Méta-analyse exploratoire des effets de perturbations anthropiques sur la diversité des amphibiens dans les stations de Kasugho, Butembo, Mambasa et Kisangani en République Démocratique du Congo

Abstract

Exploratory meta-analysis of anthropogenic disturbances on amphibian diversity in the Kasugho, Butembo, Mambasa and Kisangani stations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We present the findings of a meta-analysis based on four studies on Amphibians in Kasugho, Butembo, Mambasa and Kisangani in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The main objective was to verify the correlation between the anthropogenic character of the habitats and species frequency in order to identify potential indicator species. Direct observations rendered 815 Amphibians captured in anthropogenically disturbed (fish pond, fallow) and non-disturbed (swamp, primary and secondary forests) habitats. Amongst the 37 identified species, 2 (Amietophrynus kisoloensis, Hoplobatrachus occipitalis) were found only in disturbed habitats and 11 (Afrixalus quadrivittatus, Amietophrynus gracilipes, Arthroleptis variabilis, Cardioglossa gracilis, C. leucomystax, Hyperolius viridiflavus, Leptopelis aubryioides, L. ocellatus, Phrynobatrachus auritus, Ptychadena anchietae, P. chrysogaster) were present only in undisturbed habitats. The highest similarity between both habitat types was observed in Mambasa (fish pond, swamp, fallow, primary forest and secondary forest habitats) while the lowest similarity was found in Butembo (swamp and fallow habitats). A Chi-square test indicated a relationship between the disturbance status of the habitat and amphibian abundance. A significant linear correlation confirmed the absence of a direct relationship between the species frequencies in both habitat types. The current study confirms the potential of Amphibians as indicators of anthropogenic disturbances of ecosystems.

Keywords

• amphibians
• indicator species
• anthropogenic effects
• ecosystem health