Anuran
species diversity and abundance were evaluated in different farming
status of cocoa plantation in Ore, Ondo State, Nigeria. Applying the combination of visual
encounter survey (VES) and acoustical survey (AES), the different farms surveyed were
categorized as; 1) pure cocoa farms with pesticides applied (PCWP); 2) pure cocoa farms
without pesticides application; 3) intercropped cocoa farms with pesticides applied (ICWP);
and 4) intercropped cocoa farms without pesticides application (ICNP). The surrounding
primary/secondary forest (PSFV) was sampled applying the transect method. A mean total
of 690±2.6
anurans belonging to 28 species, 14 genera and 9 families were recorded during
the study. Out of these, 10, 19, 17, 22 and 26 species were recorded respectively from
PCWP, PCNP, ICWP, ICNP and PSFV. The
anuran species richness was significantly
different between the different cocoa plantation status and the forest sites (F
4, 10 = 20.55, P<
0.01). The highest mean number of individuals (190±9.5) was observed at ICNP followed
by PSFV (183±5.7), while the least was at PCWP (77±8.0). There was also significant
difference (F
4, 10 = 150.48, P< 0.01) between the abundance of
anuran species at the various
sites. Diversity indices (Shannon and Margalef) showed that the forest sites had the greatest
(3.204 and 4.799) respectively while the pesticide using pure cocoa farms had the least
(1.853 and 2.072). Generally, the result of the study clearly indicated that pesticide use
cocoa farms were significantly lower compared to other sites. Farmers are encouraged to
engage in intercropping (polyculture) especially with food and economic crops in a
biodiversity friendly manner which could have similar characteristics of a natural
ecosystem, thereby enhancing the biological diversity of agro-ecosystems.
