@article {377,
	title = {The California Academy of Sciences Gulf of Guinea expeditions (2001,2006) VI. A new species of Phrynobatrachus from the Gulf of Guinea islands and a reanalysis of Phrynobatrachus dispar and P. feae (Anura: Phrynobatrachidae)},
	journal = {Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences},
	volume = {58},
	number = {13-22},
	year = {2007},
	month = {Sep 28 2007},
	pages = {367-385},
	abstract = {<p>The oceanic islands of Sao Tome and Principe in the Gulf of Guinea of Africa harbor a surprising number of endemic amphibians. Two species of puddle frogs (Phrynobatrachus) have been described from these islands: Phryaobatrachus dispar (Peters, 1870) and P. feae (Boulenger, 1906). The validity of P. feae as a taxon distinct from P. dispar has been in doubt and in recent works the two have been considered synonymous. However, a detailed analysis has never been performed. We examined 175 specimens of Phrynobatrachus collected from the two islands during the 2001 and 2006 CAS Gulf of Guinea expeditions as well as two syntypes of P. feae. Consistent external morphological and osteological differences were found between specimens from different islands. Furthermore, maximum likelihood analysis of cytochrome b sequences revealed a high mean inter-island sequence divergence of 21\%, whereas intra-island distances were only around 1\%. This level of divergence indicates an ancient split, possibly predating the formation of Sao Tome. Mitochondrial DNA sequences from 12S rRNA, valine-tRNA, and 16S rRNA genes support this divergence and indicate that the P. dispar clade is sister to an East African clade of Phryuobatrachus, and not West African species, a recurrent theme with this insular amphibian fauna. Because the type localities of both currently available names are on Principe Island, the species endemic to Sao Tome is undescribed. We thus describe a new species of Phrynobatrachus, raising the current total of endemic amphibian species in the Gulf of Guinea Islands from six to seven.</p>
},
	url = {<Go to ISI>://PREV200700572041},
	author = {Uyeda, J.C. and Drewes, R. C. and Zimkus, B.M.}
}
@article {380,
	title = {Nuclear gene phylogeny of narrow-mouthed toads (Family: Microhylidae) and a discussion of competing hypotheses concerning their biogeographical origins},
	journal = {Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution},
	volume = {44},
	number = {3},
	year = {2007},
	month = {Sep 2007},
	pages = {1017-1030},
	abstract = {The family Microhylidae has a large circumtropic distribution and contains about 400 species in a highly subdivided taxonomy. Relationships among its constituent taxa remained controversial due to homoplasy in morphological characters, resulting in conflicting phylogenetic hypotheses. A phylogeny based on four nuclear genes (rag-1, rag-2, tyrosinase, BDNF) and one mitochondrial gene (CO1) of representatives of all currently recognized subfamilies uncovers a basal polytomy between several subfamilial clades. A sister group relationship between the cophylines and scaphiophrynines is resolved with moderate support, which unites these endemic Malagasy taxa for the first time. The American members of the subfamily Microhylinae are resolved to form a clade entirely separate from the Asian members of that subfamily. Otophryne is excluded from the subfamily Microhylinae, and resolved as a basal taxon. The placement of the Asian dyscophine Calluella nested within the Asian Microhyline clade rather than with the genus Dyscophus is corroborated by our data. Bayesian estimates of the divergence time of extant Microhylidae (47-90 Mya) and among the subclades within the family are discussed in frameworks of alternative possible biogeographic scenarios. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.},
	url = {<Go to ISI>://PREV200700581894},
	author = {van der Meijden, Arie and Vences, Miguel and Hoegg, Simone and Boistel, Renaud and Channing, Alan and Meyer, Axel}
}
@article {287,
	title = {Reproduction in brevicipitid frogs (Amphibia : Anura : Brevicipitidae) - Evidence from Probreviceps m. macrodactylus},
	journal = {Copeia},
	number = {3},
	year = {2007},
	month = {Sep 10 2007},
	pages = {726-733},
	abstract = {An egg clutch of the Tanzanian brevicipitid frog, Probreviceps m. macrodactylus, is described for the first time. The single clutch consists of 32 eggs and 21 infertile, jelly-filled capsules, tightly bound together by a thin, tough outer layer. The infertile capsules are concentrated toward the top of the clutch. The eggs were found in a dry season, and were perhaps likely to hatch at the onset of the short rains. The specific identification is confirmed through analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequence data. Eggs are yolky and large, about 8 mm in diameter (including capsule), suggesting that P. m. macrodactylus has a direct mode of development. The embryos observed were in an early developmental stage and showed the early division of the brain and anlagen of three pairs of visceral arches. Brevicipitid reproduction and development are poorly known, but a review of the existing literature and parsimonious optimization of simple characters onto a phylogenetic framework suggest that direct development is a derived condition characterizing the whole clade.},
	url = {<Go to ISI>://PREV200800020800},
	author = {M{\"u}ller, Hendrik and Loader, Simon P. and Ngalason, Wilirk and Howell, Kim M. and Gower, David J.}
}
@article {335,
	title = {The amphibians of the Lokoli Forest, a permanently inundated rainforest in the Dahomey Gap, Benin},
	journal = {Salamandra},
	volume = {43},
	number = {4},
	year = {2007},
	month = {Nov 20 2007},
	pages = {231-238},
	abstract = {We present the first amphibian species list for a forest remnant, the Lokoli Forest, in the Dahomey Gap, a natural gap in West African{\textquoteright}s coastal rainforest belt. The forest studied is of special interest due to its geographic position between the Upper and the Lower Guinean biodiversity hotspots and its peculiar forest type, being permanently inundated. From Lokoli forest we recorded eight frog species as new for Benin (Afrixalus dorsalis, Hyperolius guttulatus, H. sylvaticus, Arthroleptis sp., Leptopelis spiritusnoctis, Hydrophylax albolabris, Aubria subsigillata, Ptychadena mascareniensis-complex. Phrynobatrachus calcaratus from the neighbouring Lama forest was a new country record as well. However, with 17 recorded anurans, species diversity was relatively low compared to other West African forests. None of the recorded species is threatened or endemic to the region. All species are either widespread or have closer affinities to the Upper Guinean Forest Region than to the Lower Guinean one. Low species richness and low level of endemicity might be due to (a) particular habitat (inundated forest, excluding particular frog guilds, i.e. leaf litter species), (b) small size of the forest (500 ha; species area relation; edge effects), (c) location outside the range of presumed Pleistocene forest refugia. Nevertheless, due to the presence of the exceptional habitat type, Lokoli Forest deserves much more conservation actions than given at present.},
	url = {<Go to ISI>://PREV200800106901},
	author = {R{\"o}del, Mark-Oliver and Brede, Christian and Schiefenhoevel, Philipp and Penner, Johannes and Sinsin, Brice and Nago, S. Gilles A.}
}
@article {396,
	title = {Description of the tadpole of Mertensophryne lonnbergi (Anura : Bufonidae) from the highlands of Kenya},
	journal = {Salamandra},
	volume = {43},
	number = {4},
	year = {2007},
	month = {Nov 20 2007},
	pages = {239-244},
	abstract = {The tadpole of Mertensophryne lonnbergi is described from the Aberdare Mountains in Kenya. Although it resembles other African bufonid tadpoles in shape, size and color, it can be distinguished from them by the absence of a gap in the posterior oral papillae, a feature also shared by Mertensophryne anotis and M. micranotis. While the other known tadpoles in this genus (M. anotis, M. taitana, M. micranotis) all share a {\textquoteright}{\textquoteright} crowrn {\textquoteright}{\textquoteright}, a ring of tissue surrounding the eyes and nostrils with a presumed respiratory function, M. lonnbergi has a faint trace of a crown, and skin folds forming transverse ripples behind the eyes, which may also serve to increase the respiratory surface.},
	url = {<Go to ISI>://PREV200800106902},
	author = {Wasonga, D. Victor and Channing, Alan}
}
@article {2616,
	title = {Angolan Miombo woodlands},
	journal = {Encyclopedia of Earth, National Council for Science and the Environment, Washington DC, ed. M.McGinley},
	year = {2007},
	month = {March 11, 2013},
	url = {http://www.eoearth.org/article/Angolan_Miombo_woodlands?topic=49597},
	author = {World Wildlife Fund and Hogan, C.M.}
}
@article {395,
	title = {Amphibian abundance and diversity in Meru National Park, Kenya},
	journal = {African Journal of Ecology},
	volume = {45},
	number = {1},
	year = {2007},
	month = {Mar 2007},
	pages = {55-61},
	abstract = {{The diversity and abundance of amphibians were investigated in Meru National Park, Kenya, using transect sampling, drift-fence and pitfall trapping and opportunistic collecting. A total of 430 individuals under seven genera (Amietophrynus, Hemisus, Hyperolius, Phrynobatrachus, Phrynomantis, Ptychadena, Xenopus) comprising eleven species were sampled in three different habitats (apart from this, two additional species are known from Meru National Park): Acacia-wooded grassland; Combretum-wooded grassland; Acacia-Commiphora bushland. The sex ratio for almost all species was balanced (chi-square, chi(2); P > 0.5) and was not affected by habitat type (ANOVA: F = 8.3026},
	url = {<Go to ISI>://PREV200700195265},
	author = {Wasonga, D. Victor and Bekele, Afework and L{\"o}tters, Stefan and Balakrishnan, Mundanthra}
}
@article {181,
	title = {Spatial and temporal patterns of abundance and diversity of an east African leaf litter amphibian fauna},
	journal = {Biotropica},
	volume = {39},
	number = {1},
	year = {2007},
	month = {Jan 2007},
	pages = {105-113},
	abstract = {We present data on sample richness, relative abundance, and community structure of a leaf litter amphibian assemblage from globally important miombo-mopane woodlands characteristic of western Tanzania. We describe patterns of diversity across major habitat types and between different seasons from an annual pitfall-trapping campaign. We recorded 28 species of amphibians, which is significantly higher than existing richness estimates for other miombo woodland sites elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa. We found that cultivation of native habitat reduces frog diversity, a conclusion that has important implications in light of the rapid conversion of miombo woodland for agriculture and fuel-wood across much of southern and central Africa. Many species showed strongly ansynchronized patterns of seasonality in relative abundance, which has significant implications for the establishment of successful monitoring programs and biodiversity surveys. These conclusions emphasize the importance of stratified long-term sampling in biodiversity studies and demonstrate that superficial levels of sampling effort can lead to erroneous conclusions regarding patterns of diversity in amphibian communities. The relatively poor focus on herpetofaunal research in African miombo-mopane woodland is out of proportion to its ecological and conservation significance.},
	url = {<Go to ISI>://PREV200700097828},
	author = {Gardner, Toby A. and Fitzherbert, Emily B. and Drewes, R. C. and Howell, Kim M. and Caro, Tim}
}
@article {351,
	title = {Global patterns of diversification in the history of modern amphibians},
	journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
	volume = {104},
	number = {3},
	year = {2007},
	month = {Jan 16 2007},
	pages = {887-892},
	abstract = {The fossil record of modern amphibians (frogs, salamanders, and caecilians) provides no evidence for major extinction or radiation episodes throughout most of the Mesozoic and early Tertiary. However, long-term gradual diversification is difficult to reconcile with the sensitivity of present-day amphibian faunas to rapid ecological changes and the incidence of similar environmental perturbations in the past that have been associated with high turnover rates in other land vertebrates. To provide a comprehensive overview of the history of amphibian diversification, we constructed a phylogenetic timetree based on a multigene data set of 3.75 kb for 171 species. Our analyses reveal several episodes of accelerated amphibian diversification, which do not fit models of gradual lineage accumulation. Global turning points in the phylogenetic and ecological diversification occurred after the end-Permian mass extinction and in the late Cretaceous. Fluctuations in amphibian diversification show strong temporal correlation with turnover rates in amniotes and the rise of angiosperm-dominated forests. Approximately 86\% of modern frog species and > 81\% of salamander species descended from only five ancestral lineages that produced major radiations in the late Cretaceous and early Tertiary. This proportionally late accumulation of extant lineage diversity contrasts with the long evolutionary history of amphibians but is in line with the Tertiary increase in fossil abundance toward the present.},
	url = {<Go to ISI>://PREV200700290016},
	author = {Roelants, Kim and Gower, David J. and Wilkinson, Mark and Loader, Simon P. and Biju, S.D. and Guillaume, Karen and Moriau, Linde and Bossuyt, Franky}
}
@article {209,
	title = {The amphibians of three national forests in Liberia, West Africa},
	journal = {Salamandra},
	volume = {43},
	number = {1},
	year = {2007},
	month = {Feb 20 2007},
	pages = {1-10},
	abstract = {We surveyed three National Forests in north-western and south-eastern Liberia for amphibians. Forty species were found including five first national records: Afrixalus nigeriensis, Astylosternus occidentalis, Bufo superciliaris, Chiromantis rufescens and Phrynobatrachus villiersi. Following the 1UCN Red List categories and criteria, eleven species are Near Threatened, two are Vulnerable and two Endangered. Bufo superciliaris is listed under CITES. All three forests under investigation harbour an amphibian community mainly consisting of forest specialists that are endemic to the Upper Guinea Forest zone. All investigated sites showed a high potential for conservation, although the presence of some invasive species is a hint that alteration of natural forests has already occurred. We also provide a list of all reptiles encountered to account for the deficiency of data for these vertebrates in Liberia.},
	url = {<Go to ISI>://PREV200800106920},
	author = {Hillers, Annika and R{\"o}del, Mark-Oliver}
}
@article {2516,
	title = {Mediterranean woodlands and forests},
	journal = {Encyclopedia of Earth. National Council for Science and the Environment. Washington DC},
	year = {2007},
	month = {Dec. 2012},
	url = {http://www.eoearth.org/article/Mediterranean_woodlands_and_forests},
	author = {World Wildlife Fund and Hogan, C.M.}
}
@article {90,
	title = {Frogs with claws: Diversity, morphology, and function of pedal unguals in the Astylosternidae},
	journal = {Journal of Morphology},
	volume = {268},
	number = {12},
	year = {2007},
	month = {Dec 2007},
	url = {<Go to ISI>://PREV200800136900},
	author = {Blackburn, David C. and Hanken, James and Jenkins, Farish A., Jr.}
}
@article {390,
	title = {Larval morphology of reed frogs, Hyperolius kivuensis and H. viridiflavus, from western Kenya (Amphibia, Hyperoliidae)},
	journal = {Revue Suisse de Zoologie},
	volume = {114},
	number = {4},
	year = {2007},
	month = {Dec 2007},
	pages = {825-837},
	abstract = {We describe external characters, oral disc and oral cavity structures of larval Hyperolius kivuensis and H. viridiflavus, i.e. exotrophous lentic benthic type IV tadpoles. External morphology of both is comparable and matches descriptions of other Hyperolius species. Differences among the two taxa were noted in the keratinized labial teeth. In H. kivuensis, the spoon-shaped cusped tooth type is frequent and represented by two different subtypes: (i) "cusped" with four cusps, the two distal of which only slightly larger than the lateral cusps; (ii) "pointed" with the two distal cusps larger than the two lateral cusps forming a bifurcation. The latter subtype is rare in H. kivuensis, while most frequent in H. viridiflavus. In this species, also another type occurs, characterized by two long distal cusps, forming a bifurcation, and two small lateral cusps; the cusped type with cusps of the same size as in H. kivuensis is rare. Both species show similar oral cavity structures except for the choanae position, i.e. arranged in a V that is opened posteriorly in H. kivuensis versus a V opened anteriorly in H. viridiflavus. Choanae position and keratinized labial teeth structure may provide diagnostic features for these and other species of Hyperolius.},
	url = {<Go to ISI>://PREV200800120365},
	author = {Viertel, Bruno and L{\"o}tters, Stefan and Baumgart, Andrea and Oberst, Marc and Eisenbeis, Gerhard and Veith, Michael}
}
@article {220,
	title = {The amphibians and reptiles of Nouabale-Ndoki national park, Republic of Congo (Brazzaville)},
	journal = {Salamandra},
	volume = {43},
	number = {3},
	year = {2007},
	month = {Aug 20 2007},
	pages = {149-164},
	abstract = {We present an annotated list of 20 amphibian and 14 reptile species collected along the southern edge of Nouabale-Ndoki National Park in the Republic of Congo, which comprises lowland forests that are part of the Congo River drainage basin. This study has resulted in the first definitive records of the frogs Aubria masako, Amietophrynus regularis, Cryptothylax greshoffii, Hyperolius balfouri, H. brachiofasciatus, Leptopelis brevirostris, and L. calcaratus meridionalis from the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville). Comparing four sites subjected to different degrees of human disturbance, we note differences in herpetofaunal composition among these sites, which we attribute to difference in tolerance of human activity, opportunistic colonisation by non-native species, and, in some cases, a preference for proximity to human habitations. We compare the results of our study to other herpetofaunal surveys of Central and West Africa in order to gain insight into which faunae are most similar to that of Nouabale-Ndoki National Park.},
	url = {<Go to ISI>://PREV200800106908},
	author = {Jackson, Kate and Blackburn, David C.}
}
@article {397,
	title = {Description of the tadpole of Mertensophryne lonnbergi (Anura : Bufonidae) from the highlands of Kenya},
	journal = {African Zoology},
	volume = {42},
	number = {1},
	year = {2007},
	month = {Apr 2007},
	pages = {139-141},
	abstract = {The tadpole of Amietia wittei (Anura: Pyxicephalidae) is described from the highlands of Kenya. It is distinguished from the tadpoles of Amietia ruwenzoriensis and A. angolensis in the region by the numbers of labial tooth rows.},
	url = {<Go to ISI>://PREV200700407904},
	author = {Wasonga, Domnick Victor and Channing, Alan}
}
@article {2513,
	title = {Central Zambezian Miombo woodlands},
	journal = {Encyclopedia of Earth, National Council for Science and the Environment, Washington DC},
	volume = {2012},
	number = {2012},
	year = {2007},
	month = {2012},
	publisher = {National Council for Science and the Environment, Washington DC},
	edition = {Ed. M.McGinley},
	url = {http://www.eoearth.org/article/Central_Zambezian_Miombo_woodlands?topic=49597},
	author = {World Wildlife Fund and Hogan, C.M.}
}
@book {310,
	title = {Frog search: results of expeditions to southern and eastern Africa from 1993-1999},
	year = {2007},
	note = {TY - BOOKIncludes bibliographical references (p. 560-567). HOLLIS no. - 012093332},
	month = {2007.},
	pages = {574 p},
	publisher = {Edition Chimaira; Zoo Book Sales, Serpent{\textquoteright}s Tale [U.S. distributor]},
	organization = {Edition Chimaira; Zoo Book Sales, Serpent{\textquoteright}s Tale [U.S. distributor]},
	edition = {28},
	address = {Frankfurt am Main: Lanesboro, Minn.},
	keywords = {Eastern Classification., Eastern Identification., Frogs Africa, Southern Classification., Southern Identification.},
	isbn = {39306128019783930612802},
	url = {http://discovery.lib.harvard.edu//?itemid=\%7clibrary\%2fm\%2faleph\%7c012093332 CN - Museum Comp Zoology | QL668.E2 P53 2007, QL668.E2 P53 2007},
	author = {Pickersgill, M.}
}
@article {653,
	title = {A rapid survey of the amphibians from the Atewa Range Forest Reserve, Eastern Region, Ghana},
	journal = {RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment},
	volume = {47},
	year = {2007},
	month = {2007},
	pages = {76-83},
	chapter = {76},
	isbn = {9781934151099},
	author = {Kouame, N{\textquoteright}Goran Germain and Boateng, Caleb Ofori and R{\"o}del, Mark-Oliver}
}
@article {2318,
	title = {Herpetological type specimens in the natural history collections of the museums in Darmstadt and Wiesbaden, Germany},
	journal = {Spixiana},
	volume = {30},
	year = {2007},
	month = {1 November 2007},
	pages = {275-288},
	chapter = {275},
	abstract = {<p>We provide the fi rst complete list of the present and lost amphibian and reptile type specimens of the Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt and the Museum Wiesbaden Naturhistorische Landessammlung. The Darmstadt collection currently houses primary types of 5 taxa (holotypes) and secondary types of additional 15 taxa (paratypes). The Wiesbaden collection includes primary types of 13 taxa (8 represented by holotypes, 4 by syntypes and 1 by lectotype). Furthermore, the primary types of 6 taxa formerly housed at the Museum Wiesbaden are considered lost. In several cases, we comment on the current status of the taxa present in the collections. Bufo spinulosus var. arapensis Andersson, 1908 was obviously overlooked and neglected in the literature. It is here considered a junior synonym of Chaunus spinulosus (Wiegmann, 1834). The largest specimen of the type series is designated as lectotype (MWNH 153/1). The current status of Hylambates rufus var. aubryioides Andersson, 1908, as a junior synonym of Leptopelis modestus (Werner, 1898) is rejected.</p>
},
	keywords = {HLMD, MWNH, Squamata, Testudines, type specimens, Wiesbaden},
	author = {J{\"o}rn K{\"o}hler and G{\"u}sten, Robert}
}
@article {2392,
	title = {2006. A new species of Running Frog, (Kassina, Anura: Hyperoliidae) from Unguja Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania.},
	journal = {African Journal of Herpetology},
	volume = {55},
	year = {2007},
	pages = {113-122},
	author = {Msuya, C.A. and Howell, K. M. and Channing, A.}
}
@article {650,
	title = {Amphibians and reptiles of the Lac T{\'e}l{\'e} Community Reserve, Likouala region, Republic of Congo (Brazzaville)},
	journal = {Herpetological Conservation and Biology},
	volume = {2},
	year = {2007},
	pages = {75-86},
	author = {Jackson, K. and Zassi-Boulou, A.-G. and Mavoungou, L.-B. and Panou, S.}
}
@article {1325,
	title = {Chytrid Fungus in Frogs from an Equatorial African Montane Forest in Western Uganda},
	journal = {Journal of Wildlife Diseases},
	volume = {43},
	year = {2007},
	pages = {521-524},
	author = {Goldberg, T.L. and Readel, A.M. and Lee, M.H.}
}
@article {662,
	title = {Conflicting phylogenetic signal of nuclear vs mitochondrial DNA markers in midwife toads (Anura, Discoglossidae, Alytes): Deep coalescence or ancestral hybridization?},
	journal = {Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution},
	volume = {44},
	year = {2007},
	chapter = {494},
	author = {H. Gon{\c c}alves and I. Mart{\'{\i}nez-Solano and N. Ferrand and M. Garc{\'{\i}a-Par{\'{\i}s}
}
@article {2613,
	title = {Description of the tadpole of Amietia wittei (Anura: Pyxicephalidae) from the highlands of Kenya},
	journal = {African Zoology},
	volume = {42},
	year = {2007},
	author = {Wasonga, D.V. and Channing, A.}
}
@article {1109,
	title = {Distribution and protected area coverage of endemic taxa in West Africa{\textquoteright}s Biafran forests and highlands},
	journal = {Biological Conservation},
	volume = {134},
	year = {2007},
	pages = {195{\textendash}208},
	author = {Bergl, R.A. and Oates, J.F. and Fotso, R.}
}
@article {2263,
	title = {Frog Search. Results of Expeditions to Southern and Eastern Africa from 1993-1999.},
	journal = {Frankfurt Contributions to Natural History Volume 28},
	volume = {Frankfurt am Main: Edition Chimaira.},
	year = {2007},
	author = {Pickersgill, M.}
}
@article {2286,
	title = {The identity of Hylambates hyloides Boulenger, 1906 and description of a new small species of Leptopelis from West Africa.},
	journal = {Mitteilungen aus dem Museum f{\"u}r Naturkunde in Berlin. Zoologische Reihe},
	volume = {83 (Supplement)},
	year = {2007},
	pages = {90-100},
	author = {Rodel, M.-O.}
}
@article {1256,
	title = {Les Phlyctimantis et Kassina du Cameroun (Amphibia, Anura, Hyperoliidae)},
	journal = {Revue suisse de Zoologie},
	volume = {114},
	year = {2007},
	pages = {87-126},
	author = {J.-L. Amiet}
}
@article {2526,
	title = {Mediterranean woodlands and forests},
	journal = {Encyclopedia of Earth. National Council for Science and the Environment. Washington DC},
	year = {2007},
	edition = {revised Nov. 2012},
	url = {http://www.eoearth.org/article/Mediterranean_woodlands_and_forests},
	author = {World Wildlife Fund and Hogan, C.M.}
}
@inbook {165,
	title = {Amphibian communities in disturbed forests: lessons from the Neo- and Afrotropics},
	booktitle = {Environmental Science and Engineering},
	series = {Environmental Science and Engineering:Environmental Engineering},
	year = {2007},
	pages = {61-87},
	abstract = {Timber harvesting is currently the most common commercial utilisation activity in tropical forests. Assessing the effects of logging on different aspects of biodiversity and general ecosystem properties is hence of prime importance if the few remaining areas of intact tropical forest are to be protected effectively and efficiently.As we will point out in this chapter, tropical amphibian communities are an appropriate model system for studies on the impacts of human-induced environmental changes on the dynamics of complex biological systems. Here, we elaborate on patterns of diversity changes in tropical forest amphibian communities facing habitat alterations associated with selective logging in two globally important eco-regions (Cote d{\textquoteright}Ivoire, Upper Guinea, West Africa and Guyana, the Guiana Shield, northern South America), and discuss findings from other previously conducted studies with similar focus.A key statement that we stress on in this chapter is the fact that common measures of diversity, such as species richness and a-diversity only inadequately reflect processes of diversity change following anthropogenic disturbance. They also fail to describe actual impacts on the dynamics of complex biological systems. We argue that commonly used measures produce an incoherent and insufficient picture of diversity patterns and the underlying processes that shape these patterns. Thus, an understanding of higher levels of diversity, such as beta-diversity and functional diversity (and hence compositional patterns) appears to be the key to effectively mitigating the impacts of human-induced disturbance on amphibian communities.We show that the predictability of amphibian community composition depends on the respective level of anthropogenic disturbance imposed on a particular habitat. Hence, human activities that lead to changes in the structure of a forest, such as logging, not only alter simple system descriptors, such as the number of species in a given community, but rather alter the dynamics of the entire system. In this context, functional diversity is shown to be an important aspect underlying the actual mechanism that leads to the observed change of predictability patterns. Functional differences between species, rather than number of species per se appear to be the decisive factor in sustaining desirable ecosystem states and thus in maintaining important ecosystem services.Because biological diversity appears to play a substantial role in ecosystem resilience required to safeguard essential ecosystem functions in the face of environmental change, we call for a critical revision of common diversity assessments approaches. We advocate the reconsideration of the uncritical use of widespread measures and descriptors of biodiversity on grounds of inconsistent patterns found throughout numerous studies, including those presented herein.The complex nature of natural communities and the multiple aspects of biodiversity at different levels, make it necessary to incorporate processes acting on different organizational and spatial scales. When investigating the impacts of human-induced environmental changes on diverse vertebrate communities in the tropics, we should hence address compositional changes, as well as beta-, and functional aspects of biodiversity. Special attention should also be drawn to the particular disturbance history of a given site and large scale cross-regional comparisons should be given priority. The consideration of these approaches in future studies would likely provide deeper insight in ecosystem processes at large scales and improve the effectiveness of current ecosystem management strategies.},
	url = {<Go to ISI>://PREV200800031242},
	author = {Ernst, Raffael and Linsenmair, K. Eduard and Thomas, Raquel and R{\"o}del, Mark-Oliver}
}
@article {280,
	title = {Freshwater paths across the ocean: molecular phylogeny of the frog Ptychadena newtoni gives insights into amphibian colonization of oceanic islands},
	journal = {Journal of Biogeography},
	volume = {34},
	number = {1},
	year = {2007},
	note = {Using Smart Source ParsingJAN},
	pages = {7-20},
	abstract = {Aim Amphibians are a model group for studies of the biogeographical origins of salt-intolerant taxa on oceanic islands. We used the Gulf of Guinea islands to explore the biogeographical origins of island endemism of one species of frog, and used this to gain insights into potential colonization mechanisms.Location Sao Tome and Principe, two of the four major islands in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa, are truly oceanic and have an exceptionally high biodiversity.Methods Mitochondrial DNA is used to test the endemic status of a frog from Sao Tome and compare it with congeneric taxa from tropical Africa. Existing data on surface currents, surface salinity, atmospheric circulation and bird migration in the Gulf of Guinea are summarized to address hypotheses concerning colonization mechanisms.Results The endemic status of Ptychadena newtoni (Bocage) is supported here by mitochondrial DNA sequences, and analysis of this and other molecular data indicates that an East African species close to Ptychadena mascareniensis (Dumeril and Bibron) is its nearest relative. We refute the possibility that this population was anthropogenically introduced, in favour of a natural dispersal mechanism.Main conclusions With six endemic frogs and one caecilian, the Gulf of Guinea islands harbour a diverse amphibian fauna. Five of these species appear to have their closest relatives in East Africa. Insufficient evidence exists for transportation by storms, birds or rafts alone. However, we propose a synergy of rafting, favourable surface currents and a reduction in salinity of surface waters. Catastrophic events, or wet periods in climatic history, could allow freshwater paths to open far enough to enable continental flora and fauna to reach these and other isolated oceanic islands.},
	author = {Measey, G. John and Vences, Miguel and Drewes, R. C. and Chiari, Ylenia and Melo, Martim and Bourles, Bernard}
}
