Reassessing fossorial herpetofaunal density in sand forest following declines of mesoherbivore populations

The proliferation in mesoherbivore numbers and their associated impact on the detrital ground cover were deemed responsible for the decline in fossorial herpetofaunal densities in Ndumo Game Reserve during the early 2000s. Subsequent increased poaching pressure and wildlife declines allowed the reassessment of the sand forest fossorial herpetofaunal community to test this assumption. We found no significant increase in the two most abundant soil-living reptiles despite significant mesoherbivore declines. This may indicate that either fossorial herpetofaunal numbers increase very slowly, or that the initial two survey methodologies were incomparable. Alternatively, some unknown environmental factor may be suppressing populations or the survey results are not representative of the fossorial herpetofaunal community.

Automated summary

The increase in the number of mesoherbivores and their impact on the ground cover led to a decline in the density of fossorial herpetofauna in Ndumo Game Reserve during the early 2000s. Despite a significant decline in mesoherbivore numbers, there was no significant increase in the two most common soil-living reptiles. This suggests that either fossorial herpetofauna numbers increase slowly or the initial survey methods were not comparable.