ECOREGIONAL INFLUENCES ON THE AMPHIBIAN ASSEM- BLAGE OF RESERVA NATURAL LAGUNA BLANCA, DEPARTAMENTO SAN PEDRO, PARAGUAY

Abstract

Reserva Natural Laguna Blanca (RNLB) has recently been proposed as Paraguay’s first Important Area for the Conservation of Reptiles and Amphibians. The reserve lies within the Atlantic Forest ecoregion of Paraguay as currently understood. A similarity analysis was performed to assess which of the ecoregions most influence upon the community of amphibians. It was concluded that the amphibian fauna of the reserve is most strongly influenced by the Cerrado ecoregion and it should thus be considered a southern fragment of this ecosystem. The results suggest that the inventory of the amphibian fauna of the Paraguayan Cerrado is not yet complete. This study highlights the utility of local scale biogeographical analysis as a conservation tool for conservation planners, land managers and biologists for designating national priority areas for conservation and identifying potential areas of endemism in under–sampled regions.