Challenges to the conservation of amphibians and squamate reptiles, with emphasis on the Brazilian fauna: from basic information to conservation actions

• Grant number: 20/12658-4
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2021
• End date: April 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Applied Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Marcio Roberto Costa Martins
• Grantee: Marcio Roberto Costa Martins
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Pesquisadores principais: Otavio Augusto Vuolo Marques ; Ricardo Jannini Sawaya
• Associated researchers: Alexandro Marques Tozetti ; Ana Paula Carmignotto ; Bianca von Muller Berneck ; Bruno Ferreto Fiorillo ; Carlos Eduardo Guidorizzi de Carvalho ; Carlos Roberto Abrahão ; Célio Fernando Baptista Haddad ; Cristiano de Campos Nogueira ; Filipe Alexandre Cabreirinha Serrano ; Gabriella Neves Leal Santos ; Harvey B Lillywhite ; Itamar Alves Martins ; João Paulo dos Santos Vieira de Alencar ; Juan Camilo Diaz Ricaurte ; Karina Rodrigues da Silva Banci ; Lara Gomes Côrtes ; Laura Rodrigues Vieira de Alencar ; Leandro Reverberi Tambosi ; Mariana Morais Vidal ; Monika Bohm ; Paula Hanna Valdujo ; Paulo Durães Pereira Pinheiro ; Paulo Roberto Guimarães Junior ; Paulo Sergio Bernarde ; Rogério Pereira Bastos ; Selma Maria de Almeida Santos ; Vanessa Kruth Verdade ; Xavier Andre Philippe Glaudas ; Yeda Soares de Lucena Bataus
• Associated research grant: 18/14091-1 - Effects of habitat disturbance on communities of amphibians and squamate reptiles: subsidies for management programs, species conservation assessments and conservation action plans, AP.R
• Associated research grant(s): 24/02046-2 - Recent trends in habitat conversion and their implications for anurans conservation in Brazil, AP.R
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/06736-6 - Dissemination of scientific knowledge about Squamata amphibians and reptiles and their importance for conservationsem, BP.TT; 24/08475-2 - Diversity of amphibians in fragmented landscapes in mature and in regeneration Atlantic Forest, BP.DR; 23/16715-0 - Recent trends in habitat conversion and their implications for anurans conservation in Brazil, BP.PD; + associated scholarships 23/14087-2 - Thermal tolerances of amphibians and reptiles from the Cerrado, Atlantic Forest and Pantanal: relationships with ecological aspects and implications for conservation, BP.PD; 24/03432-3 - Diversity of anurans, lizards, snakes and small mammals in different savanna vegetation types at the Ecological Station of Assis., BP.TT; 23/13039-4 - Dissemination of scientific knowledge about Squamata amphibians and reptiles and their importance for conservationsem, BP.TT; 23/06268-7 - Does the replacement of native forest with eucalyptus plantations influences the structure of anuran-prey trophic networks?, BP.IC; 23/06999-1 - Drivers of vulnerability to extinction of Brazilian amphibians: insights for conservation, BP.PD; 23/07014-9 - How effective is the Brazilian protected areas network in relation to snake conservation?, BP.PD; 22/05543-1 - Biogeography, diversification, and evolution of snakes in the Neotropical region, BP.DR; 21/10402-5 - Movement ecology of the Atlantic forest jararacas, BP.DR; 21/13323-9 - Evolution of ploidy in amphibians, BP.IC; 21/11877-7 - Filling knowledge gaps for Brazilian amphibian and reptiles: contributions to conservation, BP.TT - associated scholarships

Abstract

Brazil has about 2,000 species of amphibians and reptiles, several of which are endangered, which entails an enormous responsibility for our Country to conserve them. In this project, as a way to contribute to the conservation of amphibians and squamate reptiles, with an emphasis on Brazil, we will develop, in close collaboration with the National Center for Research and Conservation of Reptiles and Amphibians (RAN-ICMBio), research and other activities aimed at (1) obtaining basic data on populations, species and communities; (2) exploring processes potentially responsible for diversity patterns; (3) diagnosing vulnerabilities and threats, knowledge gaps and conservation gaps; and (4) detecting priority areas for conservation. In addition, we will develop actions to disseminate knowledge obtained during this project. All the results of this project will be shared with the RAN-ICMBio, so that they can be used in activities related to conservation. This project represents a broad, highly collaborative partnership between a group of academic specialists in amphibians and reptiles and/or with great experience in conservation biology, and the Brazilian public agency responsible for the production of lists of threatened species and for the elaboration and implementation of conservation action plans for amphibians and reptiles, the RAN-ICMBio. Thus, it can be predicted that this unprecedented partnership will contribute effectively to the conservation of Brazilian amphibians and squamate reptiles. Another aspect that makes this proposal unique is that it integrates several conservation approaches at the same time, including diagnoses, planning and actions, concentrated in two megadiverse taxonomic groups in the Neotropical Region. (AU)

Scientific publications

(30)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

OLIVEIRA-DALLAND, LUIS G.; ALENCAR, LAURA R. V.; TAMBOSI, LEANDRO R.; CARRASCO, PAOLA A.; RAUTSAW, RHETT M.; SIGALA-RODRIGUEZ, JESUS; SCROCCHI, GUSTAVO; MARTINS, MARCIO. Conservation gaps for Neotropical vipers: Mismatches between protected areas, species richness and evolutionary distinctiveness. Biological Conservation, v. 275, p. 8-pg., 2022-10-05. (20/12658-4, 18/14091-1, 16/14292-1)

MANZANO, MARIA CAROLINA RODELLA; TAKENO, MICHELE FERNANDES; SAWAYA, RICARDO J.. Advertisement calls of 18 anuran species in the megadiverse Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil: review and update. Zootaxa, v. 5178, n. 5, p. 20-pg., 2022-08-30. (18/04520-2, 19/15218-8, 20/12658-4, 14/23677-9)

FIORILLO, BRUNO F. F.; FAGGIONI, GABRIEL PAGANINI; CEREZER, FELIPE OSMARI; BECKER, C. GUILHERME; DIAZ-RICAURTE, JUAN C.; MARTINS, MARCIO. Effects of environmental factors on the ecology and survival of a widespread, endemic Cerrado frog. Biotropica, v. 55, n. 2, p. 12-pg., 2023-02-17. (20/12658-4, 18/14091-1, 15/21259-8)

SERRANO, FILIPE C.; VIEIRA-ALENCAR, JOAO PAULO DOS SANTOS; DIAZ-RICAURTE, JUAN C.; VALDUJO, PAULA H.; MARTINS, MARCIO; NOGUEIRA, CRISTIANO DE CAMPOS. The Wallacean Shortfall and the role of historical distribution records in the conservation assessment of an elusive Neotropical snake in a threatened landscape. JOURNAL FOR NATURE CONSERVATION, v. 72, p. 8-pg., 2023-01-31. (20/12658-4, 15/20215-7)

LURIA-MANZANO, RICARDO; PINHEIRO, PAULO D. P.; KOHLSDORF, TIANA; HADDAD, CELIO F. B.; MARTINS, MARCIO. Evolution of territoriality in Hylinae treefrogs: Ecological and morphological correlates and lineage diversification. JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, v. 36, n. 8, p. 12-pg., 2023-06-15. (20/12658-4, 18/18473-6, 20/10189-7, 21/13764-5)

GALETTI, MAURO; CARMIGNOTTO, ANA PAULA; PERCEQUILLO, ALEXANDRE R.; SANTOS, MARCOS C. DE O.; DE BARROS FERRAZ, KATIA MARIA P. M.; LIMA, FERNANDO; VANCINE, MAURICIO H.; MUYLAERT, RENATA L.; GONCALVES BONFIM, FERNANDO CESAR; MAGIOLI, MARCELO; et al. Mammals in Sao Paulo State: diversity, distribution, ecology, and conservation. Biota Neotropica, v. 22, p. 11-pg., 2022-01-01. (21/10195-0, 20/12658-4, 13/19377-7, 21/08534-0, 15/21259-8, 18/16662-6, 19/20525-7, 11/22449-4, 15/17739-4, 16/19106-1, 12/04096-0, 14/10192-7, 18/50038-8, 20/01779-5, 17/23548-2, 11/20022-3, 10/52315-7, 14/01986-0, 08/03099-0, 18/14091-1, 14/09300-0, 13/50421-2)

FERNANDES, LARISSA ELER; LESSINGER, ANA CLAUDIA; CARMIGNOTTO, ANA PAULA. New data from South American hotspots uncover a greater diversity in Gracilinanus (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae) mouse opossums. JOURNAL OF MAMMALIAN EVOLUTION, v. 31, n. 2, p. 20-pg., 2024-06-01. (15/21259-8, 00/06642-4, 20/12658-4, 20/01378-0, 18/14091-1, 17/23548-2, 98/05075-7, 22/12632-0, 11/20022-3)

SERVINO, L. M.; FERRARINI, J. M. G.; NOGUEIRA, C. D. C.; BARBO, F. E.; SAWAYA, R. J.. Are Bergmann's and Jordan's rules valid for a neotropical pitviper?. JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY, v. 323, n. 4, p. 10-pg., 2024-06-12. (12/09156-0, 20/12658-4, 14/23677-9)

FIORILLO, BRUNO F.; PIATTI, LILIANA; MARTINS, MARCIO. Effects of Vegetation Density on the Diversity of Lizards in an Area of the Brazilian Cerrado. Biotropica, v. 57, n. 3, p. 18-pg., 2025-05-01. (20/12658-4, 18/14091-1)

LEAO-PIRES, THIAGO A.; LUIZ, AMOM M.; SAWAYA, RICARDO J.. Ecological constraints and trait conservatism drive functional and phylogenetic structure of amphibian larvae communities in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. AUSTRAL ECOLOGY, v. 49, n. 9, p. 24-pg., 2024-09-01. (20/12658-4, 14/23677-9, 10/52321-7)

SERVINO, LEONARDO MATHEUS; VERDADE, VANESSA KRUTH; SAWAYA, RICARDO J.. For neither heat nor water conservation: Body size variation in Atlantic Forest frogs does not follow a general mechanism. Journal of Biogeography, v. 49, n. 3, p. 9-pg., 2022-01-16. (20/12658-4, 14/23677-9)

LURIA-MANZANO, RICARDO; SERRANO, FILIPE C.; BOHM, MONIKA; SAWAYA, RICARDO J.; HADDAD, CELIO F. B.; MARTINS, MARCIO. Tadpoles in lotic waters, habitat specialization, and human population density lead tree frogs (Hylinae) to higher extinction risk. Biological Conservation, v. 290, p. 9-pg., 2024-01-10. (20/12658-4, 21/10639-5, 20/10189-7)

BRUNA E. BOLOCHIO; MARCELA BRASIL-GODINHO; CRISTIANO DE C. NOGUEIRA; RICARDO J. SAWAYA. Conserving biogeographical units of endemic amphibians in the megadiverse Atlantic Forest. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, v. 97, n. 1, 2025-02-24. (20/12658-4, 18/15926-0, 15/20215-7, 14/23677-9)

VIEIRA-ALENCAR, JOAO PAULO SANTOS; CARMIGNOTTO, ANA PAULA; SAWAYA, RICARDO JANNINI; SILVEIRA, LUIS FABIO; VALDUJO, PAULA HANNA; DE NOGUEIRA, CRISTIANO CAMPOS. In search of generality: Revised distribution data and regionalization of Cerrado endemic tetrapods. Journal of Biogeography, v. 51, n. 4, p. 14-pg., 2023-12-08. (23/07014-9, 02/00015-3, 07/51956-6, 00/06642-4, 15/20215-7, 20/12658-4, 17/23548-2, 98/05075-7, 11/20022-3)

FIORILLO, BRUNO F.; MACIEL, JORGE HENRY; MARTINS, MARCIO. Composition and natural history of a snake community from the southern Cerrado, southeastern Brazil. ZOOKEYS, n. 1056, p. 95-147, AUG 19 2021. (20/12658-4, 15/21259-8)

PORTILLO, JOSE THALES DA MOTTA; AZEVEDO, JOSUE ANDERSON REGO; BARBO, FAUSTO ERRITTO; SAWAYA, RICARDO J.. Opposite latitudinal gradients for species richness and phylogenetic diversity of endemic snakes in the Atlantic Forest. CURRENT ZOOLOGY, v. 70, n. 4, p. 9-pg., 2024-01-24. (20/12658-4, 14/23677-9)

ALVES-NUNES, JOAO MIGUEL; FELLONE, ADRIANO; MARQUES, OTAVIO A. V.. Food preference for native and invasive prey in the naive lancehead pitviper. Biotropica, v. 56, n. 3, p. 8-pg., 2024-03-27. (20/12658-4)

LEAL-SANTOS, GABRIELLA; TAMBOSI, LEANDRO REVERBERI; PAVOINE, SANDRINE; MARTINS, MARCIO. Multiscale effects of habitat changes on diversity of rainforest snakes. BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION, v. 33, n. 5, p. 18-pg., 2024-03-28. (17/11478-0, 20/12658-4, 18/14091-1)

BRASIL-GODINHO, MARCELA; DIELE-VIEGAS, LUISA; BOLOCHIO, BRUNA E.; NOGUEIRA, CRISTIANO DE C.; SAWAYA, RICARDO J.. Climate refugia for Atlantic Forest widespread endemic anurans will persist in future climate change scenarios. JOURNAL FOR NATURE CONSERVATION, v. 79, p. 9-pg., 2024-04-07. (15/20215-7, 20/12658-4, 18/15926-0, 14/23677-9)

VIEIRA-ALENCAR, JOAO PAULO S.; BOLOCHIO, BRUNA E.; CARMIGNOTTO, ANA PAULA; SAWAYA, RICARDO J.; SILVEIRA, LUIS FABIO; VALDUJO, PAULA HANNA; NOGUEIRA, CRISTIANO DE CAMPOS; NORI, JAVIER. How habitat loss and fragmentation are reducing conservation opportunities for vertebrates in the most threatened savanna of the World. PERSPECTIVES IN ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION, v. 21, n. 2, p. 7-pg., 2023-05-23. (98/05075-7, 17/23548-2, 02/00015-3, 11/20022-3, 20/12658-4, 00/06642-4, 16/09734-5, 15/20215-7, 07/51956-6)

KHOURI, REBECA STELLA; FIORILLO, BRUNO FERRETO; BRAZ, HENRIQUE BARTOLOMEU; MACIEL, JORGE HENRY; ALMEIDA-SANTOS, SELMA MARIA; MARTINS, MARCIO. Reproductive ecology of the Amaral's Blind Snake Trilepida koppesi in an area of Cerrado in south-eastern Brazil. HERPETOLOGICAL JOURNAL, v. 32, n. 2, p. 5-pg., 2022-04-01. (18/14091-1, 13/50741-7, 20/12658-4)

DE SOUZA, ELETRA; LIMA-SANTOS, JADE; MARQUES, OTAVIO AUGUSTO VUOLO; HINGST-ZAHER, ERIKA. Concrete survivors: the herpetofauna of an urban green area over 100 years of increasing urbanization. Biota Neotropica, v. 23, n. 4, p. 11-pg., 2023-01-01. (20/12658-4)

DIAZ-RICAURTE, JUAN C.; SERRANO, FILIPE C.; CAMACHO, AGUSTIN; NOGUEIRA, CRISTIANO DE C.; TRAVAGLIA-CARDOSO, SILVIA REGINA; MARTINS, MARCIO. On the Brink of Change? Environmental Drivers of Voluntary Thermal Maximum in South American Pitvipers. Journal of Biogeography, v. N/A, p. 14-pg., 2024-10-04. (23/14087-2, 15/20215-7, 20/12658-4, 18/14091-1)

ALVES-NUNES, JOAO MIGUEL; FELLONE, ADRIANO; ALMEIDA-SANTOS, SELMA MARIA; DE MEDEIROS, CARLOS ROBERTO; SAZIMA, IVAN; MARQUES, OTAVIO AUGUSTO VUOLO. Study of defensive behavior of a venomous snake as a new approach to understand snakebite. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 14, n. 1, p. 12-pg., 2024-05-03. (20/12658-4)

DA MOTTA PORTILLO, JOSE THALES; BARBO, FAUSTO ERRITTO; SAWAYA, RICARDO J.. Climatic niche breadths of the Atlantic Forest snakes do not increase with increasing latitude. CURRENT ZOOLOGY, v. 68, n. 5, p. 6-pg., 2021-11-06. (20/12658-4, 14/23677-9)

COX, NEIL; YOUNG, BRUCE E.; BOWLES, PHILIP; FERNANDEZ, MIGUEL; MARIN, JULIE; RAPACCIUOLO, GIOVANNI; BOHM, MONIKA; BROOKS, THOMAS M.; HEDGES, S. BLAIR; HILTON-TAYLOR, CRAIG; et al. A global reptile assessment highlights shared conservation needs of tetrapods. Nature, v. 605, n. 7909, p. 21-pg., 2022-05-12. (20/12658-4, 15/20215-7)

NOVAES-E-FAGUNDES, GABRIEL; LYRA, MARIANA L.; LOREDAM, VINICIUS S. A.; CARVALHO, THIAGO R.; HADDAD, CELIO F. B.; RODRIGUES, MIGUEL T.; BALDO, DIEGO; BARRASSO, DIEGO A.; LOEBMANN, DANIEL; AVILA, ROBSON W.; et al. A tale of two bellies: systematics of the oval frogs (Anura: Microhylidae: Elachistocleis Parker, 1927). ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, v. N/A, p. 24-pg., 2022-08-24. (20/12658-4, 11/50146-6)

BANCI, KARINA R. S.; SIQUEIRA, LUCAS H. C.; TORELLO-VIERA, NATALIA F.; MARQUES, OTAVIO A. V.. Differential predation pressure on island pit vipers shape their niches and defensive behavior. Amphibia-Reptilia, v. 45, n. 4, p. 13-pg., 2024-11-01. (20/12658-4, 18/07507-7)

ANUNCIACAO, P. R.; VALENCIA-ZULETA, A.; SIGNORELLI, L.; MARTINS, M.; BASTOS, R. P.; BATAUS, Y.; GUIDORIZZI, C. E.. Amphibian conservation status in Brazil: Spatial patterns, threats, and challenges. JOURNAL FOR NATURE CONSERVATION, v. 79, p. 11-pg., 2024-04-11. (20/12658-4)

ALMEIDA-SILVA, DIEGO; SERVINO, LEONARDO MATHEUS; PONTES-NOGUEIRA, MATHEUS; SAWAYA, RICARDO J.. Marine introgressions and Andean uplift have driven diversification in neotropical Monkey tree frogs (Anura, Phyllomedusinae). PeerJ, v. 12, p. 29-pg., 2024-04-16. (20/12658-4, 21/10039-8, 22/05543-1, 23/01785-3)