A Conservation Strategy for the Amphibians of Madagascar

Annual temperature data for two Malagasy sites of high anuran diversity We present microclimatic temperature data for two Malagasy rainforest sites with high amphibian diversity. Our data show that daily, monthly and annual temperature ranges in these microhabitats are relatively narrow and, as expected, temperatures are much more buffered in streams than in the leaf litter. A successful ex-situ conservation of many species may require adaptation to the reported thermal conditions. Because many Madagascan amphibians seem to be restricted to certain elevations and hence climatic conditions, global warming could endanger stenothermic amphibian species adapted to these narrow climatic envelopes, which highlights the need for more detailed monitoring, and for an assessment of temperature tolerances and preferences. Key words: amphibians, ex-situ conservation, Madagascar, temperature variation, ecology