INVESTIGADORES
ZAGARESE Horacio Ernesto
artículos
Título:
First steps towards the conservation of the microendemic Patagonian frog Atelognathus nitoi
Autor/es:
UBEDA, CARMEN A; MONICA DIAZ,; ZAGARESE, HORACIO; FERNANDO PEDROZO,; HORACIO ZAGARESE
Revista:
ORYX
Referencias:
Año: 1999 p. 1 - 9
ISSN:
0030-6053
Resumen:
Amphibians are sensitive
bioindicators of environment health because of their permeable skins, biphasic
life history, pattern of embryonic development, population biology, site
fidelity, and the complexity of their interactions in communities and
ecosystems (Wake & Morowitz, 1991; Blaustein et al., 1994). Many reports
during the past decade have warned of the decline of amphibian populations around
the world. Among the potential causes of the decline are the destruction and
fragmentation of habitats, chemical pollution, increases in ground levels of
solar ultraviolet radiation, and the introduction of exotic species (Wake &
Morowitz, 1991; Blaustein & Wake, 1995).
The distribution of the frog genus Atelognathus is restricted to Patagonia. Atelognathus includes seven species, all of
which are endemic to a certain degree. Six are distributed to the east of the
Andes mountain range in the Argentine Patagonia (provinces of Neuquén, Río
Negro and Chubut) and one on Wellington Island, Chile (Frost, 1985; Duellman,
1993). Atelognathus nitoi (Barrio) is a
medium‑sized (45 mm) leptodactylid frog, endemic to the area surrounding a
small pond called Laguna Verde in the Nahuel Huapi National Reserve in north‑west
Patagonia, Argentina. It has been recently discovered (Barrio, 1973) and has
received little study (Christie, 1984; Basso & Úbeda, 1997). Its basic
biology is as yet unknown. Its status categories are summarized in Table 1.
Although Laguna Verde is part of a
national reserve with a long tradition in conservation, the habitat is
potentially threatened by a number of anthropogenic and natural factors
including fires, increased levels of ultraviolet radiation, recreatinal activities, fuelwood gathering by
a nearby mountain lodge, etc. In fact, the whole area was in danger of
destruction from the intense fires that occurred in January 1996, which
affected a large part of the nearby forest.
The aim of this study was to obtain
basic knowledge of the biology and habitat of the species, which would be
useful for selecting management measures to ensure its conservation. Our
ultimate purpose is to help develop policies to protect the natural habitat of
the species. To this end, our aims were to:
-Characterise the terrestrial and aquatic habitats and
microhabitats of the adult and larval stages.
-Gather basic information on the biology of the
species, such as reproductive period, duration of the larval stage and timing
of metamorphosis.
-Identify potential conflicts or impacts of human
activities occurring in the area and assess their significance for the species.