Frog species diversity in three pans located in the Kruger National Park

Approximately thirty species of frogs are found in the Kruger National Park. Throughout
the park there are three distinguishable types of pans - permanent, semi-permanent, and
temporary, which vary substantially in different areas, creating patches that are dynamic
in space and time. There are also different zones in the pans where distinct frog species
choose to dwell. The purpose of this study was to examine the species composition of
frogs in and around pans in three areas of the Kruger National Park; the Skukuza area, the
Shingwedzi area, and the Punda Maria area. We also looked at the different species of
frogs found in the different zones of the pan. We went out after sunset at each of the
three sites and captured the frogs after noting their behavior and where they were calling
from. In Skukuza, we caught seven species of frogs and identified the calls of two
additional species, in Shingwedzi we caught four species of frogs and identified the calls
of five additional species, and in Punda Maria we caught two species of frogs. We found
that the three main factors affecting species diversity in Kruger National Park were pan
type and size, location in KNP, and weather patterns (both long term and daily
fluctuations).