Jesscia Castro Prieto
Research: Assessment of the conservation status of Montevideo red belly toad (Melanophryniscus montevidensis) populations in Uruguay
Species/Topic: Montevideo red belly toad (Melanophryniscus montevidensis)
Abstract: Amphibians all over the world are declining at an alarming rate as a consequence of human indirect and direct actions such as habitat degradation and climate change. The Montevideo red belly toad (Melanophryniscus montevidensis) is another example of this decline for which the rapid urban development coupled with a rising human population density in the coastal zone of Uruguay are among the most probable causes. The goal of the proposed study is to assess the species current conservation status in order to identify critical conservation areas in and outside protected areas across the Uruguayan coastline. Some objectives to accomplish this goal are: to conduct populations' surveys, gather information about the specie's optimal habitat requirement and landscape characteristics and to identify the main threat(s) affecting its populations. The results of this study will be critical to design an effective management plan for the conservation of this species and its habitat.