides a preliminary estimation of the general distribution pattern for these species in Kimboza forest. These findings are important for understanding and management of anurans in Kimboza forest reserve. It is recommended that further studies should focus on dry season and nocturnal species so as to come up with a complete description of the distribution of anuran species of Kimboza forest reserve.