A morphological database for Colombian anuran species from conservation-priority ecosystems

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Herpetology
• Biodiversity Science

Background:

• Species traits link individual fitness to community and ecosystem processes.
• Amphibian trait data is scarce in the Neotropics, particularly in Colombia, a global hotspot for amphibian diversity and threatened species.
• Understanding functional diversity is key for effective conservation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a comprehensive dataset of morphological traits for Colombian amphibians.
• To provide data for studies on functional diversity and conservation planning.
• To address the scarcity of trait data for Neotropical amphibians.

Main Methods:

• Collected morphological data for eight traits from 4,623 museum specimens across seven major Colombian collections.
• Included 293 anuran species, representing 37.6% of Colombia's known anuran diversity.
• Focused on traits related to habitat use, predation, and nutrient cycling.

Main Results:

• A dataset of 4,623 specimens and 293 species was compiled, covering key morphological traits.
• Species were primarily from high Andean forests, páramo, and wetland ecosystems.
• The dataset provides foundational information for functional trait analysis in Colombian amphibians.

Conclusions:

• The new morphological trait dataset enhances understanding of functional diversity in Colombian amphibians.
• This data is vital for developing targeted conservation plans for threatened amphibian populations.
• The dataset supports research linking species traits to ecosystem functions and environmental variability.