Pakistan's amphibians need more research efforts and better protection


Date:
October 19, 2021
Source:
Pensoft Publishers
Summary:
In Pakistan, amphibians have long been neglected in wildlife
conservation, management decisions and research agendas. To counter
this, scientists have now published the first comprehensive study on
all known amphibian species in the country. The little we currently
know about the occurrence of the chytrid fungus, which has already
eradicated many amphibian species globally, is a grim example of
how urgent it is to acquire further information.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Amphibians are bioindicators of an ecosystem's health and may also serve
as biological control of crop and forest pests. The First Herpetological Congress, organized in 1989, presented alarming findings about the decline
in amphibian populations. Currently, amphibians include the highest
percentage of threatened species (>40%), as well as the highest number
of data deficient species (>1500 species). The little we currently know
about the occurrence of the chytrid fungus, which has already eradicated
many amphibian species globally, is a grim example of how urgent it is
to acquire further information.


========================================================================== Researchers just published the first comprehensive study on all known
amphibian species of Pakistan in the open-access journal ZooKeys.In it, theyreport 21 species from the country, providing their identification
key and photographic guide. However, as many of Pakistan's potential
amphibian habitats are difficult to access and study, especially the high-altitude northern and arid western mountains, it is highly likely
that a lot of species are yet to be discovered.

In particular, the authors point out that habitats facing destruction, urbanization, pollution, unsustainable utilization and other human-caused threats need to be put on high priority, so that suitable conservation strategies can be devised. This way, amphibian populations would be better controlled with less financial, administrative, and human resources.

So far, amphibians have been excluded from all current legislative and
policy decisions in the country. Likewise, they are not protected under
any law.

Hence, the legislation pertaining to rare and endemic species needs to
be updated. Schedule III, which includes protected species, provincial
and federal wildlife laws, and CITES appendices are in particular need
of revision.

Currently, wildlife conservation projects in Pakistan mainly focus
on carnivores, ungulates and birds. Therefore, the authors of the
study propose adopting an inclusive wildlife conservation approach
in Pakistan. This approach would advocate the integration of poorly
documented taxa, such as amphibians, in wildlife conservation and
management projects. It is by highlighting the significance of their
existence and the intrinsic values of all wildlife species that local ecosystems can remain healthy in the long run.

"There is also a dire need to change social attitudes towards the
appreciation and significance of amphibians in our society. This could
be achieved by initiating community awareness, outreach and school
classrooms, and through citizen science programs," add the researchers.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Pensoft_Publishers. The original
text of this story is licensed under a Creative_Commons_License. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Muhammad Rais, Waseem Ahmed, Anum Sajjad, Ayesha Akram, Muhammad
Saeed,
Hannan Nasib Hamid, Aamina Abid. Amphibian fauna of Pakistan with
notes on future prospects of research and conservation. ZooKeys,
2021; 1062: 157 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1062.66913 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211019082705.htm

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