Seasonal and habitat based patterns of wildlife diversity in Jebel Al Dair Biosphere Reserve, Sudan

Jebel Al-Dair Biosphere Reserve (JADBR) in North Kordofan, Sudan, is a UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve representing a unique semi-arid ecosystem of high conservation value. This study assessed wildlife diversity, abundance, and distribution across six habitat types during the wet (June–July) and dry (January–February) seasons between 2021 and 2022. Wildlife was surveyed primarily using systematic line-transect surveys, supplemented by camera trapping and nocturnal spotlight surveys to improve species detection. Species diversity was quantified using the Shannon–Wiener, Simpson, and Pielou’s evenness indices. Sampling completeness was evaluated using individual-based rarefaction and extrapolation (iNEXT), while differences in wildlife abundance among seasons and habitat types were assessed using Kruskal–Wallis tests followed by Dunn’s post hoc comparisons. A total of 3,766 individual records representing 191 species were documented, including 42 mammals, 112 birds, 19 reptiles, 4 amphibians, 12 insects, and 2 mollusks. Wildlife abundance was significantly higher during the wet season (2,510 records) than during the dry season (1,256 records). Among habitat types, the Fawas habitat supported the highest overall abundance (941 individuals) and diversity, whereas the Higher Elevation habitat recorded the lowest abundance (214 individuals). Although most recorded species were classified as Least Concern, several species of conservation concern, including Centrochelys sulcata , were documented. These findings demonstrate that seasonal rainfall and habitat heterogeneity are the principal drivers of wildlife distribution in JADBR and highlight the reserve’s importance for biodiversity conservation. The study provides an important baseline for long-term biodiversity monitoring and supports evidence-based management and conservation planning for protected areas in Sudan.