CURRENT THREATS FACED BY AMPHIBIAN POPULATIONS IN THE SOUTHERN CONE OF SOUTH AMERICA

KACOLIRIS F. P.; BERKUNSKY IGOR; ACOSTA J C; ACOSTA R; AGOSTINI, MARIA GABRIELA; AKMENTINS M.S.; ARELLANO M. L; AZAT C; BACH N. C; BLANCO G. L. ; CHARRIER A; CORBALAN V; CORREA C; CUELLO M E; DEUTSCH C; DI PIETRO D; GASTÓN S; GOMEZ ALÉS R; KASS C.; KASS N.; LOBOS G; MARTINEZ T. A; MARTÍNEZ AGUIRRE TOMÁS; MORA M; NIEVA-COCILIO R; PASTORE H; PÉREZ-IGLESIAS J M; PIAGGIO K L; RABANAL F; RODRIGUEZ-MUÑOZ M J; SANCHEZ L C; TALA C; ÚBEDA C; VAIRA MARCOS; VELASCO M. A.; VIDAL M; WILLIAMS JORGE

JOURNAL FOR NATURE CONSERVATION

ELSEVIER GMBH

Año: 2022

1617-1381

In this work, we aimed at updating and increasing the knowledge about threats affecting southern South American amphibians´ populations from Chile and Argentina. We report information on the severity and scope of threats affecting 57 populations of 46 species. We spread a questionnaire regarding the threats affecting target amphibian populations with information on i) distributional range ii) historical occurrence and abundance, iii) population trends, iv) local extinctions, v) threats, and vi) conservation/research in place and needed. Multiple correspondence analysis was usedto assess the pattern of association among reported threats and population trends. A total of 25 of the 57 populations are declining since 2010, while 16 of them suffered local extinctions. Assessed populations were affected by 81% of the total specific threat categories analyzed, with some categories related to agriculture activities and/or habitat modifications, among the most frequently reported. Invasive species, emerging diseases and activities related to grazing, ranching, or farming were the most associated with population decline. Regarding monitoring and management, thefirst was the most frequently reported as an ongoing activity. The most frequently management conducted was threat mitigation, while habitat management or demographic management were just reported as ongoing in a few populations.Our study suggests that 44% of the studied populations from Chile and Argentina are declining. More information related to the effect of management actions aimed at restoring habitat, recovering populations, and removing threats such as invasive species is urgently needed to reverse the conservation crisis suffered by amphibians in this region.