Chiang Mai Journal of Science

 The aim of this three years study was to analyze and compare the richness, composition, abundance and observed frequency of anuran amphibian assemblages in the two forest fragments, Phufoilom (a protected area) and Phuhinlat (a non-protected area), both in the upper northeastern Thailand. The study was the first survey of the anuran amphibian assemblage in these forest fragments. Four Sampling techniques were used which are the visual encounter surveys (VES) using the time constrained count (TCC) technique, the sampling plots, the stream transects and the pitfall-trapping. The Chao-Jaccard Similarity Index was used for the comparison of species richness and composition among habitat types and fragments. Both fragments were very similar in anuran richness and composition, being composed of 5 families representing 15 genera (28 species) in Phufoilom and 13 genera (26 species) in Phuhinlat. However, the differences in richness and composition between habitat types were found within each fragment. Of the 28 species, 26 were shared in both forest fragments. In the protected area 22 anuran species were captured in higher rate than in non-protected, significant differences in 11 species. In addition, relative abundance among species followed a similar pattern within both areas. These results confirm the critical function of habitat in maintaining appropriate population size and proportion of abundance among species in an assemblage.