Impact of human activities on lizard species diversity in the department of Daloa (Central-western Côte d'Ivoire)

This study, conducted between April and June 2021 in eight (8) sampling transects in four secondary forests and four agricultural systems, highlighted the influence of human pressure on secondary forests and agricultural systems in the Department of Daloa on lizard diversity. Lizards were collected between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. using a GPS, a hygrometer, a digital camera and a stick. Abiotic parameters (temperature, relative air humidity, canopy, ground litter cover, litter thickness, proportion of sunlight reaching the ground, tree density, and shrub density) were measured in situ at each sampling transect. The spatial variation in the measured abiotic parameters indicates that all these parameters varied significantly between the transects of conserved environments and agricultural systems. The inventory carried out identified 407 individuals of 10 species divided between 4 families and 5 genera. The Scincidae (4 species) and Geckonidae (3 species) families are the most diverse. Meanwhile, the Scincidae (225 individuals) and Agamidae (159 individuals) families are the most abundant. Species richness is higher in secondary forests (10 species) than in agricultural systems (6 species). Agama africana, Agama agama, Hemidactylus angulatus, Hemidactylus muriceus, Mochlus fernandi and Trachylepis affinis were found in both types of habitat. However, Hemidactylus mabouia, Trachylepis quinquetaeniata, Trachylepis sp. and Varanus niloticus were only observed in transects in conserved environments. The lizard community in conserved and anthropised environments in the Department of Daloa is less diverse and less stable and balanced. Furthermore, lizards are more diverse and less balanced in conserved environments.