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The Challenge of Conserving Amphibian Megadiversity in Madagascar Franco Andreone*, Angus I

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The Challenge of Conserving Amphibian Megadiversity in Madagascar Franco Andreone*, Angus I Perspective The Challenge of Conserving Amphibian Megadiversity in Madagascar Franco Andreone*, Angus I. Carpenter, Neil Cox, Louis du Preez, Karen Freeman, Samuel Furrer, Gerardo Garcia, Frank Glaw, Julian Glos, David Knox, Jörn Köhler, Joseph R. Mendelson, III, Vincenzo Mercurio, Russell A. Mittermeier, Robin D. Moore, Nirhy H. C. Rabibisoa, Herilala Randriamahazo, Harison Randrianasolo, Noromalala Rasoamampionona Raminosoa, Olga Ravoahangimalala Ramilijaona, Christopher J. Raxworthy, Denis Vallan, Miguel Vences, David R. Vieites, Ché Weldon rogs from Madagascar constitute as Sri Lanka (63%), Mexico (54%), learned from the devastated amphibian one of the richest groups of Ecuador (37%), or Colombia (30%) faunas of areas such as the Neotropics Famphibian fauna in the world, [2]. and Australia. In Madagascar, with currently 238 described species; At fi rst glance, it might seem amphibian conservation efforts have caecilians and salamanders are paradoxical to advocate amphibian the possibility of being pro-active, absent [1]. Several frog radiations conservation actions for a place where rather than reactive, or simply post- of the island are species-rich and catastrophic declines have not yet mortem. parallel lemurs and tenrecs in their been detected. However, we argue Extinctions of Malagasy amphibians astonishing morphological and here that the unique combination have not yet been detected: in fact, ecological diversity. According to the of three factors qualifi es Madagascar all historically described species have Global Amphibian Assessment (GAA), as a top priority for amphibian been observed during the past 15 Madagascar ranks as the country conservation: (a) an endemic, diverse years [3], most in the past 5 years. with the 12th highest amphibian amphibian fauna, as yet unaffected by New populations of rare species are species richness [2,3] (see also emergent diseases, exists; (b) heavy discovered at a constant pace, even http://www.globalamphibians.org), anthropogenic pressures are put on if some of them are in small forest but this is likely an underestimate, the remaining primary vegetation fragments. Over 500 frog specimens of because an additional 182 candidate and amphibian populations; and (c) almost 80 species sampled from most species have been identifi ed since a strong commitment of the national of Madagascar’s biogeographic regions [1]. Diversity is concentrated in government to improve conserving and elevational zones tested negative rainforests and can locally reach over biodiversity is present. In other words, for amphibian chytrid infection using 100 species. Impressively, 100% of Madagascar represents a tractable both histological and molecular the autochthonous species and 88% opportunity to apply what has been techniques [8]. So far, no amphibian of the genera are strictly endemic to Madagascar and its inshore islands Citation: Andreone F, Carpenter AI, Cox N, du Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany. David Knox is with [1]. Most of these species belong Preez L, Freeman K, et al. (2008) The challenge Conservation International, Kirstenbosch Botanical to two radiations of astonishing of conserving amphibian megadiversity in Gardens, Claremont, South Africa. Jörn Köhler is ecomorphological and reproductive Madagascar. PLoS Biol 6(5): e118. doi:10.1371/journal. with the Department of Natural History–Zoology, pbio.0060118 Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt, Darmstadt, diversity, the mantellids and the Germany. Joseph R. Mendelson, III, is with the scaphiophrynine plus cophyline Copyright: © 2008 Andreone et al. This is an Department of Herpetology, Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, microhylids [4,5] (Figure 1). open-access article distributed under the terms Georgia, United States of America. Vincenzo of the Creative Commons Attribution License, Mercurio is with the Department of Ecology and So far, no extinctions of amphibian which permits unrestricted use, distribution, Evolution, J. W. Goethe University and Research species have been reported from and reproduction in any medium, provided the Institute and Natural History Museum Senckenberg, original author and source are credited. Section Herpetology, Frankfurt, Germany. Russell Madagascar, and chytridiomycosis, A. Mittermeier and Robin D. Moore are with a threat for amphibians globally Abbreviations: ASG, Amphibian Speciality Group Conservation International, Arlington, Virginia, United [6,7], has not been detected [8]. Of States of America. Nirhy H. C. Rabibisoa and Harison Franco Andreone is with the Museo Regionale di Randrianasolo are with Conservation International, 220 species assessed by the World Scienze Naturali di Torino (MRSN), Torino, Italy. Angus Antananarivo, Madagascar. Herilala Randriamahazo is Conservation Union (IUCN), nine I. Carpenter is with the Centre for Ecology, Evolution, with the Wildlife Conservation Society, Antananarivo, are listed as Critically Endangered, 21 and Conservation (CEEC), School of Environmental Madagascar. Noromalala Rasoamampionona Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Raminosoa and Olga Ravoahangimalala Ramilijaona Endangered, and 25 Vulnerable [3]. Kingdom. Neil Cox is with the IUCN/SSC CI/CABS are with the Département de Biologie Animale, This proportion of 25% threatened Biodiversity Assessment Unit, Arlington, Virginia, Université d’Antananarivo, Antananarivo, United States of America. Louis du Preez and Ché Madagascar. Christopher J. Raxworthy is with the species is higher than the per-country Weldon are with the School of Environmental American Museum of Natural History, New York, average of 12%, but lower than that Sciences and Development, North-West University, United States of America. Denis Vallan is with the detected globally (32%) and those in Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom, South Africa. Natur-Museum Luzern, Luzern, Switzerland. Miguel Karen Freeman is with the Madagascar Fauna Group, Vences is with the Zoological Institute, Technical various other amphibian hot spots such Saint Louis Zoo, St. Louis, Missouri, United States University of Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany. of America. Samuel Furrer is with the Zoo Zürich, David R. Vieites is with the Museum of Vertebrate Zürich, Switzerland. Gerardo Garcia is with the Durrell Zoology and Department of Integrative Biology, Wildlife Conservation Trust, Trinity, Jersey, Channel University of California, Berkeley, California, United The Perspective section provides experts with a Islands, United Kingdom. Frank Glaw is with the States of America. forum to comment on topical or controversial issues Zoologische Staatssammlung München, München, of broad interest. Germany. Julian Glos is with the Department of * To whom correspondence should be addressed. Animal Ecology and Conservation, University of E-mail: [email protected] PLoS Biology | www.plosbiology.org 0943 May 2008 | Volume 6 | Issue 5 | e118 to promote the persistence of most species; hence, the areas identifi ed in this study will benefi t not only amphibians but other groups as well. This process also contributed to trigger the workshop A Conservation Strategy for the Amphibians of Madagascar (ACSAM), held in Antananarivo in September, 2006, which was attended by more than 100 biologists and major conservation and governmental agencies [15]. Participants agreed on the urgency of defi ning priority areas for amphibian conservation. Currently, the habitat of various Critically Endangered amphibian species (e.g., Mantella cowani, Boophis williamsi and Mantidactylus pauliani) is just located at high-altitude sites and not included in any existing reserve nor in the new areas already earmarked for protected area creation by the “Durban Vision” doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0060118.g001 process. ACSAM thus represents Figure 1. Four Prominent Representatives of Madagascar’s Amphibians an important step in national (A) Dyscophus antongilii (Near Threatened), (B) Scaphiophryne gottlebei (Critically Endangered), (C) implementation of the Amphibian Boophis williamsi (Critically Endangered), (D) Mantella cowani (Critically Endangered). Conservation Action Plan (ACAP) [16,17]. die-offs have been reported, despite on the amphibian fauna. Hence, The initial results of this workshop a very high incidence of fi eld work by without intensive conservation efforts, are now emerging. To provide a specialized researchers in recent years. Malagasy amphibians may be on the scientifi c basis for conservation This indicates that the amphibian edge of a drastic decline. Here we posit actions, a Proceedings volume will be chytrid fungus is probably absent that unprecedented pro-active efforts published in early 2008, summarizing from Madagascar. The fact that of habitat protection and vigilance the conservation-relevant scientifi c all inventoried forests and forest against pathogens may avert an results of the workshop in 26 articles fragments in Madagascar harbor otherwise predictable catastrophic loss by 69 authors [18]. To increase local amphibian faunas rich in species and of biodiversity. capacity and awareness, Conservation individuals confi rms that amphibian An important and timely International produced the fi rst of a declines due to emergent diseases opportunity for conservation in pocket fi eld guide series on priority have probably not recently struck the Madagascar exists since President species [19], and more are planned. island. Marc Ravalomanana announced at The Amphibian Specialist Group Nevertheless, the conservation status the Durban World Park Congress (ASG) has published a popular of Malagasy
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