17. Many are restricted endemics
Number of known
restricted-endemic
frogs in Brazil
18. Many are ‘cryptic’
DNA Barcoding uses
1-2 fast-evolving
genes to discriminate
species
Very powerful with
advances in DNA
sequencing speed
Astraptes fulgerator complex
Morphology often
misleading
60% of species now
described from
cryptic complexes
23. Critical factor: Fate of the
Biodiversity Hotspots
>1500 endemic plants, >70% habitat loss
Myers et al. (2000) Nature; Mittermeier et al. (2004) Hotspots Revisited.
24. Growing Pressures
on Hotspots
Forest loss is fastest in hotspot nations
with higher population growth and lower
human development (Dja & Bawa 2006)
Cincotta et al. (2000) Nature