Implication Pesticide Residues on Abundance and Diversity of Anurans in Transplanted Rice Crop

During present study, six anuran species which belonged to order anura and families bufonidae and dicroglossidae from transplanted rice crop fields during 2021 and 2022. The species included Duttaphrynus melanostictus, D. stomaticus, Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis, E. adolfi, Hoplobatrachus tigerinus and Fejervarya limnocharis among which E. adolfi had patchy occurrence, whereas E. cyanophlyctis was most abundant species Analysis of monthly differences of anuran abundance at all study sites showed July and August as high peak activity periods in all rice fields, about 13% increase in anuran abundance was during 2022 as compared to previous year. However, 36% increase in anuran population was recorded in unsprayed as compared to sprayed transplanted rice crop fields. Overall increase in body weights of male and female anuran species was 14.21 and 11.17%, respectively in unsprayed as compared to sprayed fields. Positive correlation was observed between amphibian population with atmospheric temperature, relative humidity and rainfall. Pesticide residues were below the limit of quantification (0.01 mg kg-1) in soil, excretory contents and water samples without any amphibian morphological abnormality. The study suggests rice agroecosystems, in partnership with neighboring natural aquatic and terrestrial habitats without use of pesticides can serve as a sanctuary for anuran biodiversity.