Literaturdatenbank
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Raxworthy, C. J., & Nussbaum, R. A. (2000). Extinction and extinction vulnerability of amphibians and reptiles in madagascar. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, 2(1), 15–23.
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich (18 Nov 2012 17:43:52 UTC) |
| Resource type: Journal Article BibTeX citation key: Raxworthy2000 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Amphibien = amphibians, Astrochelys, Astrochelys radiata, Astrochelys yniphora, Echsen = saurians, Erymnochelys, Erymnochelys madagascariensis, Habitat = habitat, Madagaskar = Madagascar, Podocnemididae, Pyxis, Pyxis arachnoides, Pyxis planicauda, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises, Schlangen = snakes, Testudinidae Creators: Nussbaum, Raxworthy Collection: Amphibian and Reptile Conservation |
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| Abstract |
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Testudinidae Pyxis planicauda arachnoides Geochelone Astrochelys radiata yniphora Erymnochelys madagascariensis In Madagascar, only two herpetofaunal extinction events are well documented. Both are extinctions of subfossil giant tortoises, which coexisted with humans for more than 1,000 years. Modern extinctions of amphibians and reptiles are also likely, but researchers and conservationists are probably overlooking these extinction events, because the most vulnerable species, with small relict populations, are easily missed during regional surveys. To date, conservation programs in Madagascar have largely ignored many relict distribution species, restricted to transitional or rare habitat types. We provide four examples of species with relict distributions that we consider vulnerable to extinction. Based on ongoing surveys and systematic revisions, many new herpetofaunal species will be described in the future, some of which may require rapid conservation efforts to prevent extinction. Conservationists frequently measure extinct vulnerability using the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red Lists, and fifteen endemic Malagasy amphibians and reptiles are included in the IUCN Threatened List. However, this list appears to reflect a historical bias towards conserving turtles and boas in Madagascar, listing eight species in these groups, although they represent just 2 percent of the island’s actual endemic herpetofauna. Ironically, this taxonomic bias may hinder attempts to prevent herpetofaunal extinctions, by promoting some species for conservation activities that are not vulnerable (e.g., tolerant of human habitat modification, or widespread) and ignoring many species that are soon to be lost. For Malagasy amphibians and reptiles, biogeographic data appear to provide more objective criteria with which to assess extinction threats rather than suspected rates of population decline.
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich |