Squamate diversity in different croplands of district Chakwal, Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

We studied squamate diversity in 5 different croplands (wheat, sorghum, millet, maize and groundnut) of district Chakwal, North Punjab, Pakistan, in February and September, 2013, using area-constrained searches for squamates and line intercept method for vegetation. We recorded 11 squamate species (6 lizards; 5 snakes). Based on diversity index value (H) the highest squamate diversity was recorded from maize (1.91), followed by wheat (1.54), groundnut (1.51), sorghum (1.34) and millet (1.21). We recorded Calotes versicolor versicolor, Ophisops jerdonii and Eutropis dissimilis as most frequently sighted species in all croplands. The multivariate generalized model revealed that sightings of species differed significantly (F(5,40)=2.89, P<0.05; Wilk’s Λ=0.30, Partial η2=0.94) among cropland types and their boundary vegetation. The cluster analysis of boundary vegetation produced two main clusters: (1) groundnut and wheat, and (2) sorghum, millet and maize. We concluded that herbs (Parthenium hysterophorus Chenopodium album), shrubs (Calotropis procera, Ziziphus jujube, Gymnosporia royleana), and grasses (Cynodon dactylon, Setaria pumila) along the cropland boundary provided abode for lacertids (O. jerdonii) and skinks (E. dissimilis), while tress (Acacia nilotica, Prosopis juliflora, Ziziphus mauritiana) for agamids (Calotes versicolor). We suggest the inclusion of maintaining cropland boundary vegetation particularly grasses and shrubs in agricultural practices to ensure the conservation of squamate and their habitat.