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La Conservación de Reptiles Brasileños: Retos para un País Megadiverso
Author(s) -
RODRIGUES MIGUEL TREFAUT
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
conservation biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.2
H-Index - 222
eISSN - 1523-1739
pISSN - 0888-8892
DOI - 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2005.00690.x
Subject(s) - threatened species , overexploitation , habitat destruction , ecology , fauna , species richness , habitat fragmentation , habitat , phylogeography , conservation biology , geography , endemism , biology , population , endangered species , phylogenetics , biochemistry , demography , sociology , gene
About 650 species—330 snakes, 230 lizards, 50 amphisbaenids, 6 caimans, and 35 turtles—comprise the known reptile fauna of Brazil. Only 20 are considered threatened. Except for the marine and freshwater turtles, which suffer from overexploitation and habitat destruction, they are threatened because of their rarity and extremely restricted ranges. Despite its richness and diversity, research on Brazil's reptile fauna is still largely restricted to alpha taxonomy. Surveys, an electronic database of all herpetological collections, and phylogeographic studies based on molecular genetic techniques are needed to improve our understanding of the biogeography of this group and to delineate effective conservation strategies to preserve the evolutionary potential of existing lineages. Autecological, population, and community studies that monitor effects of habitat degradation, fragmentation, and loss, pollution, and exploitation are needed for a better understanding of the effects of the widespread and ever‐worsening degradation of Brazil's natural ecosystems.