Title
Population Assessment Strategy for Atelopus elegans (Bufonidae) in the Gorgona National Natural Park, Colombia.
Author(s)
Gómez-Hoyos, D. A., Suarez-Joaqui, T., BOLÍVAR-G, W., & GARCÍA, J. L.
Published
2017
Publisher
WCS Colombia
Abstract
Atelopus species are among the most endangered anurans, and have recently suffered enigmatic declines. However, several species for which preventive actions have been proposed continue to be recorded in Colombia. As an initial step for preventive actions, we assessed the baseline population status for Atelopus elegans at the Parque Nacional Natural Gorgona. We conducted distance sampling based on perpendicular measures to estimate population density, and compared six models based on three functions (uniform, half normal, and hazard rate) in combination with three expansion series (cosine, simple polynomial, and hermite polynomial) by using the Akaike Information Criterion. A total of 123 individuals were observed. The Hazard rate function with Cosine and Simple polynomial expansion series were the models with the lowest AIC values. Estimated population density for A. elegans was 0.01 individuals/m2 with a 55% detection probability. Furthermore, a power analysis, with the current sampling design, showed that three annual surveys in a fiveyear program would detect a 12% change in population density. Since amphibian populations can quickly decline, we recommend a sampling design that enhances sample size, in order to increase the sensitivity to detecting population fluctuations.
Keywords
Atelopus elegans, Bufonidae, Gorgona National Natural Park
Full Citation
Population Assessment Strategy for Atelopus elegans (Bufonidae) in the Gorgona National Natural Park, Colombia

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