Untitled - WWF - Pakistan

Detailed Ecological Assessment Report 2008 – Keenjhar Lake
4.3 Reptiles and amphibians
4.3.1 Summary
During summer and pre-winter surveys, 3251 amphibians and reptiles were either
observed or collected. A total of 65 species are distributed among the entire IFAP
sites of which 47 herpetiles were either observed or collected. The remaining 18
(represented by blue rows) species reported by the earlier workers or the local
inhabitants could not be confirmed during the surveys. It does not imply that these
species are not present in the study sites. There is likelihood that these species
might be observed during future ecological assessment of herpetiles.
Out of all the programme sites, Chotiari reservoir is the most productive
herpetofauna associated habitat with the highest richness (31) and Margalef
diversity index of 4.1277, Keti Bunder representing the second highest richness
(27) and diversity with Margalef index of 3.823, Keenjhar Lake being at third place
with richness (23) and Margalef diversity index of 3.506. The Pai forest and Keti
Shah are least diverse of all the five programme sites with Margalef diversity
indices of 3.237 and 2.845 respectively. The herpetofauna of Keti Shah is less
diverse as compared to other sites due to the consistent seasonal inundation,
which renders very little favorable conditions for the support of herpeto-fauna. The
Pai forest, on the other hand, is so severely depleted in terms of human
disturbances and wood-cutting that the herpetiles are unable to support their lives
in an imbalanced ecosystem.
Some systematic records of amphibians and reptiles have been reported from the
Indus for All Programme sites by Minton (1966), Mertens (1969) and Muhammad
Shareef Khan (2003, 2005). Comprehensive biological assessment with
reference to amphibians and reptiles has however never been conducted. The
preliminary baseline studies made by Hafeez-ur-Rehman (2007) report 23
species of amphibians and reptiles from Keti Bunder, 31 from Keenjhar Lake, 35
from Chotiari Reservoir and 23 species from Pai Forest. These were reported,
based on collection, observation or as a result of interviews with local people or
reported by the earlier authors. The detailed assessment studies conducted in
June 2007 enlist and document 27 species of amphibians and reptiles from Keti
Bunder, 23 species from Keenjhar Lake, 31 species from Chotiari Reservoir, 18
species from Pai forest and 16 species from Keti Shah. The number of species
collected and observed during the fieldwork carried out in June and November,
2007 in programme sites, is lower than the total number expected in the area but
was not unexpected for the following reasons: Being excellent biological
indicators, the amphibians and reptiles respond quickly to weather or climate
changes and take refuge into burrows in case of danger and unfavorable
conditions. The amphibians and reptiles are mostly nocturnal species and require
night surveys. Some of the sites were difficult to approach at night and the
nocturnal survey was only possible in limited areas. Amphibian and reptilian
activity is also restricted to a specific time of the day and specific season of the
year. If the presence of the team in the area did not correspond with the
appropriate activity time and specific habitat of the species the possibility of
sighting the species became minimal despite the other environmental conditions
being suitable, and the species being present. There is always a need of
consistent monitoring of amphibian and reptilian species during their activity
period, over the months for several years, to comprehensively record the
potential herpeto-fauna. This was indeed the limiting factor in such short duration
surveys. All these factors indicate the practical difficulties in the documentation of
these species. There is a great need to carry out more work in order to add to the
WWF Pakistan – Indus for All Programme Page 107 of 165