The Herpetological Journal
The Herpetological Journal is the Society's prestigious quarterly scientific journal. Articles are listed in Biological Abstracts, Current Awareness in Biological Sciences,Current Contents, Science Citation Index, and Zoological Record.
ISSN 0268-0130
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02. Herpetofaunal richness and beta diversity between an offshore archipelago of the Eastern Tropical Pacific and adjacent mainland
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Author: Eric E. Flores
Abstract: Coiba Island National Park (CNP) comprises an offshore archipelago of around 35 islands and islets off the coast of Pacific Panama, which separated from the mainland around 12,000–14,000 ya. Visual Encounter Surveys and pitfall traps were used in combination with occurrence data from Global Biodiversity Information Facility and published sources to assess the herpetological richness, and community assemblages between CNP and the mainland. Amphibian richness was lower in CNP (maximum 5 spp.) compared to the mainland (maximum 13 spp.), while reptile richness was similar between CNP (maximum 21 spp.) and the mainland (maximum 25 spp.). Based on the rarefaction curves the observed reptile species richness was underestimated. Therefore, it is plausible that more general biological surveys would yield more species in the future. The genus Oscaecilia and the Turniptail gecko Techadactylus rapicauda are new records for the herpetofauna of CNP. The amphibian and reptile communities were different between CNP and the mainland, but the pattern of data favours a positive relationship with heterogeneous vegetation, and a possible small-island effect on the herpetological assemblages. The actual herpetofauna of CNP may result not only from dispersion and vicariance but also from other elements and past anthropogenic factors that need to be investigated in more detail.
Keywords: Coiba Island National Park, biodiversity, herpetology, Panama
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