Herpetofauna richness in urban and fragmented green spaces of Panama City

Abstract

Urbanisation is a global process that fragments and degrades habitats, threatening biodiversity. Amphibians and reptiles are vulnerable to these changes, but urban green spaces can serve as refugia. This study aimed to evaluate the diversity and composition of herpetofaunal assemblages in five sites in Panama City: Parque Natural Metropolitano (PNM), Albrook, Corozal, Campus Octavio Méndez Pereira - Universidad de Panamá (UP), and Reserva Natural Cerro Ancón (RNCA). Sampling was conducted at five sites from January 2023 to January 2024. At each site, two linear transects, 200 m long and 3 m wide on each side, were established. A total of 29 species (nine amphibians and 20 reptiles) were recorded, with the highest richness in the PNM (27 species) and the lowest in Albrook (12). Widespread species such as Rhinella horribilis and Anolis auratus were found in all sites, while others, for example Rhinella centralis, were only recorded at a single site. The cluster analysis showed that the PNM and Corozal are the most similar sites in richness (Sj = 0.76), while Albrook segregated from the rest with a similarity value below Sj = 0.4. Although PERMANOVA and NMDS analyses using fragment area (ha) and isolation distance (km) were not significant, likely due to a small sample area (n = 5), the observed patterns suggest that larger forest fragments, such as the PNM (232 ha), act as important reservoirs. The results demonstrate the importance of urban green spaces for herpetofauna conservation, providing scientific evidence for urban planning in Panama City.