1. Monitor B. alipioi populations to assess trends and population health; 2. Investigate ecological requirements and threats affecting the species; 3. Engage local communities in biodiversity conservation through environmental education and awareness initiatives.

Conservation of the Golden Drop Toad (Brachycephalus alipioi)

This project aims to promote the conservation of the golden drop toad, Brachycephalus alipioi, a frog species classified as Endangered (EN) on both the IUCN Red List and the Espírito Santo State List of Threatened Fauna. This status highlights the urgent need for effective conservation measures to prevent further population declines and a potential shift to the Critically Endangered (CR) category.Brachycephalus alipioi is a diminutive, aposematic toad strictly endemic to a few mountain ranges within the Atlantic Forest of Espírito Santo, southeastern Brazil. Its distribution and survival are closely associated with the leaf litter layer, a fragile microhabitat that depends on well-preserved forest conditions. Any degradation of forest structure directly threatens the persistence of this species.Population monitoring will be conducted in the Kaetés Ecological Reserve and its surrounding areas, a protected area of 267 hectares located in the municipalities of Vargem Alta and Castelo, Espírito Santo. The Atlantic Forest is a biodiversity hotspot of global importance, playing a crucial role in climate regulation, water resource protection, and carbon storage. However, less than 12% of its original forest cover remains due to agricultural expansion, unplanned urbanization, and other anthropogenic pressures.The project seeks to monitor population trends and assess the overall health of B. alipioi, map its geographic distribution, identify and protect key microhabitats, and investigate its ecological requirements. Potential threats to the species will also be evaluated, including parasitism and the impacts of climate change. In parallel, the initiative aims to engage local communities through citizen science and environmental education activities, supported by informational materials that emphasize the ecological importance and conservation needs of B. alipioi.This study is an initiative of the Herpeto Capixaba Project and the Últimos Refúgios Institute. It seeks to fill critical knowledge gaps and strengthen conservation strategies for B. alipioi by generating robust data to guide future protective actions. Additionally, the project will contribute to a broader understanding of species with similar ecological roles, including other leaf-litter-dwelling terraranan frogs, whether they share the same trophic chains, guilds, or taxonomic groups.

Project number: 222530354

Awarded amount: $5,000

Awarded date: 10/10/2024

Continent: South AmericaCountry: Brazil