Herpetofauna baseline inventory of seven natural forests and
intervention sites in the Eastern Province of Rwanda under
the COMBIO project
Edmond Twagirayezu1, Mapendo Mindje 1,2, Christella Umulisa 1, Beth Kaplin 1
1CoEB, University of Rwanda, 2College of Agriculture, Animal Sciences and Veterinary
Medicine, Department of Forestry and Nature Conservation
Species Accumulation curve
Introduction
• The Eastern Province is a dry, hot region of
Rwanda,
with
unique
ecosystems
and
biodiversity.
• It has been experiencing remarkable Land useland cover changes due to anthropogenic
activities and effects of climate change such as
reduced rainfall
• To reduce vulnerability to the climate crisis in the,
the Government of Rwanda with multiple
stakeholders invested in Community-Based
Biodiversity namely the COMBIO Project.
• This project incudes, the restoration interventions
of degraded lands and vulnerable ecosystems
such as natural forests and other intervention
sites.
• Restoration needs baseline biodiversity studies,
the herpetofauna inventory being one of the
important studies on biological indicators of
ecosystem health.
Aim
• This study aimed generally at conducting a
herpetofauna baseline inventory of seven natural
forests and intervention sites in the Eastern
Province of Rwanda under the COMBIO project.
• Specifically:
• The study provides a list of amphibians and
reptiles in the seven natural forests and
intervention sites, with their IUCN Red List
status
• Provides information on the ecological
condition using herpetofauna as species
indicators of ecosystem health
Results
Species list in each surveyed site and IUCN
status.
• In natural forests, we observed 14 amphibian
species from five families and eight reptile
species from seven families.
• At the intervention sites, we found 13 reptile
species from seven families and Ten amphibian
species from five families.
• Most species are Least concern on the IUCN
Red List.
• Among amphibians, Hyperolius lateralis is
Vulnerable under the local threat assessment
and only one species of reptile Python sebae, is
Near Threatened.
Biological indicators
• The frog species found in all natural forests are
indicators of disturbance except Hyperolius
lateralis in the Ibanda-Makera natural forest
which indicates a healthy ecosystem despite
some disturbance.
• For reptiles, research is lacking to confirm
indicator species in Rwanda. The reptile species
Hemidactylus mabouia and Trachylepis striata
were widespread in most surveyed habitats with
heavy human disturbance and we suggest their
use as indicators of ecosystem disturbance
• In the intervention sites, all recorded species are
indicators of disturbed ecosystems.
B
A
Species-based rarefaction curves of amphibian (A) and reptiles (B) species richness for
the sampled natural forests in Eastern Province, Rwanda.
B
A
Species-based rarefaction curves of amphibians (A) and reptiles (B) species richness for
the sampled intervention sites in Eastern Province, Rwanda.
Species occurrence and abundance
B
A
Species occurrence and distribution for amphibians (A) and reptiles (B) for the sampled
natural forests in Eastern Province, Rwanda.
B
A
Species occurrence and distribution for amphibians (A) and reptiles (B) for the sampled
intervention sites in Eastern Province, Rwanda.
Discussion
•
Method
•
•
•
•
Amphibians and reptiles were surveyed using
opportunistic visual encounter surveys (VES)
during the day.
Survey observations were recorded along set
transects in each of the natural forests and
intervention sites.
Field identification for amphibians was done
based on morphological characteristics (e.g. skin
colour
patterns,
body
morphology/toe
webbing/toe length, snout) and acoustic
encounters following the literature by Dehling &
Sinsch, 2023.
Reptile
identification
included
a
closer
examination of general morphology, body
features such as skin structure, and for snakes,
the scale patterns (pholidosis) complemented by
the existing guide by Spawls et al. (2002).
Amphibian species recorded all together in the surveyed sites of the eastern
•
province, 2023. A. Sclerophrys gutturalis, B. Afrixalus quadrivittatus, C.
Hyperolius kivuensis, D. Hyperolius lateralis, E. Hyperolius rwandae, F.
Hyperolius viridiflavus, G. Kassina senegalensis,
H. Phrynobatrachus
Our findings have identified for the first time the
herpetofauna of seven natural forests and
intervention sites in the eastern province.
Among recorded species, in the exception of the
presence of Hyperolius lateralis in the IbandaMakera, the remained sites are dominated by
widespread generalists. This substantiates the
disturbed states of the sites.
bequaerti, I. Phrynobatrachus kakamikro, J. Phrynobatrachus natalensis, K.
Ptychadena anchietae, L. Ptychadena nilotica. We have not added images of
two species we recorded by acoustic sampling that included Ptychadena
porosissima and Amietia nutti.
Conclusion
•
Findings will help guide management and track
restoration effectiveness using indicators. We
recommend
monitoring
and
unique
valuable
remnant
and
patrolling
these
forests
and
intervention sites to contribute to the effective
L
M
conservation and reduction of climate change
Surveyed sites
impacts in the eastern province.
Natural Forests:
Intervention sites:
1. Ibanda-Makera
1. Production forests
2. Mashoza
2. Sylvopastoral lands
Reptile species recorded all together in the surveyed sites of the
3. Marenga
3. Dam Buffers
eastern province, 2023. A. Acanthocercus kiwuensis; B. Adolfus
4. Karangazi
4. River buffers
jacksoni; C. Pelomedusa sp; D. Trachylepis sp; E. Trachylepis
•
L
Human activities are the major impacting factors
for ecosystem disturbance.
•
Restoration will contribute to species recovery.
M
5. Karushuga
5. Lake buffers
striata; F. Pelusios sp; G. Hemidactylus mabouia; H. Grayia
6. Muvumba
6. Road buffers
tholloni; I. Lygodactylus sp; J. Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia; K.
Acknowledgements
7. Nyagasenyi
7. Community Sancta
Natriciteres olivacea; L. Python sebae; M. Trachylepis sp.
• Ministry of Environment, the Rwanda Forestry
Authority (RFA), the Belgian Development Agency
Enabel, the International
Union for the
Conservation of Nature (IUCN), UR-CoEB research
team.
List of surveyed sites for amphibians and reptiles in the eastern province of
Rwanda, 2023.
Reference:
1. Dehling, M. Fischer, E. Killmann, D. & Dumbo, B. (2011). Biodiversity inventory for key wetlands in Rwanda
2. Spawls, S., Drewes, R., Howell, K., & Ashe, J. (2002). A Field Guide to the Reptiles of East Africa. Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.