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>.
Top Related