As he ventured into the forests of Chocó, a mountainous region in western Colombia, Conservation International (CI) Amphibian Conservation Officer Robin Moore wasn't feeling very optimistic. As part of CI's Search for the Lost Frogs, his small team of herpetologists was on the hunt for four species of amphibians that hadn't been seen in at least a decade. But after spending the previous two days and nights sifting through leaf litter on steep mountain slopes in nearby Sonsón, not only had the researchers not seen any traces of these species – they had found almost no animal life at all.
However, after the group made the 10-hour drive to Chocó and began to explore its thick rainforests, the team members' moods began to improve. Although the survey site wasn't far from a dirt road, the region had seen little development and appeared to be home to a host of diverse species, both familiar and unfamiliar to the researchers. "Venturing into the Chocó was like entering a different world – vast swaths of intact forest buzzed with life, and my spirits lifted immediately," said Moore.
LEARN MORE: Learn fifty amazing facts about amphibians.
This six-day search in Colombia provides a small window on the experiences that challenge and inspire field researchers every day. While some amphibian species may be gone forever, Chocó's largely unexplored forests reveal the many conservation opportunities that still exist.
READ PART ONE: Searching for Lost Frogs
The Search is On
This six-day search in Colombia provides a small window on the experiences that challenge and inspire field researchers every day. While some amphibian species may be gone forever, Chocó's largely unexplored forests reveal the many conservation opportunities that still exist.
Amphibians such as frogs, toads, salamanders and caecilians are more important for human well-being than many people realize; among other benefits, they eat disease-carrying insects, regulate nutrient cycling between terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems and provide insights into the development of new medicines. Unfortunately, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimates that one-third of amphibian species are currently threatened with extinction from a combination of factors, including habitat loss, climate change and a deadly chytrid fungus, which has decimated amphibian populations across the globe.
In order to expand scientific knowledge and raise public awareness about the serious risks that this unique class of animals is facing, CI recently launched the Search for the Lost Frogs – a collaborative effort between local and international amphibian experts to search for species not seen in over a decade.
LEARN MORE: The Search for Lost Frogs
Earlier this month, Moore – the primary coordinator of this global search – traveled to Colombia to join the seven-person expedition team, which also included researchers from partner organizations Global Wildlife Conservation and Fundación ProAves. Although the group was searching for four missing species, he was especially interested in finding the Mesopotamian beaked toad (Rhinella rostrata), a species only known from two individuals found in 1914.
Location: Unknown
Ultimately, the team was unsuccessful at finding any of the "lost" frogs – a disappointing outcome which is likely a symptom of the global extinction crisis. However, just because the team didn't find the missing species on this expedition doesn't necessarily mean they are all gone for good.
Many of these species have only been sighted a few times since their discovery; as a result, there is little reliable information about their habitats or behaviors. For example, the Mesopotamia beaked toad is thought to breed outside of water, based on the breeding behavior of related species. This means its habitat isn't dependent on proximity to fresh water, and it could therefore be found anywhere in the region.
"We were working in a place with many patches of fragmented habitat," said Moore. "There were so many different places we could have looked."
SEARCH FOR LOST FROGS: See all the expedition teams.
Unexplored Forests May Shelter New Species
Despite the absence of the target species, the Colombia team's findings in Chocó reveal that there is hope for future discoveries and rediscoveries. In the past, the region has been largely inaccessible to scientists due to the presence of violent guerilla groups residing throughout the forest.
 |
|
A glass frog (Centrolene grandisonae) found on the expedition. This species is common in Colombia and Ecuador. © Robin Moore/iLCP |
"Three years ago, we wouldn't even have considered going to Chocó," said Moore. However, these groups recently moved to lower elevations, making large tracts of montane and sub-montane forest more available to researchers.
LEARN MORE: Conservation in conflict zones
Although past political conflict has caused much turmoil for the people of Chocó, the region's resulting lack of development has helped to preserve the region's biodiversity. In one small stream, the research team found three species of glass frogs (Centrolene sp.) – a good indication of ecosystem health, as glass frogs are especially sensitive to environmental changes.
Colombian researchers plan to return to the site early next year to continue the search for "lost" – and potentially new – species. Meanwhile, the Search for the Lost Frogs continues to expand around the world as new researchers in more countries express interest in conducting their own surveys.
As research progresses, we will come closer to understanding where and how our planet's amphibians are threatened – and how we can best protect them.
LEARN MORE: Dr. Robin Moore answered questions submitted by the CI community. See the answers.