Manuscript Title:

AMPHIBIAN FAUNA AND THEIR ECOLOGICAL STATUS IN SINDH, PAKISTAN

Author:

IRFAN ALI TAGAR, KALSOOM SHAIKH, BILAWAL MAHAR, MUHAMMAD SAJJAD KALWAR, SHAMSHAD ALI TALPUR, ABDUL BARI MIRBAHAR, FOZIA RAJPER

DOI Number:

DOI:10.5281/zenodo.10440718

Published : 2023-12-23

About the author(s)

1. IRFAN ALI TAGAR - Department of Zoology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan.
2. KALSOOM SHAIKH - Department of Zoology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan.
3. BILAWAL MAHAR - Department of Zoology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan.
4. MUHAMMAD SAJJAD KALWAR - Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur, Sindh, Pakistan.
5. SHAMSHAD ALI TALPUR - Department of Zoology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan.
6. ABDUL BARI MIRBAHAR - Department of Zoology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan.
7. FOZIA RAJPER - Department of Zoology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan.

Full Text : PDF

Abstract

Habitat degradation is amongst major threats to amphibian populations worldwide; therefore we investigated the status of amphibian habitats into agricultural ponds of Sindh province from January to December 2021. Altogether 21 habitats of Hoplobatrachus tigerinus, Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis, Allopa hazarensis and Bufo stomaticus were explored for determination of their aquatic and physical characteristics. Water quality parameters included electric conductivity, total dissolved solids, total hardness, total alkalinity, chlorides, sulphate, phosphate, nitrite and nitrate were recorded within high value except pH and carbon dioxide. Water quality changes were prominent every month due to variation in values of physic-chemical parameters. Vegetation present in premises of amphibian habitat in Sindh included Salvadora oleoides, Prosopis cineraria, Tamarix dioica, Tamarix aphylla, Typha latifolia, Typha elephantiana, Typha domingensis, Phragmites karka, Ipomoea aquatic and Salvinia molesta. Higher values of physico-chemical parameters were recorded during shriving period (spawning, hatching and metamorphosing), hence such habitats may affect amphibian populations of study area.


Keywords

Frogs; Toads; Habitats; Water Quality; Sindh.