Projects sponsored
Abundance and reproductive phenology of amphibians in the Sierra de Surutato, Sinaloa, Mexico
José M. Serrano, Héctor Alexis Castro-Bastidas, Heleana Velarde, David Jacobo-González.
Sponsored by the Charles H. Lowe Herpetology Research Fund, Tucson Herpetological Society, we initiated an amphibian monitoring in the summer of 2023 in the Sierra de Surutato during an El Niño year. The objectives of this study in the Sierra de Surutato are 1) to evaluate changes in the vocal and reproductive phenology of amphibians during the 2023 El Niño, and 2) to estimate amphibian abundance during the 2023 rainy season, and) (3) to report new distribution of herpetofauna expected in the area.
July 2023 – June 2024
Broadcasting chorus sounds for conservation: evaluating a method to rediscover and promote Darwin’s frog populations settlement
José M. Serrano
This project focuses on the necessity to evaluate new methods to rediscover and eventually relocate endangered species (Rhinoderma rufum and Rhinoderma darwinii) that depend on acoustic communication to breed. A summary of the purposes and scope of the project can be read here.
November 2018 - October 2019
Funding: Stiftung Artenschutz.
Collaborators: Mario Penna, Nelson Velásquez.
Conservation actions for the Chilean frog (Calyptocephalella gayi) Stage II.
Marco M. Méndez
Funding; Subsecretaría de Medio Ambiente, Gobierno de Chile.
The main goal of this study was to develop applied research for the conservation of the Chilean frog (Calyptocephalella gayi) and to carry out dissemination activities in the Santiago Metropolitan Region. This project was ejecuted by Gevol (Genetics and Evolution Lab - Universidad de Chile).
March 2016 – February 2019
Collaborators: Franco Cruz Jofré, Pablo Fibla, Paola Sáez, Alejandra Fabres, José M. Serrano, Francisco Ramírez.
Promoting conservation of amphibians at El Pedregal, Mexico City
José M. Serrano, Adriana Sandoval-Comté, Gloria Tapia Ramírez, Flor G. Vásquez, Miguel A. Sicilia.
Fundings: Future Conservationist Award - Conservation Leadership Programme.
The main goal of this project was to create the base-line for a monitoring and conservation program of amphibians inhabiting the Pedregal ecosystem. In order to achieve this major goal we established the following particular objectives:
1) Estimate amphibian species diversity, distribution and abundances of each species in three urban reserves,
2) Evaluate urban factors affecting amphibian’s ecological conditions and reproductive behavior.
3) Promote awareness and understanding the conservation needs of the Pedregal's amphibians among the university community and neighbors at Pedregal area.
June 2015 - May 2016.
The final technical report of this project is available online.
Sensory ecology and acoustic communication of the Freischmann’s glassfrog
José M. Serrano
Fundings: Stanley Rand Fellowship - Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
This research was proposed for evaluating the hypothesis that leaf breeding frogs (Hyalinobatrachium fleischmanni) use acoustic cues of flowing water to locate appropriate nesting sites. To do this I received a scholarship to investigate this at Barro Colorado Island and Gamboa, Panamá.
June - August 2013.
