Climate change threatens micro-endemic amphibians of an important South American high-altitude center of endemism

CORDIER, JAVIER M.; LESCANO, JULIÁN N.; RÍOS, NATALIA E.; LEYNAUD, GERARDO C.; NORI, JAVIER

AMPHIBIA-REPTILIA

BRILL ACADEMIC PUBLISHERS

Año: 2019 vol. 41 p. 233 - 243

0173-5373

Speciesinhabiting broad altitudinal gradients are particularly exposed to the effectsof global climate change (GCC). Those species reaching mountain tops are themost negatively affected. Here, using ecological niche models we estimated theclimate change exposure of endemic amphibians of the most importantextra-Andean mountain system of Argentina: the Sierras Pampeanas Centrales. Ourresults pinpoint that micro-endemic amphibians of this mountain system are heavilyexposed to the effects of GCC, with important constraints of suitable climaticconditions for the six analyzed species. Among the most important findings, ourmodels predict a high probability of a total disappearance of suitable climaticconditions for two of the species, currently restricted to mountain tops. Thishigh exposure, in synergy with their very restricted ranges, and otherimportant human induced threats (as fish invasion and emergent diseases), posea serious threat to these endemic species, which can enter into the ?extinctionpathway? in a near future if no concrete conservation actions are taken. Ourfindings provide additional evidence of the great negative impact of GCC inhigh-altitude centers of endemism.