Mgambo Forest Reserve: A biodiversity survey. - Eastern Arc ...

Mgambo Forest Reserve
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5.5.2.5 Invertebrates
Relative abundance for molluscs and millipedes was not determined.
Butterflies caught 10 or more times are listed in descending order, with the numbers caught in
brackets, as follows:
Charaxes brutus (78), Charaxes candiope candiope (77), Belenois creona severina (53), Melanitis
leda (49), Charaxes violetta maritimus (43), Charaxes zoolina zoolina (42), Charaxes cithaeron
nairobicus (36), Bicyclus safitza safitza (34), Charaxes contrarius (33), Charaxes jahlusa
kenyensis (30), Byblia anvatara acheloia (26), Eurytela dryope angulata (21), Byblia ilithyia (20),
Acraea rabbaiae mombasae (18), Charaxes castor castor (18), Papilio dardanus polytrphus (17),
Charaxes varanes vologeses (15), Euphaedra neophron littoralis (14) Euptera kinugnana (14),
Charaxes ethalion kikuyensis (11).
With provisional identifications, 23 (17%) of Mgambo’s butterfly species caught have not
previously been recorded on the East Usambara Mountains biodiversity database (Pohjonen,
2001).
5.5.2.6 Endemics and near-endemics
Most of the near endemic species found during the four 10 day trapsites were at trapsite 1, in
riverine forest, and trapsite 3, lowland forest (Figure 25). Of those species found at trapsite 2
(Miombo woodland) and trapsite 4 (scrub forest), most were butterfly species. Casual findings
outside of the trapsites were predominantly found in riverine forest.
10
Number of near endemic species
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
1 2 3 4
Number of nearendemic
species
Trapsites
Figure 25 Distribution of near endemic species found at trapsites 1-4
Of the 12 mammal, bird, reptile and amphibian species, which are near-endemic to the Usambara
Mountains and were recorded during this survey, only the following were recorded frequently,
Bufo brauni (Deal leaf toad) and Lygodactylus lutecpicturatus (Yellow-headed dwarf gecko).
5.5.2.7 Forest dependent species
The concentration of forest dependant species was highest for trapsite 1 (Figure 26), which was a
riverine forest habitat. Most of the forest dependant species found there were butterflies and
amphibians. Of approximately equal concentration were forest dependent species found at
trapsites 3 and 4, lowland forest and scrub forest respectively. Most species at trapsite 3 were
mammals and birds.
East Usambara Conservation Area Management Programme Technical Paper 59