A Multidisciplinary Approach to Investigating Ecuadorian Species and Habitats

Considered a biodiversity hotspot, Ecuador has the second highest deforestation rate in South America. With such rampant deforestation in addition to several other threats, species are being lost at an alarming rate, even species that are still unknown to science. Experts speculate there are still hundreds of species of amphibians and plants awaiting discovery. This proposal funds  a workshop to be held at the Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica in Ecuador to bring together biologists from the Saint Louis Zoo, the Missouri Botanical Garden, Centro Jambatu, Universidad Tecnologica Indoamerica, the Andean Bear Alliance and Washington University to develop new approaches to document and conserve Ecuadorian biodiversity, as well as to prioritize areas for research based on current knowledge of species diversity and threats.

Publications

Augustine, Lauren & Coloma, Luis & Vargas-Mena, Patricio & Elden, Justin. (2024). HERPETOCULTURE 575 Notes on the Ex-situ Maintenance and Reproduction of the Spotted Harlequin Frog, Atelopus balios (Bufonidae). Herpetological Review. 54. 575-581. PDF

Research Team

Lauren Augustine, Saint Louis Zoo
Mark Wanner, Saint Louis Zoo
Luis Coloma, Centro Jambatu
Carmen Ulloa, Missouri Botanical Garden
Nora Oleas, Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica