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Anurans of a subtropical montane forest in northwestern Argentina: ecological survey and a proposed list of species of conservation concern

Biodiversity & Conservation volume 11, pages 1047–1062 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

The species composition, reproductive ecology, and patterns of activitywere determined for an anuran assemblage of an area of subtropical montaneforest in northwest Argentina. Twenty-four species were recorded at ParqueNacional Calilegua, Province of Jujuy. This study reflects a 75% increase in thenumber of species reported in previous surveys. Most species inhabiting the parkare mainly from adjacent Chacoan regions and only six taxa are known to beendemic from montane forest areas. Most species are aquatic breeders, and theabsence of many forest reproductive modes is noticeable. Although baselineinformation to compare former community composition was lacking, comparisonsbased on museum specimens revealed no evidence of local population extinctions.Immediate intensive monitoring is needed to quantitatively address amphibianpopulation fluctuations and to examine the effectiveness of present-day montaneforest protection. Although long-term population monitoring and documentation ofspecies declines is lacking, I propose a list of seven species of conservationconcern in order to assist and promote future monitoring programs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UNSa, Museo de Ciencias Naturales, Mendoza 2, 4400, Salta, Argentina

    Marcos Vaira

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  1. Marcos Vaira
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Vaira, M. Anurans of a subtropical montane forest in northwestern Argentina: ecological survey and a proposed list of species of conservation concern. Biodiversity and Conservation 11, 1047–1062 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015861002878

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015861002878

  • Anurans
  • Argentina
  • Conservation
  • Diversity
  • Phenology
  • Reproductive modes
  • Subtropical montane forest