Endangered anurans in a novel forest in the highlands of Sri Lanka

A novel forest ecosystem, dominated by alien species and lacking native vegetation, can support comparable populations of endangered anurans to those found in primary tropical montane cloud forests. The study, conducted in the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka, surveyed 110 transects across three microhabitat types, recording 552 specimens. It found that 12 out of 15 anuran species from neighboring primary forests, including eight endangered species, had established populations in this novel ecosystem, with abundances often exceeding those in primary forests. This challenges the assumption that such ecosystems are unsuitable for threatened faunas and suggests they should be considered in conservation assessments.

Pethiyagoda, R. S., & Manamendra-Arachchi, K. (2012). Endangered anurans in a novel forest in the highlands of Sri Lanka. Wildlife Research, 39(7), 641–648. https://doi.org/10.1071/wr12079