Estudio de la distribución altitudinal de los anfibios a lo largo de la Estación Científica San Francisco

Abstract

Abstract: The San Francisco Scientific Station (SCS), located in the province of Zamora Chinchipe, Ecuador, is considered a key area for the study of amphibian biodiversity and conservation, with an altitudinal range from 1,700 to 3,150 m above sea level. The richness of habitats along this gradient allows for the presence of multiple amphibian species, and environmental factors influence their distribution. This study aims to analyze how altitude affects amphibian diversity by evaluating species richness and diversity at different altitudinal levels within the SCS. The results show that the highest diversity is found in the lower montane forest, decreasing in the upper montane forest, while the páramo has intermediate values, indicating that each habitat contributes uniquely to amphibian diversity. These findings underscore the importance of conserving the ECSF's ecosystems, given their contribution to regional biodiversity and the sensitivity of amphibian species to environmental changes.