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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
Long-term data for endemic frog genera reveal potential conservation crisis in the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia
ORYX, Volume 47, No. 1, Year 2013
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Description
Populations of many frogs have declined alarmingly in recent years, placing nearly one third of the > 6,000 species under threat of extinction. Declines have been attributed largely to habitat loss, environmental degradation and/or infectious diseases such as chytridiomycosis. Many frogs undergo dramatic natural population fluctuations such that long-term data are required to determine population trends without undue influence of stochastic factors. We present long-term quantitative data (individuals encountered per person hour of searching) for four monotypic frog genera endemic to an Afromontane region of exceptional importance but growing conservation concern: one endemic to the Ethiopian highlands (Spinophrynoides osgoodi) and three endemic to the Bale Mountains (Altiphrynoides malcolmi, Balebreviceps hillmani, Ericabatrachus baleensis), collected during 15 field trips to the Bale Mountains between 1971 and 2009. Only a single confirmed sighting of S. osgoodi has been made since 1995. The other three species have also declined, at least locally. E. baleensis appears to have been extirpated at its type locality and at the same site B. hillmani has declined. These declines are in association with substantial habitat degradation caused by a growing human population. Chytrid fungus has been found on several frog species in Bale, although no dead or moribund frogs have been encountered. These results expose an urgent need for more amphibian surveys in the Bale Mountains. Additionally, we argue that detrimental human exploitation must be halted immediately in at least some parts of the Harenna Forest if a conservation crisis is to be averted. Copyright © Fauna & Flora International 2013.
Authors & Co-Authors
Gower, David J.
United Kingdom, London
The Natural History Museum, London
Aberra, Roman K.
Ethiopia, Addis Ababa
Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority
Schwaller, Silvia
Switzerland, Basel
Universitat Basel
Largen, Malcolm J.
Unknown Affiliation
Collen, Ben
United Kingdom, London
Zoological Society of London Institute of Zoology
Spawls, Stephen
United Kingdom, Norwich
Spixworth
Menegon, Michele
Italy, Trento
Mudeo Tridentino Di Scienze Naturali
Zimkus, Breda M.
United States, Cambridge
Harvard University
de Sá, Rafael Omar
United States, Richmond
University of Richmond
Mengistu, Abebe A.
Switzerland, Basel
Universitat Basel
Gebresenbet, Fikirte
Ethiopia, Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa University
Moore, Robin D.
United States, Arlington
Conservation International
Saber, Samy Abdel Latif
Ethiopia, Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa University
Loader, Simon P.
Switzerland, Basel
Universitat Basel
Statistics
Citations: 14
Authors: 14
Affiliations: 10
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1017/S0030605311001426
ISSN:
00306053
e-ISSN:
13653008
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Quantitative
Study Locations
Ethiopia