Análisis de la representatividad de la Familia Strabomantidae género Pristimantis en las Áreas Claves para la Biodiversidad (KBA) y su Rol en la Conservación de Anfibios en los Bosques Montanos del Ecuador

Abstract

Abstract: Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) are a global tool for identifying sites of high conservation priority. This study assessed the representativeness of the genus Pristimantis (Family Strabomantidae) within KBAs in Ecuadorian Andean montane forests, based on 11.184 curated occurrence records representing 146 endemic species. Species distribution modeling and spatial overlap analyses with KBAs and other conservation schemes revealed heterogeneous patterns of representativeness across species and provinces. While most species show some degree of coverage within KBAs, complete and partial conservation gaps persist, particularly for species with narrow provincial ranges. These findings support the relevance of KBAs as a conservation planning instrument, while highlighting the need for population-level assessments to improve the long-term protection of highly endemic amphibians.