Red List assessment of amphibian species of Ecuador: A multidimensional approach for their conservation

Abstract

Ecuador is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, but faces severe pressures and threats to its natural ecosystems. Numerous species have declined and require to be objectively evaluated and quantified, as a step towards the development of conservation strategies. Herein, we present an updated National Red List Assessment for amphibian species of Ecuador, with one of the most detailed and complete coverages for any Ecuadorian taxonomic group to date. Based on standardized methodologies that integrate taxonomic work, spatial analyses, and ecological niche modeling, we assessed the extinction risk and identified the main threats for all Ecuadorian native amphibians (635 species), using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Our evaluation reveals that 57% (363 species) are categorized as Threatened, 12% (78 species) as Near Threatened, 4% (26 species) as Data Deficient, and 27% (168 species) as Least Concern. Our assessment almost doubles the number of threatened species in comparison with previous evaluations. In addition to habitat loss, the expansion of the agricultural/cattle raising frontier and other anthropogenic threats (roads, human settlements, and mining/oil activities) amplify the incidence of other pressures as relevant predictors of ecological integrity. Potential synergic effects with climate change and emergent diseases (apparently responsible for the sudden declines), had particular importance amongst the threats sustained by Ecuadorian amphibians. Most threatened species are distributed in montane forests and paramo habitats of the Andes, with nearly 10% of them occurring outside the National System of Protected Areas of the Ecuadorian government. Based on our results, we recommend the following actions: (i) An increase of the National System of Protected Areas to include threatened species. (ii) Supporting the ex/in-situ conservation programs to protect species considered like Critically Endangered and Endangered. (iii) Focalizing research efforts towards the description of new species, as well as species currently categorized as Data Deficient (DD) that may turn out to be threatened. The implementation of the described actions is challenging, but urgent, given the current conservation crisis faced by amphibians.

Two new glassfrogs (Centrolenidae:Hyalinobatrachium) from Ecuador, with comments on the endangered biodiversity of the Andes

“…An array of human pressures continues to diminish the integrity of Andean terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems ( Myers et al, 2000 ; Knee & Encalada, 2014 ; Roy et al, 2018 ; Bax & Francesconi, 2019 ; CEPF, 2021 ; Torremorell et al, 2021 ). As a result, taxonomic groups such as glassfrogs—where a majority of members are endemic to the Tropical Andes, and individual species often have highly restricted distributions—are especially at risk of population declines and extinction ( Aguilar et al, 2012 ; Guayasamin et al, 2019b , 2020 ; Ortega-Andrade et al, 2021 ).…”

Potential Distribution of Amphibians with Different Habitat Characteristics in Response to Climate Change in South Korea

“…Policy-makers can use these results to establish the long-term conservation plan in this region, which should include habitat management, reductions in anthropogenic pressure, and controls on hunting. In addition, our study suggests that forest-dwelling amphibians are at high risk under future climate change and this requires species-specific conservation programs for their long-term conservation in South Korea [ 57 ].…”

Estimación del tamaño poblacional y del uso del hábitat de Pristimantis unistrigatus (Gunther, 1859) (Anura: Strabomantidae) en un área verde urbana de Quito - Ecuador

“…A pesar de que Pristimantis unistrigatus se encuentra bajo la categoría de Preocupación Menor (LC) en la lista roja de anfibios del Ecuador [44] podría en un futuro evidenciar su desaparición en áreas urbanas muy aisladas e intervenidas, lo que representaría además una pérdida de la identidad cultural con la naturaleza, teniendo en cuenta que esta es una especie emblemática de la ciudad de Quito.…”