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Environmental correlates for species richness among amphibians and reptiles in a climate transition area

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Vertebrate Conservation and Biodiversity

Part of the book series: Topics in Biodiversity and Conservation ((TOBC,volume 5))

Abstract

Correlations between environmental factors and the distribution of amphibian and reptile species richness were investigated in a climate transition area, Peneda-Gerês National Park (PNPG), in North-Western Portugal. Using presence-data at a local-scale (1 × 1 km), Ecological-Niche Factor Analysis (ENFA) identified a mixture of climatic (precipitation and number of days with fog), topographical (altitude and relief) and habitat factors (number of watercourses and water surfaces, the type of the largest water surface and tree diversity cover), as accurate predictors of species occurrence. Three factors were common for both taxonomic groups, and consistently presented a positive relation with species occurrence: precipitation, number of water surfaces, and tree diversity cover; suggesting a strong coincidence in the environmental correlates that influence amphibian and reptile species richness. Distribution patterns of observed and predicted species richness were compared using a Geographical Information System. Overall, three high species richness areas were predicted in common for both taxonomic groups and two additional areas for amphibians only. These areas matched with the observed species richness but suggested larger areas of high species richness. The location of the PNPG in a biogeographic crossroad, between Euro-Siberian and Mediterranean provinces, emphasised species richness of amphibians and reptiles and suggests a high priority conservation status for this protected area. Most of Central-Northern Portugal is located in a climatic transition area; therefore, increased species richness should be expected for other areas. Local scale studies for other protected areas should be planned as a framework for the development of multi-scale conservation planning by Portuguese authorities.

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Abbreviations

a.s.l.:

above sea level

EGV:

Ecogeographical variables

ENFA:

Ecological-Niche Factor Analysis

PNPG:

Peneda-Gerês National Park

UTM:

Universal Transverse of Mercator

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos da Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal

    Claudia Soares & José Carlos Brito

  2. Departamento de Zoologia e Antropologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Praça Gomes Teixeira, 4050, Porto, Portugal

    Claudia Soares

Authors
  1. Claudia Soares
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  2. José Carlos Brito
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Correspondence to Claudia Soares .

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David L. Hawksworth Alan T. Bull

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© 2006 Springer Science + Business Media B.V.

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Soares, C., Brito, J.C. (2006). Environmental correlates for species richness among amphibians and reptiles in a climate transition area. In: Hawksworth, D.L., Bull, A.T. (eds) Vertebrate Conservation and Biodiversity. Topics in Biodiversity and Conservation, vol 5. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6320-6_17

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