Presented byLeigh Clodfelter, Sheena Layne & Chessnie Stanford

A LIFE RAFT FOR AMPHIBIANSIN ECUADOR

AMPHIBIANS ARE IRREPLACEABLE ELEMENTS OF BIODIVERSITY BECAUSE OF THEIR

Environmental Value Medicinal Value Scenic Value Cultural Value

ECUADOR IS ONE OF "MEGADIVERSE" COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD

70% of the planet’sanimal & plant species

Concentrates 5-10%of the global biodiversity

680 to 730 amphibianspecies occur here

38% (182 species) endemic to Ecuador

MAP SHOWING THE FOUR MAIN REGIONSOF ECUADOR

Galapagos Islands Pacific Coastal Andes Amazon

ANDEAN REGION HAS BEEN DRAMATICALLY AFFECTED BY:

Climate Change Infectious Diseases Habitat Loss Fragmentation

DISAPPEARING FLAGSHIP SPECIES:

Jambato toad(Atelopus ignescens)

Guanujo harlequin frog(A. guanujo)

Uco(Telmatobius niger)

PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATÓLICA DEL ECUADOR (PUCE) EFFORTS

“Sapari” Exhibition Life Raft for Frogs

SIX PROGRAMS WITH NUMEROUS PROJECTS WERE SET FOR THIS PLAN

Research & Monitoring Strengthening of

Local Capacities Ex Situ Conservation In Situ Conservation Public Education Bioinformatics

ACCOMPLISHMENTS REGARDINGRESEARCH AND MONITORING OFNATIVE AMPHIBIANS

Discovery of manynew species

Scientific & populararticles published

Red List

ACCOMPLISHMENTS REGARDINGSTRENGTHENING OF LOCAL CAPACITIES

Pilot center forex situ conservationwas established

Molecular laboratorywas added

ACCOMPLISHMENTS REGARDINGMANAGEMENT AND EX SITU CONSERVATION

The Balsa de losSapos currently maintains about1,000 individualsof 18 species

These facilitiesinclude a bioteriumto produce foodneeded to feed over 2,000 amphibians

ACCOMPLISHMENTS REGARDINGIN SITU CONSERVATION

The “life raft” hasbeen involved inland protection to preserve criticalhabitats because Ecuador is severely affected by deforestation

ACCOMPLISHMENTS REGARDINGPUBLIC EDUCATION

Frog art exhibition Rans-Sanar

Coffee table bookentitled Sapos

ACCOMPLISHMENTS REGARDINGBIOINFORMATICS & SHARING

Integrated biodiversity information systemoffering access to specimen databases, maps, photographs, sounds and other information

ACCOMPLISHMENTS REGARDINGRESEARCH & CONSERVATION

The “Life Raft” is a long term task that has been sailing strong with the support of PUCE

Other supporters include: Saint Louis Zoo, JRS Biodiversity Foundation, Conservation International, Zoo Conservation Outreach Group, Amphibian Ark, and other public and private donations

QUESTIONS?

REFERENCESWAZA. 2005. World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. 14 Sept. 2012

<http://www.waza.org/en/site/conservation/waza-conservation-projects/overview/life-raft-for-frogs>.

Jean-Marc Hero and Kerry Kriger. “Swabbing Frogs for Chytrid Infections." 14 Oct. 2007. Online video clip. YouTube. Accessed on 14 Sept. 2012. < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip-urLMLK9k>.

Balsa de los Sapos. 2005. Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador Museum of Zoology. 14 Sept. 2012 <http://zoologia.puce.edu.ec/balsasapos/ >.

“Nature’s Big Picture: The Prince’s Frog.” BBC Nature Feature’s. 2012. BBC. 14 Sept. 2012

<http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/18712674>.

“Red List.” Amphibia Web Ecuador. 2012. Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador Museum of Zoology. 14 Sept. 2012 <http://zoologia.puce.edu.ec/vertebrados/anfibios/EspeciesEstadoConservacion.aspx>.

“Rana Sanar.” Paul Juaregui. 2011. Paul Juaregui. 14 Sept. 2012

<http://www.pauljauregui.com/index.php?id=29>.

Amphibia Web Ecuador. 2012. Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador Museum of Zoology. 14 Sept. 2012 <http://zoologia.puce.edu.ec/vertebrados/anfibios/anfibiosecuador/default.aspx>.

Amphibian Ark. 2012. Amphibian Ark. 14 Sept. 2012 <http://www.amphibianark.org>.