Data from: Factors influencing herpetofauna abundance and diversity in a tropical agricultural landscape mosaic

Agricultural intensification and the associated factors, including land
transformation, are among the major global threats affecting biodiversity
especially herpetofauna. However, little information is available about
how different factors shape herpetofauna species assemblages in
agricultural landscape at different spatial scales from patch (125 – 250m)
to the landscape (500 – 1000m). We assessed the diversity of amphibians
and reptiles in areas under low and high degrees of agricultural
intensification and explored different factors regulating diversity at
different spatial scales using four sampling methods. Diversity and
abundance of amphibians varied significantly between the two zones, but
not for reptiles. Agricultural intensification Index (AII), calculated
based on agrochemical use and area under agriculture at 250m scale, seemed
to affect amphibians both at patch as well as at 500m and 1000m landscape
scales. The AII influenced reptilian diversity only at patch and 500m
scales. Vicinity of natural forest had a stronger influence on reptilian
abundance. Semi-natural vegetation impacted herpetofauna diversities at
larger spatial scales. The extent of water bodies influenced the reptilian
abundance at 250m patch scale and amphibian abundance both at 250m and
1000m scale.  Fallow lands affected only reptilian diversity at
all spatial scales. Plantation affected amphibian at all scales but
reptiles only at the landscape scale. Habitat heterogeneity regulated only
amphibian diversity. These results highlight the fact that different patch
and landscape-scale factors regulate the diversity of reptiles and
amphibians differentially. Such scale specific information will crucially
inform future conservation action for the herpetofauna in the agricultural
landscape.