A Reassessment of the Conservation Status of a Critically Endangered Neotropical Frog, Mannophryne olmonae, Using Occupancy Modeling Techniques

Amphibian species worldwide are threatened with decline and extinction, making species monitoring an important scientific endeavor. The Bloody Bay Poison Frog, Mannophryne olmonae, a Tobago island endemic, was identified as critically endangered by the IUCN in 2004. Recent evidence suggests that a less severe conservation status may be appropriate for M. olmonae. This study employs acoustic calling surveys, land-use information, and multi-year (2011 and 2012) occupancy modeling techniques to propose an appropriate conservation status for this species. This study suggests that M. olmonae occupies a larger geographic range than was previously thought, and is not experiencing population declines. These findings, in conjunction with other data, suggest that this species does not require the conservation status of critically endangered and should be re-classified as vulnerable