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An Eco-tourism / tourism activity of study area has led to changes in the ecology of the area. The key objectives of this study are to update and analyze the herpetofaunal diversity in present scenario.  The standered Visual Encounter Survey method with Time Constraint was used in this study. The diversity index analysis consisted of species diversity, evenness, richness, abundance, and community similarity. 31 species of herpetofauna belonging 2 order and 15 families were recorded in Begun Tehsil and Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary. In order Anura 3 families and 7 species; in order Testudines and crocodilia 1 families 1 species each;  in suborder Sauria 5 families and 9 species and sub order serpentes 5 families and 13 species were recorded. The overall herpetofauna Shannon Diversity index (H’) in Begun Tehsil and Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary in selected study area was (2.96); followed by, herpetofauna species evenness (E) was (0.86) herpetofauna species richness (r) was (31). The average population size of herpetofauna population size was (13.12).This research strongly supports that habitat of Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary and Begun Tehsil suited in   the Chittorgarh district of Rajasthan, is currently very supportive of the life herpetofauna and to maintain the diversity of herpetofauna we need to implement conservation activities at administrative level.

For the assessment of herpetofaunal diversity at two study sites namely Begun (Tehsil) (urban) and nearby Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary (Forest cover) were selected to achieve the objectives. Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary, (2021) Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary near Bassi in Chittorgarh district of Rajasthan, India, 5 kilometers from the Bassi Fort Palace. It covers 15,290 hectares and was established in1988. The sanctuary is located on the western border of the Vindhyachal Ranges and includes the Orai and Bassi dam as part of the sanctuary. Bassi was declared as wildlife sanctuary vide Government of Rajasthan Notification No. F-11/41/ Raj. /8186 dated 29.8.88 for the purpose of protection, propagation and development of wild life and its environment. Sen, (2010) and Yaseen et al., (2011).: We implemented this study from September 2021 to October 2022. Random surveys were carried out for assessment of herpetofaunal diversity of the study area. We spend 28 days in the field during day and night. Surveys were carried out both day and night to find out the activity pattern in reference of diurnal as well as nocturnal species. Surveys were conducted to classify microhabitats and distribution of herpetofaunal species according to microhabitats. There is recent record of an arboreal snake Dendrelaphis tristis by Daudin (1803) which also indicates that the state fauna has so far been under surveyed and needs more exploration to know the present status of reptilian diversity. Species were identified using standard diagnostic keys of Smith (1931, 1935, 1943), Dutta (1997), Das (2002), Whitaker and Captain (2004), Daniels, (2002), Daniel (2005), and Frost (2008).

Surveys include the mainly Ad-hoc search method with the adjoining of Visual Encounter survey method and Transect method. Point count method was also used for the assessment the population of the organism of interest. Present study comprised with various field method exclusively and in combination also. Mainly used methods of the searching biodiversity for the present study were listed below:

Ad-hoc Search method: In this methodology worker randomly search the desired habitats for the assessing the diversity and population status of the habitat of interest.

Visual Encounter method: A Visual encounter method (VEM) is one which field personnel walk through an area or habitat for a prescribed time period systematically searching of organisms. Time is expressed as the number of person hours of searching in each area to be compared. The (VEM) is an appropriate technique for both inventory and monitoring based studies.

Quadrate sampling: Quadrate sampling consists of laying out a series of small squares (quadrates) at randomly selected sites within a habitat and thoroughly searching those squares for organism.

Diversity Indices analysis using the Shannon Wiener, Simpson's index, and Jaccard and Sorenson index was attempted by (Hollenbeck and Ripple, 2007; Krebs, 1989 ; Bibi and Ali 2013; Lawania, et al. 2013) looking for distribution patterns among bird communities. Biodiversity index analysis includes species diversity, species evenness, Margalef species richness, Jackknife species richness, species abundance, and community similarity. Species diversity is an expression that connects number of species to the number of individuals, while evenness index is to identify the community evenness (Kusrini 2019).

(i). Shannon-Wiener Species Diversity Index (Magguran 1988)

H = -Σpi * ln(pi)

Description:

H’ = species diversity index;

pi = Abundance value (ni/Ni)

(ii). Species Evenness Index (Magguran 1988)

             E= H’/ ln S

Description:

E= Degree of species evenness;

S = Number of species found

(iii). Species richness index (Magguran 1988)

            Dmg = S-1’ / InN

Description:

Dmg= Margalef species richness index;

N= Number of individuals found

(iv). Jackknife species richness index (Heltse and Foster 1983)

 This index is used to estimate the total richness in observation location

S= s + ( n-1 / n ) (k)

Description:

S= Jackknife species richness index;

s= number of species found;

n= number of observation path;

k=number of species found only in one observation path.

LC; Least Concern., VU; Vulnerable ; NT., Near Threatened ; NE., Not evaluated

 

Fig. 1. Map and satellite image showing Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan.

A total of 31 species of herpetofauna belonging 2 order and 15 families were recorded in Begun Tehsil and Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary. In order Anura 3 families and 7 species; in order Testudines and crocodilia 1 families 1 species each;  in suborder Sauria 5 families and 9 species and sub order serpentes 5 families and 13 species were recorded. According to IUCN Red list categories and criteria version (3.1) out of 7 amphibian species all 7 species of amphibian recorded as (LC) Least concern whereas out of 24 reptiles species 17 species of reptiles recorded as (LC) Least concern., 2 species as (VU) vulnerable., 4 species as (NT) Near Threatened and 1 species was (NE) Not evaluated.

The overall herpetofauna Shannon Diversity index (H’) in Begun Tehsil and Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary in selected study area was (2.96); followed by amphibian’s diversity (1.61) and reptiles diversity was (2.78) observed, overall herpetofauna species evenness (E) was (0.86) followed by amphibian’s; (0.82) and reptiles species evenness was (0.87) and overall herpetofauna species richness (r) was (31) followed by amphibian’s; (7) and reptiles species richness was (24). The average population size of amphibians was observed (24.85) followed by reptiles was (9.70) overall population size as consider herpetofauna population size was (13.12). The index of species diversity, evenness, and richness was the first data taken from Begun Tehsil and Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary in selected study area and could be used to compare other results of time series research in the future. Any kind of construction in Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary would affect the habitat. Kusrini (2009) says that species richness can increase by the increased habitat diversity.

The wildlife research, especially in in Begun Tehsil and Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary in selected study area is  the new statistical  research conducted to assess the diversity level. Although there had been significant ecology changes in the development stage, 31 herpetofauna species that consisted of 7 amphibians and 24 reptiles were found in the research location. The amphibians found were 174 individuals of 3 families. While the reptile found was 233 individual of 12 families

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