Assessment Results
Plectrohyla exquisita
Order:
Anura
Family:
Hylidae
Synonym(s):
Assessed for:
Honduras
on:
29 Apr 2019
by:
AArk/ASG Assessment Workshop
Authors:
Kolby, J., Marcec, R., Mora, J., Solis, M., Townsend, J.
IUCN Global Red List:
Critically Endangered (CR)
National Red List:
(not assessed)
Distribution:
Honduras
Evolutionary Distinctiveness score:
7.746031973
Recommended Conservation Actions:
Additional Comments:
Ex situ populations might need to be established, and plans are underway to establish a captive head-starting program at Honduras Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Center (HARCC) in late 2019.
| Question # | Short Name | Question Text | Response | Comments |
| 1 | Extinction risk | Current IUCN Red List category. [Data obtained from the IUCN Red List.] | Critically Endangered (CR) | |
| 2 | Possibly extinct | Is there a strong possibility that this species might be extinct in the wild? | No / unlikely | |
| 3 | Phylogenetic significance | The taxon’s Evolutionary Distinctiveness (ED) score, as generated by the ZSL EDGE program. (These data are not editable by Assessors). | ED value < 20 | |
| 4 | Protected habitat | Is a population of at least 50% of the individuals of the taxon included within a well-managed or reliably protected area or areas? | No / unlikely | This species is only found in moderate and intermediate elevations, within the Parque Nacional Cusuco in the Sierra de Omoa, Departamento de Cortés, north-western Honduras. Parque Nacional Cusuco, was declared a national park in 1987. It is likely that this species is endemic to Parque Nacional Cusuco. The population is on the north-west side of its distribution, which is more heavily impacted by deforestation. It occurs between 1,490-1,900 m asl. |
| 5 | Habitat for reintroduction, conservation translocation or supplementation | Does enough well-managed and reliably protected habitat exist, either within or outside of currently protected areas that is suitable for conservation translocation, including population restoration or conservation introduction? | No / unlikely | |
| 6 | Previous reintroductions | Have reintroduction or translocation attempts been made in the past for this species? | No | |
| 7 | In situ conservation activities | Are any in situ conservation actions currently in place for this species? (Only required if a Red List Assessment has not been completed, or if new actions have been implemented since the last Red List Assessment. (Information from the Conservation Actions section of the Red List assessment should be reviewed and considered when answering this question.). | ||
| 8 | In situ conservation activities | Are additional in situ conservation actions required to help conserve this species in the wild (e.g. habitat restoration and/or protection, control of invasive species, national legislation etc.)? | Yes / probably | Conservation programs are needed for the protection of habitat, and that laws are also complied with. Improved enforcement and management of the national parks and the elimination of incentives to convert forest (e.g., Decreto 37-2016) is urgently needed to halt anthropogenic land use change in the national parks and reserves of Honduras (Honduras Red List Assessment Workshop March 2019). Programs on environmental education should also be developed, and national laws should be complied with. Conservation actions needed: 1 Land/water protection; 1.1 Site/area protection; 1.2 Resource & habitat protection; 3 Species management; 3.4 Ex-situ conservation; 3.4.1 Captive breeding/artificial propagation; 4 Education & awareness; 4.3 Awareness & communications; 5 Law & policy; 5.4 Compliance and enforcement; 5.4.2 National level. |
| 9 | In situ research | Is additional in situ research required to better understand the species, e.g. distribution, population trends, natural history etc.? | Yes | In view of the threat of chytridiomycosis, the status of this species should be closely monitored. Further research is needed on the natural history, ecology, and on the strain of chytrid affecting the species, and population surveys should be conducted in other areas of the park where there is suitable habitat (J. Townsend and J. Kolby pers. comm. March 2019). |
| 10 | Threat mitigation | Are the threats facing the taxon, including any new and emerging threats not considered in the IUCN Red List, potentially reversible? | Threats unlikely to be reversed in time to prevent further decline / extinction | Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) infection has been confirmed in this species (J.E. Kolby pers. comm. 2008). It is likely to be highly susceptible to chytridiomycosis based on observations in its congener, P. dasypus, which has undergone declines. Tadpoles of this species have consistently been found in extremely low numbers (J.E. Kolby pers. comm. 2008). Tadpoles have also been found to be infected with chytrid and several adult animals have tested positive for Bd and been found dead, likely the result of chytridiomycosis (J. Kolby pers. comm. March 2019). Habitat loss and degradation is also a major threat. The reform to the Ley de Protection de la Actividad Caficultora y Cacaotera (Decreto 37-2016; Articulos I, V, VI) has incentivised the cultivation of coffee in national lands, including the core zones of protected areas, which is increasing the alteration of primary forest (Honduras Red List Assessment Workshop March 2019). The cultivation of cardamom, coffee, and flowers is taking place within the boundaries of Parque Nacional Cusuco (Honduras Red List Assessment Workshop March 2019), and associated pollution from herbicide and pesticide use, and water pollution from coffee harvesting processes [aguas mieles] (L. Herrera pers. comm. March 2019). Another major threat is an increase in intentional human-induced fires for clearing of habitat for agriculture (J. Kolby pers. comm. March 2019). The building of roads in view of increasing hydroelectric development, increasing human settlements, and selective logging are causing habitat loss within the park (J. Kolby, F. Castañeda, M. Solis and L. Herrera pers. comm. March 2019). The trampling of leaf-litter, erosion of trails, and physical disturbance caused by high numbers of people through tourism activities and international research groups is an additional issue (J. Kolby pers. comm. March 2019). Climate change is also considered to be a threat. Highland amphibians are adapted to inhabitat a narrow climatic envelope. Changes in climate are expected to reduce the available suitable habitat and required microclimates. Rapid shifts in the climate conditions required by these species would not allow sufficient opportunity for adaptation, especially in light of the limited possibility for elevational migration. Tropical Montane Cloud Forest (>1,000 m asl) has been demonstrated to be negatively affected by climatic changes to a greater extent than other habitats (Foden et al. 2013, Wicaksono et al. 2017, Lyra et al. 2017, Neate-Clegg et al. 2018). An increase in high rainfall events are being observed throughout its range, as well as an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events (hurricanes and droughts) in the Caribbean, destroying the riparian habitat required by stream-dwelling and stream-associated amphibian species (Honduras Amphibian Red List Workshop March 2019). Climate change is therefore considered to be both a current and future threat to all amphibian species in this habitat type. Furthermore, amphibians globally are at an increased risk of disease (e.g. chytridiomycosis) and a decline in fecundity due to such changes (Pounds et al. 2006, Blaustein et al. 2010). |
| 11 | Over-collection from the wild | Is the taxon suffering from collection within its natural range, either for food, for the pet trade or for any other reason, which threatens the species’ continued persistence in the wild? | No / unlikely | |
| 12 | Population recovery | Is the known population of this species in the wild large enough to recover naturally, without ex situ intervention if threats are mitigated? | No / unlikely | It is considered moderately common within its very restricted range, however the amount of individuals found at a time varies (J. Kolby per. comm. March 2019). On some occasions, five to seven individuals have been found at a time, whereas on others there have been no records (J. Kolby pers. comm. March 2019). This species was previously thought to be in decline, given the absence of metamorphs observed during recent (2006-2008) field surveys (J.E. Kolby pers. comm. 2008). However, metamorphs have been recorded annually between 2006-2010 in small numbers, and in very low abundance compared to other species in the genus (J. Kolby pers. comm. March 2019). Adults are regularly recorded, but sub-adults are hardly ever recorded (J. Kolby pers. comm. March 2019). Due to ongoing decline in the extent and quality of habitat and the threat of chytridiomycosis, the population is suspected to be decreasing. |
| 13 | Action plans | Does an Action Plan for the species already exist, or is one currently being developed? | ||
| 14 | Biological distinctiveness | Does the taxon exhibit a distinctive reproductive mode, behaviour, aspect of morphology or physiology, within the Order to which it belongs (e.g. Anura, Passeriformes etc.)? | No aspect of biology known to be exceptional | |
| 15 | Cultural/socio-economic importance | Does the taxon have a special human cultural value (e.g. as a national or regional symbol, in a historic context, featuring in traditional stories) or economic value (e.g. food, traditional medicine, tourism) within its natural range or in a wider global context? | No | |
| 16 | Scientific importance | Is the species vital to current or planned research other than species-specific ecology/biology/conservation within the Order to which it belongs (e.g. Anura, Passeriformes etc.) e.g. human medicine, climate change, environmental pollutants and conservation science? | No research dependent on this species | |
| 17 | Ex situ research | Does conserving this species (or closely related species) in situ depend upon research that can be most easily carried out ex situ? | Yes | |
| 18 | Ex situ conservation activities | Is any ex situ research or other ex situ conservation action currently in place for this species? (Information from the Conservation Actions section of the Red List assessment should be reviewed and considered when answering this question.) | ||
| 19 | Husbandry analog required | If an ex situ rescue program is recommended for this species, would an analog species be required to develop husbandry protocols first? | ||
| 20 | Husbandry analog | Do the biological and ecological attributes of this species make it suitable for developing husbandry regimes for more threatened related species? i.e. could this species be used in captivity to help to develop husbandry and breeding protocols which could be used for a similar, but more endangered species at a later stage? | No | |
| 21 | Captive breeding | Has this species been successfully bred and/or maintained in captivity? | Not held in captivity to date | This is one of three species planned for head-starting program at the Honduras Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Center (HARCC). There are unconfirmed reports that the species has previously been in the pet trade in small numbers. A husbandry analog species is probably not required. |
| 22 | Conservation education/ecotourism potential | Is the species especially diurnal, active or colourful, or is there an interesting or unusual aspect of its ecology that make it particularly suitable to be an educational ambassador for conservation of the species in the range country, either in zoos or aquariums or within ecotourism activities? | Yes | Is a very charismatic species (J. Kolby, pers. comm. March 2019). Programs on environmental education must be developed. |
| 23 | Mandate | Is there an existing conservation mandate recommending the ex situ conservation of this taxon? | No | |
| 24 | Range State approval | If an ex situ initiative was proposed for this species, would it be supported (and approved) by the range State (either within the range State or out-of-country ex situ)? | Yes / probably | Discussions are currently underway to obtain collection permits (J. Kolby, pers. comm. March 2019). |
| 25 | Founder specimens | Are sufficient animals of the taxon available or potentially available (from wild or captive sources) to initiate an ex situ program, if one was recommended? | Yes / probably | |
| 26 | Taxonomic status | Has a complete taxonomic analysis of the species in the wild been carried out, to fully understand the functional unit you wish to conserve (i.e. have species limits been determined)? | Yes |
Citation:
Kolby, J., Marcec, R., Mora, J., Solis, M., Townsend, J. 2019. Conservation Needs Assessment for Plectrohyla exquisita, Honduras
(AArk/ASG Assessment Workshop).
https://www.conservationneeds.org/assessment/4701
Accessed 18 May 2024
