Estimating the species richness of anuran fauna at Taman Negara Johor Endau Rompin using non-parametric estimators

Species richness estimators were used to estimate total number species that can be found in the study area. A well-established checklist that serves as the baseline data is important to help in managing a protected area properly. A nine-month sampling of anuran fauna at Taman Negara Johor Endau Rompin (TNJER), a protected area in Johor, Malaysia were done along three streams known as Sungai Da’ah, Sungai Semawak, and Sungai Kawal, using Visual Encounter Survey (VES). Estimates software was used to estimate anuran species richness using nine non-parametric species richness estimators with the aim to determine their species richness. In total, 772 individuals of anurans were captured compromise from five families and 20 species of frogs and toads. Species observed (S_obs) does not reach asymptote and species richness estimators predicted that one to seven additional species might be missing from the list. The results showed that the observed species richness was underestimated. Nonetheless, these findings are important and it would contribute to the understanding of anuran species composition and diversity in TNJER and the information can be used for a monitoring program to conserve the diversity.