Environmental correlates of phylogenetic endemism in amphibians and the conservation of refugia in the Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa

摘要: Aims To quantify the spatial distribution of amphibian phylogenetic endemism (PE), an indicator potential refugia, to test PE for correlations with current and historical environmental predictors, evaluate effectiveness protected areas at conserving evolutionary history. Location Coastal Forests Eastern Africa (CFEA) adjacent low-elevation Afromontane (EA). Methods We integrated new existing data map almost full assemblage (41 55 species), including 35 intraspecific lineages from several species complexes showing high phylogeographic structure. Using non-spatial regressive models, we tested whether can be predicted by measures Quaternary climate change, forest stability, topographic heterogeneity climate. results were intersected area network conservation effectiveness. Results We detect refugia in Tanzania coastal Kenya previously identified as CFEA centres but also (lowland Tanga region Pangani river, Zaraninge forest, Mafia island, Matumbi hills). Results show that amphibians (high PE) are located long-term stability benign precipitation driest quarter, annual precipitation), climatically unstable demonstrating low PE. Conservation analyses revealed ten hotspots account over 25% total PE, only small parts these under protection. Main Conclusions Utilizing cryptic diversity novel modelling improves our understanding patterns, being strongly correlated Our point towards which require urgent need consolidate within this highly threatened biodiversity hotspot.