HERPETOFAUNISTIC DIVERSITY IN THE ECOLOGICAL PARK "LA JOYA–LA BARRETA", QUERÉTARO, MÉXICO: A COMPARISON BETWEEN TWO SAMPLING METHODS AND VEGETATION TYPES.

Abstract

Due to its topographic and climatic diversity, the state of Querétaro possesses high levels of amphibian and reptile richness, abundance, and endemism. However, this information must be updated constantly as regions with previously little to no information are further explored, using sampling methods that allow efficient recording of biological diversity. The objective of this study was to compare herpetofaunistic diversity among three different vegetation types (oak–forest, grassland, and associated secondary vegetation) using two sampling methods (pitfall/funnel traps and transects). We registered thirteen species: five amphibians, and eight reptiles. We found differences in species dominancy with amphibians showing higher values of relative abundance in oak forest and grassland for both sampling methods. Transects showed a higher effective number of species for q⁰, q¹, and q². The oak forest and secondary vegetation possess comparable similarity percentages and did not show significant differences (p = 0.54). We observed significant differences between the grassland and secondary vegetation (p = 0.02). We found high distinctness levels (> 70%) between sampling techniques. The present study shows the importance of protected natural areas as shelters for threatened groups such as amphibians and reptiles, and highlights the importance of using complementary sampling methods.