Microhabitat complexity and herpetofaunal diversity in a community-managed Afrotropical wetland of Lake Victoria

Abstract

Wetlands play a critical role in sustaining biodiversity, particularly in tropical ecosystems where habitat loss and anthropogenic disturbances are accelerating. At the same time, community conservation has become a central topic in modern conservation biology. Therefore, in conservation and management terms, it is especially interesting to evaluate the biodiversity patterns in wetlands managed by local communities. This study assessed the diversity, abundance, and conservation status of herpetofauna in the Mabamba Bay Wetland, a key biodiversity reservoir in central Uganda within the Lake Victoria system, also designated as a Ramsar site. Through visual encounter surveys, audio sampling, and dip-netting conducted across five representative sites, we recorded 17 amphibian species and 18 reptile species. Amphibians were more diverse in sites with complex and less-disturbed habitats, while reptiles dominated more disturbed and open areas. Diversity indices, species accumulation curves, and richness estimators (Chao 1, Jackknife 1 & 2) revealed significant spatial heterogeneity and suggested under-sampling for reptiles. Conservation status analysis indicated that most species were of Least Concern, though notable exceptions included Degen’s toad (Sclerophrys vittata), African rock python (Python sebae), and Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus).