Classification and Conservation Alternatives for Anurans in the buffer zone of the Cofán Bermejo Ecological Reserve, Sucumbíos Province, Ecuador

Abstract

The study aimed to determine the diversity of anurans, in the buffer zone of the Cofán Bermejo Ecological Reserve, parish El Dorado de Cascales and establish whether it has any variation in an altitudinal gradient (three floors). In search of anurans techniques was used as visual encounter survey and transects, identifying five altitudinal transects for each floor. 71 individuals were recorded, belonging to 30 species, presenting a variety of media Shannon (3.15 bits), according to the scale suggested by (Valle, 2001). The most abundant species were the Rhinella marina, Hyloxalus bocage and Rhinella margaritífera and less dominant Dendropsophus rhodopeplus, Engystomops peterse, Lithodytes lineatus, Hypodactylus nigrovittatus, Pristimantis delius, Pristimantis matidiktyo, Pristimantis prolatus, Pristimantis sp., Rhinella festae and Synapturanus rabus. On the first floor altitude 400-600 meters above sea level, 30 individuals of 12 species were recorded. On the second floor altitude 600-800 meters above sea level, 16 individuals of nine species were recorded. On the third floor altitude 800-1000 meters above sea level, 25 individuals of 14 species were recorded, demonstrating the preference of the species for higher altitudes, Shannon diversity of anurans is low with values ranging from 1.99 to 2.48 bits. The alternative solution is raised, as the management of handling the buffer zone of the Cofán Bermejo Ecological Reserve, issuing ordinances and regulations and educational activities, which will allow the conservation of forests, habitats where species develop and conservation of the diversity of anurans.