title: [Historic record of Gastrotheca ovifera (Anura: Hemiphractidae): decline evidence in Venezuelan coastal cloud forests].
abstract: G. ovifera is a marsupial frog of the cloud and riparian forest from Western and Litoral sections of the Venezuelan Cordillera de la Costa (820-2 000m). This amphibian is considered as an endangered species by the IUCN Species Red List, due to its population decline in pristine and well preserved environments. This conservation status is based on anecdotic interpretations. We collected disperse data from museum records (national and international) and explored the possible association between collection records and precipitation data available for the Henri Pittier National Park (PNHP). Likewise, we carried out a systematic population monitoring of G. ovifera in historic and additional localities among the cloud forest of Rancho Grande, PNHP. We found 106 individuals in 11 zoological collections deposited during 1929-2007. After an effort of 646 hours/person we did not detect G. ovifera individuals in the evaluated localities; as well as no statistical significant associations between the annual precipitation average and the historic records of the species during 1941-1997 period (r = -0.054, p = 0.820, n = 19). We discussed the distribution, fluctuation and population changes of this species, analyzing it conservation status.
authors.affiliation: Museo del Instituto de Zoología Agrícola (MIZA) Francisco Fernández Yépez, Campus Maracay, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Apartado Postal 4579, Maracay 2101-A, Edo. Aragua-Venezuela. javiervaleraleal@gmail.com
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Valera-Leal
authors.forename: Aldemar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Acevedo
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pérez-Sánchez
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vega
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Manzanilla
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura / Q000145:classification*; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D011156:Population Density; D011157:Population Dynamics; D014197:Trees; D014687:Venezuela