Herpetofauna within the Standard-gauge Railway Footprint from Dar es Salaam to Makutupora, Singida, Tanzania

Le résumé fourni par la source

The standard-gauge railway (SGR) between Dar es Salaam and Singida regions in Tanzania traverses in varied ecological zones from coastal to semi-arid areas in the central part of the country. This study assesses herpetofauna species richness, composition and conservation status along the SGR. It assumes species richness varies between the coastal and semi-arid areas. Audio-visual surveys were supplemented with information from literature resulting in 51 amphibian and 107 reptilian species. One amphibian and three reptilian species are endemic to Tanzania, whereas one amphibian and one reptilian species are considered ‘critically endangered’. The similarity index in species composition between the lowlands and the semi-arid regions is 52.9% for amphibians and 48.6% for reptiles. Possible potential impacts of the project to the herpetofauna include mortality due to train collisions, barrier effects and habitat disturbances. Construction of adequate passes in the form of tunnels, underpasses and drainage culverts is recommended to facilitate movements.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.