DIVERSITY OF TREE FROGS AT OKOMU OIL PALM PLANTATION: A RAIN FOREST HABITAT LOCATED IN OVIA SOUTH – WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

ABSTRACT

A biodiversity research was conducted to investigate the diversity of tree frogs in Okomu OilPalm Plantation in Udo Community, Ovia South- West Local Government Area, a rainforest zone in Edo state, Southern Nigeria, over a 3month period (June-August, 2023). This study was conducted in order to provide information solely on the diversity of tree frogs in the Oil Palm Plantation at Okomu thus increasing the available information on the biodiversity of the tree frogs from a rain forest bioclimatic zone in Edo State, Nigeria. Specimens were collected at night using a combination of visual-acoustic encounter survey (VAES). Species in the family of Hyperoliidae and Arthroleptidae, were encountered. Some forest specialist recorded were: Hyperolius concolor, Hyperolius fusciventris fusciventris, Hyperolius fusciventris burtoni, Hyperolius picturatus and Afrixalus dorsalis from Family Hyperoliidae and Genus Hyperolius and Leptopelis hyloides belonging to the family Arthroleptidae and Genus Leptopelis. An overall species diversity (H) of (1.315) was recorded. Species in the family Hyperoliidae were most abundant and represented by five species. The total tree frog species had a richness (d) of (0.925) and an eveness (EH) of (0.733). Afrixalus dorsalis was the most abundant species constituting (47.1%) of the total tree frogs encountered followed by Hyperolius concolor (30.9%). The least abundant species was the Leptopelis hyloides which constituted (0.9%) of the tree frogs recorded. The high abundance of Afrixalus dorsalis was attributed to the rainy season in which this research was carried out. The highest number of individuals was recorded in Afrixalus dorsalis (n=105), while the lowest individual was Leptopelis hyloides (n=2). Tree frogs diversity was more in areas with ponds and rivers. More male species of tree frog (193) were captured than female (30) as a result of raining season, which is the breeding season for the frogs in which they were out in search of mate and food. The females were larger (ranging from 2.3 3.90cm) than the males (ranging from 2.15cm 3.1cm). All tree frogs encountered in this study have been reported by authors from previous studies. Further study needs to be carried out in the study area over a long duration covering both seasons in order to encounter those tree frog species which may be present in the habitat but were not captured due to the short duration of this study.