Where are the survivors? Tracking relictual populations of endangered frogs in Costa Rica

Researchers identified critical areas for the survival of endangered frog species in Costa Rica, particularly along the Pacific slopes of the Talamanca Range and Central Volcanic Cordillera. These regions, characterized by high humidity (2500–3500 mm mean annual precipitation) and elevations between 1300 and 2500 meters above sea level, serve as potential refugia for relictual populations of anurans. Using a Maximum Entropy Algorithm (Maxent), the study predicted suitable habitats for 17 endangered species and pinpointed approximately 240 km² where rediscovery efforts should focus. The analysis also revealed that around 0.5% of Costa Rica's territory, intersecting with conservation areas but avoiding high Bd risk zones, warrants exhaustive surveys. These findings highlight the importance of targeted fieldwork in undersurveyed regions to locate and protect relictual amphibian populations.

García‐Rodríguez, A., Chaves, G., Benavides‐Varela, C., & Puschendorf, R. (2011). Where are the survivors? Tracking relictual populations of endangered frogs in Costa Rica. Diversity and Distributions, 18(2), 204–212. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1472-4642.2011.00862.x