DECLINE AND EXTINTION OF FROGS OF TELMATOBIUS (ANURA, LEPTODACTYLIDAE) FROM TAFÍ DEL VALLE, TUCUMÁN, ARGENTINA.

BARRIONUEVO, JOSÉ SEBASTIÁN; PONSSA, MARÍA LAURA

Tafí del Valle, Tucumán, Argentina

Congreso; XXIII Jornadas Científicas de la Asociación de Biología de Tucumán; 2006

ASOCIACION DE BIOLOGIA DE TUCUMAN

Historically three species of Telmatobius (T. ceiorum, T. laticeps and T. pisanoi) were present in the mountain ranges of western Tucumán, Argentina, but in a series of occasional surveys done from 2001 to 2004 no individuals (no adults, nor tadpoles) were recorded in these areas. The last records of these species date form the beginning of the decade of 1990. This situation lead us to carry extensive surveys from July 2004 to July 2005 in two main types of environments, (1) streams in Mountain forest (Yungas) from 1300 to 1900 m, and (2) streams in Montane grasslands and Prepuna from 2000 to more than 4000 m. Only T. pisanoi was found in small numbers at the edge of its original distribution area, while the other two species are presumably extinct. Several factors were detected as possible causes of this declination, including (a) an unusual dry and warm period preceded T. laticeps and T. pisanoi last records, (b) the presence of exotic salmonids, (c) habitat alterations, increasing erosive processes, and (d) the presence of chytrid fungus recently discovered.